Author Topic: Advice on which outdoor sensor. (Read 3699 times)

_John C · « **on:** September 02, 2019, 06:37:42 AM »

Hi,
Im looking into getting a Fine Offset weather station. HP2550 or HP2551. Both kits have the same console but different outdoor sensor arrays. One has the 3 arm array and the other had the 2 arm array.

HP2550
http://www.foshk.com/Wifi_Weather_Station/HP2550.html

HP2551
http://www.ecowitt.com/weather_station/70.html

Is there any reasons to favour one sensor array over the other? Two or three arm array ?

I cant buy the Ambient Weather branded stations as Im living in Ireland. So it seems my best option is to buy direct from Fine Offset as they can supply me with the 433MHz version and they can also supply me with extra indoor sensors if i wish. Just wondering about which outdoor sensor array would be best.

All the best,
John

Mandrake · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2019, 07:08:03 AM »

Firstly you cant buy direct from Fine Offset (there website is more for retailers who bulk purchase and rebadge like Ambient etc)

So that said, the route in the UK/Europe to purchase is via Ecowitt who are Hong Kong based and work closely with Fine Offset.
I have a HP2550 Console and the Tri-Wing sensor. It really is only cosmetically different to the Two arm sensor array.
In addition you can add additional sensors for the HP2551 console such as a Air quality sensor, soil moisture and additional internal temp sensors.

If you contact Lucy at Ecowitt and ask for a quote she will provide you a USD price to ship a console and sensor array to Ireland.
I have been super happy with my kit and are doing testing work with Ecowitt as they release more kit with Fine Offset

_John C · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2019, 07:30:20 AM »

Thank you Mandrake.
I've already been in contact with Lucy about prices . Ive been emailing her at Fine Offset. But when I asked about payment method she said to send the payment to an ecowitt email address at paypal. So these two companies are REALLY close

Since the kit will actually be coming from Ecowitt, will I be able to upload the data to the Ecowitt site aswell as the Weather Underground site ?

Thanks,
John

Mandrake · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2019, 08:25:00 AM »

Indeed if you e-mail Fine Offset then you will get Lucy in response and Lucy works for Ecowitt as well.
They are officially separate companies but there is obviously very close ties between the two.

Yes, you will be able to upload to Ecowitt.net, Met Office WOW and Weather Underground as well if you get a HP2551
I would also recomend a GW-1000 for the small extra costs as it gives you a alternative weather station and is very useful and you can see live data on your phone via the WS-View app. Its another gadget but a good one if you are into your weather stations.

_John C · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2019, 08:30:12 AM »

Thanks Mandrake. I will look into the GW-1000. Just trying to decide between HP2550 and HP2551.

Mandrake · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2019, 08:33:07 AM »

I have a HP2550A and it seems to be visually identical to the HP2551 so I am not sure what the difference spec wise is.
Its not likely to be much.
I would probably ask for a HP2551 if I was ordering now.

_John C · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2019, 03:43:40 PM »

Do I need the GW-1000 to use the WS-View app on my phone? Or can I still use the WS-View app if I just get the HP2551 ? Also; will I be able to see my indoor temperature with both the WS-View app and on the Ecowitt.net weather site ? The ability to view my indoor temperature on my phone would be very useful to me. If so then can multiple indoor temp/hum sensors(WH31) be viewed with the app and online ?

Mandrake · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:35:23 AM »

The WS-View app provides several functions.
It allows the updating of wifi firmware for the HP2551 and firmware for the GW-1000
It allows the setup of external websites like WOW, Weather Underground and Ecowitt.net for both console and GW-1000

From any Internet connection:
Once Wunderground is configured you can see graphed data from those on the WS-View app though this is not live. So you can have a Wunderground site for the HP2551 and the GW-1000 if you wish (as I do)

Whilst you are on your home WiFi network -
You can see live data from the GW-1000 and this includes all the sensors it can see so this includes internal additional sensors.
The HP2551 does not support live data.

Of course you can always view Ecowitt.net from a browser from any Internet location and this will show whatever the console or GW-1000 is configured to see. This can be configured to update every 60 secs if you wish. You can register for an ecowitt.net account now without a station and see the data for other folks as a guide as its all public.

