STRATO support: Features

Features

Overview:

Supported instruments
Radiosonde interface boards
Operation principle
Highlights
Backup
Batch processing
Receiving no data

Instruments:
STRATO records and processes data from following instruments:

ECC ozone sonde
NOAA/CMDL frost point hygrometer
CU Cryogenic Frost point Hygrometer (CFH)
Cobald backscatter sonde

Radiosonde interface boards:
STRATO supports data through the following Radiosondes and interface boards:

Intermet RSB1
Vaisala RS80 + V2C / V2D / GPS / V2X2
Vaisala RS80 + 12 bit Tmax
Vaisala RS80 +8 bit Tmax (no longer available)

Operation principle:
STRATO allows in real time:

Data recording
Data processing
Data graphing

STRATO also allows reprocessing of the recorded raw data. The analyzed output is stored in the flight data file(s) as well as in summary data files. STRATO keeps track of all instrument parameters.

Highlights:

Handling Intermet RSB1 Radiosonde in combination with the ECC/CFH/Cobald combined instrument suite.
Handling of the V2D GPS extension
Real time NMEA GPS output
Payload recovery support (see summary presentation)
Real time graphics for several key data fields
Processing of 4 different A/D interface boards
Processing of A-type and H-type humicap sensors
Radiation correction of the temperature measurements
Flowrate correction parameters are entered during flowrate measurement
Pump efficiency coefficients are computed from measurements using PUMP.DAT.
Output of high resolution data
High resistance against telemetry noise and bad data
Immediate backup feature
Only minor loss of data in case of a computer crash through quick start feature
Keyword driven tracking of all instrument parameters
Data files are compatible with the IDL analysis package
Robust user interface
Reliable recording of all incoming data without any prefiltering
Optimized for field users
Internal site data base
Tracking of all sonde parameters

Backup:
STRATO will prompt the user for a backup disk after flight recording is completed. The raw data file with the extension .RAW will be copied onto this disk as well as the description file (.DE1), the data files (.DAT), the message file (.MES) and the Vaisala file (.CAL). Thus the user is forced to create an immediate backup disk for the sounding.

Quick start:
If the program has to be restarted during flight recording, type
STRATO flightname
STRATO will assume all the previously used parameters and enter the recording mode without asking any questions. Alternatively typing <CTRL> <ENTER> during the start up questionnaire will skip all following questions and assume the default values defined in the description file. Graphing is disabled, if this feature is used.

Batch processing using Strato:
The same quick start can be used to reprocess a flight. The field Input Port in the .INI file will determine whether STRATO enters the reprocessing more or the recording mode. Strato can also process multiple flights with a single call, if flightname in the DOS command line contains wildcard characters (e.g. STRATO BL*).

Receiving no data:
During flight recording STRATO will show a message if after launch no data are received for more than 30 sec. This indicates a problem with the telemetry system which has to be fixed immediately!

During preflight recording, STRATO will record all incoming data, but will not complain if no data are received. The program does not need to be interrupted, if the transmitter or the receiver is turned off, however turning off the modem while the receiver or transmitter are off keeps the amount of noise in the raw data file at a lower level.