PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS: Queries and Advice

KAGY · 29-12-2014 3:51pm

Messing around with my Weather station connection I noticed this when I listed my usb devices:

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 004: ... WH1080 Weather Station / [B]USB Missile Launcher
[/B]

:eek: hope I don't hit the wrong button :eek:

anoble66 · 02-01-2015 9:42am

I took a punt on this unit:-

http://www.reichelt.nl/Weather-Stations/VENTUS-W266/3//index.html?ACTION=3&GROUPID=5992&ARTICLE=143279&OFFSET=16&

No data logging but with color screen, lightning detection and UV it seems good value....guess time will tell.

Philburns · 02-01-2015 11:29am

KAGY wrote: »

Hi everyone, finally got a PWS thanks to the good lady kagy and santa.

It's an (Aercus WS2083 - Fineweather clone) and it's up, mounted in a decent location and communicating with the supplied Cumulus software!

Next step, I was hoping to use my HTPC as a server as that's already on 24/7 and has MySql / Apache running etc, but it's out of range. So I'm hoping to set up my RPi as a 24/7 server which leads me onto my questions:

What (Linux) software do people have? I've looked at weewx, (and know that wview exists) but is there anything else you'd recommend? I just need the usual logging and graphing and publishing to website. If it could be expanded at a later date to also log data from my electricity monitor that would be even better.

Thanks!

Santa also got me an Aercus WS2083, I have managed to get it connected through a Raspberry Pi using weewx fairly easily. I currently have it sending data to Weather Underground but I'm wondering if there are better alternatives.

Strangegravy · 02-01-2015 1:17pm

Philburns wrote: »

Santa also got me an Aercus WS2083, I have managed to get it connected through a Raspberry Pi using weewx fairly easily. I currently have it sending data to Weather Underground but I'm wondering if there are better alternatives.

These stations had good reviews, but seemed to be out of stock everywhere I looked just after Xmas. Where did you get the Raspberry PI from and was it any hassle to set it up with the station, any guide you used? Will probably go down this route in the near future.

Philburns · 02-01-2015 1:43pm

The Rasberry Pi belongs to my son, I can't remember where we got it, he's had it a couple of years, it was used for streaming videos to the TV among other things but now the Chromecast has taken it's place.

It is very simple to setup if you have a little Linux experience. These are the steps AFAICR

1. Install default Raspberian OS
2. Download the latest weewx.deb from weewx.com
3. sudo dpkg -i <weewx debfile>
At this point it will tell you there are missing dependencies and advise you to do
4. sudo apt-get install -f
5. Setup weewx - it will ask you most necessary questions on install. Plenty of information here weewx.com/docs/usersguide.htm

You can do this all either through the GUI or just as handy ssh from another machine.
You will need to plug the USB from the weather station monitor in before weewx will run.

There is a guide here, but it isn't as complicated as he managed to make it: davies-barnard.co.uk/2013/12/weewx-rasp/

Strangegravy · 02-01-2015 2:02pm

Thanks Phil. Ah I'm normally ok at figuring these things out so should be fine, but the guides definitely help.

KAGY · 05-01-2015 1:13am

Strangegravy wrote: »

These stations had good reviews, but seemed to be out of stock everywhere I looked just after Xmas. Where did you get the Raspberry PI from and was it any hassle to set it up with the station, any guide you used? Will probably go down this route in the near future.

I had an rpi from ages ago. Think I got it from Farnell. Ie . I've being playing and tinkering with the software since I got it so I've made things more complex than was needed. If you've used Linux before it's simple. If not it is a matter of following instructions. Basically:

Download a raspbian image for the pies sdcard (the operating system)
Download weewx from weewxand follow the read me. You'll need to install some other dependencies e.g. python and also apache or similar If you want to run a webserver to view the results

Im messing around with two skins
[url]Http://Weather.whitehillenv.com[/url] 《~ the basic skin
[url]Http://Weather.whitehillenv.com/exfoliation/index.html[/url]

Edit: oops didn't finish reading the thread before replying so didn't see Phil s reply.
I used the weewx guide http://www.weewx.com/docs.html
I did the python install as it puts everything in one folder: useful as I'm using a nfs shared folder to reduce wear on the sd card and for easier backup

KAGY · 05-01-2015 1:37am

Philburns wrote: »

Santa also got me an Aercus WS2083, I have managed to get it connected through a Raspberry Pi using weewx fairly easily. I currently have it sending data to Weather Underground but I'm wondering if there are better alternatives.

