For testing, I built a new "clean" instance of CumulusMX on a spare Raspberry Pi 3 Model B, running Raspbian Buster, Mono 6.8.0.105 and Cumulus MX 3.5.4 b3075.
The GW1003 kit includes the following sensors / equipment:
GW1000 - WiFi Gateway with Indoor Temperature, Humidity and Barometric Sensor
WS80 - Ultrasonic Wind Speed&Direction, Solar Radiation & Light, Temp & Humidity 6-in-1 Sensor
WH40 - Rain Gauge Sensor
I also added in a WH57 - Lightning Detection Sensor. (Just for a bit of fun)
First part to set up was the GW1000 gateway. This is much smaller in physlical size than I anticipated but fits neatly in to a standard USB "all in one" electrical plug or alternatively you could use a USB extension cable if you want to locate it away from your electrical supply. Set up was quite easy. You need to download the WS View app for either IOS or Android and follow the instructions in the app. Quite easy to do and it was hooked up to my wifi network within minutes. One thing missing is the ability to assign a static IP address to the GW1000. I assigned the address using DHCP address reservation in my router. You dont actually need to do this as the WS View app keeps track of it if the IP address changes. CumulusMX also has the auto-detect feature option for the GW1000 gateway once you have configured Cumulus MX for an Ecowitt station. I just like to have fixed addresses for certain bits of kit so I dont have to go looking for them on the network if there is an issue to do basic things like "ping".
Next, I configured Cumulus in the standard way. I am not uploading to my website yet so just configured a basic set of parameters. Once configured I restarted Cumuslus and it automatically detected my GW1000. So far so good.
Next came the sensors. This was simply a matter of installing the batteries into each one and within seconds they were connected to the GW1000 and reporting data. This was being picked up in Cumulus on my local machine. The sensors appear to be extremely well made, very sturdy and solid. However, the funnel on the rain gauge (its a push and twist mechanism) doesn't "click" into place, is quite loose and can easily be twisted. Maybe needs a bit of tape on the underside. It has a small grill that fits inside the funnel to catch any debris, leaves etc that may fall in there and there doesnt appear to be any major holes for insects to crawl inside. Time will tell.
The actual set up, once I had Cumulus installed on my PI, took around 30 minutes.
You can view weather stats on the WS View app and also review your connected sensor. Some show battery levels and all show wi-fi signal strength. The app is not brilliant, it gives a very basic display of the conditions. You can also calibrate your sensors via the app, and its needed to adjust absolute / relative pressure differences so that the correction is made.
Before climbing up on top of the shed I tempoarily installed the sensors outside. Parts of my old Maplin station are still working and when comparing current values they do vary slightly, temperature, humidity, pressure by about 0.5 of a point but they are in different locations outside the house so potentailly could be why. Having said that my Maplin station is 7 years old so may be on its last legs. I cant compare the wind speed / direction as that bits not working on my old station. We have had some rain today and there is 0.3mm difference with the older station showing the higher amount. Again, its 7 years old and is probably not the most technologically advance instrument available.
As for the lightning detector, this was just for a bit of fun. No storms yet although I did notice that Cumulus shows a detection on 7th Feb 2106 158 miles away. This doesnt show on the WS View so maybe this is just a little glitch in Cumulus, or maybe I just avoid travelling 158 miles from the house in 86 years time.
You can configure the GW1000 to upload data to various weather services. I already do this through CumulusMX so for the time being wont get in to that.
I guess the proof of the pudding will be when I get the sensors and the GW100 permanently located, but until then, so far I have no major complaints.
