Kestrel Instruments Support & FAQs
KestrelMet 6000
KestrelMet 6000 Cellular Weather Station Instruction Manual
(Size: 4.7 MB)
KestrelMet 6000 Cellular Weather Station Soil Sensor Array
(Size: 1.1 MB)
KestrelMet 6000 WiFi Instruction Manual
(Size: 4.9 MB)
KestrelMet Wi-Fi Weather Station Operating modes:
The LED status light on the PV power panel will indicate the connection status and operating mode:
- Blinking blue within 1 minute of powering on: Bluetooth initializing
- Flashing magenta (every 10 seconds): Attempting to connect to a Wi-Fi network
- Flashing green (every 10 seconds): Wi-Fi network connected, Standard Operation
- Flashing blue (every 10 seconds): Wi-Fi network connected, Power Saver Mode
- Flashing red (every 10 seconds): Wi-Fi network connected, Logging Mode
- Flashing red (every 20 seconds): Hibernation Mode
The KestrelMet 6000 station is shipped with a fully charged battery, and the station is designed to maintain Normal Operation in subfreezing weather. If solar charging is insufficient due to extended snow cover or installation in a shaded location, the station will change operating modes to conserve power as detailed in the table below:
| Operating Mode | Standard | Power Saver | Logging | Hibernation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KestrelMet.net Battery Level | Battery Charged | Low battery | Critically Low Battery | Critically Low Battery |
| Aspirated Sensor Measurement Frequency | 1 min | 2 min | 5 min | None |
| Fan Aspiration | Active 24 Hours | Active 24 Hours | Active 24 Hours | Off |
| Wi-Fi DataTransmission Frequency | 1 min | 2 min | 24 hr | None |
| Blinking LED | Green | Blue | Red | Red |
| LED Frequency | 10 sec | 10 sec | 10 sec | 20 sec |
IMPORTANT: If the station enters hibernation mode due to a depleted battery, the station must be left turned "on" and placed in direct sunlight to recharge. If the station is in hibernation mode for an extended period of time, the red LED will stop blinking. When the battery is charged sufficiently (typically 1-3 days), the station will switch back to Logging mode, then Normal Operation mode as charging allows. You will receive an email notification when the station returns to Normal Operation mode.
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AmbientWeather.net not only features a mobile friendly and responsive dashboard that works well on any platform (desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device) but also features apps for iOS and Android Devices as well as third party apps. You can bookmark your dashboard here:
https://ambientweather.net/dashboard
or download apps here:
For programmers:
We developed an Application Programming Interface (API) that will allow you and others to write applications and integrate with other products (above and beyond the current features like text alerts, email alerts, IFTTT, Google Home and Amazon Alexa).
You can learn more here:
To view apps developed using the AmbientWeather.net APIs and Wunderground.com, visit our Community Page:
You can keep track of what is happening at our Ambient Weather Network User’s Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ambientweathernetwork/
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To add or delete a device, go to the Devices panel:
https://ambientweather.net/devices
To add a device, tap the + button next to Connect a New Device:
To delete a device, tap on the Ambient Weather icon, and tap Delete this device.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To change the graph to a different day, or change the graph scale to week, month or year, tap on the appropriate button at the top of the graphs.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To expand a specific tile and move it to the top of your dashboard, press the + icon 
at the bottom of each tile, and additional detailed information will be displayed.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To delete an alert, go the alerts panel:
https://ambientweather.net/alerts
and tap the Trash Can icon 
next to the specific alert you wish to delete.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
Data is stored at AmbientWeather.net at a rate of once per 5 minutes.
After one month, data is stored at a rate of once per 30 minutes.
Archived data is stored for one year. All data is removed after one year.
AmbientWeather.net includes an API, so developers can automatically retrieve your own real-time and historical personal weather station JSON formatted data, or build 3rd party apps and get data from multiple devices.
To learn more about our API, visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/api.html
You can also use one of the third party apps to automatically download data:
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
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To switch between the graph view and data view on the dashboard, press the graph or data buttons to toggle between the two views.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
The white dot next to the left is the lowest recording. The white dot on the right is the highest recording, and the yellow dot is the average.