Had a bigger post here but the phone decided to lose it !
Im looking at but still waiting to make a decision
Wow.metoffice.gov.uk
Openweathermap.org

And not quite weather related, but as i hope to expand into enrrgy monitoring to:

https://smartenergygroups.com/samotage/posts/84-Summer-is-coming

Villain · 25-01-2015 10:34pm

Just an FYI I just replaced my Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus with 24hrs FARS, some nice little improvements over the last model I got nearly 6 years ago including some anti-bird spikes. Purchased it in Germany so its the EU model, good bit cheaper than UK model.

DavisPro2Plus by WeatherSnapper, on Flickr

Cul a cnoic · 26-01-2015 1:29am

anoble66 wrote: »

I took a punt on this unit:-

http://www.reichelt.nl/Weather-Stations/VENTUS-W266/3//index.html?ACTION=3&GROUPID=5992&ARTICLE=143279&OFFSET=16&

No data logging but with color screen, lightning detection and UV it seems good value....guess time will tell.

Hi anoble66, are you happy with the VENTUS-W266 so far? Thanks.

Philburns · 26-01-2015 11:25am

KAGY wrote: »

And not quite weather related, but as i hope to expand into enrrgy monitoring to:

Would like to hear how that goes, I am doing some energy monitoring myself, taking daily records of the electricity usage of my air source heat pump, but nothing automated.

My weather station is here BTW phiznlil.ddns.net/weewx

joujoujou · 26-01-2015 1:36pm

Villain wrote: »

[...] its the EU model, good bit cheaper than UK model.

[...]

Nice one!

How much, if you don't mind me asking?

Villain · 26-01-2015 2:26pm

joujoujou wrote: »

Nice one!

How much, if you don't mind me asking?

€1200 with the data logger from http://www.forster-grosshandel.de/6163eu-davis-vantage-pro2-plus-fars-wetterstation-6163-eu-p-276.html?osCsid=f21kv9n0ei11l6ltqa82b7iek4

joujoujou · 27-01-2015 1:55pm

Ouch! That's quite a pile of monies.

I have to start saving.

anoble66 · 29-01-2015 10:04pm

Hi,

Sorry just noticed your post. Yes, seems to be working well although no lightning in my area yet to know if the detector is really working. Barometer seems to track quite accurately, wind and rain measurement looks to be quite accurate. Only thing that I can't seem to get working is the radio signal clock sync but that could just be where it's located that it can't get signal.

Cul a cnoic wrote: »

Hi anoble66, are you happy with the VENTUS-W266 so far? Thanks.

Jambo · 04-02-2015 5:17pm

Hi All,

We have recently updated some of our risk assessments and procedures in our workplace and a result we have a need for a weather station to continually monitor (and preferably log) Windspeed and Direction , Temp and Humidity.

Can anyone offer some help and advice on what station and setup we should choose ? I have done some looking at the Davis Vantage Vue Pro 2 Wirless Range - but I am at a loss as to what setup is best and what we will need to achieve what we want?

Preference would be a Wireless , Ability to Log (Either Self Contained or to a Windows Office Server) I would like to think we don't need the console if the system will allow myself and other employees can monitor the data on our computers or via our mobile.

Sunlight is somewhat limited to out site in the winter months so we may need a reasonable battery on the station.

Is the console required if we purchase an Envoy System ?
Can the Vue Pro 2 systems be purchsed with a Envoy and not with a console ?
Do we need to purchase the separate software to view the data on our machines and mobiles ?

Finally can anyone recommend suitable UK or Irish Retailers ?

KAGY · 05-02-2015 1:12am

Jambo wrote: »

Hi All,

We have recently updated some of our risk assessments and procedures in our workplace and a result we have a need for a weather station to continually monitor (and preferably log) Windspeed and Direction , Temp and Humidity.

Can anyone offer some help and advice on what station and setup we should choose ? I have done some looking at the Davis Vantage Vue Pro 2 Wirless Range - but I am at a loss as to what setup is best and what we will need to achieve what we want?

Preference would be a Wireless , Ability to Log (Either Self Contained or to a Windows Office Server) I would like to think we don't need the console if the system will allow myself and other employees can monitor the data on our computers or via our mobile.

