Home Weather Station w/ access while travelling

[BlackAce]

Hello All!

Earlier today, I was sitting at my desk thinking about how I wish there was a forum dedicated to weather "things" where I could get advice. Little did I know you were all already here!

Thanks for letting me join you. My wife and I are building our first home. They just started on the block walls today. I had always planned to get a weather station mounted on the side of the house, but hadn't really thought about logistics. Since this is new construction, are there any power requirements I should plan for in advance?

Related to the station itself, I'm looking to spend less than $500 (but this is flexible, and might be based on my ignorance). I travel a lot for business, often bringing my wife along, and we'd like to be able to check the data from the house remotely while we're away, particularly rain totals, wind speed, etc. We live in Central Florida, so interested in the usual suspects for our area.

Thoughts, suggestions, recommendations are appreciated, both for the equipment itself as well as just newbie, beginner advice for embarking in the world of weather tracking.

[SlowModem]

Welcome and enjoy your stay! 

As you can imagine, you can spend as much on a weather station as you want to.  However, for accuracy, flexibility, and dependability, many here will recommend either a Davis VUE or VP2.  There are many other brands available, so browse around and find what you feel comfortable with.

There is also many kinds of software available.  I use WUHU which is free (I like free!) and the software author reads this forum and is  responsive to questions and suggestions.  There is also Cumulus which is donationware (donate if you like it) and Virtual Weather Station (VWS) that you can buy from Ambient weather.com

I'm sure you will get other comments/suggestions from the members on this forum, so happy hunting and good luck! 


Here is a link to a document that has everything you ever wanted to know about sensor placement (and then some!):

http://www.comptus.com/PDF/CWOP_Guide.pdf

[d_l]

If you install a WeatherLinkIP in a Davis station (either the VP2 or Vue), you can connect it to your always on broadband and it will send your weather data to a Davis server automatically.  While you are traveling, you can browse to your weather station results on the Davis server.  You do not need to leave a computer running at home while you are away to send out the data.

The WLIP is somewhat pricey, but there are discounters that sell it much cheaper than the official Davis price.  Read about it here: http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/weather_product.asp?pnum=06555

[beaudog]

There are numerous Wx stations to be had but I would recommend a wireless Davis VUE or VP2 with IP data logger.

You will need no  special wiring for the house.  It is solar powered and works wireless back to the console that comes with the station.    From there the IP data logger (you need a home router) will report all of the data to the Davis server.    You can access that site from anywhere that you have internet access.

You can then also have it report to other weather sites that you and anyone else can access from the internet.

Look at my signature for two  sites that mine reports to for examples.

Here are the ones I suggest:

http://www.provantage.com/davis-instruments-6152~7DAVS045.htm

http://www.provantage.com/davis-instruments-6555~7DAVS05J.htm

alternate:
http://www.provantage.com/davis-instruments-6250~7DAVS05K.htm

Warning this stuff is addictive.   This is how I have mine set up and running.

http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=14465.msg140714#msg140714

[Skywatch]

Also check out Archer Trading Post. www.archertradingpost.com/atp I've never had a complaint.

[DaculaWeather]

Do you plan on having your own website? If so, I would go with a serial or USB datalogger if you get a Davis.

As far as station placement, this is the guide you need to follow. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dshelms/CWOP_Guide.pdf

There are a few people up here from central Florida (Ocala is one) that might have Florida specific information that might be helpful (or not  )

[neondesert]

As far as station placement, this is the guide you need to follow. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dshelms/CWOP_Guide.pdf

That link has been dead for a while, Steve.  The one that Greg posted earlier in this thread appears to have replaced it.
Same guide, new URL.

Here is a link to a document that has everything you ever wanted to know about sensor placement (and then some!):

http://www.comptus.com/PDF/CWOP_Guide.pdf

[DaculaWeather]

Shows you how long it's been since I've read it!