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To view API documentation, visit:
https://ambientweather.docs.apiary.io
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
What is an API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface, and allows programmers to easily develop programs and applications that communicate with weather stations at AmbientWeather.net.
RESTful And Real-Time APIs:
Developers, retrieve your own real-time and historical personal weather station JSON formatted data, or build 3rd party apps and get data from multiple devices.
Features:
- JSON Formatted Data
- Secure Data Retrieval
- Community Support
Full API Reference:
- Visit
- to learn more.
Facebook API Group:
.
- Join the private Ambient Weather API User's Group, and ask questions and get answers from other programmers familiar with the Ambient Weather Network API -
API Keys:
What is an API key?
The API key acts as both a unique identifier and a secure, secret token for authentication.
There are two types of API keys:
- Developers: An Application Key is required for each application that you develop. To create a device key, login to your account at AmbientWeather.net and visit: AmbientWeather.net Account Settings.
- Users: A Device Key is required to connect your weather station to the application created by the developer. To create a device key, login to your account at AmbientWeather.net and visit: AmbientWeather.net Account Settings.
The video below can assist in the API creation process.
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Please uninstall the app you are having an issue with(Ambient Tool, awnet app or Ambient Dashboard), restart the phone, then reinstall the app. If the phone asks for location services please select either ‘always allow’ or ‘allow while using’
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To add a tile back to the dashboard, scroll down to the area below the tiles and tap on the icon next to Add Back to Dashboard:
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
To view API documentation, visit:
https://ambientweather.docs.apiary.io
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.net
Every KestrelMet weather station is checked against a precision NIST-traceable reference pressure sensor in our manufacturing process at the Boothwyn PA plant, and the pressure sensors that we use in the KestrelMet 6000 exhibit minimal drift over the 2-year warranty period. For these reasons, we have not engineered a pressure calibration interface for the KestrelMet 6000.
To compare pressure conditions from one location to another, meteorologists correct pressure to sea-level conditions. Because the air pressure decreases as you rise in altitude, the sea-level corrected pressure (the pressure your location would be at if located at sea-level) is generally higher than your measured pressure.
Thus, your absolute pressure may read 28.62 inHg (969 mb) at an altitude of 1000 feet (305 m), but the relative pressure is 30.00 inHg (1016 mb).
The standard sea-level pressure is 29.92 inHg (1013 mb). This is the average sea-level pressure around the world. Relative pressure measurements greater than 29.92 inHg (1013 mb) are considered high pressure and relative pressure measurements less than 29.92 inHg are considered low pressure.
The pressure measurement displayed on AWN is relative pressure. To determine the relative pressure for your location, AWN locates an official reporting station near you, and sets your weather station relative pressure calculation parameters to match the official reporting station. Note that absolute pressure and relative pressure are both included when station data is downloaded.
Pressure details for CWOP MADIS L3 spatial failures:
Based on experience, MADIS failures come and go and are not necessarily an indicator that there is anything out of calibration, especially when barometric pressure is the measurement in question. For MADIS L3 spatial failures, it is very unlikely that your pressure sensor is the cause. This forum thread provides some useful perspectives on the L3 spatial failure, including one user who tried recalibrating their pressure sensor seasonally in an attempt to make the L3 error go away:
https://groups.io/g/wxqc/topic/chasing_the_calibration_tail/21375996
If you have already confirmed that you are sending the correct altitude to CWOP, then it may be one of the nearby stations that is causing the L3 error. Alternatively, you could try changing the altitude in the CWOP interface which will effectively adjust the relative pressure calculated by CWOP.
... PermalinkQ: How do I measure snowfall?
A: Please refer to the link for the National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/jkl/snow_measurement
... PermalinkPlease see here for mobile devices:
Please see here for handling on the website: ... PermalinkYou can only download data to a PC, Mac, or Linux Desktop or Laptop computer. You cannot download data to a tablet or smartphone due to device limitations.