Sunlight is somewhat limited to out site in the winter months so we may need a reasonable battery on the station.

Is the console required if we purchase an Envoy System ?
Can the Vue Pro 2 systems be purchsed with a Envoy and not with a console ?
Do we need to purchase the separate software to view the data on our machines and mobiles ?

Finally can anyone recommend suitable UK or Irish Retailers ?

I think most will do what you want. I've a Aercus ws2083 bought on amazon and that is wireless and has wind, temp, humidity and rain sensors. The console is plugged into a raspberry pi running weewx which stores the data in a mysql data base, creates reports and charts then FTPs these to a website weather.whitehillenv.com.

Villain · 05-02-2015 1:51pm

Jambo wrote: »

Is the console required if we purchase an Envoy System ?

Nope

Jambo wrote: »

Can the Vue Pro 2 systems be purchsed with a Envoy and not with a console ?

Yep

Jambo wrote: »

Do we need to purchase the separate software to view the data on our machines and mobiles ?

Yes you need to purchase a data logger which will come with Davis Weatherlink software

Jambo wrote: »

Finally can anyone recommend suitable UK or Irish Retailers ?

You can buy from http://www.weathershop.co.uk/ but they are rather more expensive than http://www.forster-grosshandel.de/6152eu-davis-vantage-pro-2-6152-eu-funkwetterstation-wireless-p-112.html?osCsid=f21kv9n0ei11l6ltqa82b7iek4 where I recently purchased my new station from.

That link above is for the station with the console and you can purchase it without the conole and get an envoy but the price isn't much different.

If you want some further advice pm and I can give you my phone number.

Jambo · 09-02-2015 11:17pm

@KAGY, @VILLAN - Thanks for the advice , Although the option of using the pi would be my my preference as I like a bit of tinkering we decided to go with the Davis Pro Vantage 2 Option as it is more or less a straight out of the box solution with readily available support which was a requirement considering it is to be used for a commercial application.

@Villan - thanks for suggesting that German Site - we went with them , they are a hell of a lot cheaper that the alternatives without even considering the vat rebate.

Just have to get a nice 10m lamppost concreted in now and ready for our delivery later this week !

Villain · 10-02-2015 9:31am

Good stuff, just an FYI the standard height for measuring temps is 1.5 meters, also you can mount the wind anemometer and wind vane separately using http://www.forster-grosshandel.de/6332ov-davis-anemometer-transmitter-kit-6332-p-299.html?osCsid=f21kv9n0ei11l6ltqa82b7iek4

That allowed me to mount main unit at 1.5 meters for accurate temps and easy access to maintain but put wind unit off Chimney pole.

garroff · 31-03-2015 3:33pm

I have a Vantage Pro weather station and console. I am not happy with the software that enable me to view my station on the internet.
What software is available to enable me to view my weather station on the internet?
Thank you

anoble66 · 31-03-2015 7:39pm

check out http://www.weather-display.com/wdlive.php

joujoujou · 01-04-2015 1:37pm

Cumulus.

http://sandaysoft.com/products/cumulus

ronn · 13-04-2015 8:32pm

I'm in the middle of renovating my house and I'd like to put in a weather station, just some thing that can read wind speed and temperature, nothing too fancy and simple to install, wireless preferably,
I've scaffolding around my house so I'm thinking it be a good idea,
Can anyone suggest a good weather station,
Thanks

garroff · 15-04-2015 8:07am

I have a Vantage Pro 2 but my on-line display is stuck for the last few months. Monitor is fine. I tried disconnecting the monitor (batteries and power supply) and reconnecting.
No joy.
Anyone any idea how I can get my internet view to show what is on the monitor.?

Lumi · 15-04-2015 8:15am

ronn wrote: »

I'm in the middle of renovating my house and I'd like to put in a weather station, just some thing that can read wind speed and temperature, nothing too fancy and simple to install, wireless preferably,
I've scaffolding around my house so I'm thinking it be a good idea,
Can anyone suggest a good weather station,
Thanks

What's your budget ronn? Maplin have a range of cheapish starter stations.

If you search this thread you should find plenty of advice

Lumi · 15-04-2015 8:21am

garroff wrote: »

I have a Vantage Pro 2 but my on-line display is stuck for the last few months. Monitor is fine. I tried disconnecting the monitor (batteries and power supply) and reconnecting.
No joy.
Anyone any idea how I can get my internet view to show what is on the monitor.?

