Topic: Ambient WS-2000 vs. Ecowitt HP2551 - plus GW1000

[galfert]

Ambient WS-2000 vs. Ecowitt HP2551 - plus GW1000

Purpose: This thread is to discuss the differences between the Ambient WS-2000 and the Ecowitt HP2551 and any other similar Fine Offset clones. It also highlights the compatibility of the GW1000 with either branded station sensors.

UPDATE: Both of these stations have now been updated to support even more sensors.

Key Points:

• The Ecowitt HP2551 is not better than the Ambient WS-2000. They are equal and a bit different in software which changes some things and hardware compatibility. Some things may be better in one versus the other.
• For some people the Ambient brand is not available as it is only sold in the USA.
• Typically the only way to upload to Ambientweather.net is to use an Ambient console. But there is an exception which is a Meteobridge with added Ambientweather.net license. An Ecowitt (or other Fine Offset clone) user could then add Ambientweather.net with a Meteobridge and no true Ambient console. A WeatherBridge is a Meteobridge sold by Ambient that already had this license. But you can roll your own Meteobridge and add that license if desired.
• A user with only an Ecowitt console may wonder why they even need Ambientweather.net since they have Ecowitt.net. Although Ecowitt.net looks nicer there are some key features that are only available via Ambientweather.net; for eample the Internet API is available for many 3rd party weather software and web templates. Also using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant is only possible for now with Ambientweather.net as supported skills. Ambientweather.net also allows to download data.
• The only way to upload to Ecowitt.net is with an Ecowitt console (or with other Fine Offset console, but not Ambient). Good news is that anyone with an Ambient station can add an Ecowitt GW1000 and it will pick up all your Ambient sensors, then you can gain Ecowitt.net capability.
• If you have both an Ambient console and an Ecowitt GW1000 then you can take advantage of both services (Ambientweather.net & Ecowitt.net). Neither company's cloud service is better. They each have features that the other doesn't.
• The sensors look similar but Ecowitt sensors are not picked up by Ambient consoles...(save for some exceptions like the separate rain gauge, which could disappear with a future firmware update.)
• In order to combine and use more than one console, the sensors also all need to be on the same frequency. Ambient branded sensors and consoles only use 915 MHz.
• The Ecowitt GW1000 is a very powerful option to ether Ambient or Ecowitt station (or other Fine Offset). This is primarily because it is the only console to support a local network API. This local network API allows you to expand the capabilities of your station to easily support all sensors with no technical know-how, because you don't need to know how to use API's. All you need to do is install the compatible 3rd party software and point it to the GW1000's IP address and you are done. For now the compatible 3rd party software to take advantage of this API is Cumulus MX, Meteobridge and Weather-Display. The Meteobridge is software you run on a TP-Link travel router and Weather-Display is software that you can run on a computer with various operating system (PC, Mac, or Linux like a Raspberry Pi). There are other ways to get your data to yet other software even without the GW1000 but that requires a bit more technical know how (like WeeWx, but WeeWx will soon support the local API). It is especially challenging using Ambient to get redirected data because there is no "Customized Server" settings in their consoles, which is why having the GW1000 is such a nice enhancement.
  
• The appeal to use 3rd party weather software like Cumulus MX, Meteobridge, Weather-Display or other is to enable the capabilities to upload your data to many many more places; CWOP, AWEAKS, PWSweather, Windy, WindGuru, OpenWeatherMap, and others. Plus you can upload to your own website. Plus you can upload to your own SQL database server. Not to mention you have your data locally to analyse with other software or transfer to other future software or services.
• The GW1000 API also lets you configure multiple 3rd party software simultaneously. For example Cumulus MX, Weather-Display and Meteobridge can be supported at the same time with just one GW1000.
• Ecowitt consoles have a configuration for "Customized server" which can push either WU format or Ecowitt format data to a server of your choice. This is not the same thing as the GW1000 API. The "Customized server" option is Push technology to just one server, whereas the GW1000 API is Pull technology for as many devices/software that ask for the data.
• The ObserverIP device (or others like it - Aercus Weather Logger) have been surpassed by the capabilities of the GW1000. It is no longer necessary to do screen scrapes or network redirections which were the only options available to the ObserverIP. Some non-Ambient firmware of the ObserverIP (like Aercus) do have the capability to send data to customized server, but that is just WU formated data and does not have all the sensors.
• Ther are other station options from both Ambient and Ecowitt. Some of these options are less capable like the WS-2902A and the WH2910C. These do not have the capability to add sensors. But you can add a GW1000 and with it gain the extra sensors and the API software capabilities.
• There are yet more Ecowitt station options with separate outdoor sensors instead of using all-in-one sensor array. Those options are available to Ecowitt console users. But they are not compatible with Ambient consoles with the exception of the experimental beta WS-5000 which I don't think I'll ever recommend because of the ultrasonic anemometer.
• The GW1000 supports up to 4 PM2.5 sensors, 8 temp/hum sensors, 8 soil moisture sensors.
• The GW1000 is a full console without a display. You can run a full weather station with just a GW1000 and no display. Which is essentially what a GW1001 is. But you can also get an Ambient WS-1900 and add a GW1000 and you pretty much have the same thing plus a display for a bit lower cost (if you are in the US).
• Some other key points in the attached graphic below:

