Hi Kevin:
The Davis VP2 unit, as stated, is replacing my original Ambient Weather WS-1001-WIFI OBSERVER Solar Powered Wireless WiFi Remote Monitoring Weather Station that I picked up several years ago. That unit was more or less "plug and play", and other than a somewhat tricky to navigate menu system on the console and hookup to the WunderGround network, it did the trick although the humidity module never seemed to work quite right. And then the unit inexplicably died. My area of Maryland (somewhat rural north central) has a weird "microclimate", the house is on a ridge, and the winds and precipitation, and even temps, varied somewhat than area forecasts. That's what got me hooked.
Due to the Wunderground's uncertain future and the inability to provide a stable internet service platform, I decided to look around for an alternative that would give me Wunderground service plus others to use as backups I could access remotely. Based on what I saw here on the forum, I went with the Davis unit.
I'm still waiting for a component to arrive so I can only comment so far on the weather station and console package for local only service. It's a bit bigger in hand, and I was a little worried my tripod and pole wouldn't hold it. I have some pretty big stakes securing it to the ground, but I'll have to wait for the 45mph+ wind gusts that hit us frequently to see if it holds up.
I'm not disappointed with the basic unit, and the console provides me the information next to my favorite chair in the living room. not having internet access is a bother, so I have the Davis data logger on order, and have the meteobridge in hand (an inexpensive wifi access point with alternative firmware uploaded to the unit). Once those are in hand I can report back how a fair to middlin internet/network savvy old man got through configuration and connection to the WU and other internet weather service platforms.
The cost is a bitch, it just is. Had I bought the replacement unit for the Ambient Weather product (now the 1002), I'd only be out $300 through Amazon but still tethered to the WU only. Not workable for me. So I spent $485 for the Davis unit, about $125 for the data logger which MUST be purchased to connect the Davis console to the Meteobridge Wifi unit, and (wait for it) $200 for an Ambient Weather pre configured MeteoBridge unit. I thought about trying it on my own, but after reading the instructions I just didn't feel the level of confidence. I thought the price way too much, but I had some extra cash and hand and jumped on it.
Once I receive the data logger (not sure why it's taking so long) I'll start the setup process and report back my progress. This is a lot of money, but I think it will give me much more reliability and longevity than the previous unit, plus access to multiple service platforms. No more loss of access to my local climate when I'm remote, unless the electricity goes off (only once in the last 5 years)...
Kevin, hope that helps.
John