What software are you using garroff?

Keplar240B · 10-09-2015 11:49pm

Stupid Question?
I don't have a weather station, but I recently accrued a gadget with a range of sensors including humidity and pressure. The gadget is for indoor use
Is the pressure and humidity indoors the same as outdoors with windows opened and closed?

Interesting watching the pressure values fall over today

KAGY · 11-09-2015 10:35am

Keplar240B wrote: »

Stupid Question?
...Is the pressure and humidity indoors the same as outdoors with windows opened and closed? ...

The pressure in the house will be more or less the same as outside, unless there's a very strong wind blowing against the house with windows opened.

The humidity inside is much more stable than outside, and is normally around 50%. My sensor is in the kitchen and you can see the spikes when we cook. Outside the temperature (and hence the amount of vapour the air can hold) changes much more rapidly, you can see this at night in the graphs below. Here's my daily, weekly and monthly comparison
[IMG][/img]

Keplar240B · 11-09-2015 6:19pm

KAGY wrote: »

The pressure in the house will be more or less the same as outside, unless there's a very strong wind blowing against the house with windows opened.

The humidity inside is much more stable than outside, and is normally around 50%. My sensor is in the kitchen and you can see the spikes when we cook. Outside the temperature (and hence the amount of vapour the air can hold) changes much more rapidly, you can see this at night in the graphs below. Here's my daily, weekly and monthly comparison

Thanks for that!
I see your graphs are Dated September.
If your windows where open in summer would you get a more accurate reading of the outside humidity?

KAGY · 11-09-2015 8:46pm

I've an outdoor sensor too so the wildly varying dark green line is the actual outdoor humidity.

BTW, the darker background is night time

AreWeAlone · 13-09-2015 5:23pm

Can anyone read this article double-u X 3.rmets.org/weather-and-climate/observing/make-rain-gauge..., surely the diameter of the 2 litre bottle will be too large and collect too much rain? Doesn't the guage have to be a standard width in order to get an accurate measurement?

Sorry had to edit the url as a new user.

Thanks.

KAGY · 13-09-2015 10:17pm

AreWeAlone wrote: »

Can anyone read this article double-u X 3.rmets.org/weather-and-climate/observing/make-rain-gauge..., surely the diameter of the 2 litre bottle will be too large and collect too much rain? Doesn't the guage have to be a standard width in order to get an accurate measurement?

Sorry had to edit the url as a new user.

Thanks.

Without reading the article: it shouldn't matter about the diameter if you are using a cylinder. A wider vessel will have more water in it but it'll still just reach the same height.
However if you have a big opening and a narrow tube e.g a funnel then the height will be different.
It's all to do with a definition of volume v=height × area

Keplar240B · 14-09-2015 1:36am

KAGY wrote: »

I've an outdoor sensor too so the wildly varying dark green line is the actual outdoor humidity.

BTW, the darker background is night time

I understand ...
What I meant to say was

IF you leave a window open, Does the indoor humidity sensor readings look the same as outdoor sensor readings?

KAGY · 14-09-2015 8:14am

Keplar240B wrote: »

I understand ...
What I meant to say was

IF you leave a window open, Does the indoor humidity sensor readings look the same as outdoor sensor readings?

I suppose it might if the temperature of the house tracked the outside but it would happen slowly. In reality I can't see the humidity inside changing fast enough to match that outside, there will generally be to many effects like soft furnishing absorbing and releasing moisture, the temperature inside is affected by the thermal mass of the house and solar gains.

Jambo · 14-09-2015 4:33pm

Hi All,

I have been having a few frustrating comms issues with my Vantage Pro 2 (Wireless) Data logger recently, either with a loss of comms between the sensor suite and the data logger or between the data logger and weatherlink.com hance I have had to power off/on a few to many times resulting in some data loss.
- one example of this is weatherlink software is telling me that I have had 37.0mm of rain this storm period - whereas the data logger says its 29.4mm !! simply down to two reboots today)

It is probably staring me in the face (or manual) but can anyone tell me is there an easy way I can write / save my data to the dataloggers memory before rebooting ?

Also is there any way of rebooting the unit without powering off ? or to upload recorded data to weatherlink.com that was recoreded on the logger but which was not uploaded due to a weatherlink ip issue.

adamshare01 · 04-10-2015 11:43am

It looks as if I'm a bit too late on this, but hopefully I can still be helpful.

