I apologize if this is addressed somewhere in the years and years of posts here, but so far I haven't been able to find answers to these questions.
I've been using VWS on a dedicated PC for I guess 15-20 years or longer? I have a VP2 which has a serial connection to the PC. The PC uploads at short intervals and has been extremely reliable 24/7 (I've upgraded PC's a couple of times over the years). But quite frankly I'm tiring of paying for a web service, and when I see the options available via meteobridge I don't think I need to create my own website anymore. The templates actually look upgraded compared to my old text-based website.
1. Which Meteo device would I be looking at to replace my setup? I'm contributing to CWOP, WeatherUnderground and a few others. I don't understand which is the latest and greatest of the Meteo series.
There are several Meteobridge models that offer different features an ways of connecting. There are essentially 3 models.
- Meteobridge standard: standalone device that you connect to your station via USB or via the Network (with compatible network capable logger). I recommend the Davis WeatherLink Live logger for use with the Meteobridge standard. The Standard version connects to your network via Ethernet or WiFi. You can order the standard version from Ambient (a good deal that gets you Ambientweather.net license, and Ambient calls this a WeatherBridge...same thing.)
- Meteobridge NANO: This will replace the existing serial logger you currently have and plug into the back of the Davis display console. You'll lose ability to keep VWS running. Unless you get a second display console or an Envoy device to have both operational. The NANO has some extra feature over the standard version but not as many as the PRO version. The NANO connects to your network via WiFi. You can order the NANO from Ambient also and it too comes with the Ambietweather.net license.
- Meteobridge Pro: This version comes in two flavors. You can get the Pro Red or the Pro Black. The Pro Red can get data directly from your ISS and is a standalone device that connect to your network via Ethernet or WiFi. The Pro Black version is sort of like the Standard version in that it requires a logger. The Pro version has more features. You can order the Pro version directly from Smartbedded.
2. Is there a way to easily create a backup power supply for the VP2/Meteo setup so data isn't lost in a power outage?
You can use a battery backup (UPS) just like you would for a desktop computer. Use more than one if hardware is in different locations. But you don't need a battery backup to protect data. The batter backup is to be able to continue running your station during a power outage.
3. Would I be able to maintain my PC/VWS setup for the time being while I tinker with and set up a Meteobridge? Or could I do it indefinitely and use both for feeding different services?
Yes, you can continue to run VWS if you get a second logger. Being that you have a serial logger I would recommend the standalone new Davis WeatherLink Live logger device. Then the Meteobridge can connect to that over the network to get data. Then you'll be able to run both VWS and Meteobridge simultaneously.
4. Has anyone figured out a way to dovetail a Meteo feed with a weather web cam?
Dovetail??? A weather cam can be any webcam with IP support for FTP and image stills. Just don't get a proprietary camera that only uploads to private cloud services like Next, and Arlo...etc. You need just a basic IP camera. Then you can feed it to the Meteobridge and then from there to various places. Or you can use other web cam software. A web camera really has nothing to do with weather station hardware. There is no compatibility concerns as they are two separate systems.
5. If I have a system that continues to work pretty flawlessly after all these years, is it worthwhile to "upgrade" (I'm hoping that someone who has done the upgrade themselves can chime in on that)?
You can certainly upgrade by adding this extra hardware and keep the existing system untouched. Or you can go further and export your VWS data over to other software. Besides running the Meteobridge simultaneously you could also run Weather-Display software and import the VWS historical data. Up to you.
6. Are there specific posts or documents that would offer a step-by-step guide to making this switch?
I don't see it as a switch. You just start using the new stuff along with the old stuff if you choose. Unless of course you opt for a solution that requires removing the serial logger...like if you opted for the Meteobridge NANO. But even then...you just configure the new stuff and start using it as you wave goodbye to the old stuff. If you wanted help on exporting and importing historical data then I would advise you to consider looking at what you are importing data into for help incoming from VWS.