Looking for wireless weather station

[RedNeckGeek]

Are any of these weather stations 'portable'?

For example, each year I have jobs that could be 100 or more miles away from me, and will last about 3 months. It would be nice to put a station at the job site that I could monitor from my office, but that I could easily remove and move on to the next job.

The Davis VantageVue consists of only two components: weather sensor module and base station/display panel. If you want the data displayed on the 'Net, you'll also need a weatherlink and a computer of some sor with an Internet connectiont; I use a laptop. Drive a T-post or piece of EMT or pipe in the ground so about 6' sticks out, mount the sensor module, plug in the base station, connect it to the computer with the weatherlink, start the monitoring software, verify that it's talking to WeatherUnderground or whatever, and you're done. Took me a couple hours to do all that the first time, and I could probably do it in way less than an hour if I had to move it.

 

[Scooby074]

Are any of these weather stations 'portable'?

For example, each year I have jobs that could be 100 or more miles away from me, and will last about 3 months. It would be nice to put a station at the job site that I could monitor from my office, but that I could easily remove and move on to the next job.

Yes, Davis has a solar powered, celluar based station called the Vantage Connect Vantage Connect Remote Weather Data Online. If you want remote and stand alone, this is likely your best option

 

[fordmantpw]

Are any of these weather stations 'portable'?

For example, each year I have jobs that could be 100 or more miles away from me, and will last about 3 months. It would be nice to put a station at the job site that I could monitor from my office, but that I could easily remove and move on to the next job.

Absolutely, as long as you have internet access at the job site. This can be cellular or other internet, but for you to be able to see it on the net, you must have constant internet access of some type at the job site.

From the time I started putting the post in the ground (I just used an old 4x4 CCA temporarily until I figure out EXACTLY where I want it) until I was recording data online was 30 - 45 minutes.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Yes, Davis has a solar powered, celluar based station called the Vantage Connect Vantage Connect Remote Weather Data Online. If you want remote and stand alone, this is likely your best option

Thanks for the link. But.....OUCH!!! $750 for the Vantage Connect, $240 for the cellular plan (1 year of 15 minute reports) and $425 for the Vantage Vue....so thats up to $1415 for the system!! More than I expected.

I bet that if I could place one of the weather stations within a wifi area, it would work too. I need to do more research on this.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Absolutely, as long as you have internet access at the job site. This can be cellular or other internet, but for you to be able to see it on the net, you must have constant internet access of some type at the job site.

I assume the internet access could be wifi?

 

[fordmantpw]

I assume the internet access could be wifi?

Yes, but you have to be able to plug the device into an Ethernet port (router, switch, hub, etc.). This can be accomplished with a wireless/Ethernet bridge, and they can be had for around 20-30 bucks. So, for an Acurite system with just the sensor and internet bridge along with the device to connect to wifi, you would be into it for ~$150.

Honestly, you would probably be better off to just go to http://www.weatherunderground.com and find a station that is close to your job site. It would definitely be much less hassle, assuming there is one within a reasonable distance. In my very rural area, there are 4 units (counting mine) within 7 miles of my house.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I bet that if I could place one of the weather stations within a wifi area, it would work too. I need to do more research on this.

The Davis VantageVue base station/display "talks" to the remote weather sensors via radio signals (NOT WiFi). My sensors are about 150' from the base station/display unit, and the signals must pass through a stucco outer wall and several sheet rock interior walls. That said, the connection has been rock solid. The WeatherLink is a cable that connects the Davis VantageVue base station/display to a computer, and the computer connects via WiFi over my home LAN, router, and satellite modem to the Internet:

Weather sensors --> base station/display --> WeatherLink --> laptop computer --> LAN --> WiFi router --> satellite modem --> Internet --> WeatherUnderground

I'm using an old MacBook that runs 24/7/365 and WeatherTracker software. The WeatherLink cable has a DB9 serial connector on the laptop end that I plug into a serial to USB converter, and that connects to a USB port on the MacBook. the WeatherLink cable may be available with other interfaces, but you'd have to check with Davis.

In order to reach your VantageVue weather data via the Internet, you'll need a computer connected to the VantageVue via a WeatherLink cable.

As you've found, the alternate cellular connection is expensive and requires a monthly subscription.

The Davis Instruments web site does a pretty good job of explaining all this, and you can also download user manuals for their equipment that includes installation guides.

Hope this helps...

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Honestly, you would probably be better off to just go to http://www.weatherunderground.com and find a station that is close to your job site. It would definitely be much less hassle, assuming there is one within a reasonable distance. In my very rural area, there are 4 units (counting mine) within 7 miles of my house.

I found a weather station at the exact location of my next job here - Opelousas Catholic School, Louisiana (70570) Conditions & Forecast | Weather Underground

But, is there a place on there that I can see total rainfall for an event? Or for the past 24 hours or any other period?

 

[fordmantpw]

I found a weather station at the exact location of my next job here - Opelousas Catholic School, Louisiana (70570) Conditions & Forecast | Weather Underground

But, is there a place on there that I can see total rainfall for an event? Or for the past 24 hours or any other period?

At the bottom of the little section that has the temperature (top left), it has 'Today' and 'Yesterday'. At the bottom of those is 'Precip.' If you click on yesterday, it will give you a more accurate value. Also, to the right of the temperature section, there are more details including rainfall.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

At the bottom of the little section that has the temperature (top left), it has 'Today' and 'Yesterday'. At the bottom of those is 'Precip.' If you click on yesterday, it will give you a more accurate value. Also, to the right of the temperature section, there are more details including rainfall.

I see it now. That will come in handy in the future. And this thread has probably just saved me a couple hundred bucks. Well worth the price of my subscription here (free!).

Thanks for all the replies and help. I will probably still get something for here at my shop though.