Author Topic: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?  (Read 5167 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jems

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 56
I'd like to find a weather station which will send its results to Weather Underground.   Is there something that can do this without too much difficulty?
I found the Davis 6250, which sends its data to a console device if I understand correctly.  Then, one would need a special adapter which connects the console to a PC running some special software.   And then, software to send to Weather Underground.

I don't really care if I have a home console device with a display; I wouldn't mind viewing my uploaded results/readings directly on Weather Underground.   Is there a simple solution which does this without all the layers of extra hardware, software, etc. ?

Also, I do everything in Linux.  So if a PC/software is needed, I'd prefer it to be Linux.

Thanks!

Offline Bushman

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 7549
    • Eagle Bay Weather
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!


Offline jems

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 56
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2014, 12:37:17 PM »
http://www.ambientweather.com/am6250weatherbridgekit.html

Thanks for the reply!   I do have some questions though:

Bushman, it looks like I would need 3 items to accomplish my goal using the 6250:
   + 6250 Weather Unit
   + Weather Bridge (piece of hardware that plugs into the console unit and into a PC)
   + Data Logger (to get the data via the Weather Bridge, and (?) send data to Weather Underground

Is that correct?


Offline jems

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 56
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2014, 12:44:06 PM »
http://www.acurite.com/aculink

Thanks for the reply Beaudog!
  From what I can tell, this solution includes:
   + outdoor weather unit
   + indoor display / ( which also doubles as indoor weather unit?)
   + Internet bridge (which plugs into the indoor display, and plugs into my Internet switch?)

How does the data make it to Weather Underground?  Do they have some API ready for this data?


Offline PaulMy

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 5509
    • KomokaWeather
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2014, 12:46:29 PM »
The Davis Vue 6250 and the WeatherlinkIP datalogger (special adapter which connects the console to a PC  router) should be all you need to send to WU.  The software is included with that kit.  You may want to do other things as well and for that you may need some different configuration and equipment.

Paul

Offline Bushman

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 7549
    • Eagle Bay Weather
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2014, 01:06:30 PM »
http://www.ambientweather.com/am6250weatherbridgekit.html

Thanks for the reply!   I do have some questions though:

Bushman, it looks like I would need 3 items to accomplish my goal using the 6250:
   + 6250 Weather Unit
   + Weather Bridge (piece of hardware that plugs into the console unit and into a PC)
   + Data Logger (to get the data via the Weather Bridge, and (?) send data to Weather Underground

Is that correct?


Almost correct - you need a small unpowered USB hub to connect the Weatherbridge/Meteobridge to the console/logger.  That is included in the Ambient package.  You can save 100-125 or so bucks if you do this all on your own by buying the pieces and assembling it yourself.  I did that.  Works amazingly well.
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!

Offline Bushman

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 7549
    • Eagle Bay Weather
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!

Offline Beaudog

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1217
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2014, 04:47:40 PM »
http://www.acurite.com/aculink

Thanks for the reply Beaudog!
  From what I can tell, this solution includes:
   + outdoor weather unit
   + indoor display / ( which also doubles as indoor weather unit?)
   + Internet bridge (which plugs into the indoor display, and plugs into my Internet switch?)

How does the data make it to Weather Underground?  Do they have some API ready for this data?



The bridge plugs into your router which sends the data to my Backyard Weather  which in turn sends it to WU.

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=20299.0

Offline jems

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 56
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2014, 08:20:15 PM »
Oh, good to know!
Bottom line-- would you recommend this unit?

Also, I live in Tucson, and it gets quite warm in the summer.   Will this thing be ok?   I have a flat roof, and was planning on putting it on a roof corner of my house.   It would only be about 20' from the access point, too.

Offline Aardvark

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 2305
  • Tonto to Lone Ranger : "never take off mask.
    • turned off
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2014, 10:39:58 PM »
I think you have to ask yourself, how much do you want. If you are content with the basics, temperature, humidity,wind, then the Vantage Vue is for you.

If you want to know ET, THSW, solar and uv and maybe sensors in other locations, then the VP2 plus is for you, clearly more money invested.

To get to the internet, then you need a datalogger, both use the same type, either serial, usb or IP  depends on your computer or router. and OS. There are PC and MAC versions

Software, I prefer Weatherdisplay, a little trickier to use, but most bang for the buck.. try the trial version , you won't be unhappy.
You can use the Weatherlink that comes with the Davis logger (all have the same software) , VWS, Cumulus, you have to see what is available, trial version and make a decision.


Offline Skywatch

  • !!Warning!! I'm a Skywarn certified storm spotter and insane like one!
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1844
  • Hakuna Matata (Timon and Pumba)
Re: Davis 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station? Or something else?
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2014, 08:19:32 PM »
I recommend going with any of the Davis units. I've had Lacrosse, Oregon Scientific, and Acu-rite and they always have me trouble and in many cases are inaccurate. Save your self trouble in the long run and go with Davis. They also have great support for their products as well. And I recommend buying from here http://www.archertradingpost.com/atp/ Great prices and replacement parts. Ryan is a really friendly guy and will help you on any problems you might encounter.

A few years back I almost went with the Vue instead of the Pro2 because of price but the expandability and flexibility of the Pro2 was something I found important and I'm glad I spent the extra money on the Pro2.

And I 2nd what Aardvark said about Weather Display. The best program I've used. Has almost never given me trouble and when I do occasionally have problems it's always fixed after 2 emails or less. Here's an interesting story. A few years back I had an old computer running WD along with several other programs. One day the computer had crashed and when it came back up every program but WD had been corrupted and unusable. But WD started up like a rock star and continued to run until the computer finally died. From that experience I wouldn't use any other program but WD.

I live in an apartment and for the moment am not a home weather watcher.

I am a storm chaser.