WXforum.net
Weather Station Hardware => Other Weather Station Hardware => Topic started by: Bushman on November 14, 2016, 11:13:38 AM
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https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/weatherflow-smart-weather-stations#/ Any comments? FWIW I can't reconcile the uptake on IGG to the total $ raised?
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sure they have put the estimated shipping back a few times
but they say because they want to get it right
you putting the word wither in the subject line, are you wanting to start some flame war?
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Flame war? PLease.... it was a little bit of alliteration to create a catchy title.
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It´s getting a little bit closer, but still long way to go... :D
http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=29654.msg290979#msg290979
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I guess I'll have to reconsider ordering a new VP2Plus ;)
Paul
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I guess I'll have to reconsider ordering a new VP2Plus ;)
Paul
it would be nice if there was finally some serious competition for Davis, because thats the only thing that drives development and obviously right now there isnt any progress and VP3 has been mentioned on their FB 5 years ago.
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I really doubt this (WF) will be the kick in the pants Davis needs. Maybe competition for Chaney.
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Yes, you are probably right, it is more likely going to be some more established brand, not a startup, but either way, lets just hope there finally is one because right now there isnt and how old is VP2? :D
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My issue with the other guys is the poor quality hardware. How hard is it to make a decent tipping bucket? Compare Acurite to Davis for instance. (I was involved in some custom plastic fabrication using Chinese suppliers and was shocked at how cheap it was in quantity. Esp nowadays with online CNC and prototyping with 3D printers)
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Flame war? PLease.... it was a little bit of alliteration to create a catchy title.
this forum can be a nice place to visit
snippy subject lines and pretend not to be starting a flame was is not what this forum should be about
you could have easily used a completly different subject line and subject matter
e.g, "hopefully the wait and a few set backs in the shipping date will be worth it and a great quality product will be delivered"
instead of attacking me with 'Please...'
but that is just my opinion
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Let's try to stay on topic.
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Pot, kettle, etc. :roll:
And back to our regularly scheduled programming. I took a QUICK look and did not see any system/sensor specs anywhere. At their price point I would not expect them to be high, but before plunking down a couple hundred bucks it would be nice to know. Given the drop in sensor prices, I would hope that they (WF) are targeting a higher level consumer, possibly closer to the pro-sumer level. But maybe not?
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Right now there are only two stations that I know of, where the design of the actual unit is of great importance - BS and NetAtmo - both of which I do not really consider an ideal station for a real weather enthusiast.
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Pot, kettle, etc. :roll:
And back to our regularly scheduled programming. I took a QUICK look and did not see any system/sensor specs anywhere. At their price point I would not expect them to be high, but before plunking down a couple hundred bucks it would be nice to know. Given the drop in sensor prices, I would hope that they (WF) are targeting a higher level consumer, possibly closer to the pro-sumer level. But maybe not?
There is a few facts in the image labels and I am not very optimistic about it to be quite honest...
Eg:
temp sensor: +/- 0.4 deg C
humidity: +/- 4%
And I completely agree that detailed sensor specifications should be included, which is not the case (or if they are, they are very hard to find because I didnt find them even after reading the entire Indigogo page and the product main website)
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OK found it (hidden in FAQ at the very bottom :D)
Lightning Sensor
(AMS AS3935)
detects cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes up to 40 km (25 miles)
estimates strength distance to leading edge of storm
Temperature/Humidity Sensor
(Silicon Labs Si7021)
air temperature -40° to 85 °C +/- 0.4 °C
relative humidity 0 to 100% +/- 4%
reports dew point & apparent temperature
Pressure Sensor
(Bosch BMP280)
atmospheric (barometric) pressure up to 1100 mbar +/- 1 mbar
reports both station pressure & mean sea level pressure
Haptic Rain Sensor
(WeatherFlow design)
detects the instant it starts to rain
provides hourly rate & daily accumulation at 0.2mm resolution
Sonic Wind Sensor
(WeatherFlow design)
continuously samples wind speed and direction 0 to 100 mph +/- 0.5 mph
calculates one-minute and five-minute average speed, direction & gust
Light Sensor
(Silicon Labs Si1132)
visible and infrared ambient light 1 to 128 kLUX +/- 100 mLUX
UV index (0-11+)
reports solar radiation 0 to 1900 W/m2 +/- 5%
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Thanks for finding and posting those. Interestingly they are all I2C. Cost of 2-3 bucks each. With the I2C stuff there might be a way to integrate to other devices more easily.
