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[KB5UZB]

I'd been planning on getting a weather station for years and figured I'd get an Ambient Weather WS-2902A for it's Wunderground integration & fairly complete sensor set. Then I stumbled across APRS/CWOP weather reporting. It seem there is a way to get the WS-2902A APRS/CWOP enabled, but it pretty much doubles the price. 

Ideally, I want the station to interface with Wunderground, and at a minimum, APRS/CWOP via the internet. But if I can transmit the weather data via RF, that would be even better. I'd also rather not have to have a computer running 24/7 to do this - something like a RaspberryPi would be about the max I'd be willing to do.

Does anyone have any recommendations for setups along these lines? Or resources to check out that might help?


Thanks!

Scott (kb5uzb)

[WA9AFM]

I would recommend the Davis Vantage Vue.  I've used one for 12 years and they work great.  The only negative is the cost of the interface cable/software package; not cheap, but it allows interface for APRS/WX and CWOP.

[KB5UZB]

That seems to be the problem in general. The interfaces cost as much (or more) than the sensors. 

[KB5UZB]

This looks like it describes a solution with the Ambient Weather by people who've done it. Though it only talks to the IP side. (I found this post via Google the other night, but wxforum was down.)

https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=34922.0

It looks like the ECOWITT GW1000 is cheaper than using Ambient Weather's ObserverIP and seems to add a layer of abstraction for future changes to different sensors.

So ... now I just need to figure out the RF side? Obviously a 2m radio, antenna, etc. But I have no idea about the interface & how to hand it data.

[WA9AFM]

That seems to be the problem in general. The interfaces cost as much (or more) than the sensors. 

The Davis interface cable with software is running about $120-130.  Best deal I've seen is at Hamvention in the Davis booth.  The Vantage Vue is running about $295-325.

[KB5UZB]

That seems to be the problem in general. The interfaces cost as much (or more) than the sensors. 

The Davis interface cable with software is running about $120-130.  Best deal I've seen is at Hamvention in the Davis booth.  The Vantage Vue is running about $295-325.

Great, a cable (really a cable & data logger $165) & software, that I then need a box to run it on. It adds up quick. WeatherLink is Windows/MacOS only, so I'd need a different solution to put it on something actually efficient like a Pi.

[N4SRN]

https://wiki.meteohub.de/Introduction

A nice add to my Davis Vantage Vue so I don't need a PC running 24/7/365. My Vue has been running for 10yr+ - it just needs a yearly cleaning to clean the debris out of the sensors. Litte bugs like to move in too so chasing them out helps as well!

[KENNETH]

These go on sale for 80 bucks if you add them to your ẅishlist¨ for a computer running 24/7.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D9YX3W6/?coliid=IJ4XWQNUY9H5R&colid=2XJHWNFO67LJP&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

[WS4E]

I ran a an ambient weather WS-2000 station for years with a RASPBERRY PI on APRS.   You just need one that will output something in serial to the Raspberry Pi.  APRS is just serial back out the raspberry pi to the TNC as well.  It does not require much of any computing power to do it. 

I have a Davis Pro2 now, and stopped doing APRS, but really the old weather station was pretty good, and there is nothing wrong with running one of those ambinet weather or similar.  The main advantage the Davis has is better quality, maybe a little more accurate, and it updates wind speed/direction every 2 seconds or so instead of every 10-15 seconds like the other cheaper stations do.