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Weather Station Hardware => What Weather Station Should I Buy? => Topic started by: Hostage46 on September 08, 2018, 09:52:49 PM

Title: Minimalist WX station
Post by: Hostage46 on September 08, 2018, 09:52:49 PM
I’m interested in measuring rain fall that my irrigation controller can access. I only care about precip. Can I “publish” a station with only rainfall?

Dan in Dallas
Title: Re: Minimalist WX station
Post by: galfert on September 08, 2018, 11:15:25 PM
Yes you can publish just rainfall but it isn't a common thing to do. I would go as far as saying it is very rare. Besides you can get a full weather station for not much expense. Before you know it you'll get much enjoyment from a full weather station.

But before you get any weather station you need to know what weather service your irrigation system can access. These are the ones I know about:

Hunter Hydrawise uses Weather Underground
Rachio use PWS Weather (WeatherForYou) and CWOP (MADIS)

What irrigation controller do you have? Let us know and I'm sure there will be plenty of recommendations you can evaluate.

Title: Re: Minimalist WX station
Post by: Hostage46 on September 08, 2018, 11:24:53 PM
It’s a rachio, and I see your point, might as well get a full station...
Title: Re: Minimalist WX station
Post by: galfert on September 09, 2018, 01:20:48 PM
There are many solutions to recommend that are good. Depends on how much you want to spend and how much you want to get into this weather stuff. It also can depends on your level of experinece with computer software and operating systems. And it can also depend on your choice to find a solution that does not require a computer to run 24/7.

Here is just a few ideas....

Cheapest requires most experience
Ambient Weather WS-2902A --> Raspberry Pi  with wifi access point running WeeWx and interceptor driver --> PWSweather

Modest investment - easy
Ambient Weather WS-2902A --> ObserverIP (and WS-1000-BTH) --> Meteobridge --> PWSweather

Getting more expensive - easy
Davis Vantage Vue or Vantage Pro2 --> USB or IP data logger adapter ---> PC running Weather Display software (or other Weather Software, WeatherLink, VPLive, Cumulus, Virtual Weather Station...etc...etc) --> PWSweather
Davis Vantage Vue or Vantage Pro2 --> USB or IP data logger adapter ---> Meteobridge --> PWSweather
Davis Vantage Vue or Vantage Pro2 --> wifi Meteobridge data logger adapter --> PWSweather

The Meteobridge if you don't want to build and license yourself can be purchased already built as it is called a WeatherBridge. Same thing running same Meteobridge software. Bit more expensive but saves on complexity of building yourself.
Title: Re: Minimalist WX station
Post by: Bushman on September 09, 2018, 01:38:44 PM
I'd bet a Raspberry Pi running weewx can sniff this:  Certainly doable via SDR.  https://www.amazon.com/Crosse-Technology-WS-9005U-Wireless-Self-Emptying/dp/B000EM9DHA  You could post the number to a  Google space.
Title: Re: Minimalist WX station
Post by: Hostage46 on September 09, 2018, 02:01:07 PM
Really good to hear about the raspberry, I have a buddy who is a Xmas light maniac, swears by the RP and he can answer questions.

This looks doable. I’m on a small confined lot that will never yield a decent wind speed. I’m  12 miles away from KDFW and KDTO, all the accurate wind data I need. Plenty of PWS around me...rainfall is the only thing I can’t get easily.

I’ll look into Wee Wix

Thanks for the pointers