Being in the process of upgrading my 16 year old station to a new Davis Vantage Pro2 has also brought the need for another update in software. I have been using Weatherview32 since version 4. It has performed flawlessly and I have done some software upgrades over the years when it added new features. Since I will have to upgrade (PAY) to make my new station functional on the web, I am also thinking about switching to a different software package all together.
(saw a poll somewhere as to who is using what)
In my opinion, based on what I have played with over the last 16 years, the heavy hitters are in no particular order:
Weather display
Virtual Weather station
Cumulus
Weather Link
Weatherview32
(Yes many others too but these are the ones I have used/tried)
As stated in many threads there are advantages/disadvantages to each of them. As each vendor adds something to their package the others many times soon follow suit. It must drive the authors of the software nuts to make most stations compatible with their software, and to keep up with the endless WANTS we all bug them for. Been waiting for years for a simple pressure trend arrow.
For those of you who chime in on this, I am sure many newbies received new weather stations for the holidays, so better to explain "WHY" you went with the software you currently use.
I know most of the packages out there will produce a canned Personal WEB page for you. Most will allow you to customize it how ever you would like. Most will auto upload your data to WU, CWOP, APRS, and many more.
Right now I am leaning towards Cumulus.
My reasons being I like the display, it is easy on the eyes. I am still playing with it, have not gone live on my personal web page. I like a WEB Page that is clean and easy to navigate. I like the home page to be a quick overview of the current weather conditions, with subsequent pages that delve deeper into radar, pressure fronts, severe weather etc. I think I can do that with Cumulus once I learn my way around it better. Cumulus like all the others has a users forum so help is easily at hand.
For new users or those in my boat looking for a change, consider the following:
1) What do you want the software to do for you?
Just provide a real time display on your computer, Upload data to several of the professional organizations, keep your personal WEB page updated.
2) Does it cost to upgrade when upgrades become available?
3) How well supported is the software, both by the author and the users?
4) Does it allow integration of other features/sensors like a WEB cam or lightning detector?
5) Up date intervals, does the software stream, or only do updates in minutes, or hours?
6) Does it allow for RECORDS of rain fall, Temperature, wind from your station or a close by METAR station?
7) Does it do DATA LOGGING? You want to keep data from years of observations.
LOOK at the pages from other users, most of them, somewhere on there page will indicate what software package they are using. Find the one that displays the information you would like to see/use for your own personal use, and add the information to your decision.
Ask around, shop around, most packages come with a trial version, to try before you buy.
(found a old version of virtual weather station on a 4" diskette, remember those)
As I said, if you chime in, please don't flame any vendor or package, PLEASE do explain why you went with the software you now use.
HAPPY NEW YEARS
