Topic: As the main topic says "What station should i buy (PRO)"

[stuee]

Hi All
I want to supply the local area with a weather website.
I have already see i want a boltek LD-350 storm tracker and now need a good weather station to use along with it.
Ill be running the the webpage from my host and use a dedicated laptop for the weather date etc.

I was looking at the Davis 6163AU (not sure if the non AU version will work in Australia as i hear its something to do with mobile phone reception but its $1000 more expensive than the non AU version)

Or can some experienced person tell me what i could get that better / not quite so expensive

Thanks in advance.

[Jáchym]

Are you really sure it is 1000 more expensive than the normal version? I found the AU for about 1600 dollars, and it is the Plus Fan aspirated version, which here in the Czech Republic is about 1500 and in the US probably less, but definitely not 500/600

[PaulMy]

These are Davis list in US dollars for USA and Canada http://www.davisnet.com/weather-monitoring/
And this is from one US reseller https://www.scaledinstruments.com/discount-price-list/


I believe the wireless version needs to be country specific so getting them from USA may not be permitted.  However the wired versions, which are less money, would be permitted.  Getting them out of the country could have warranty issue.


Looks like the model 6163 is not available in wired.


Good luck, and enjoy,
Paul

[stuee]

Thanks for your input.
Yes i did see the wired version but prefer the wireless.
Do you think this would be a suitable unit or is there a better / cheaper weather station.

The price in Australia from davis is 6163au $1899
From provantage   6163   $894

[CW2274]

Do you think this would be a suitable unit or is there a better / cheaper weather station.

Better and cheaper? Not on this planet. It is what it is, you get what you pay for, performance and general reliability. Without getting into the five figure range, Davis is pretty much top of the food chain and can be modified for a hellofalot less to even rival them.

[PaulMy]

Also keep in mind you will need to buy a datalogger so that it can be connected to your computer.


Paul

[ValentineWeather]

Do you think this would be a suitable unit or is there a better / cheaper weather station.

The price in Australia from davis is 6163au $1899
From provantage   6163   $894

IC6153AU - Davis Wireless Vantage Pro2 with 24-Hour Fan Aspirated Radiation Shield for AU $1,170.00 + GST  is cheaper and all I own.

This is for the station only if you want PC connection several other options which cost more $$. Do research and educate yourself here and on Davis website http://www.davisnet.com/ if you are going this direction so there are no surprises.

[miraculon]

Or, you could join the Blitzortung network and with the savings on the lightning detector, upgrade the weather equipment.

http://en.blitzortung.org/cover_your_area.php

The kits are much simpler now, only requiring soldering of some through-hole parts. Something to think about. There is an area here on WxForum dedicated to Blitzortung.

Greg H.

[gone_bush]

Hi stuee,

I'm also in Australia and in the procrastination stage of buying a Davis Pro2.

I contacted Davis regarding the 24 hour fan and was advised that the daytime fan would be more suitable for me - I'm in outback Qld. YMMV. So, I'm after the 6152AU.

I've looked at bundled kits and found that they are more expensive than buying the individual components.

The best price I've found for the 6152AU is from Ryda: $938.85 + $9.95 shipping. (Does it really cost that much to change the frequency or is this just another example of the "Australia Tax"? )

I also want the mounting tripod and the only place I can find is Davis itself.

For a Daytime Fan Aspirated Radiation Shield Kit (7747) and a WeatherLink (6510USB), the best prices I've found is Amazon. (Yeah grey import, warranty, caveat emptor, yadda yadda yadda.) The web site says that shipping is free (even, to Australia) but I'll believe that when I hit the "Buy" button.

Cheers,
Kev

[CW2274]

I also want the mounting tripod and the only place I can find is Davis itself.

This is what I use. http://www.ambientweather.com/amwetrandmaa.html

[stuee]

Gonebush
Im Moving from Geelong To Hervey Bay in April and want to setup a proper weather website which ive been helping with a bit in geelong www.geelongweather.com 
Im getting the lightning detector and also a good weather station.
I was looking at the 6152au but want the solar / uv on it too.

It is a rip off / joke that we are charged double because the frequency and AU on the end, I have looked close and spoke to some american weather fanatics who sell to australians and they said the frequency is close to the australian 3g network but saying that they have never had any complaints from the units they have sold to australians.
I have friends in Canada which im going to see if i can get sent there and them to forward to me then ill get the 6163

[gone_bush]

This is what I use. http://www.ambientweather.com/amwetrandmaa.html

That's about 1/3 the price of the Davis unit! 

[gone_bush]

Gonebush
Im Moving from Geelong To Hervey Bay in April and want to setup a proper weather website which ive been helping with a bit in geelong www.geelongweather.com 

Small world - I grew up in Geelong.

[CW2274]

This is what I use. http://www.ambientweather.com/amwetrandmaa.html

That's about 1/3 the price of the Davis unit! 

It's top notch quality, very sturdy. Four years in the Arizona desert and looks like it just came outta the box.

[Bushman]

Doesn't everything in Arizona look like it just came out of the box?  (You might have noodle that one for a while).  And speaking of small worlds, one of my old triathlon buddies married a girl from Geelong and they now live in Melbourne.

[PaulMy]

I have friends in Canada which im going to see if i can get sent there and them to forward to me then ill get the 6163

Scaled Instruments will ship to Canada, and for about $94 to me in Komoka, Ontario.


Enjoy,
Paul

[Bushman]

Scaled ( Ryan) is great - but watch fro taxes, duties, fees etc.

[gone_bush]

As a postscript: A Pro2, USB WeatherLink, Daytime fan & etc are now on the way.

Not sure if the bank manager is happy but I doubt he reads this forum. [crosses fingers]