I’m a noob here. Have decided to start a personal weather station. After doing lots of research in many places I have decided on a Davis Pro 2 model #6153. Have not bought anything yet. Want to make my purchases within 2 weeks.
Am still a bit confused on what EXACTLY I need to connect to the internet. What I want to do is to get the data, via the wireless ISS to my laptop. I want to keep lots of weather data and also to send it to Weather Underground and perhaps do my own weather website. From looking around it seems like I might need:
A Davis Envoy to actually capture the wireless data out of the air.
A data logging device to take the data from the Envoy and then store it. Perhaps this also moves the data to my computer?
I don’t want to connect anything to my inside Davis display as that is not a critical part of my weather data gathering and will only be used to look at when we’re there.
My weather station is going to be located at a cabin in the mountains that we normally only visit on weekends. The laptop stays there all the time. There is normal 110v power there but the power does go off and on 1-2x per week at random. Rural life. I need a means to capture the data 24x7 from the ISS and store it. But I will normally leave the laptop on and transmitting data to WU 24x7.
Later on I’d like to add a weather cam, some ground sensors that I can somehow feed into my irrigation system timer which I use to water trees I plant each year. My irrigation timer has an input for a rain gauge but want something better than what I can get from Rainbird. I’m sure I can figure out a way to make these connect.
So, can someone help me with EXACTLY what HW or SW I need to get the data to my laptop? Laptop has both USB and Ethernet ports but not a Serial port.
Down the road I will ask for assistance with determining the best SW to use on my laptop as well. Seems like WD is preferred here as this is a WD site. I have to admit I have not spent much time yet on that facet of my station.
Am still a bit confused on what EXACTLY I need to connect to the internet. What I want to do is to get the data, via the wireless ISS to my laptop. I want to keep lots of weather data and also to send it to Weather Underground and perhaps do my own weather website. From looking around it seems like I might need:
A Davis Envoy to actually capture the wireless data out of the air.
A data logging device to take the data from the Envoy and then store it. Perhaps this also moves the data to my computer.
I don’t want to connect anything to my inside Davis display as that is not a critical part of my weather data gathering and will only be used to look at when we’re there.
The data logging device is called “weatherlink”, Davis sells it as a package of the hardware logger/PC interface and their software. Most of us on here use an alternative and more comprehensive software Weather-Display but you can’t buy the Davis interface without their software.
The weatherlink logger fits in the console so there’s really no reason to also buy an Envoy. It’s also a lot easier to troubleshoot the console + logger combination because you have the display to help you. The console comes with the station so if you use that you will save the cost of the Envoy.
My weather station is going to be located at a cabin in the mountains that we normally only visit on weekends. The laptop stays there all the time. There is normal 110v power there but the power does go off and on 1-2x per week at random. Rural life. I need a means to capture the data 24x7 from the ISS and store it. But I will normally leave the laptop on and transmitting data to WU 24x7.
Be sure that the laptop will restart after a power failure, the some laptop BIOS don’t include that function (Sony for sure). A low power desktop + UPS is a better option for a remote station IMHO. I have run such a station for about 7 years now, usually running several months between reboots.
So, can someone help me with EXACTLY what HW or SW I need to get the data to my laptop? Laptop has both USB and Ethernet ports but not a Serial port.
The weatherlink interface is available in both USB and Serial versions. The serial connection is pretty much bulletproof, but the USB has been troublesome for a small % of users. If you have no serial port a serial weatherlink + good quality USB - Serial adaptor would be the way to go (IMHO).
So you need:
Minimum:
The Vantage Pro2 station
Weatherlink
Better:
The Vantage Pro2 station
Weatherlink
Weather-Display
Or if you insist on not using the console for the interface:
The Vantage Pro2 station
Envoy
Weatherlink
Weather-Display
Thanks. If I don’t use the Envoy, I have to plug the Weatherlink datalogger into the back of the indoor display, and then keep that in very close proximity to the laptop, right? I.E there’s a physical serial connection out of the back of the data logger that feeds into a serial port/USB converter and then into the laptop. Right? The upside to the Envoy is that I can place the indoor display somewhere else (like my living room) and the Envoy in my office.
Question: Can the Davis ISS provide a wireless connection to > 1 indoor display unit? If yes, then purchasing a 2nd indoor display unit instead of the Envoy might make more sense. I could keep one near the computer and one where I want to see it all the time.
My laptop is a Sony. Was considering just getting an el cheapo UPS and plugging the laptop into that. Thus if the power goes out for 5 seconds a few times a week the laptop won’t reboot.
Question: So, since the Weatherlink is bundled with their software, do you all just ditch the SW and move on to Weather-Display? Is WD something suitable for a complete newbie? (I am an IT engineering geek by trade).
With the serial you can just run regular phone wire up to 100 feet or so, so that’s not such a big deal as a USB + extender etc.
I have a second console running off the AC adaptor that has the weatherlink and feeds the PC. The first console runs cordless on batteries. For me (and I used to have an Envoy) the extra for the second console was well worth it.
My laptop is a Sony. Was considering just getting an el cheapo UPS and plugging the laptop into that. Thus if the power goes out for 5 seconds a few times a week the laptop won't reboot.
Depends on the power situation, most weekend places tend to be rural/low pop density where restoring power is not a priority. Mine is a long way away so reboot is essential for me. YMMV as they say.
Question: So, since the Weatherlink is bundled with their software, do you all just ditch the SW and move on to Weather-Display? Is WD something suitable for a complete newbie? (I am an IT engineering geek by trade).
Most VP users on here have done that. Some use a software (Virtual VP) that allows multiple software to run against one station and run both (or more). WD has a steep learning curve and has prioritized functionality over documentation but the author is on here every day and he and the users of this forum are some of the most helpful folks you will ever meet on the internet. We have gotten users up and running who have virtually no PC experience so I don’t think you’ll have problem.
I would suggest you get the whole thing going at home first before remoting it.
