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Weather Station Hardware => What Weather Station Should I Buy? => Topic started by: seasalted on March 12, 2017, 10:23:53 PM

Title: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: seasalted on March 12, 2017, 10:23:53 PM
Newbie asking for help in design

I am very near to building a new home on the Gulf Coast of Florida and would like some suggestions on a new installation. My parameters are as follows:
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I proceed and appreciate any help provided
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: PaulMy on March 12, 2017, 10:50:45 PM
Can't go wrong with a Davis VP2 and WeatherlinkIP except for the pretty console!  But there are other options.


Enjoy,
Paul
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: NHWF5510 on March 15, 2017, 02:44:52 PM
I second the VP2. The display may look dated compared to some of the other weather stations being advertised with "color" displays. But don't let the looks fool you. It's a tried and tested design that works. Davis gives you the most bang for your buck in terms of quality and accuracy. I would much rather a Davis than a lesser quality unit that has a "pretty" display. If you really don't care for the display simply buy one of their Sensor Suites (SS) and then a Weather Envoy which sends the data directly to your computer and logs the data when your computer is shutdown. You don't need to buy a display (Console) to use one of their stations.

As far as wired vs wireless? Wireless is much easier to install and if you ever decide to, move the station and is far easier to upgrade with added sensors down the road. You also eliminate any path from a lightning strike entering your house via the cable. Which is a plus.

This would be everything you need including Solar and UV sensors and with shipping would be within your budget. https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-6162-wireless-vantage-pro2-plus-with-standard-radiation-shield/

Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: Jáchym on March 15, 2017, 02:50:05 PM
The display can easily be provided by some very cheap tablet, which you connect to a webpage where you have your current conditions (WLink or your own)
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: NHWF5510 on March 15, 2017, 03:24:51 PM
The display can easily be provided by some very cheap tablet, which you connect to a webpage where you have your current conditions (WLink or your own)

  Excellent point. Color tablets can be had for $100 (even less) and that would give you the ultimate in flexibility. You would just need to connect your console to the internet using one of the adapters Davis offers.
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: Phil23 on March 15, 2017, 04:36:38 PM
The display can easily be provided by some very cheap tablet, which you connect to a webpage where you have your current conditions (WLink or your own)

Or a similar approach with a cheap rPi & a bigger range of displays.
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: seasalted on April 09, 2017, 08:19:11 AM
Thank you all for your suggestions. I will update the forum when I do the install.
As to wired or wireless... I am still debating that as I will be running a lot of Cat6a throughout the house. I would also like to provide video with this setup. Since this is new construction this would be the time to pull the cables. Any additional input on this would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: seasalted on April 09, 2017, 08:22:58 AM
The display can easily be provided by some very cheap tablet, which you connect to a webpage where you have your current conditions (WLink or your own)

Or a similar approach with a cheap rPi & a bigger range of displays.

What's a "Cheap rPi? I would like to mount a cheap tablet with a PoE connection for a display and perhaps a lighting control center
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: seasalted on April 09, 2017, 08:29:50 AM
I second the VP2. The display may look dated compared to some of the other weather stations being advertised with "color" displays. But don't let the looks fool you. It's a tried and tested design that works. Davis gives you the most bang for your buck in terms of quality and accuracy. I would much rather a Davis than a lesser quality unit that has a "pretty" display. If you really don't care for the display simply buy one of their Sensor Suites (SS) and then a Weather Envoy which sends the data directly to your computer and logs the data when your computer is shutdown. You don't need to buy a display (Console) to use one of their stations.

As far as wired vs wireless? Wireless is much easier to install and if you ever decide to, move the station and is far easier to upgrade with added sensors down the road. You also eliminate any path from a lightning strike entering your house via the cable. Which is a plus.

This would be everything you need including Solar and UV sensors and with shipping would be within your budget. https://www.scaledinstruments.com/product/davis-6162-wireless-vantage-pro2-plus-with-standard-radiation-shield/

Thanks for the link. The 6162 meets my requirements plus it can handle pretty much what Mother might throw at us here in Hurricane Alley. Any suggestions as to integrating video? I would like a camera positioned to share the views of the Santa Rosa Sound
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: seasalted on April 09, 2017, 08:34:48 AM
The display can easily be provided by some very cheap tablet, which you connect to a webpage where you have your current conditions (WLink or your own)

Or a similar approach with a cheap rPi & a bigger range of displays.

What's a "Cheap rPi? I would like to mount a cheap tablet with a PoE connection for a display and perhaps a lighting control center

Well, give me a Raspberry   #-o
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: Sooner Al on April 10, 2017, 06:19:21 AM
Here is a VP2 in a coastal environment at South Padre Island, Texas. Its about 50 yards or so from the Gulf of Mexico. The wind cups have been frozen for years. Not sure why someone would spend the money on a VP2 and not maintain it...

Sorry the photo is not as clear as it should be.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Building a new home on the Gulf Coast -- Help me design a system
Post by: ch8ch on April 15, 2017, 08:56:17 AM
Newbie asking for help in design

I am very near to building a new home on the Gulf Coast of Florida and would like some suggestions on a new installation. My parameters are as follows:
  • Budget ~ $500-$750.00
  • Intend to run CAT 6 throughout house so can go with wired system. Home will have central IT room
  • Want the following in addition to wind... Temperature and humidity inside and out; rain gauge, UV would be nice
  • Remote access and would like to share data with WU and, or other weather communities
  • Decent remote display in home. I notice the Davis Vantage Pro 2+ remote display seems dated. Is there something else out there? I don't have to lock in to a package
  • Don't want to tie up a PC (or Mac in my case) full time
  • Camera may be an option
  • Mounting location, i.e. separate mount away from house or pole mount on eve
  • Location has history of severe hurricanes so would want something that could handle upwards to 136 knts. After that it might not be relevant for me or the WS.
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I proceed and appreciate any help provided

Whats this ?