Which Weather Station should I buy?

[bar2d2]

My Fine Offset WH1080 didn't last long I did set it up in the spring and it had numerous connection problems and since a month there was no rain info anymore, the contact cable is heavily corroded... and it didn't even experience a winter.
Right now I cant get radio contact to it at all anymore... The mounting screws are also corroded. Not very reassuring for an outdoor device!

I am hooked on this weather station stuff and would like to buy something RELIABLE that works properly and will last.

Any quality recomendations?

[PaulMy]

Davis VP2 or Vue

Paul

[timpars]

I am in a similar situation but cannot afford to go to the Davis stations. Is there a half way house that I could consider. Something better than the WH1081 but not as dear as the Davis kit?

[RayProudfoot]

The Davis Vantage Vue is cheaper than the VP2. Good quality components should ensure it gives you years of trouble-free service. Cheaper stations will ultimately cost more as they need replacing more often.

ProData charge a reasonable price for the Vue. http://www.weatherstations.co.uk/vue_intro.htm

[timpars]

Ray

I appreciate your points, but right now I don't have £300 to invest in new kit. So I'll probably have to wait and see.

Thanks anyway

Tim.

[RayProudfoot]

Hi Tim,

The problem is there isn't a decent station available between the Fine Offset series and Davis. I appreciate it's a big jump financially.

[timpars]

Ray

Can you link the Davis kit to a PC running Cumulus without the Weatherlink data logger?

Tim.

[RayProudfoot]

Ray

Can you link the Davis kit to a PC running Cumulus without the Weatherlink data logger?

Tim.

Sadly not Tim. But an alternative logger is available from a source in this forum. I haven't used it myself but if you search for belfryboy you can find out more.

[ironeagleuk]

Are the Oregons or Lacrosse a good alternative inbetween the Fine Offsets and Davis systems?

[steve]

I haven't seen a LaCrosse 'in the flesh', from a programming point of view I hate them. I get the impression that you are paying more than a Fine Offset for a similar quality of product.

My first station was an Oregon, I was quite pleased with it. One of my current test stations is a WMR200, and the build quality is notably higher than the Fine Offset that I own. I can't speak for accuracy and reliability etc as I don't have the sensors set up outside.

[ironeagleuk]

I am pondering on changing to an Oregon, so that I can have a pond temp sensor, but I doubt I'll change any time soon

[prodata]

Sadly not Tim. But an alternative logger is available from a source in this forum. I haven't used it myself but if you search for belfryboy you can find out more.

As far as I'm aware, there is no alternative logger that will work with the current so-called 'green-dot' versions of the Davis Vue and VP2 consoles (though they often no longer sport the green dots on the packs).

It's true that there are one or two dedicated hackers who have been able to find a way around the green-dot difficulties, but as far as I know these are simply proof-of-concept prototypes and not generally available. Rob might be able to provide an update, but to the best of my knowledge this remains the current situation - unless you're an expert hacker, a current Davis console will require a Davis Weatherlink logger to connect to a PC.

[RayProudfoot]

Hi John,

Thanks for clearing up any confusion caused by my post.

[prodata]

Hi John,

Thanks for clearing up any confusion caused by my post.

No need for the in the slightest. It remains a rather confusing and messy situation and I'm not 100% sure that I'm totally up-to-date, hence my caveat about Rob/Belfryboy possibly being more able to offer a definitive view.

But to the best of my knowledge the situation is as I stated, ie green-dot consoles (which covers all Davis consoles currently being manufactured) aren't compatible with readily available alternative loggers.

[GraemeT]

For what it's worth, I have 2 LaCrosse stations, a WS-2355 at home running faultlessly for 4 years now and a WS2306 at our holiday house, which has been in operation since January this year with so far, no problems.
I believe that if you can't afford a Davis then LaCrosse is a better choice than F.O. (I have one of them too, but it only lasted until the rain got into the thermo/hygro unit and it died).

The only 'gotcha' LaCrosse units have is the need of a 'real' serial port as they don't talk USB.

Cheers,