You basically re-flash the firmware image with the meteobridge image using a tool in the TP-Link web interface as originally supplied. Once you do this, it "becomes" a meteobridge.
[SNIP]
Not trying to create a lot of FUD here, but just watch out for these issues. If you are not familiar with re-flashing various devices. You might want to consider the Ambient Weather ready-to-run offering.
Greg H.
I just read up on the Ambient Bridge Weatherbridge solution, which appears to a commercial router with the Meteobridge firmware uploaded. So I have heard 5 options using my coming Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 wireless weather station (note I'm slightly confused):
1. Let the weather station talk to the included console, and enjoy a wireless watch using the console only. No external access from computer or phone, and no connectivity to internet based weather networks.
2. Add the Davis Instrument data logger, another $165. From what I'm reading, it APPEARS that this manages data you store when this is connected to the console, and then can be uploaded to outside weather services and/or viewed on your laptop for analyses. I can't tell if this actually does something to connect to the outside world like Weather Underground in real time.
3. Get the Davis Instrument WeatherlinkIP product, another $295, which you plug into the console, then use ethernet cable to plug into your home router, then have computer and phone access to weather data through included software. I presume you can push data to outside weather services like Weather Underground and others.
4. Get a compatible router for about $30, download a meteobridge image and reflash the router. With some configuration, luck and magic it's ethernet connected to the house router, and push/pull data from your station to outside services. I don't mean to be flip, but what I've read seems to be just a step or two above my PC networking configuration skills. I managed to get my Comcast router set up with a house full of devices, but that's about it!
5. Get the Ambient Weather product called WEATHERBRIDGE Universal WIFI IP Ethernet Server for Weather Station for $209, which appears to be a commercially available version of the process outlined in (3) above. Presumably with the company support arm.
I like 4 and 5 above since they do not need a physical connection to the console or PC. Item 3 seems to require a simultaneous connection to the console and house router, so mobility is an issue. #4 is the cheapest, followed by 5, then 3. I'm leaning towards #5.
Now, for 4 and 5, do I NEED the data logger???? It appears simply be a means to physically collect real time data off the console, then disconnected and reconnected to a PC to upload to the PC or the internet. Is that right?