Topic: Anyone Do a Weatherduino?

[Bushman]

http://www.meteocercal.info/forum/Thread-What-is-the-WeatherDuino-Pro2

[geofb13]

I use a similar set up with some of the stations I work with but if it needs a Duino type of device it's more of a Frankenstein Duino then a nice fancy looking board. It also depends on what sensors are at the station as well but that's probably wouldn't be the case for most.

I like the look of theirs though but I don't really have a need for the nice readout screen. It gives me something to shoot for, for my next home station whenever I get around to that.

[werk_ag]

The WeatherDuino Pro2 system is not yet so popular in the USA, as it's in Australia due to the article about it, published on march edition of Silicon Chip Magazine.

But even so, currently there are two systems under construction in the USA.
One of the advantages of the WeatherDuino Pro2 system is that it emulates a Davis Vantage weather station, and in a near future it will have a data logger too.


Build yourself a full featured Weather Station

[Bushman]

The logger will be a great addition.

[Skywatch]

The logger will be a great addition.

I'm sure you read the page in the link but looks like they use Fine Offset sensors which if I recall you're  well familiar with.

[werk_ag]

The logger will be a great addition.

The software version that will support the data logger is already been tested by some beta testers.
Isn't yet defined any public release date, but likely will be Jun / Jul 2015

The data logger is like the Davis one (it even uses the same memory chip), and works with any software that supports a Davis Vantage Pro.

[werk_ag]

I'm sure you read the page in the link but looks like they use Fine Offset sensors which if I recall you're  well familiar with.

Yes, currently for wind readings we are using the Fine Offset sensors, but we are working to very soon add support for the Inspeed Instruments sensors, namely the VORTEX 8-Pulse High Resolution Anemometer, and Inspeed E-VANE2 Electronic Wind Direction Sensor, which seems to be very reliable and quality sensors.

Also, the WeatherDuino Pro2 software with support for an hardware Davis compatible data logger was released today.

[N0NB]

I see from the link that it would operate at 433 MHz.  That may be problematic in the Americas as that frequency is in the band allocated to amateur radio.  432 MHz is a very popular "weak signal" frequency and many hams run serious power coupled to large antenna arrays.  One of these units may suffer a lot of interference if located nearby a radio amateur active on UHF.

A lot of devices stateside operate in the Part 15 900 MHz band.  That is also allocated to amateur radio but is much less used by hams so a much lower chance of receiving interference.

Just some friendly advice.   

[werk_ag]

In Europe the 433 Mhz frequency is also allocated to amateur radio.
Of course that any transmission especially in near frequencies can suffer interference from each other.
One of our testers/developers is a ham. He did a lot of tests with the WeatherDuino Pro2 system, some of them in conditions that he called "an RF tempest", in consequence some data packets are lost, but we never received corrupted weather data, which is very important.

Anyway, without any change on the software or harware it's possible to change the 433Mhz RF modules by 315Mhz ones.

Thanks for the advice.

[werk_ag]

The new version 1.5 of the WeatherDuino Pro2 software brings support for a whole new range of weather instruments., as also to virtually all tipping bucket based rain gauges.

Here is a list of the currently supported weather instruments.

Wind Speed sensors

--- Fine Offset Anemometers ---
Standard FO anemometers
FO anemometer modified with 1 hall effect sensor

--- Inspeed Anemometers ---
Inspeed Vortex, digital 8 pulse revolution
Inspeed Vortex, hall efect sensor
Inspeed Vortex, read switch sensor
 
--- Davis Anemometers ---
Davis 6410 anemometer
 
--- Novalynx Anemometers ---
Novalynx, model 200-WS-02F

--- Environmental Measurements Limited ---
EML, model WSD1

--- Didcot Instrument Company ---
DIDCOT, model DWR205


Wind Direction Sensors

--- Fine Offset Wind Vane ---
Standard FO wind vane
 
--- Inspeed Wind Vane ---
Inspeed E-Vane 2
 
--- Davis Wind Vane ---
Davis 6410 and 7911 wind vane

--- Didcot Instrument Company ---
DIDCOT, model DWD205


Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges

--- Wired Models ---
- Fine Offset (PCE, Watson, etc)
- Davis 7852
- Texas Electronics, model 525
- Virtually, any tipping bucket rain gauge

--- Wireless Models ---
- Auriol H13726
- Ventus W155
- Hama EWS 1500
- Meteoscan w155 w160
- Alecto WS-3500
- Balance RF-WS100

Outside Temperature / Humidity Sensors

- All SHT2x series from Sensirion
- All SHT1x series from Sensirion
- HTU21D
- DHT21 or DHT22 (low end sensors)

The WeatherDuino Pro2 system works now with almost all of the more common weather instruments, making of it an universal system.
From low cost to high end weather instruments, you are free to decide, what instruments and brands you want to use, and the ones that most fit your requirements or budget.

