Weather station recommendations

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Weather station recommendations

Rincey

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#275968 19-Sep-2020 13:01

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about getting a 'decent' weather station... a quick google for example: https://scientificsales.co.nz/la-crosse-v40-pro-wifi-professional-colour-weather-station/

But I don't know anything about weather stations, so I don't know what to look for in a good one.

Requirements:

- temperature (of course)

- wind

- rainfall

- WiFi desirable for data collection (range needs to be good though ~100m)

- Data collection! (I want to see trends over time, or compare to previous months/years. I have a ASUSTOR NAS - I haven't look on App Central to see if it has any data logger apps).

- multiple sensors (we have an orchard that has it's own little micro-climate, so being able to compare that to the rest of the property would be great)

(- anything else deemed desirable - suggestions welcome)

- budget: don't have one - more interested in getting the 'right' unit, then seeing if we can afford it

Cheers!

farcus

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#2568022 19-Sep-2020 13:15

Those La Crosse weather stations are pretty similar to Fine Offset stations that you would be able to pick up much cheaper (sold in Aus / NZ as Pantech Weather stations)

If you want a top notch weather station Davis Instruments are probably the way to go - but quite expensive

https://www.davisinstruments.com/

neb

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#2568223 19-Sep-2020 17:54

budget: don't have one - more interested in getting the 'right' unit, then seeing if we can afford it

In that case get a Davis. Just buy the sensor package and get a third-party unit to talk to it and interface to the Internet. Also get it from the US if you can since the NZ distributors' markup is... aggressive.

dazhann

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#2568229 19-Sep-2020 18:40

https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/360ryqx3?p=72

Some good chat here about weather stations. Ive just bought the Wh2900 Pantech off ebay after ready through this, its on its way

Rincey

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#2568558 20-Sep-2020 09:31

Wow, that's a massive thread of information. Thanks.
I guess the Aussies care more about the weather than us kiwis
:-)

afe66

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#2568617 20-Sep-2020 12:27

neb:
budget: don't have one - more interested in getting the 'right' unit, then seeing if we can afford it

In that case get a Davis. Just buy the sensor package and get a third-party unit to talk to it and interface to the Internet. Also get it from the US if you can since the NZ distributors' markup is... aggressive.

I bought local on 2006 and got spectacular service. When the broadcast frequencies changed they swapped the sensor motherboard and the console.

If buying from overseas check the frequencies are compatible.

farcus

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#2568621 20-Sep-2020 12:39

Rincey: Wow, that's a massive thread of information. Thanks.
I guess the Aussies care more about the weather than us kiwis
:-)

there are actually a number of threads here on geekzone about weather stations if you do a search.

This is one of the more recent ones

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=73&topicid=273384

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JaseNZ

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#2568650 20-Sep-2020 14:23

I tried all the cheap fine offset ones and you get what you pay for they were crap and did not last very long.

I spent the dosh and purchased the Davis vue pro wired one with the solar and uv sensors.

Been up for over 4 years now and have not been near it. It just works.

I interface mine with Cumulus MX software which is awesome.

I also upload to a few other weather placed including windy. Here is my station on windy here.

https://www.windy.com/station/pws-f06e4144?-43.543,172.658,8

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

farcus

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#2568663 20-Sep-2020 15:18

JaseNZ:

I tried all the cheap fine offset ones and you get what you pay for they were crap and did not last very long.

I have a fine offset / pantech station and it is great. Had it for about two and a half years and it's still in as good as new condition. No degradation in the plastic and very accurate results. The only thing I could really complain about it are the poor viewing angles on the inside monitor.

Here's a couple of places I upload data to . . .
https://pwsweather.com/station/pws/margrl52

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/ITIMAR19

gabba

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#2568741 20-Sep-2020 18:10

I have a Davis Vantage Vue, which replaced an Oregon Scientific model. I'd put the OS one in the same category as LaCrosse. It will last you a few years as mine did, and there is some logic in just replacing it when it breaks.

The next step up would be the Vantage Vue. I've had mine for well over 7 years (i honestly can't remember how long!), and it has seen lots of sun, snow, rain and some 100kph +winds. The cover on it is still fine, which is what eventually fell apart on the Oregon Scientific one, because of the UV on the plastic.

I've recently purchased a Davis Weatherlink Live unit, which I would recommend. The Vue does come with a console, but you can't add extra sensors into the system. However you can add sensors into the Weather Link Live unit, which would suit you for your orchard.

You may be able to find a package without the console, if you don't need it, and that would reduce the price significantly. The only disadvantage I would say with the Vue is that it is a compromise as all the sensors are in the one package, (unless you buy more), but it's considerably cheaper than the Vantage Pro. It really depends on how keen you are!

The Davis Vatage Pro is a great unit, with sensors you can move around, add new sensors to the systems and the like. It's also $2k+

I also use Weather Display software which is very comprehensive. Its made in NZ and the developer is very responsive to issues and fixes. It also has a good user database, ready to support you. It does allow you to send data to a number of online places, up to a website, and you can even store your data into an SQL database. Cumulus has a not so steep learning curve which makes it extremely popular, and is now community developed. However it's not as detailed, or has as many options as Weather Display.

Yell out if you have any other questions

Andrew

Huttweather.co.nz

weather.net.nz

JaseNZ

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#2568756 20-Sep-2020 19:12

farcus:

JaseNZ:

I tried all the cheap fine offset ones and you get what you pay for they were crap and did not last very long.

I have a fine offset / pantech station and it is great. Had it for about two and a half years and it's still in as good as new condition. No degradation in the plastic and very accurate results. The only thing I could really complain about it are the poor viewing angles on the inside monitor.

Here's a couple of places I upload data to . . .
https://pwsweather.com/station/pws/margrl52

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/ITIMAR19

Nice looking at moving down you way I am going to be there tomorrow 😀

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

DjShadow

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#2568762 20-Sep-2020 19:34

Keep away from Bloomsky, while they are cool with having a camera on them their reliability is pretty poor.

Weatherflow has a new PWS out called "Tempest" which I'm keen to try but its not being shipped outside the USA currently, but the bit I like the most is no moving parts.

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farcus

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#2568778 20-Sep-2020 20:28

JaseNZ:

Nice looking at moving down you way I am going to be there tomorrow 😀

should be a nice day looking at the forecast ;-)

msukiwi

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#2568823 20-Sep-2020 20:32

DjShadow:Weatherflow has a new PWS out called "Tempest" which I'm keen to try but its not being shipped outside the USA currently, but the bit I like the most is no moving parts.

I'm waiting for my Tempest, along with at least 46 other NZ customers. Should be shipped next month. USA / Canada orders have been shipped. Europe underway.

neb

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#2569123 21-Sep-2020 11:52

I've been tempted to point a webcam at a weather rock as my official source of data while feeding from my Davis...