Dale ... first a little history on my station. It will address some of your questions along the way. I bought it because I wanted a big boy unit, plus I really liked the console. It being a WR25, was next to the cheapest model offered by TWI (WR25-C was the cheapest). I did accept the fact it couldn't log as I wasn't interested in storing historical data points. But as time went on, I longed for more and began adding features to it.
In 2009, the first WR25 upgrade was adding the lighting detection. This required the CPU to be upgraded from the first version to CPU3, & of course, I had to ship it to TWI in order for this to be accomplished. The tidal LED's became the indicators for the number of strikes. One LED lit = one strike. Two LEDs lit = two strikes. Three LEDs = four strikes, 4 = 8, ... etc. Also, the BP and Humidity window added a third numeric display to it's cycle; the count of lighting strikes in increments of 1. Both the LEDs, and the count reset to; none lit, and zero every 60 secs. If you look at the pic, you'll see the coax pigtail soldered to the main board in the upper right. The pigtail terminates to a BNC connector at the other end. From what I understand, its an inductance loop whereas as electromagnetic energy from lighting disrupts the loop, so yes, I guess that makes it "active".
Then came upgrade number 2 (in 2013), the network addition. This required sending the WR25, yet again, to TWI in order to upgrade from CPU3 to CPU6 (which required a new main board) and install the new network "daughter" board.
So, the network board has "intelligence". It runs a small program which cycles thru issuing ASCII commands ("R", "K", "Q" in sequence x times, then "V", "v", "s", "I", "Z" and repeats) to the main board via the main board's com port to which the network board is attached. These commands retrieve the most current sensor data & buffers it for transmission to your LAN via the wired Ethernet connection. The network board also runs a web server, thus you can use your LAN attached PC's browser to access the web server's "TWI main page" via the IP address acquired by the card (or you can use a host name - but that gets into networking and a whole other topic). One of the configuration options in the configuration section, a selection off the main page, is to send your data to Weather Underground. It accomplishes this via an HTTP session to Weather Underground (more network stuff) - look up KTNMOUNT13 (my station here in TN) & you'll see my WR25 in action. I think you are right about adding this option as it was a popular thing to do. I went this route because I could get my console on-line without the need of a PC to transmit the station's data.
But, remember, your WR25 has to have the proper CPU/firmware version and proper main board installed to accommodate the network board. Hence my comment about the WRL's as these were the units TWI advertised to have the network option. I think you can still find this on TWIs web page since as of this writing, its still up. The problem with my board is that lately it occasionally locks up (no transmit of data) - this after a close lightning strike a few weeks back.
My latest upgrade (upgrade 3 - just last year), I converted my rain collector and wind sensors to TE's sensors. Had to send my unit to TWI once again for a firmware update for those to work. I think Davis's equipment accommodates TE sensors, so maybe that will be a direction for me to go when, ugggg, my WR25 dies. The Davis console is not that bad, but I'll miss the WR25.
You'll enjoy retirement once you get there. I retired 6 months ago, and it took me about a month to completely disconnect. Now I sleep like a baby.
Anyway, in addition to the network board, I also am interested in what you find with regards to the temp/humidity sensor as I know mine will eventually fail. This is the one sensor I've had to replace numerous times over the years. Your research will be much appreciated.
Thanks for the reply.
Rick
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