This is a long read so I am really looking forward to and welcome your comments and feedback!
Hardware: The budget is around $500 up front and then more as time goes on so I am pretty set on a Vantage Pro2 wireless - 6152. I like the Pro because I can separate the anemometer from the rain / temp / humidity and the fact that down the road I can add the other sensors as well as a 24 hour aspirated radiation shield.
Location / Installation – Since we a typical suburban lot I am thinking about putting the anemometer at the peak of the roof which is about 30-35 feet up (already have a TV antenna up there) and then the meter itself will be about 5 feet above and at least 6” over the edge of the roof line. To the one side the neighbor’s house is 25 feet away at approximately the same height and there is a maple tree about 30 feet away that as of now is 5-10 feet below where the anemometer will be. I think it’s the best I can do if I want it that high.
As far as the ISS – I am thinking about mounting to a fence post that is 4.5’ tall and located about 45 feet from either house and 25 feet from the large maple tree - or - I could mount it near the deck – 15 feet from the two story house and 15 feet from a 25’ tall Cleveland Pear tree. The near the deck location is more ideal from an installation standpoint and a WAF standpoint, but I think it may have problems with accurate rain information. Either way I will be between 100-200 feet from the Anemometer so I will need the extension cable. As I look at it, it appears to just be standard phone wire (maybe cat3?) I suppose I could just run shielded cat6 with an rj11 end? If its near the deck I can run it inside the house and then tag onto the outdoor speaker wires which would involve no burying. If it’s to the fence post then I will need to burry about 50 or so feet. My plan was to take a spade and slit the ground to get the cable about 6” deep – or should I put it in conduit?
Any comments on either location? The deck location would be in the shade most of the day so I worry about enough light hitting it to charge the batteries and it would be 2 feet from the deck, much like - illinimatt81, and I also worry about rain splash – although it would be 1 foot above the deck rail. The yard location is just that.. nothing but grass, wood fence post and vinyl wrapped chain link around it. It is in the sun for most of the day in the summer. Not sure about the winter – I think its in sun for about half of the day.. How much sun does it really need to power up? I guess I could always move it farther out in the yard and would just need a longer cable for the anemometer – or the way I look at it couldn’t I put the solar panel and iss control board in the sun and then run the connectors to the various sensors meaning the control board does not have to be mounted to the rain collector.
Connection to PC / Internet: This is where I will need the most help. I believe I am correct – that a physical connection from the console to either a pc or router is required and from there you have choices. I am by no means a web expert but there are some great looking ones out there that you all have done. My question – cost? (domain / hosting / free) and how much of it do you have to code or is it all template based?
I think the easiest way is to get the Davis 6510USB kit which I believe has the logger (physical connection) and that old school looking software, but if I pair that with meteobridge (TPlink router) then I can shoot it off to Wunderground, weathercloud, etc.. Are there any clones out there? I found belfryboy has one that he will make. Any others? I also have read up on the meteostick, but that is even more than the Davis option and final, whats the difference between the USB and IP version of the davis logger? Simply an Ethernet connection?
That’s about all I can think of for now
I have attached a few pictures of the locations. The ISS would go on on of the fence posts right where Gus is standing in the one picture.