Vette-kid · « **Reply #8 on:** September 03, 2019, 07:10:46 AM »

I believe there is some misinformation here. I have the 2551 without a G1000 and wsView functions fully. I can edit settings and view current reading (1 minute update interval). And you can always use the ecowitt.net site, which is better anyway. I also believe they are working on another app. 2551 also publishes directly to WU and I believe can do others, though not certain there as I just use WU.

I'd get the 2551. I see no reason they have the 2550 at all anymore, It's a 2551 that needs g1000. There sensors I believe are the same, just a different housing layout.

_John C · « **Reply #9 on:** September 03, 2019, 07:57:38 AM »

Thanks for all the advice lads. Im going with the HP2551 and for the sake of the $36, I may aswell get the GW1000 aswell.

Vette-kid · « **Reply #10 on:** September 03, 2019, 07:59:42 AM »

Let us know if you see any real advantage to having to g1000 with it. My understanding is that the 2551 does everything a 2550/g1000 combo does. Perhaps I'm missing something.

Mandrake · « **Reply #11 on:** September 03, 2019, 09:53:35 AM »

OK, that's interesting. The HP2550A definitely does not display live data via the WS-View app, just the Wunderground data which is updated periodically.
The GW-1000 shows full live data similar to the console like view for all sensors via the app as well as the limited Wunderground view.

And as mentioned you have the option of Ecowitt.net data for both systems and for the extra few dollars its worth having the GW-1000

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Vette-kid · « **Reply #12 on:** September 03, 2019, 10:26:17 AM »

I believe the console update is something like 16 seconds, no? And my ws view is each minute. Maybe I'm wrong on that. I'm not in a place to check right now. I can't see additional sensors in ws view, but I can in ecowitt.net. not sure about publishing extra sensors, that may be the difference.

Mandrake · « **Reply #13 on:** September 03, 2019, 11:19:41 AM »

Do you see live data in WS-View like the image above for your HP2551 or do you see the graphs on a black background (which are taken from Wunderground)?

galfert · « **Reply #14 on:** September 03, 2019, 11:45:58 AM »

Let me settle some confusion.

only the GW1000 has Live data direct from all sensors on the WS View app updated every 16 seconds. Data that you see on WS View from other models is just data from WU and is not direct from sensors. Data from WU is limited to only those data types that WU supports (no PM2.5, no soil, no extra temp/hum..etc).
the GW1000 is good for more than just direct all sensor Live data on WS View. It is the only console that supports the local API to connect software like Weather-Display or Meteobridge and others in the future.
as mentioned before there is no difference technically between the tri-wing and bi-wing outdoor sensor array. But I believe the bi-wing is a newer design and has the advantage of better thwarting snow accumulation. Ambient and some other resellers only sell the tri-wing.

* GW1000 Live data view on WS View from all sensors is limited to use only on local network. Meaning if you aren't home then you can't see this data on WS View (unless you set up a home VPN). You can see this data from anywhere via Ecowitt.net but it is then 1 minute delayed.

Vette-kid · « **Reply #15 on:** September 03, 2019, 12:26:36 PM »

Thanks for that. 1 minute vs 16 seconds isn't an issue for me, but there compatibility for weather display is something of interest. I've been waiting for that to be added but didn't realize o would need g1000 for it.

galfert · « **Reply #16 on:** September 03, 2019, 01:00:14 PM »

Weather-Display compatibility with the GW1000 is brand new. I just completed helping Brian to add this support last week. You don't need to know anything technical to make it work, it is very easy. Just install Weather-Display and simply give it the IP address of your GW1000 and done. Live data instantly starts coming in to the software. The beauty of the API is that the software handles all the technicalities for you and there is nothing to do on the GW1000 either. Works the same way for Meteobridge. I'm now running Weather-Display and Meteobridge and both are simultaneously getting data live from my GW1000. The best part is that data is acquired locally and direct and live and it keeps working when the Internet is down.

https://www.weather-watch.com/smf/index.php/topic,68327.0.html

Vette-kid · « **Reply #17 on:** September 03, 2019, 01:02:42 PM »

Awesome!