I've owned an older LaCrosse model (the WS-2315) and it worked fairly well. It was a bit tricky to position the thermometer/hygrometer combo in a shady spot (it would quickly become inaccurate if left in sun for even a few minutes), and the impeller-based anemometer frequently under-measured wind speed. That station ran me around $110 a few years ago. Despite my misgivings with the impeller, I would get another LaCrosse station (just one with a more traditional anemometer). They are well-supported and pretty economical, and accurately report the main weather factors (if, again, positioned well).

If money is no object, the Davis VantagePro series is far-and-away the best. It is fairly easy to position (it is able to resist skewed temperature readings due to direct sunlight) and it has pretty decent bundled software. It, unfortunately, is around $500. It is a great piece of hardware, though, and I find myself coveting one for the day I leave apartment complex life again.

From quora

Danno · 05-12-2015 12:24pm

Anyone using the W920 Ventus? Any good?

corsav6 · 06-12-2015 9:54pm

Weather station coming into Lidl Thursday, wondering should I take the plunge and get it.
Any advice from some experienced boards users?
Seen it on the app so can't link, sorry.

KAGY · 06-12-2015 10:14pm

Link for those interested
http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=33630

Doesn't mention any PC connection, you should look into that a bit more - all of the interesting stuff is about having past data

KAGY · 06-12-2015 10:15pm

Double post deleted

KAGY · 06-12-2015 10:22pm

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/auriol-3-piece-premium-weather-station-set-39-99-lidl-1724000
If its the same one as in this review of steer clear

Villain · 06-12-2015 11:47pm

Be far better off with http://www.maplin.ie/p/wireless-weather-station-n25fr as a starter station.

corsav6 · 07-12-2015 12:04am

KAGY wrote: »

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/auriol-3-piece-premium-weather-station-set-39-99-lidl-1724000
If its the same one as in this review of steer clear

It's the same one, cheers for the link, you saved me wasting money

Villain wrote: »

Be far better off with http://www.maplin.ie/p/wireless-weather-station-n25fr as a starter station.

That looks spot on for what I need.
I'm living in a fairly windy location so it will be interesting to get some readings, also handy for including data with my posts in the storm threads.
Cheers for the link, I appreciate it.:)

KAGY · 07-12-2015 12:25am

When you do get up and running consider submitting your data to a wunderground or wow.metoffice.gov.UK
It's handy to have your data online plus the visualisations / graphs can also be better than the software that comes with the station

joujoujou · 07-12-2015 1:03am

Even better:

http://www.maplin.ie/p/black-usb-wireless-touchscreen-weather-centre-n96gy

Irish Steve · 07-12-2015 2:39am

caveat, the cheaper of the 2 Maplin stations has no USB link, so no history download, or computer storage capability,

SeaFields · 07-12-2015 4:21am

joujoujou wrote: »

Even better:

http://www.maplin.ie/p/black-usb-wireless-touchscreen-weather-centre-n96gy

Maybe I got a dud, but my one of the above lasted less than 12 months before the touchscreen unit packed up. Wouldn't get a maplin one again.

KAGY · 07-12-2015 9:12am

This is the one I got for Xmas last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weather-Wireless-Professional-Internet-Beginners/dp/B00APRBEPS

I have it hooked up to a raspberry pi mini PC board so I can't say much about the included software. The sensors Seem to be fine after nearly a year but I was changing the batteries (1st time) yesterday and there was a bit of rust on the pole, nuts etc.
Looking at the pic from Maplin it's the same sensor kit

joujoujou · 07-12-2015 2:04pm

SeaFields wrote: »

Maybe I got a dud, but my one of the above lasted less than 12 months before the touchscreen unit packed up. Wouldn't get a maplin one again.

Maplin gave them only their logo. They're FineOffset clones. And yes, you probably had just a bad luck. My station is up since May 2010, apart from very frequent rusty connectors problems (related to typical Irish wet weather) - no other issues.

KAGY wrote: »

This is the one I got for Xmas last year http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weather-Wireless-Professional-Internet-Beginners/dp/B00APRBEPS

[...]
Looking at the pic from Maplin it's the same sensor kit

Yep, they're both from the same manufacturer.

PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS: Queries and Advice

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