[Fox_Of_The_Wind]

neat setup. LOVE the big display that would work with it.  kind of wish they would show a parts list without registering on there site.....all well..

[Bushman]

R1, R12 1K Ohm, 1/4 watt, 5% 2
R2, R3, R11 10K Ohm, 1/4 watt, 5% 3
R4 3K Ohm, 1/4 watt, 1% Metal Film Resistor 1
R5 1K Ohm, 1/4 watt, 1% Metal Film Resistor 1
R7, R8, R9, R10 4.7K Ohm, 1/4 watt, 5% 4
R6 20K Ohm, 3362P-1-203 Variable Resistor 1
C1, C2, C4, C5 100nf/50v Ceramic Capacitor 4
C6,C9 47nF/50V Ceramic Capacitor 2
C10, C11, C12 Not needed. Don’t Install -
C3 470uF/16V Electrolytic Capacitor 1
C7, C8 10uF/16V Tantalum Capacitor 2
D1 1N4004 Diode 1
IC1 7809, Voltage regulator - TO-220 1
IC2 TMP36 Temperature Sensor * 1
IC3 82B715 Philips DIP8 – I2C bus extender * 1
IC4 AMS1117, 5V Voltage Regulator (included on board) 1
IC5 AMS1117, 3.3V Voltage Regulator (included on board) 1
T1 2N7000 MosFET Transistor 1
T2 IRLZ44N MosFET transistor 1
TXLED 3mm Led ( R1 value according to color and LED type) 1
FANLED 3mm Led ( R12 value according to color and LED type) 1
CPU Arduino Nano v3.0 1
RF-TX KXD-10036 RF Transmitter Module 433MHZ 1
SMA-G SMA Female Board Connector 1
JP1 Vcc Voltage Selector (3 Pin Jumper) 1
JP2 Fine Offset Wind Vane enabler (keep open for other brands) 1
WIND, RAIN RJ12 and RJ11 connectors (included with the board) 2


No idea what it all costs but for example, thee TX module is like 4 bucks.  Board prices pretty cheap.  I think what will add up is all the sensors etc.

[Fox_Of_The_Wind]

oh..oh my...well....ok I guess for now I will just keep my davis LCD's But I am going to save this for later. Thanks for the info.

[werk_ag]

After a few months of hard work, the v2.0 software package for the WeatherDuino Pro2 system was launched!


The AuriolDuino system was merged into the WeatherDuino Pro2 project. This means that from now on, the WeatherDuino Pro2 receiver unit also can be used with all the Weather Stations* previously supported by the AuriolDuino system.

For the current and new WeatherDuino Pro2 users, there are novelties too:

 - Added support (experimental yet) for Soil Moisture**, Leaf Wetness** and Soil / Leaf temperature sensors**, using a dedicated Soil / Leaf interface (expected to be available in May 2016).
 - New user programmable general purpose output function, which can be used to turn on or off a relay.
 - Added a three digits diagnostic code in the LCD startup screen.
 - Added a user configurable option to enable / disable Wind Gust Spike prevention routine.
 - New software for the TX units. Added support for the Soil / Leaf interface
 - Wireless Display units have a new screen design, showing more info, driven by touch or by the push button.
 - Better comments in all software.
 - Improved code.

 And of course, compatible with all existing hardware***.


* Auriol H13726, Ventus W155, Hama EWS 1500 / Meteoscan w155 w160 / Alecto WS-3500 / Balance RF-WS100

 ** Supported Soil Moisture sensor: Vegetronix VH400
 ** Supported Leaf Wetness sensor: Decagon Leaf Wetness Sensor.
 ** Supported Soil / Leaf temperature sensors - Up to four Dallas 1-wire temperature sensors.

 *** Soil / Leaf interface may work only with TX v3.xx boards

[uncle_bob]

Just a note to let anyone interested that the WeatherDuino Pro2 now supports the SHT 31 sensor (same as in the new Davis stations).

[uncle_bob]

I noticed the above comments about a Frankenduino just want to add that I originally built the RX unit on breadboard first and then on stripboard later, both successfully.  Here's a pic from my station's Weatherunderground page

[werk_ag]

There is a new addition to the WeatherDuino Pro2 system.

WeatherDuino Pro2 PLUS Base Unit - Receiver

To read an Overview on the support forum, click here.