I would like to set up an inexpensive (under $600) Internet accessible weather station at my mother's home in Vermont where she has WildBlue satellite based Internet service. I have set up a webcam there, so I know I can get access over the Internet using dynamic dns.
She does not have any computers that run 24x7, so I need a standalone data collection unit that can be configured to upload data perhaps once every 15-60 minutes. I would like to find a solution that will support additional data probes such as indoor temperature probes so I can also monitor the house and greenhouse temperatures. I don't care if all of the data is posted to the Internet, but that would be nice (most upload sites tend to only log outdoor data from what I can see). It would be OK if I could only connect over the (slow, high latency satellite based) Internet connection to access the data. I would also like to be able to set temperature limits that would trigger an e-mail notification to me on indoor low temperature conditions.
I have assorted WinXP and Unix servers at my location that can run server software remotely if that will work, so a weather console that can collect data and send it out via IP to a computer at my end running a suitable application is also possible.
My mother also asked for a unit that has an easily read display- she is mainly interested in temperatures, wind speed, humidity, rainfall.
Another concern is that I need to keep within the "Fair Access Policy" of Wildblue- it appears that the data being uploaded from any of these weather stations is pretty low- perhaps 512 bytes per data point uploaded?
http://www.wildblue.com/legal/fair.jspValue Pak service
Suggestions for systems+software to consider? Commercial and/or open source (NSLU2?) solutions are OK.
Thanks in advance.
