electric controled awnings

WE have a 20 ft. dometic elec. awning with a wind sensor on it. First off the wind sensor has a switch on it to disable it. I keep it disabled at all times. We spend 5 months every winter in the Rio Grande valley in south Texas. The wind blows constantly there. I leave my awning tied down the whole time we are there. I have constructed side braces out of 2" PVC that attach to the awning hardware for support, to these I attach four small bungee cords to each side of the awning with awning clips. I also constructed two awning support poles out of 2" PVC that go from each corner of the awning to the ground. The awning is held to these supports by ratchet type straps and attached with springs to ground anchors. One support pole is longer than the other for rain drainage and I keep the awning support arm on the short pole completely compressed also for drainage. I also use 5 of those adjustable awning supports underneath the awning to keep water from pooling on the awning during a rain. These are expensive, $55 apiece but well worth the money. I have used this setup for four years with absolutely no problems. Of course its not worth doing unless you are going to be on an extended stay. During the summer when we are up north, we just put the awning out as needed and put it up if its windy and it is put up every night also.