Author Topic: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station  (Read 2476 times)

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Offline TheBushPilot

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Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« on: August 07, 2024, 12:30:37 AM »
Hi all,

I once again find myself embarking on another project (with several others still pending completion :roll:). This time: high utility quickly deployable weather station.

Rundown:

3 meter wind, 05103 Wind Monitor
2 meter temperature, ST-110 Thermistor Temperature Sensor
2 meter dew point, HMP155 Humidity and Temperature Probe
Barometric pressure, 270 pressure transducer
Solar radiation, SP-110 pyranometer

CR23X Micrologger with 7 Ah battery base, for extended deployments external enclosure connector allows for 55 Ah battery (around 10 days).

Wind direction correction will be applied using a KVH C100 fluxgate compass. A GPS16-HVS will keep data logger time/provide latitude and longitudinal data and compensate for magnetic declination.

I went with X-Lok type Amphenol connectors.

The proposed interface between DAQ and instrument tripod include camlock connectors for easy connection/disconnection of both parts. Will have to see long term how durable the aluminum fittings are as the final weight of the enclosure is estimated to be around 25 to 30 lbs. Will have to wait and see.

I'll be using a PUSR USR-W610 to make the station wireless, that along with a couple dbi omni-directional antenna to get a couple thousand feet of range on it. In essence acting as a wireless com port between the data logger and computer for LoggerNet.

This project takes heavy inspiration from Texas Tech and their Sticknet:



So far have gotten the connectors and cables, enclosure, data logger, and barometer. The larger radiation shield to house the HMP155 had a straggler.

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I did some very early testing and measuring for what it will eventually come to be:

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Excited for this new measurement platform and all that it will measure once completed. Can't wait to sample snow storms and supercells alike.


Cheers

Offline TheBushPilot

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Re: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2024, 09:47:06 PM »
The tripod assembly and physical hardware are all put together. Cables are correctly lengthed with amphenol connectors attached. All that remains is completing the enclosure. Waiting on a few parts in the mail including flash memory card and battery tray mount. Once those get in it should only be a matter of days before this station is ready for field use.

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Cheers

Offline TheBushPilot

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Re: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2024, 08:25:12 PM »
The station is done, but regrettably put a serial to wifi converter in the mix instead of going directly with a cellular modem from the getgo. Preliminary tests showed promising performance. Had a nice business allow me to use their wifi as it was connected for a few days to sample a to be tornadic squall line on October 31st.

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Deployed at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) prior to sampling a squall line.

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Will be acquiring a Campbell Scientific Cell210 with Verizon service and adding another diversity SMA panel mounted thru-connector to the enclosure to finish it up. Will truly be ready to go anywhere once that's together.

Setup after getting decently familiar with how things go together takes around 10 minutes from parts out of the vehicle to flipping the power switch.

Will update when these changes have been implemented.

When active you can find the data feed on my site here: https://www.met-instruments-project.com/stations/qdaws/

Cheers

Offline TheBushPilot

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Re: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2025, 10:20:22 PM »
Here's the final update and completion post of the deployable weather station:

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RV50X cellular gateway replaced the USR-W630 converter. Uses a 25 mb Verizon data plan provisioned through Campbell Scientific. Added another SMA panel mount connector for the diversity antenna. Cell antennas are Wilson 4 inch mag mount antennas, they mount on the top enclosure mount bracket conveniently.

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41002 replaced with new 14 plate shield for the HMP155 and got the correct probe adapter so it'll no longer move back and forth in the housing. After setting it up a few times in the field I've gotten it down to around 10 minutes from out of the vehicle to powered up recording locally and reporting data online.


Cheers

Offline WheatonRon

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Re: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2025, 11:32:00 PM »
No precipitation measurement tool?
« Last Edit: January 20, 2025, 11:34:30 PM by WheatonRon »
Davis VP2 with SHT31 (3 complete VP2 systems—2 with a daytime fan and 1 that has a 24 hour fan); CWOP--CW5020, FW3075 and FW4350; WU--KILWHEAT17, KILWHEAT36 and KILWHEAT39; WeatherCloud.net; CoCoRaHS--IL-DP-132; and Weatherlink 2.0

Offline TheBushPilot

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Re: Quick Deploy Automated Weather Station
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2025, 01:16:58 AM »
Nope, not on this particular setup. Having a rain gauge would make it more complex than I want it to be.

Besides it being kinda low on my list of desired measurements during quick field ops it's a pain to get right in a time constraint. (Having to level it and make sure it's securely anchored. :roll:) But I definitely want to create a second platform for precip obs with all the "bells and whistles". :lol:


Cheers