Topic: Florida Automated Weather Station

[TheBushPilot]

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I've been working with a friend down in Florida setting up his own automated weather station in our unofficial network. Pictured here is the station CSP002 just about put together.

This site has been a testbed for a standardized system I've been exploring. Despite the many issues we have had regarding data throughput stability, it looks as though things are just about ironed out.

CSP002 Site Info

Along with this particular station architecture, I revisited the remote display idea I've had for quite some time. Given the data for each AWS are uploaded to an SQL database table, I wrote a python script that retrieves the latest entry and outputs a serial string to the 26700. From there the user can program and format each screen to their desired use case. The pictured display is showing data from CSP002 which is over 850 miles away from my current location.

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Another unintentional feature of this that I want to explore is pulling data from multiple tables and displaying multiple stations on a single display for at a glance comparison. Once I finally install my own personal station TRX001, I look to experiment with this idea.

It's almost comedically novel how well antiquated equipment works if you know how to re-use it.


Cheers

[txagwx]

how much do these systems cost?

[TheBushPilot]

how much do these systems cost?

All components plus labor for assembly of the enclosure ~$3500.

Solar powered, wireless with industry standard components, and got a page on my site with 1 minute latest observations.


Cheers

[DaleReid]

Indeed, as to your comment on the 'older' stuff, most of it was so well built (except for getting tickled by lightning) it just keeps on going.

I have a couple of the Young data translators and they are duty cycle 100% and just keep chugging along.  I have two 26800s one for weather gathering and another for futzing around with fixed pieces and just fun.  While constrained in some ways, they are remarkably adaptable to many kinds of sensors.

You guys look like you're having a lot of fun.

Question:  I see your output stream is described as having lat/long/altitude but I wonder why?  Once known, couldn't you just hard code them on the receiving end and give yourself a little more room in the actual changing data stream?

I assume a lot of stuff in going on in the white box at the bottom of the tripod.  All the items you list as sensors are top notch, university grade stuff.

And  you gave me an idea on how to get stuff from the data logger to another processor (the Arduino) via the serial interface with the WiFi antenna method.  I will mull this one over, and it looks like good ideas may have to be plagiarized.
Dale

PS, the encouragement and info you've given me for the CampSci stuff and the datalogger CRBasic language stuff took a bit to get to, but is amazingly flexible, once I got into it.  You mentioned Python and I still struggle with that language.  Everyone talks about how easy it is to learn and it's basic lack of structure (in my mind) makes it a big hurdle for me to master.  A casual programming language, it ain't.

[TheBushPilot]

Question:  I see your output stream is described as having lat/long/altitude but I wonder why?  Once known, couldn't you just hard code them on the receiving end and give yourself a little more room in the actual changing data stream?

Dale:

From what I understand this is a pretty standard practice across the board for atmospheric observations. Having your geolocation data natively within your datasets is helpful if you want to plot it on maps, have multiple sources of data etc. Instead of having to figure out where and at what elevation something was observed at, it's already within the table.

Not that I have any research I am conducting that requires making fancy graphical charts or whatnot. I do it to future proof other projects like say an interactive surface plot map. Makes it easier for post processing.

I assume a lot of stuff in going on in the white box at the bottom of the tripod.  All the items you list as sensors are top notch, university grade stuff.

It's surprisingly simple what's going on. All the sensors are analog output. The CR200X logs them, and outputs a serial string to a low power serial to wifi converter. An arduino in the host's house is connected to the converter receiving data every second. From this averaged and maximum readings and sums of data can be derived and sent each minute to my web server. Despite the many limitations of this particular data logger, I went with it because of the built in solar charger and how flexible the serial output could be tailored to our use case.


Cheers

[txagwx]

are they wifi or cell?

[TheBushPilot]

are they wifi or cell?

This particular one is connected via WiFi but integrating cellular would not be difficult.


Cheers

[txagwx]

cool, I would like to install some around here, maybe on golf courses, etc.

I'm sure folks would be interested.