Personal Weather Station - Suggestions?

[oosik]

I bought my new wx station eight months ago. The WU blog had some bad rumblings about the condition of WU. They had been "off the air" for quite a spell. Nobody knew why or when they might come back on. I decided to wait and see what might happen. I've joined PWSweather.com and its fine.

 

[B7510HSD]

I certainly will if need be.

They are sending (at no charge) a wind test cable. It simulates a speed and direction. If I get a reading, that means my anemometer is bad. If I don't get a reading, that means the wind module on the board is bad. Either way I think it will be a relatively simple task I can complete, unless the module is soldered on, but it didn't sound like it.

Everything else is working great - I manually dumped some water in to make sure the rain gauge was working.

Really looking forward to have this up and running. I already have a WUnderground station online, but I'm not promoting it since there's no wind info, and if I do have to send it out for repair it will obviously be entirely offline for a while.

Mine needed a new anemometer and it was almost the price of the rebuild so I sent the whole station in and they replaced everything that was needed to bring back to specs.

 

[dnw64]

I bought my new wx station eight months ago. The WU blog had some bad rumblings about the condition of WU. They had been "off the air" for quite a spell. Nobody knew why or when they might come back on. I decided to wait and see what might happen. I've joined PWSweather.com and its fine.

Apparently the Davis/Weatherlink software doesn't support sending data to PWSweather. My station is showing up on WU so I will keep it there for now. I'm also reporting to CWOP.

 

[dnw64]

Mine needed a new anemometer and it was almost the price of the rebuild so I sent the whole station in and they replaced everything that was needed to bring back to specs.

Will keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[oosik]

dnw64 - I'm running Davis Weatherlink for Mac to PWSweather. No problems once I figured out all the ins/outs of the software programs. Somewhere in this mix I'm also running WeatherCat software. I'm scabrock44u on PWSweather.com.

 

[dnw64]

dnw64 - I'm running Davis Weatherlink for Mac to PWSweather. No problems once I figured out all the ins/outs of the software programs. Somewhere in this mix I'm also running WeatherCat software. I'm scabrock44u on PWSweather.com.

Hmmm. I will have to look further. I just did an internet search and found a forum where someone said they were not compatible.

I will create a PWS account and see if I can figure it out. Thanks!

 

[B7510HSD]

Hmmm. I will have to look further. I just did an internet search and found a forum where someone said they were not compatible.

I will create a PWS account and see if I can figure it out. Thanks!

This may help explain how..
PWS - FAQs

 

[oosik]

Let me tell you - between the Davis Weatherlink & Weather Cat software programs I'm right on the knifes edge for comprehension. I know there is more these programs could do - I'm just happy that they are working in harmony. They monitor, report, transmit & record. My fear, I will check a box that I don't understand - it all goes in the crapper. Honestly, I don't own any other software programs with so very many menus and so many possible variables. And this include one of the most powerful photo imaging programs currently available.

It's my fault. I don't spend enough time digging, rooting, experimenting. If I spent the time on these two software programs, like Cheto does on Facebook. Well - at least, I might understand more.

 

[cqaigy2]

When i grow up i want to get a Davis Pro, but one of my hobbies need to take a back burner. I started out using LaCrosse with Weather Display software running on Linux pc and it ran great for years. Posted to a number of weather aggregators including CWOP, as a matter of fact, it ran for some many years that the email company i used to register, went out of business. So i couldn't reset passwords and set things back up. Then one of my dogs found a lose cable and they yank the works down into the dog pen and that was the end of the La Cross. BTW, im on the bleeding edge of comprehension with most all my hobbies.

 

[dnw64]

This may help explain how..
PWS - FAQs

Apparently I need to install another software - the Davis provided Weatherlink will not work. I will try one of them out and see how it goes.

Thanks!

 

[oosik]

My first wx station - Oregon Scientific. Lasted nine years - then the plastic began turning to a white powder. I have a Davis Vantage Pro 2. Its wireless - except from the Davis display to the computer is wired.

Pics of my setup - post#11 - this thread.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm scabrock44u on PWSweather.com.

You just have no idea what a good soaker is, do you? :laughing:

 

[oosik]

No, not like you can get over there dragoneggs. We can get heavy rain - but its off in ten minutes and runs off into the valleys. The land is still bone dry.

 

[dnw64]

I certainly will if need be.

They are sending (at no charge) a wind test cable. It simulates a speed and direction. If I get a reading, that means my anemometer is bad. If I don't get a reading, that means the wind module on the board is bad. Either way I think it will be a relatively simple task I can complete, unless the module is soldered on, but it didn't sound like it.

Everything else is working great - I manually dumped some water in to make sure the rain gauge was working.

Thought I'd give an update.

Received the Wind Test Cable yesterday. Plugged it in and no reading. So I called Davis for troubleshooting. Turns out there were two problems.

1. The console was set to receive on Station 1, EXCEPT for the Wind sensor... Well, before that he helped me set the console to Station 4 to lesson the likelihood of a neighboring weather station to cause interference. Anyways, we were verifying everything was now set to Station 4 and the Wind was on 3... Once we corrected that, the Wind Test Cable provided a reading, however the anemometer did not. I assumed it would be time for a new one. Nope.