To download data from AmbientWeather.net
- Switch to Data View by selecting the Data icon
- Pick a data range by selecting the calendar
- To download data for the date range, tap the download icon
You will be prompted to export All Data (5-minute), or the Daily Summary Data:
A status bar will provide the percent-download completed:
Save the CSV files (comma separated value) to your computer.
For more information on csv file definittion, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comma-separated_values
csv files can be read by most data management programs, such has Excel, MySQL, and more.
Here is the format for the time and date field:
The Time Format follows ISO Standard 8601:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601
The date and time are expressed in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) with a marker for the user’s Time Zone.
Here is an example:
2019-05-21T00:00:00-07:00
The date for the example is May 21, 2019
The time is midnight (00:00:00).
The time zone is -7:00 (US Mountain Standard Time).
If you are a programmer, see the following article: Accessing data via the API
To view your data via third-party apps, please see the following article: Apps for Ambient Weather
... PermalinkYou should choose the mobile carrier that has the best coverage for your area. It does not matter which carrier you personally use as you can see the data without having an AT&T or Verizon account.
... PermalinkThe Cellular version uses cellular data. The Wi-Fi version transmits via Wi-Fi up to 1000 ft line of sight.
... PermalinkThe cost is $50 per year to continue the coverage which is the lowest plan on the market today.
... PermalinkSun coverage is important to keep the unit powered. So choosing a place with adequate sunlight will help keep it powered in low sun / cloudy conditions. The other consideration is in a unsheltered area and higher up to help catch the current wind conditions, bearing in mind that you may have to clean the rain gauge occasionally. Lastly, if you mount it next to something that radiates heat (i.e., a black fence), this could slightly raise the temperature readings. If you are using a tripod mount, you may want to secure it to the ground or weigh it down in higher wind areas.
... PermalinkYes. You can add as many devices as you want to your account and toggle between them.
... PermalinkAfter entering your location into your account, a Google map lookup is done based on that location and uses the altitude of your location to calculate the barometric pressure.
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How can I submit a tax-exempt order using the website?
(Size: 1.2 MB)
Please try refreshing the cache on the webpage. To do this, press Ctrl-F5. If that does not work, then please try opening the order in an incognito window (Shift-Ctrl-n) . For MAC users on Safari, you can use [CMD] + [ALT] + [E]
... PermalinkA clogged rain bucket on your KestrelMet 6000 Cellular Weather Station can prevent accurate rainfall readings. Follow the steps in this video to easily unclog the rain bucket and keep your unit working properly.
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Text or Email alerts can be sent when a specific parameter is out of range.
If the value exceeds (greater than or less than) the alert amount, a text or email is sent.
Once the value falls within the normal range, the alert is reset, and an alarm can be sent again once outside the range again. This prevents repeated alerts for the same parameter.
The Notification Time Window is the minimum time after an alert can be repeated for the same condition. This is useful for parameters like wind speed, that change often and rapidly.
Here is an example scenario with the Notification Time Window set to 10 minutes.
If Wind Speed is greater than 20, send an alert.
- Time: 2:00 pm. Wind Speed is 24. Alert is sent.
- Time: 2:03 pm. Wind Speed is 12. Alert is reset.
- Time: 2:05 pm. Wind Speed is 26. Alert is not set because 5 minutes ago, the alert was already sent.
- Time: 2:12 pm. Wind Speed is 24. Alert is sent.
More than one alert can be set for the same parameter. Here is an example
Wind Speed > 20 mph
Wind Speed > 30 mph
Wind Speed > 40 mph
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Radar
Temperature
Wind
Lightning
Lightning strikes are displayed on the map for 15 minutes, with the following shading characteristics:
Official vs. Personal Weather Stations:
If the station has a black circle around it, it is an official weather station. All other stations are personal weather stations.:
WeatherCams:
WeatherCams are displayed on the map. They are signified by the camera icon:
WSWeather (or PWSWeather.com) is a free, public weather data hosting service.
PWSweather.com is a program to bring together data from personal weather stations worldwide, display it and make it available for other purposes.