_John C · « **Reply #18 on:** September 03, 2019, 02:48:04 PM »

So then, am I right in thinking that if I get the HP2551 & GW1000; then it would be best to just use the GW1000 for upload and use the HP2551 console just for viewing (not uploading or connected to the internet) ?. GW1000 is the better device for data upload to the internet/local network? I dont see the need for myself to run 2 online stations carrying the same data.

galfert · « **Reply #19 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:21:11 PM »

Quote from: _John C on September 03, 2019, 02:48:04 PM

So then, am I right in thinking that if I get the HP2551 & GW1000; then it would be best to just use the GW1000 for upload and use the HP2551 console just for viewing (not uploading or connected to the internet) ?. GW1000 is the better device for data upload to the internet/local network? I dont see the need for myself to run 2 online stations carrying the same data.

You would still want to connect to WiFi the HP2551 console so that via the Internet it can update all its functions; Time sync, sunrise-sunset, moon phase, etc. But you are correct that I would recommend to just have the the GW1000 become your upload to weather services, but not for the reason that it is better. I wouldn't say that the GW1000 is better than the HP2551 (WS-2000) console for uploading. It is just becomes something that makes more sense to use the GW1000 to be the uploader if you take advantage of the extra API feature for use with 3rd party software. For example between the GW1000 and the HP2551 uploads to WU or Ecowitt.net....well you won't see the difference in that function. But if you are taking advantage of the GW1000 API for other 3rd party software then it makes sense for the GW1000 to be the one to use to upload to online services so that you can have a common console with the services that the GW1000 updates directly and those that are fed via 3rd party software. It makes it easy to know that whatever you calibrate on the GW1000 shows exactly up on all services. Then just use the HP2551 (WS-2000) as a room display....and for seeing its unique features like sunrise-sunset, moon phase...etc.

That said there is a function that the HP2551 (WS-2000) can do that the GW1000 can't. The GW1000 can't log data to SD storage card and the HP2551 (WS-2000) can. Also in the case of the WS-2000 variant (Ambient branded) it becomes a way to upload to Ambientweather.net because the GW1000 can't do that. Ambientweather.net and Ecowitt.net are very similar but there are features that each have that are unique.

_John C · « **Reply #20 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:35:14 PM »

Great stuff. The GW1000 has its own indoor temp/hum/bar sensors. Can I get it to ignore these sources and get the GW1000 to process/upload the data from the indoor unit that comes with the HP2551 instead?

CW2274 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:45:41 PM »

This is not a slam but an observation, but I'm damn sure glad I'm not in the market for a PWS. Reading threads like this would turn me off in a heartbeat about buying Ambient, or whatever half dozen varieties it may be called (part of the problem as well). I'm certainly not an IT guy and knowing what talks with what, what sensor goes where, what needs calibrating for online vs in house, what data can go where and what can't, and all the other idiosyncrasies, it lunacy. I'm sure once you're into one it's fairly straight forward, but that just it, I'd never try.

_John C · « **Reply #22 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:49:50 PM »

Go for it ! . Great help from the members here. Im sure theyd steer you in the right direction and get you online.

CW2274 · « **Reply #23 on:** September 03, 2019, 03:54:05 PM »

Quote from: _John C on September 03, 2019, 03:49:50 PM

Go for it ! . Great help from the members here. Im sure theyd steer you in the right direction and get you online.

If that was meant for me, thanks, but I'm already where I need to be, thankfully...

galfert · « **Reply #24 on:** September 03, 2019, 04:01:12 PM »

Quote from: _John C on September 03, 2019, 03:35:14 PM

Great stuff. The GW1000 has its own indoor temp/hum/bar sensors. Can I get it to ignore these sources and get the GW1000 to process/upload the data from the indoor unit that comes with the HP2551 instead?

Since the GW1000 has its own indoor temp/hum and pressure it can't utilize the WH32B that comes with the HP2551. There is no need for it....the GW1000 already essentially has a WH32B inside. The reason the HP2551 doesn't have the temp/hum sensor inside because having them externally was originally devised as a way preventing the display heat from interfering with temperature accuracy. That was the original solution when that display was designed. Since then with the newer GW1000 they realized they could cut costs and provide the same functionality with an external sensor by just making it hang off a pigtail. Having the pigtail is something that is probably more acceptable on the GW1000 because it doesn't have a display so where ever you have the GW1000 will probably not matter if it has an ugly pigtail. But with the display to have this pigtail could present an aesthetic problem...hence it is more elegant (and slightly more costly) to have it be a wireless WH32B sensor.

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Author Topic: Advice on which outdoor sensor. (Read 3699 times)