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
*click to enlarge

Soil sensor from Ambient coming soon estimated Q1 2020. Newest WS-2000 firmware now supports soil sensors but they have to be Ambient branded.

[galfert]

My graphic above is already outdated...

The GW1000 now supports:

• Water leak detector
• Lighting detector

UPDATE: Graphic above now updated
January 7, 2020

[KC5JIM]

This is incredible news. Thank you!

[galfert]

Newest firmware from Ambient for the WS-2000 now supports the soil sensor. Ambient expects the soil sensor to be available for purchase Q1 2020 and that is just an estimate time frame.

[galfert]

Graphic in OP updated.

Added:

- Lightning sensor to Ecowitt
- Water Leak sensor to Ecowitt
- AWEKAS to Ecowitt

[mcrossley]

And you can add CumulusMX to the GW1000 compatible software

[galfert]

And you can add CumulusMX to the GW1000 compatible software

YES! Done. Thank you for reminding me.

[K5GHS]

Looks like I'll be getting a GW1000 to allow me to send data to CWOP.  Can't beat it for the price on Amazon, that's for sure.  Requires a little technical know-how but that doesn't scare me.  The Amazon blurb is suggesting a short USB cord to get it away from the power supply to prevent issues, has anyone noticed this?  I've seen postings of them sitting right on the brick, and lord knows I have a bunch of those....

[galfert]

I think most people run the GW1000 power off a USB port rather than direct USB power adapter. I run mine off the Meteobridge's USB port, and I've seen others do it off the Raspberry Pi or off a laptop USB ports. No need for extension cable then. Instead of getting an extension cable, if you had no available USB port, I would recommend using a powered USB hub to remedy the USB shortfall. Since there is no data via USB, the GW1000 can be powered anywhere. No issues reported by powering directly by a device's USB port, which I suppose is different than powering directly by an AC/DC converter.

[Sir_MAK]

Mine is directly connected to some old AC to USB phone charger.  I have not seen any issues.  It is on the opposite side of my house from the weather station.  I have several sensors (T/H, soil moisture, PM2.5, and they all connect with no issues to the GW1000.
One thing to keep in mind, the indoor T/H is cabled into the unit so think about where you want the inside measurements to be taken.

[SWX]

I’ve had my GW1000 plugged into the wall via an Apple usb charger since the day I got it, temp/humidity sensor cord still bundled together, never had an issue.

[K5GHS]

Sounds good.  I put it on a brick myself, and its been up and running a few days, no issues.

Worst case a 3 foot cable on Amazon is $3 and maybe two days away if that.  But I can see where some old malfunctioning brick could put out enough noise to affect it, I guess.

If its in the manual, it probably happened to one person and thus its there to CYA.

[davidsmartin]

Slightly off topic, but the compatibility post is closed.  I have the Ambient Weather WS1401-IP.  Can the GW1000 receive data from the 1401 and transmit it to the various displays?

Thanks,

David

[galfert]

Slightly off topic, but the compatibility post is closed.  I have the Ambient Weather WS1401-IP.  Can the GW1000 receive data from the 1401 and transmit it to the various displays?

Thanks,

David

It doesn't work that way. The GW1000 doesn't talk to any console, it is a console itself. The GW1000 gets sensor data directly from the sensors. You don't even need a display. And yes the GW1000 is compatible with the WS-1401-IP sensor array. That sensor array is called the WH24.

