Roger Lewis <[email protected]> writes: > I'm a very new user. So new, I haven't even downloaded WeeWx yet (planning > to though, and use the simulator at first). However, my son and I are > trying to put together a personal weather station, with the intent of > eventually creating an amateur radio Automatic Packet Reporting System > (APRS) that broadcasts our weather data. Both my son and I are licensed > amateurs, my son is interested in meteorology, and he has already been > through some SkyWarn training. I'm pretty comfortable in Linux, and done > embedded and desktop programming in the past. But first, we need to specify > the hardware. > > We are looking at a Davis Vantage Vue 6110, which is only the Vantage Vue > integrated sensor suite (ISS), and no wireless console. Along with the > 6110, we are looking at the WeatherLink Live 6100.
As Vince alluded to, there are several big issues you should consider:
From a privacy point of view, are you ok with a setup that requires
your devices to talk to the cloud? (Even if you choose to publish
some data.)
From a functionality point of view, are you ok with a setup that will
not work without the cloud? Some devices (not necessarily weather)
have stopped working when the manufacturer shuts down their cloud.
You will at times lose utility power or Internet, and you will almost
certainly have trouble that takes more than 5 minutes to fix with your
weewx computer. Many people want their equipment to continue
recording data to have later, even if it can't be reported in real
time. The Davis Serial and USB loggers do this; I have experienced
several power outages with no loss of historical data*. And a
several-day weewx computer outage due to memory card issues, also with
no loss of data. With Weatherlink Live, my impresssion is there is no
data logger and no backfill of the database when the weewx host comes
up.
* But make sure your computer has a battery-backed TOD clock; I did
have trouble with that once.
Being a ham, I'd expect that you want to be able to continue
functioning during Internet certainly and also power outages, perhaps
via UPS/batteries and generator, solar, etc. With the USB logger, you
can do this. With Weatherlink Live, I'm not so sure. Beware that
many people don't care about this and the "no internet, no
functionality" defect of much equipment is not disclosed like it
should be.
> The other alternative would be to get the Vantage Vue 6250 (ISS and
> console), then add a WeatherLink 6510 USB. This seems to be a more stable
> config, but $80 more than the 6110 and 6510 USB. And we really don't need
> the console.
In my view the ability to operate without the cloud, have stored data
during outages, and enable you to have a "if I supply power to weewx
computer, TNX and 2m transmitter my data will still be sent over APRS"
is worth the $80.
> Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Are we on the right track?
You are on the right track. Also consider the Vantage Pro 2 instead of
the Vue. $200 more, but it seems from anecdotes to be more reliable. I
got a Vantage Pro around 2000, had to replace the rain tipping bucket
sensor at some point, and later after the ISS stopped working, I got a
Vantage Pro2 in perhaps 2012. The Pro2 has had no issues since then -
just had to replace the ISS battery once, maybe twice. So I am getting
10 years out of them, at least (Massachusetts), and I think my
experience is typical. There are a lot of cheap stations that fail far
faster; some have a reputation for lasting about a year. So when you
consider price, read about typical reliablity and convert prices into
$/year.
(You can also get the 2+ with UV and Solar Radiation, or an
fan-aspirated temp sensor, and a heated rain gauge, even more
expensive.)
You said you don't need the console. But with 3 D cells, it will keep
working and tell you the outside temp/dewpoint etc. while there is no
power. And it's easy to look at - but keep in mind that you need to put
it close to the weewx computer, and you'll want backup power for the
computer/TNC/radio.
Greg
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