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Yes, so you might actually think about changing the thread title ;)
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Perhaps the intended word was WHither, (what has/will become of) not Wither (to become weaker or smaller and then disappear) ????
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I really doubt this (WF) will be the kick in the pants Davis needs.
Not even close.
At least my ancient VP2 ISS sits in the sun as a wx station should, and does it very well.
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Or the intransitive "wither" as in "delayed, fading". Sometimes happens with IGG products. Seriously, if people are getting bent out of shape by a bad alliterative "punny" title then Admins - go ahead: change it to whatever.
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They are not exactly a startup they do have a bit of weather history to bring to the table.
It's should be a good entry level station for people getting into weather equipment not a VP2 contender.
I see this unit as a starting point for them, they have plans to produce a pro quality unit after this one. This unit gives them time to test what they can do and get needed feedback for a more advanced unit down the road.
I look forward to seeing what they can come up with, competition of any kind can only be good.
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Nah, I'm not going to change it. I just thought you left the "h" out of whither. :) Seems like much ado about nothing to me.
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it would be nice if there was finally some serious competition for Davis
There is but it just little more costly. Only reason I am using an Davis is for the solar/Uv which rain wise has not added for what ever reason. Where I live Rainwise reaches the temps extreme we go thru here were Davis don't even come close to.
John
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it would be nice if there was finally some serious competition for Davis
Where I live Rainwise reaches the temps extreme we go thru here were Davis don't even come close to.
John
Curious, how often do you get colder than -40, and the RW's low end of -66F?
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Speaking of Rainwise, I think they might be in the best spot to create a Davis challenger. Think "Rainwise Lite". Sure they might have to give up their made in USA labeling (The Donald will be PO'ed!) but with all the new sensors and the plastics capacity overseas they could easily transplant the guts of their station into a worthy competitor. As for Weatherflow, it probably makes sens to start with a cheaper consumer product that segues into a higher end. Hopefully they will get there. the specs of the sensors look decent so that helps.
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Speaking of Rainwise, I think they might be in the best spot to create a Davis challenger.
As far as I'm concerned, they have been for years. Ten plus years ago when I was in the market, these were my only two considerations. Davis won out for it's aspiration and ability to remote the anny, even though back then the RW had "generally" better sensor specs. No longer the case.
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I have been plagued with reliability problems with my Acu-Rite set up for over year now. Back in the spring, I was considering the purchase of a $500 last-generation RM Young ultrasonic anemometer as a starting point for building my own weather station from best of breed components . When somebody posted a link to the WeatherFlow campaign here, I immediately bought in as a backer because I think it has promise and the campaign organizers are a mature company and not a bunch of dreamer kids. I'm patiently waiting for them to work the kinks out, I will let everyone know as soon as I get mine about what its capabilities are.....
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2 winter ago we hit -64 and several days in the -50's and lot of -45'ish. Does that answer you question that you could have looked up but was to lazy to.
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That rain sensor intrigues the hell out of me.
Only downside is that it said it compares with tipper gauges, and we all know about those.
Still, it sounds like accurate data is their ultimate goal.
Would really like to see some side by side comparisons of wind and rain data with a Davis or other high end system to see for our selves.
Overall this unit sounds very promising.
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2 winter ago we hit -64 and several days in the -50's and lot of -45'ish. Does that answer you question that you could have looked up but was to lazy to.
Too lazy to?? What exactly was I to look up, smart ass? I asked a legitimate question and you come back with this BS. Nice.
