Author Topic: My Personal Weather Station Project - Davis Vantage VUE (Read 8583 times)

Skyview · « **on:** March 25, 2015, 02:24:57 AM »

Thought I would use this as a way to document progress with my PWS project.

Phase I: Station assembly and setup (Complete)

Phase II: Station mounting and installation (Complete)

Phase III: Hardware/Software for connecting to network (Complete)

Phase IV: Website + NOAA, WU, etc. (Complete)

Phase V: Weathercam?

Phase VI: Custom MySQL database integrated to website with all observation data + reports/graphs (Complete)

Phase VII: Custom Phone App for website and database?

Phase VIII: Ongoing maintenance/service/upgrades

Recommendations for any of the above are welcome and appreciated.

Skyview · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2015, 02:25:25 AM »

Reserved for future updates

miraculon · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2015, 09:20:25 AM »

Quote

Phase III: Hardware/Software for connecting to network

Although I own a WLIP, I would recommend meteobridge on a TP-Link MR3020. Get one of the clone loggers that you can find on WxForum. Buy the MR-3020 by itself and load meteobridge on a SD card yourself.

I love mine. It "just works" and I never have to fool with it.

This would be the most cost-effective and reliable option.

Greg H.

Jáchym · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:02:09 AM »

Hi,

I can only agree, I have been using meteobridge for the past 3 yrs and have it directly connected to WU etc. and via my own script to a MySQL DB, so I think it fits your needs quite well.

Skyview · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2015, 02:23:43 PM »

Thanks guys. I was leaning that direction anyway. I think someone told me that the Saratoga templates/scripts will also work with Meteobridge unless I am mistaken. I'm not sure but I think maybe I saw somewhere that they also support Weewx as well as that is another possible route to take.

So it looks like I basically need three things for Phase III, Datalogger, Box (TP-Link, Rasberry PI, etc.), and software such as Meteobridge or Weewx. Is that correct? I read in the Davis documentation that the VUE console has the ability to transmit to other terminals (I think that's correct) so I'm wondering why it can't just transmit to a device (router or intermediary box) that has wireless capability unless its using a proprietary protocol of some sort.

miraculon · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2015, 02:53:25 PM »

My site, rogerscityweather.com is fed by a mix of meteobridge and meteohub. I was 100% meteobridge until I started uploading derived data from the meteohub.

Greg H.

Skyview · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2015, 04:25:21 PM »

Quote from: miraculon on March 25, 2015, 02:53:25 PM

My site, rogerscityweather.com is fed by a mix of meteobridge and meteohub. I was 100% meteobridge until I started uploading derived data from the meteohub.

Greg H.

Guess I need to do more research to see if that's what I need as well. What did you mean by WLIP vs. Meteobridge/TP-Link combo?

miraculon · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2015, 06:10:15 PM »

WLIP=Weatherlink IP, sorry for the "jargon".

A USB or Serial(+serial to RS232 USB) "Weatherlink" or equivalent dongle is needed with the meteobridge/MR3020, possibly a small USB hub depending on who's adapter you use.

I suggest a visit to http://www.meteobridge.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page which should answer many questions.

Greg H.

Skyview · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2015, 02:15:43 AM »

Quote from: miraculon on March 25, 2015, 06:10:15 PM

WLIP=Weatherlink IP, sorry for the "jargon".

A USB or Serial(+serial to RS232 USB) "Weatherlink" or equivalent dongle is needed with the meteobridge/MR3020, possibly a small USB hub depending on who's adapter you use.

I suggest a visit to http://www.meteobridge.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page which should answer many questions.

Greg H.

Thanks. Now what you said makes sense. Yes, I had already determined I didn't want to go with Davis' WeatherLink IP, etc. as it looked like an overpriced brand version of a TP-Link and Meteobridge. I think you're referring to the bellfryboy (did I get that right) clone that I have seen on here somewhere. Maybe there are others as well.

Skyview · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2015, 05:01:06 AM »

Well, I now know my rain collector/tipping spoon is working

Someone at Davis has a sense of humor.

SlowModem · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2015, 10:59:54 AM »

Quote from: Skyview on March 26, 2015, 05:01:06 AM

Well, I now know my rain collector/tipping spoon is working Someone at Davis has a sense of humor.

There's a list of all those messages listed somewhere here on the forum.

Skyview · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2015, 03:47:38 AM »

I'm looking at the Retransmit feature in the Vantage VUE console manual and thinking to myself why can't that feature be enabled and the resulting data stream be captured by a device operating on the same frequency for storage/processing. Why would it have to be another VUE console? Since the VUE has been out for several years I'm guessing someone has already thought of this. If so, if someone could point me to either a finished product or in the right direction that would be appreciated.