They specialize in product integration, like integrating Rachio Sprinklers with Personal Weather Stations (PWS).
- To create a free account, visit: https://www.pwsweather.com/register.php
- Tap the Add new station button:
- After you create the station, enter the Station ID and your PWSWeather password into AmbientWeather.net from the Devices Panel: https://ambientweather.net/devices ... Permalink
Please see this video on installing the KestrelMet 6000 WiFi station:
... PermalinkThis video will show you how to make your data publicly viewable: Public Data Sharing
... PermalinkPlease see this video on how to install the soil sensor array to the KestrelMet 6000 weather station: Soil Sensor Array Installation ... Permalink
WeatherCam images can be uploaded, viewed, and shared on AmbientWeather.net. This feature is currently available on the website version.
From the devices panel, select Add WeatherCam
Next, choose the format for your camera (FTP or URL):
- FTP: Most network cameras include FTP upload.
- URL: If you are hosting on another website, provide a URL.
FTP: option:
The website automatically generates the servername, username, and password. Enter these credentials into your camera’s ftp network settings.
– Some cameras like Foscam may require you to enter the server header ftp://ftp.kestrelmet.net, rather than ftp.kestrelmet.net.
– Select passive mode (PASV), if available.
– The maximum upload interval is one minute. Program an upload interval of 60 seconds or greater.
Enter the static URL associated with your camera hosting software. An example for the Nest Camera is referenced below.
Once the camera image has successfully uploaded to the server, the image will appear next to the WeatherCam credentials.
To make your WeatherCam public, select the checkbox “Allow others to view your weather cam“. It will take up to 48 hours for approval. Only images that point outside and show a portion of the sky will be approved.
Once your WeatherCam is public, it will be displayed on the WeatherCam map:
Transmission up to 1000 feet line of sight. Obstructions will affect the transmission range.
Recommendations for KestrelMet Wi-Fi Installation:
- The station should be mounted in a location with strong Wi-Fi signal strength.
- The KestrelMet 6000 Wi-Fi weather station can ONLY connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
- You can use third-party tools such as a Wi-Fi analyzer app to plan an optimal location for your station. After your station is registered, you can use the signal indicators on AmbientWeather.net/Devices for live Wi-Fi signal readings.
- Avoid obstructions like buildings, trees, and structures in between your router and the KestrelMet Wi-Fi installation site.
Please see this video on how to export / download your weather data: Exporting Data
... PermalinkPlease watch this video for some troubleshooting techniques
0... PermalinkThe KestrelMet 6000 cellular weather station can ONLY connect to a cellular network (typically Verizon or AT&T according to your station’s SIM card for US customers), and cannot connect to a Wi-Fi network. You can use provider coverage maps, FCC maps (https://fcc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6c1b2e73d9d749cdb7bc88a0d1bdd25b), or third-party tools such as the Open Signal app or RootMetrics app to plan an optimal location for your station. After your station is registered, you can use the signal indicators on the device's screen for live cellular signal readings.
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- The KestrelMet Wi-Fi weather station will not connect to a guest account.
- The KestrelMet Wi-Fi connects to the 2.4 GHz band on your router. Make sure the 2.4 GHz band is operating and connected to the Internet.
- If you own a Mesh Network or multiple repeaters, power off all of the secondary nodes and leave the primary node (connected to the Internet) on.
- Reboot the router.
- Use the Hidden SSID feature to enter your SSID (whether it is hidden or not). Be careful, the SSID and password are both case-sensitive.
How Ambient Weather Uses Cookies
A cookie is a small piece of text sent to your browser by a website you visit. It helps our website remember information about your visit, like your preferred units of measure, and login credentials. That can make your next visit easier and our site more useful to you. Cookies play an important role. Without them, using the web would be a much more frustrating experience.
Google Analytics
We also use Google Analytics for tracking our website performance. It is Google’s analytics tool that helps website and app owners understand how their visitors engage with their website properties. It uses a set of cookies to collect information and report site usage statistics without personally identifying individual visitors to Google. The main cookie used by Google Analytics is the ‘_ga’ cookie.
