Author Topic: My First PWS Stet Up Plans  (Read 1649 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« on: May 19, 2018, 03:53:24 PM »
I think that the Ambient Weather WS-1401-IP-WEATHERBRIDGE OBSERVER would be a good unit for a newbie? Reviews seem to be mostly positive. The peaks of my roof face east and west. The nearest to the internet router would be the west. I was planning to start with the WeatherUnderground but when I was on their site the area map for my town showed a PWS right across the street from me. So I'm going to start with PWSweather. The when I get more competent expand to other sites.
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline ocala

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 4383
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #1 on: May 20, 2018, 07:12:43 AM »
Just because someone across the street uploads to WU doesn't mean you can't.
I would do it just so you can compare data over time. That is if the the station is mounted correctly.
Good luck and have fun with the new unit. It's a great hobby to get into.
The blues had a baby and they named it Rock & Roll

Offline Farmtalk

  • Fitzweather
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
    • WV Waterfalls
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2018, 08:26:27 AM »
I currently upload to PWS and Weather Underground (though I'm beginning to change my mind on the latter: https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=34403.0).

Like Ocala, I think it would be cool to be able to see how close the stations are. Do you know what kind of station your neighbor has by chance?

I have an Ambient weather station (WS-1090). My station is setup differently and it required an additional solar radiation sensor because when the sun's rays struck it, I would get about a 5 degree jump in temperature.

Your station appears to be set up better for fighting radiation. I think it would be a great starter choice.  8-)
Joe Fitzwater
Chief Meteorologist for WVNS-TV 59 in Beckley, WV

Work Page on Facebook -> www.facebook.com/meteojoe
Work Page on Twitter -> https://twitter.com/meteojoe
Waterfalls -> www.wvfalls.com

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2018, 03:21:58 PM »
Just because someone across the street uploads to WU doesn't mean you can't.
I would do it just so you can compare data over time. That is if the the station is mounted correctly.

That's a good idea. Thanks
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2018, 01:22:25 PM »
As suggested a nearby PWS can be used to compare data to mine once I'm operational. That PWS is located across the street from me and is at the local high school. The weather station was installed by Valparaiso University (meteorology department). The University had a Federal Grant to install professional stations in northwest Indiana. They also maintain it. It sounds like it will be an excellent station to compare data with. I'll post a picture.
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline ocala

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 4383
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2018, 05:20:44 PM »
Keep in mind something called micro-climate. There has been a lot of discussion on that subject here.
Basically it's the climate in the immediate area of your station. It will differ from the one at the HS due to siting factors, terrain, tree's etc. It doesn't mean that your station is wrong it just means that your weather is ever so slightly different then the HS. You will see a discrepancy in rainfall because even very short distances can produce varying totals. Same goes for wind speed and gusts.
The most important thing is to have your station sited correctly. As long as you have that covered don't worry about any differences in data. Remember it's your backyard, not the HS's.
The blues had a baby and they named it Rock & Roll

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2018, 09:35:40 PM »
Keep in mind something called micro-climate.

Thanks for the info.

Pictures are of the HS weather station. The trees you see behind the tower are about 60 feet away.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2018, 09:37:34 PM by Fabius »
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline CW2274

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 6730
    • Conditions @ CW2274 West Tucson-Painted Hills Ranch
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2018, 09:55:01 PM »
Don't know what siting guidelines Valparasio uses, but that temp/hydro sensor is waaaay up there. Is that a tipping bucket about 10ft up in gold and white?

Offline ocala

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 4383
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2018, 05:01:35 PM »
That sensor is way up there but we don't know for what purpose this station was installed.
University of Florida and the Florida Agriculture Dept  have stations all over the state and they have temp sensors at 30ft and 2ft.

The blues had a baby and they named it Rock & Roll

Offline CW2274

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 6730
    • Conditions @ CW2274 West Tucson-Painted Hills Ranch
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2018, 05:35:27 PM »
That sensor is way up there but we don't know for what purpose this station was installed.
University of Florida and the Florida Agriculture Dept  have stations all over the state and they have temp sensors at 30ft and 2ft.
I considered that, but why have a super nice tower like that and only have the one sensor on it. Does that mean they have another super nice tower with only one at 5ft or 10? If so, kinda waste of money and space, don'tcha think?

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2018, 09:29:20 PM »

...kinda waste of money and space, don'tcha think?

Well they are using Federal grant money.
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline CW2274

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 6730
    • Conditions @ CW2274 West Tucson-Painted Hills Ranch
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2018, 09:35:34 PM »

...kinda waste of money and space, don'tcha think?

Well they are using Federal grant money.
I'd hope that they'd find better use of it. :roll:

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #12 on: May 24, 2018, 01:08:15 PM »
First, thank you all for the input.

I bought the Ambient Weather WS-1201-IP OBSERVER on advice from Ed at Ambient Weather. Ed was very helpful. He explained that I could connect with Weather Underground without a WeatherBridge using the 1201 kit. The 1201 kit is cheaper then the 1401 kit (which comes with a WeatherBridge) and the 1201 comes with a monitor console.
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa

Offline Fabius

  • Ambient Weather station model 1201.
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Undocumented Meteorologist.
    • Weather Station with Air Quality Readings
Re: My First PWS Stet Up Plans
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2018, 10:45:45 PM »
As suggested a nearby PWS can be used to compare data to mine once I'm operational. There is a PWS is located across the street from me and is at the local high school.

The tech support guy at Ambient Weather said to use the local airport for comparing my readings and to calibrate to their readings. The airport is about 1.5 miles away.
Undocumented Meteorologist.
La Porte, Indiana USA
Weather Station: https://tinyurl.com/uu4f9sa