Josiah · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2015, 06:14:24 PM »

Quote from: Skyview on March 27, 2015, 03:47:38 AM

I'm looking at the Retransmit feature in the Vantage VUE console manual and thinking to myself why can't that feature be enabled and the resulting data stream be captured by a device operating on the same frequency for storage/processing. Why would it have to be another VUE console? Since the VUE has been out for several years I'm guessing someone has already thought of this. If so, if someone could point me to either a finished product or in the right direction that would be appreciated.

Davis does make a "Repeater" that will do just that, Retransmit ISS data.

But take a look at this thread.
Also browse this forum subject.

There's also work that's been/being done to create a DIY repeater for the Davis Stations and browsing the "Davis Instruments Weather Stations" subject would be a good place to start.

Skyview · « **Reply #13 on:** July 09, 2015, 07:15:16 PM »

Quote from: Josiah on March 27, 2015, 06:14:24 PM

Quote from: Skyview on March 27, 2015, 03:47:38 AM
I'm looking at the Retransmit feature in the Vantage VUE console manual and thinking to myself why can't that feature be enabled and the resulting data stream be captured by a device operating on the same frequency for storage/processing. Why would it have to be another VUE console? Since the VUE has been out for several years I'm guessing someone has already thought of this. If so, if someone could point me to either a finished product or in the right direction that would be appreciated.
Davis does make a "Repeater" that will do just that, Retransmit ISS data.

But take a look at this thread.
Also browse this forum subject.

There's also work that's been/being done to create a DIY repeater for the Davis Stations and browsing the "Davis Instruments Weather Stations" subject would be a good place to start.

Thanks. I came back here to update on the "project" and must have missed this one. I'll check them out.

Skyview · « **Reply #14 on:** July 09, 2015, 07:23:47 PM »

Well, I'm a little late doing this but here goes. Wish me luck!

Jáchym · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2015, 07:35:42 PM »

LOL, this reminds me of my set up

Skyview · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2015, 12:43:02 AM »

Well, after a momentary brain fart on passwords, I think I have it setup and running OK.

WU already seems to have it active and reporting. Curious though that I have the update interval at 1 min. and as I watch the station ID on WU it does update every minute but the weather history table is only showing every 5 minutes. Is this normal, or do I need to change a setting somewhere?

Also, these are the networks available in Meteobridge. Which would you recommend? I have seen bad things about WU lately too, but I went ahead and linked it in at least for now. I am definitely going to look into CWOP, but other than that any recommendations based on personal experience would be welcome.

alexstaar · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2015, 02:36:11 AM »

WU only logs data every 5 mins, no matter how frequently you send data. And 5 min intervals on your history graph is normal as well.

Skyview · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2015, 03:18:53 AM »

Quote from: alexstaar on July 10, 2015, 02:36:11 AM

WU only logs data every 5 mins, no matter how frequently you send data. And 5 min intervals on your history graph is normal as well.

OK. Thanks. So I should just set it to 5 min. then as I would assume anything else is just a waste.

belfryboy · « **Reply #19 on:** July 14, 2015, 05:20:27 AM »

Quote from: Skyview on July 09, 2015, 07:23:47 PM

Well, I'm a little late doing this but here goes. Wish me luck!

That's a fine looking logger you have there...

Skyview · « **Reply #20 on:** July 14, 2015, 12:41:57 PM »

Haa Haa! Yep, too bad you can't see it while it's working. Been going fine thus far.

Skyview · « **Reply #21 on:** July 26, 2015, 02:28:29 PM »

Updated original post to note phase IV and phase VI are completed. For now it's just feeding WU and CWOP along with my website. I have Jachym's template setup and recording data. Have had issues with doing custom 1 min. reporting/recording, but haven't tracked down where the problem is yet (ISS to console, logger to Meteobridge, Meteobridge to website, etc.) I may just go back to 5 min. average recording if I can't get it figured out. Hoping to have the website customized and ready for public viewing soon.

Edit: I forgot it can't be an ISS to console issue as the pressure is taken at the console not at the ISS if I remember correctly.

Skyview · « **Reply #22 on:** October 02, 2015, 04:30:01 AM »

Been a couple of months since my last update. I got the 1 min. updates issue resolved and have been using that ever since. As of tonight, my database just tripped 100,000 records in a little less than 3 months. I know some have much larger databases but I will be interested to see how things go as I get over 1M records and beyond.

I plan to do some more customization and create a few plugins, etc. along with getting a weather cam setup and possibly a mobile app. Been busy with other things lately.

Skyview · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2016, 03:38:07 AM »

Still busy with other stuff...but in just short of 6 months online the database now has over 230K records and in that short amount of time, this is the disparity in temperatures it has recorded. Too much of a range there for me. Hawaii can't come soon enough...

ermacmk · « **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2016, 01:50:18 PM »

Its amazing!
I' am learning and reading a lot this forum.
I want learn about weather station. I'am from Brazil.
Do you use a Weewx to store data in database?

Thanks = )

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Author Topic: My Personal Weather Station Project - Davis Vantage VUE (Read 8583 times)