Custom Screen - Wind speed and Graphic Wind direction

andrew_vanis · 11 December 2011 08:26

Hello,

I would like some help how to create a custom screen that has graphic wind direction displayed.

the attached image is what I am after. The 23 is the wind speed and the green square indicates a NE wind

(actually for my use this image would indicate a SW wind because how the monitor will be oriented but I figure if we figure out how to make the squares light up we can change the North orientation)

I have a custom screen configured that shows the wind speed however I have no idea where to start on the graphic wind direction display.

The purpose of this display is to indicate the wind conditions to the hang glider pilot on launch. the monitor will be visible from launch and knowing the wind speed and direction would improve safety.

I am open to other graphic wind direction ideas I just figured lit up squares would be easiest.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Andrew

windy2 · 11 December 2011 09:17

do you mean by using the custom screen in WD itself?
(where you could use the wind direction dial or just a custom tag to show the wind direction in words or Letters?

andrew_vanis · 11 December 2011 17:31

Thanks for the responses.

Yes, I was thinking of custom screen in WD since that is how I have the wind speed screen set up.

Can the wind dial be modified to show up similar to the proposed display and possibly layered under the speed tag so only the tip of the wind dial shows?

Using numbers would not work so well since it would take up screen space and hard to interpret in this situation.

Yes, or something similar that is inherently interpreted as wind direction.

I guess it could be a web page. I have been using the custom screen since that pops up automatically when the computer is restarted. Would a web page be as simple, automatic, and as quick to post this immediate conditions? Where would I start in creating such a webpage? The monitor and computer sit in the same enclosure (pic below)

This 19 inch (~50cm) monitor will be situated approximately 40 ft (~13 m) from the pilot. The pilot needs to interpret the data quickly; that is why I thought the graphical wind direction would be best.

I am open to other approaches so I really appreciate your ideas and direction.

Thanks,
Andrew

windy2 · 11 December 2011 17:42

have you tried moving the caption for the speed over the top of the wind direction dial?

windy2 · 11 December 2011 17:45

actaully there is provision in the custom screen to show a wind direction arrow
(scroll down on the pop up menu to see those options)
but I see I have lost the graphic arrow…I will fix that…standby

andrew_vanis · 11 December 2011 18:02

Standing by, Thanks!

FYI - please let me know if your fix will work in older versions. I’m using an older WD version 10.37n? (I’d have to look if exact version is important.)

You and I discussed that I needed to stay with the older version because I still need to use dial-up telephone internet connection and that is stable on the older version and not on the newer version)

windy2 · 11 December 2011 18:16

those arrows might already be working in that older version
you can use the older ftpupd.exe with newer WD version though

windy2 · 11 December 2011 18:51

new .zip ready now to get the individual arrows showing again in the custom sceen

andrew_vanis · 6 February 2012 05:36

Update - Making way towards a solution…

the wind arrow did not work for me because

I could not get the wind directions arrow under the windspeed custom tag
I needed South at the top of the screen and West on the right of the screen and I could not figure out how to either rotate or invert the dial.

however wind direction pointers have solved these issues (work in progress pic attached). I had some other questions on wind direction arrows and posted them here - Custom Screen - wind direction pointers

Wind direction pointers are in the custom screen right click menu near the bottom