[andyk1]

Just to let everyone know the Water Leak Sensor (WH55) will be listed on the www.ecowitt.com site sometime after February 1st. I've had it testing the past few weeks and it works as advertised (or will be). Sends alerts to your email if set up. It works as previous water leak detectors that did not send alerts. It's loud as it should be about 90db. Lightning sensor coming soon also.

The above was posted with Lucy's permission from Ecowitt.com.

Andy

[Platokidd]

My GW1000 will arrive today from Amazon. Will the gw1000 and my ws-2000 alone allow me to send to CWOP? Or will I still need a weatherbridge?

This weather jargon stuff always makes my head hurt

[galfert]

My GW1000 will arrive today from Amazon. Will the gw1000 and my ws-2000 alone allow me to send to CWOP? Or will I still need a weatherbridge?

This weather jargon stuff always makes my head hurt

The GW1000 will make it easier to upload to CWOP, but it won't upload to CWOP itself. The way the GW1000 helps is because it makes getting the data easier than getting it from the WS-2000. What you need in conjunction with the GW1000 is some software to read that data and then send it to CWOP. There are many software options to read data from the GW1000. The WeatherBridge (Meteobridge) is just one way. Other ways are Cumulus, Weather-Display, or WeeWx. Those four software choices are the most popular. But there are yet other ways. For example you can run a script (search as it has been posted on this forum) to get data from the GW1000 and then upload to CWOP. Or you can pull data from Ambientweather.net to then upload to CWOP (this method doesn't require a GW1000). There are probably yet other ways.

[K5GHS]

The new update allowing it to reconnect if it can't find wi-fi is excellent too, got it last night and had to reset my routers today, hooked right back up after 3 minutes.

[WA4OPQ]

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that it might be advisable to use a USB extension cord on the GW1000.
Someone wondered if anyone had ever had a problem with that.

That would be me.

I had an intermittent drop out problem with my GW1000. After many configuration changes I solved the problem with a three foot cord.

[Platokidd]

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that it might be advisable to use a USB extension cord on the GW1000.
Someone wondered if anyone had ever had a problem with that.

That would be me.

I had an intermittent drop out problem with my GW1000. After many configuration changes I solved the problem with a three foot cord.

X2

[abusuzuki]

I have read  in the manual of Ecowitt HP2551 that it measures humidity from 1% to 99%, can it really measure less than 10%?

[galfert]

I have read  in the manual of Ecowitt HP2551 that it measures humidity from 1% to 99%, can it really measure less than 10%?

It measures 10% to 99% with the WH32 sensor. It will measure 1% to 99% or 100% with the new optional WH32-EP.

[cheeroip]

Excellent Thread Galfert.
The GW1000 is definetely a game changer piece of hardware.
I Just ordered one on  Amazon (Galfert: you should create your amazon refer code).

The GW1000 protocol seem pretty simple, Im not sure if exist an official doc around.

I'll definetely support it in my app: https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=38940.0

[Mandrake]

The API has not been publicly posted yet, but if you have an application that wishes to use it you can approach Ecowitt directly through Lucy or via Galfert or myself and we might be able to provide the API documentation.

The alternative is to use the custom server output approach where your app receives the data rather than interrogating (requests the data) the GW1000
Quite a few folks have gone down that road as it does not require the API documentation

[cheeroip]

The API has not been publicly posted yet, but if you have an application that wishes to use it you can approach Ecowitt directly through Lucy or via Galfert or myself and we might be able to provide the API documentation.

The alternative is to use the custom server output approach where your app receives the data rather than interrogating (requests the data) the GW1000
Quite a few folks have gone down that road as it does not require the API documentation

I will definetely try to do some "pull" experiments before start querying requests around.
Ofcourse as an introvert insecure developer I would prefer an official documentation/position from companies about their policies instead of having to ask around to people for "mights" and "maybes" risking to waste time if they realize that people tinkering isn't the best for them but this is the world we're living and this is just an hobby project for me.
You and Galfert saw my posts about my intention to work on it and didn't offer to help. I'm not a begger and I never understood security through obscurity.
They could have encrypted the traffic and sell to whoever wanted to pay for a commercial software if they don't want people to play with their stuff.
btw rhese half baked polices are just annoyingly common all over tech companies, its definetely nothing new or specific about Ecowitt, Ambient Weather or whoever is in charge in this specific case.

I'll discuss my progress on
https://discord.gg/7yXwugw