2. "Sometimes the reed switches get stuck and need a good rap to wake them up". Yup, beat on it with a screwdriver handle a few times, we have output from the anemometer!

So unless/until something else happens, I have a fully functioning Vantage Pro2 for the cost of one battery and a bit of time.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thought I'd give an update.

Received the Wind Test Cable yesterday. Plugged it in and no reading. So I called Davis for troubleshooting. Turns out there were two problems.

1. The console was set to receive on Station 1, EXCEPT for the Wind sensor... Well, before that he helped me set the console to Station 4 to lesson the likelihood of a neighboring weather station to cause interference. Anyways, we were verifying everything was now set to Station 4 and the Wind was on 3... Once we corrected that, the Wind Test Cable provided a reading, however the anemometer did not. I assumed it would be time for a new one. Nope.

2. "Sometimes the reed switches get stuck and need a good rap to wake them up". Yup, beat on it with a screwdriver handle a few times, we have output from the anemometer!

So unless/until something else happens, I have a fully functioning Vantage Pro2 for the cost of one battery and a bit of time.

Nicely done!

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I've long wanted a Personal Weather station, and after reading this thread, I am considering the Ambient WS-2902.

I have a couple of questions for those of you who have a weather station already.

1. Where do you mount it? I was considering mounting it on my roof, just outside of my office, to insure good wifi connection and it would be a good location to be away from any trees which might distort measurements. I could install it on a pole, but I'm afraid that in order to get far enough away from any obstructions, I would lose wifi signal.

2. Do you have to change batteries on the unit very often? If I mount it on my roof, I don't want to be getting up there often to change batteries. I did notice on Amazon that some units offer a remote battery accessory with which you run a wire from the battery compartment on the unit, down to an small box where you actually install the batteries, so that they can be changed from an easily accessible place. I don't see this as an option on the Ambient WS-2902.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've long wanted a Personal Weather station, and after reading this thread, I am considering the Ambient WS-2902.

I have a couple of questions for those of you who have a weather station already.

1. Where do you mount it? I was considering mounting it on my roof, just outside of my office, to insure good wifi connection and it would be a good location to be away from any trees which might distort measurements. I could install it on a pole, but I'm afraid that in order to get far enough away from any obstructions, I would lose wifi signal.

2. Do you have to change batteries on the unit very often? If I mount it on my roof, I don't want to be getting up there often to change batteries. I did notice on Amazon that some units offer a remote battery accessory with which you run a wire from the battery compartment on the unit, down to an small box where you actually install the batteries, so that they can be changed from an easily accessible place. I don't see this as an option on the Ambient WS-2902.

CLC,

OP here... I installed my WS-2902 on a pole extending about 4ft above the ridge (highest point) of the roof and on the end farthest from the trees and any heat sources. No problems with wifi and battery life. Installed it October 2018 and have not had to go up on the roof yet for maintenance. I suppose I should at least check and clean the precip catching cup but I will wait until a warm dry day.

I am very happy with it and love being able to go back and look at the history. Sign up and register your station so you and others can access the data from PWS. Here's mine.

PWS - Station Observations for KWASEABE23

 

[Complete Turf Care]

CLC,

OP here... I installed my WS-2902 on a pole extending about 4ft above the ridge (highest point) of the roof and on the end farthest from the trees and any heat sources. No problems with wifi and battery life. Installed it October 2018 and have not had to go up on the roof yet for maintenance. I suppose I should at least check and clean the precip catching cup but I will wait until a warm dry day.

I am very happy with it and love being able to go back and look at the history. Sign up and register your station so you and others can access the data from PWS. Here's mine.

PWS - Station Observations for KWASEABE23

Thanks for the quick reply. This is one of those items that I don't need, but I want. There are several stations within 5 miles from me that I can check, but I just want one at my home.

Someone recently gave me a gift card of about $350, and I usually use a gift card for something I want, but don't need. I'll attempt to get final approval from my wife later today and will probably order one from Amazon. And I will get an online account as soon as I can. Thanks!

 

[dragoneggs]

Good luck... nope I didn't need it but always wanted to know local wind and rainfall especially. Actually depending on your locale, you may find it interesting to see the variations in wind/temp/rain betwen you and others close by. Where I live, there can be quite a difference. I think they call it micro-climates.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Good luck... nope I didn't need it but always wanted to know local wind and rainfall especially. Actually depending on your locale, you may find it interesting to see the variations in wind/temp/rain betwen you and others close by. Where I live, there can be quite a difference. I think they call it micro-climates.

That's what I'm thinking too. I have an app on my phone that shows total rainfall at any spot I choose on a map, and it shows that I had 0.50" yesterday, but when I look in my yard, it looks more like I got 1" or more. I have found the app to be fairly accurate, but with all the rain we have been having lately, it seems to be a bit off. I think it takes data from nearby personal weather stations and extrapolates it to my location. By the way, the app is called 'Farm Logs' if anyone is interested. Farm Management Software | Grain Marketing Software | Free Farming App

Here in South Louisiana, we have 4 of the top 10 rainfall cities in the country, and I live 10 miles from #5. The 1 Rainiest Cities In The United States - WorldAtlas.com