... PermalinkPlease see this quick video on the process and details of what this subscription improves.
AWN Enhanced Camera Subscription: Unlock Your Camera's Full Potential
Get more out of your AWN Camera with HD resolution and increased cloud storage capacity. You'll also benefit from instant access to detailed data analysis about your video feed and a host of other features – all designed to make your life easier and your video quality better.
What's Included
Upgrade your resolution to stunning HD or Full HD for more vivid images, increase time-lapse refresh and sampling rates, and access increased 30 or 60-day storage space, so no sunset goes uncaptured. And get even more value from powerful data insights directly on your camera dashboard.
Enhanced Camera Subscription Tiers
Standard Tier – FREE
The Standard Tier is free and is included when you add a camera to the Ambient Weather Network.
Includes:
- Basic 640 x 320 resolution
- Time-lapse Updated: 4 times-a-day
- Map Icon: Standard
- Sampling: 5 Minutes
- Time-lapse Storage: 1 Day
Silver Tier – $4.99/Month
The Silver Tier is an upgrade to the Standard Tier and offers a clearer image resolution.
Includes:
- 1280 x 720 HD resolution
- Time-lapse Updated: 6 times-a-day
- Map Icon: Silver
- Sampling: 3 Minutes
- Time-lapse Storage: 30 Days
- Library Dashboard Tab for managing your storage
- Weather Cam Dashboard Tab for viewing time-lapse data analysis
Gold Tier – $9.99/Month
The Gold Tier is our premium tier and offers the highest resolution image and storage capacity.
Includes:
- 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution
- Time-lapse Updated: 8 times-a-day
- Map Icon: Gold
- Sampling: 3 Minutes
- Time-lapse Storage: 60 Days
- Library Dashboard Tab for managing your storage
- Weather Cam Dashboard Tab for viewing time-lapse data analysis
How to Upgrade Your Subscription
In order to upgrade to one of the subscription tiers, you will need to log in to your Ambient Weather Network account on a desktop by visiting https://ambientweather.net. You will also need to ensure an Ambient Weather Station and Ambient Weather Network Camera are connected to the account.
- Once logged in, select the AWN logo in the top left corner to open the menu bar.
- Choose the "Devices" tab on the menu.
- Scroll to the device card that has the camera you want to upgrade.
- Select "View Details" next to the camera, which will open a window where you will see an "Upgrade" button.
- Select "Upgrade," and the subscription options will appear.
- Select "Upgrade" again under the tier you wish to upgrade to.
- You will be taken to a payment page, where you can enter your credit card information.
- Once payment has been confirmed, your camera will automatically upgrade to the new subscription level and be set to Auto-Renew. Also, depending on the color tier you choose, and if your camera is public, the main map will now display either a silver or gold play icon.
How do I Manage my Subscription?
To manage your subscription, click on your avatar image and scroll to the bottom of your account page. Locate the "Managed Subscriptions" section to view your active subscriptions and toggle on and off auto-renew.
FAQs
Does my subscription cover more than one camera?
- No, subscriptions are per camera. If you have two cameras, you will need two subscriptions.
Can I pay for an annual subscription?
- Yes, this option will be available soon.
Where can I access my new camera dashboard tabs and subscription features?
- Right now, the enhanced camera subscription and dashboard tabs are only accessible on the desktop version of AWN. iOS and Android access are coming soon (Q1 2023)
Can I downgrade my subscription?
- Yes, you can downgrade your subscription at any time by following the "Upgrade your Subscription" steps above, but instead of an "upgrade button," you will see a "downgrade button."
What if I upgrade in the middle of a month?
- We will pro-rate the cost of the new tier with your payment for the lower tier. For example, if you were at the silver tier and upgraded to the gold tier mid-month, $2.50 would apply to your gold tier subscription for that month.
Can I cancel my subscription?
- Yes, simply downgrade to the free standard tier to cancel your subscription.
Can I add more than one credit card to my account?
- At this time, we are only accepting one card per account.
Please see this video.
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