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let me guess you asked how many time we saw those temps. well they are found in climate records of Alaska. Amazing that an high school drop out can find stuff and you can't.
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That rain sensor intrigues the hell out of me.
My concern is how it deals with frozen precipitation, or when coated with a layer of freezing rain. Will it over-count sleet? Will it record *anything* for snow...since snow melt will most likely not be measured like it is in a tipping bucket? I know that a few commercial grade stations are using acoustic rain gauges, and am curious to see how the WF fares against my Acu-Rite setup.....
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That rain sensor intrigues the hell out of me.
My concern is how it deals with frozen precipitation, or when coated with a layer of freezing rain. Will it over-count sleet? Will it record *anything* for snow...since snow melt will most likely not be measured like it is in a tipping bucket? I know that a few commercial grade stations are using acoustic rain gauges, and am curious to see how the WF fares against my Acu-Rite setup.....
They didn't mention frozen precip at all so I'm"guessing" it doesn't record it.
Now that I think about it that would have to be an extremely sensitive sensor to record a snowflake. :???:
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let me guess you asked how many time we saw those temps. well they are found in climate records of Alaska. Amazing that an high school drop out can find stuff and you can't.
I asked how many times YOU saw those temps, as in YOU, not WE, as in the entire frikkin' state of Alaska. Christ, sorry I asked....... :roll:
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Geez.. all this over "wither" versus "whither" versus "weather". Pass the popcorn.
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It seems to me some people just cant wait when there is even the slightest opportunity to verbally attack somone....
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Geez.. all this over "wither" versus "whither" versus "weather". Pass the popcorn.
(https://labmidiacombr.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/emoticon-eating-popcorn-mh900437984.jpg)
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](*,) ](*,) ](*,)
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It seems to me some people just cant wait when there is even the slightest opportunity to verbally attack somone....
True story: I have met some of the folks from my Internet whizzers over the year and they are all great people. I think the anonymity of the Net encourages behaviours that would otherwise not exist.
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I see those temps a lot more then you see 120-130 on an Davis. Oh well i'll just go sit in the back of the bus and leave you to your elite friends.
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OK found it (hidden in FAQ at the very bottom :D)
Lightning Sensor
(AMS AS3935)
detects cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes up to 40 km (25 miles)
estimates strength distance to leading edge of storm
Temperature/Humidity Sensor
(Silicon Labs Si7021)
air temperature -40° to 85 °C +/- 0.4 °C
relative humidity 0 to 100% +/- 4%
reports dew point & apparent temperature
Pressure Sensor
(Bosch BMP280)
atmospheric (barometric) pressure up to 1100 mbar +/- 1 mbar
reports both station pressure & mean sea level pressure
Haptic Rain Sensor
(WeatherFlow design)
detects the instant it starts to rain
provides hourly rate & daily accumulation at 0.2mm resolution
Sonic Wind Sensor
(WeatherFlow design)
continuously samples wind speed and direction 0 to 100 mph +/- 0.5 mph
calculates one-minute and five-minute average speed, direction & gust
Light Sensor
(Silicon Labs Si1132)
visible and infrared ambient light 1 to 128 kLUX +/- 100 mLUX
UV index (0-11+)
reports solar radiation 0 to 1900 W/m2 +/- 5%
Actually, it reports only local pressure.
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk
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For what it's worth, I received my Air and bridge last week from the supporters buy-in. (Temperature, humidity, barometer, lightning.) They are still working a few kinks out of the Sky (wind/solar/UV/haptic rain), but I'm expecting to see it before the holidays.
If anyone needs it, I cobbled together an ugly weewx station interface that grabs the UDP network broadcasts off of the local LAN segment. Not pretty enough to put my name on yet, but it seems to be stable so far.....
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The UDP data is quick and easy but requires a lot of work to get all the useful weather information.
This is what I have so far.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171018/e3f29526506d661e7ab98064cf6e3d00.jpg)
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk