Topic: uv and solar 6163 v 6153

[mackbig]

Ok, the $289 difference between the 6163 and the 6153 is the uv and solar sensor.

They are sold separately for
$239 for uv
$119 for solar.

Now the picture of each looks the same.   Can you buy a sensor that does both after market?  Or is that one of the perk's of getting the Plus.

Andrew

[Hitbylightning]

I've never understood why it costs more to buy these sensors separately to purchasing the VP2.  In addition, you also need to purchase the shelf to mount them on, which is $40 or so.  The sensors look the same but you'll find that the white part in the middle is smaller on the solar radiation sensor.

If you want the whole thing as Davis products best shelling out the extra $ now.  When I purchased my VP2 I got the sensors as I knew it would cost me double the price difference if I'd waited and got them later.  I know there are other sensors but I'm not sure of their compatibility with the Davis console.  My guess is that only Davis made would be compatible.

[mackbig]

Thanks Hitbylightning
Starting to make more sense.  On all the views of the "plus" you can only see one "uv/solar sensor", but it looks like its the angle they are showing.  Hence why I thought there was a special dual purpose super sensor on the plus.

On the davis site, if you click on the optional shelf, it shows both sensors on it



So it appears it is really looking like the extra $289 is worth it up front.

So you get both sensors, and a $30 shelf for $289 by buying the Plus, vs paying $388 separately (and that's low price quote, $540 list).  That is quite a markup, but I can see why they do it, it always cost more to get most things in pieces rather then together.

Well, if I can get $1000 past the budget committee, what's another $300.

Andrew

[tomcj2]

Well, if I can get $1000 past the budget committee, what's another $300.

Have you become a politician?

[mackbig]

yup.  believe me, this is going to cost me a couple of earmarks....

Andrew

Have you become a politician?

[Garth Bock]

yup.  believe me, this is going to cost me a couple of earmarks....

Andrew

Have you become a politician?

Not to mention all the "Honey-Do's"

When I started my station I decided to piece-meal it so I bought just the ISS and an Envoy. I added a shelf later and then the solar sensor. Yeah I spent more in the long run but I couldn't afford the full plunge at the time and it was either not do it or nickel and dime it. I just picked up another used ISS and console and am in the process of replacing it's supercap and cleaning it up and am going to sell it to add to the weather station funds for a Boltek and a UV sensor.

[Cienega32]

When I bought my 6153, I didn't think I had a "need" for those sensors. It didn't take long before I started kicking myself for that decision. The mark-up is ridiculous when you purchase them separately and I assure you - you will wish you had them later on...   




"Mo data, mo data, mo data"... ("In Living Color" style)

[mackbig]

I think I am converted.  Got a little worried about the whole "warranty not valid outside usa".  They use the term international, Canada is not international, is it?

Anyway, called davis, and got a Toronto distributor.  the 6163, wireless anny, and serial weatherling is 1073.85 u$ from Ambient, approx fx is C$1127.54.  This place in Toronto wanted C$1714.85....  for 600 bucks I could drive to buffalo a few times, to enact my warranty, if needed.  They also said low price people on the web were not official Davis dealers, I set him straight about Ambient...

Other than warranty issues, which may or may not be true, my only problem with ambient, is UPS shipping to Canada.

Andrew

[mackbig]

Just called Davis, they said Canada is fine for warranty... "international means overseas"  Well I guess we are the 51st state.  Of course she also said to buy from Canadian dealer to avoid duty and shipping costs, I then relayed my $600 example...

Andrew

[WeatherGoose]

The mounting shelf is only $19.99.

I just bought both the UV and Solar sensors with the shelf from Ambient for $367.99 shipped.

If you have not yet bought your VP2 I would strongly recommend buying the PLUS series model that comes with these sensors as well as the 24 hour FARS.  You can not buy the 24 FARS as an add-on.  Only the daytime version.

If I had it all to do over again, I would have definitely gone with the VP2 PLUS.  As you said, it is actually CHEAPER than buying these extra pieces later and adding them to a standard VP2.

[PaulMy]

Mackbig,
I have bought 6152, Weatherlink data logger, and Envoy from www.forthebirdsnatureshop.ca all on separate occasions at a very competitive C$ and good delivery - and no Ontario PST.  Like others are saying, should buy it all together if at all possible once you know it is a hobby you will continue with.  Their 6163 is listed at C$1,079 and 6153 C$725.

[d_l]

Andrew, I decided that I really didn't need or want the UV data so I saved a bunch of money by buying a VP2, a shelf, and the solar sensor rather than the VP2 Plus.  I used the "savings" to get the 24 hr FARS and an Envoy.

My budget committee can be lobbied like the ones in Washington. 

[TorH]

The warranty was the reason i bought my station here in Norway a 6152-EU for the price of 6795,-NOK as is right now a bit over 1 203$ 
A 6163 costs here 13495,-NOK as is like 2 389$ today  Horrible pricing here 

I called Davis before i got mine VP2, because i wanted to buy it for the best price i could get, and that is not here in Norway as you see. The representant from Davis told me that i had to buy it here if we got a reseller here in Norway, for the warranty reasons. So, so i did then 

Just called Davis, they said Canada is fine for warranty... "international means overseas"  Well I guess we are the 51st state.  Of course she also said to buy from Canadian dealer to avoid duty and shipping costs, I then relayed my $600 example...

Andrew

[mackbig]

Thanks Paul,
I did check out that store.  Pretty good prices. Still $300 more than ambient. $1430 for same stuff.  I am going to do an end to end compare though.  I would honestly rather pay $100 more to not pay UPS $120...

Yup, I am in it for the long haul, I have had an os 968 for almost 4 years now.

Andrew

Mackbig,
I have bought 6152, Weatherlink data logger, and Envoy from www.forthebirdsnatureshop.ca all on separate occasions at a very competitive C$ and good delivery - and no Ontario PST.  Like others are saying, should buy it all together if at all possible once you know it is a hobby you will continue with.  Their 6163 is listed at C$1,079 and 6153 C$725.

[mackbig]

After doing the math, the birdshop is looking good.  I used an extreme fx rate, its only about 1.044 right now, but the buy rate is always higher, and visa takes you for an extra 200 to 400 bps. (maybe its not that extreme, when I went to vegas I bot u$ for 1.06 at the bank, and my visa charges in vegas were around 1.10)  The ups "extra's" is a guesstimate, I know even though the stated "brokerage" fee is $65.65, they tack on a COD fee for collecting their $65.65, and misc fees as well.



As I said, I am willing to pay a premium to avoid UPS.

ed (ambient), did not reply to my email on Friday about shipping alternatives, I will give him till early next week.

Andrew


ps: Paul, thanks again for the lead, I was already going to check out birdshop further, but your post did motivate me...

edit: removed extra's for ups, because i cant find an old bill, so I am thinking its smaller.  Also changed fx to current buy rate.

[tomcj2]

Andrew,

   If you bought it in the USA , and drove it across the border yourself, what duties, taxes et cetera would you have to pay?

[mackbig]

If you were accross for 7 days, nothing.

Short trip, depends on the officer.  Definiting 5% GST, perhaps both GST and PST.  Ontario pst is 8%, alberta is 0%, which is why it should just be GST.

So between C$56.08 and $145, as its on u$ value, and I would argue spot fx rate of 1.0445

Andrew

Andrew,

   If you bought it in the USA , and drove it across the border yourself, what duties, taxes et cetera would you have to pay?

[tomcj2]

You might consider opening a mailbox at a UPS Store in Buffalo, Have Ambient ship it there, and bring it across yourself.  You would save the "extortion" and possibly the PST, in addition to getting a reduction of about $20 in the shipping charge paid to Ambient.

I used the above method a year ago to ship a package to a friend in Toronto,and it worked fine.

[mackbig]

After an email conversation with the owner of  http://www.forthebirdsnatureshop.ca/  I will be doing business with them.  They earned it.  I will post more details later.  Seems like a very reasonable guy, and knows how to do business.

Andrew

[PaulMy]

Andrew,
Glad it helped you to make comparisons.  Have been observing this forum for a while and am soo impressed with the knowledge you and the other regulars from across the world share with us.  Thanks to all for being helpful and friendly.

[Garth Bock]

After doing the math, the birdshop is looking good.  I used an extreme fx rate, its only about 1.044 right now, but the buy rate is always higher, and visa takes you for an extra 200 to 400 bps. (maybe its not that extreme, when I went to vegas I bot u$ for 1.06 at the bank, and my visa charges in vegas were around 1.10)  The ups "extra's" is a guesstimate, I know even though the stated "brokerage" fee is $65.65, they tack on a COD fee for collecting their $65.65, and misc fees as well.

As I said, I am willing to pay a premium to avoid UPS.

ed (ambient), did not reply to my email on Friday about shipping alternatives, I will give him till early next week.

Andrew


ps: Paul, thanks again for the lead, I was already going to check out birdshop further, but your post did motivate me...

edit: removed extra's for ups, because i cant find an old bill, so I am thinking its smaller.  Also changed fx to current buy rate.

Have you checked with ProVantage www.provantage.com ? Their prices at time are pretty good but they don't do warranty work. My Envoy was DOA and I had to send it to them and then they sent it to Davis who repaired it and sent it back to them and then ProVantage sent it to me. I asked for a replacement and they said that was not their policy and that it was up to the OEM. At that time the budget was tight and I was looking for the cheapest deal. In light of price versus service...well I am definitely sticking with Ambient from now on.

[mackbig]

No, have heard enough negatives over the years about them.  Beside I have heard DHL, is no better than UPS.
Andrew

Have you checked with ProVantage www.provantage.com ? Their prices at time are pretty good but they don't do warranty work. My Envoy was DOA and I had to send it to them and then they sent it to Davis who repaired it and sent it back to them and then ProVantage sent it to me. I asked for a replacement and they said that was not their policy and that it was up to the OEM. At that time the budget was tight and I was looking for the cheapest deal. In light of price versus service...well I am definitely sticking with Ambient from now on.

[port1]

   Andrew...I'm considering a new weather station, and I saw this the other day...Rainwise MK-III RTI-LR Long Range Wireless Weather Station.  Isn't it better than the Davis?
I'm seriously considering it. 
 

Henry

[mackbig]

Henry,
It might be better?  I dont know.  But it does not look like there are any add-ons.  Not that I will be able to afford many/any Davis ones for a while, after my "start-up" costs.   Also, the Davis support structure, AKA this forum and all the Davis experts out there is an very good intagible.

Not sure if this analogy is 100%.... A Bentley is probably better than a Mercedes, but which one would you rather break down in, while driving through Idaho.

Andrew

  Andrew...I'm considering a new weather station, and I saw this the other day...Rainwise MK-III RTI-LR Long Range Wireless Weather Station.  Isn't it better than the Davis?
I'm seriously considering it. 
 

Henry

[mackbig]

Ok, before I pull the trigger. One more question.
I have never looked at the console, on my OS, aside from setting it up and after issues.

Should I get the Envoy, I am breaking the bank anyway, what's another $150...   It free's the console up for putting it somewhere else in the house, but is it a worthwhile investment otherwise?

Thanks,
Andrew