Cumulus Support

Just got my first weather station (a Watson W8681 MK II) and I was wondering where would be the best place in my garden to site the sensors.

I live in a terraced house and my garden is South East facing about 30ft long and 9ft wide with a mature tree at the bottom. At the back of the house there is a single storey extension.

Any help that can be offered would be gratefully appreciated.

Here is a link that gives good guidance. I am new to this as well. It became clear after a few rounds of changing locations, the best location is usually the best compromise between things you can do nothing about like a tree or wall.

http://home.comcast.net/~dshelms/CWOP_Guide.pdf

Hope this helps.

Randy

here's another:
http://weatherfaqs.org.uk/node/124

The thing to remember is that we 'garden meteorologists' are amateurs. Even in rural areas (where I am) there have to be compromises, with trees and buildings around you. I suspect only a tiny minority of us can get any way near to the Met Office specifications.

Indeed. Even where I am, in the middle of an acre of garden with no trees anywhere, I'm unhappy with my site because I'm limited by the wireless range, unless I buy an expensive repeater. My anemometer is slightly sheltered from the SE by the house, and soon my solar sensor will start to be in the shadow of the house during the morning; the sun is quite low here in winter.

Hi Steve.

u wont need 'an expensive repeater' to boost the signals.

A very easy option would be to double or triple the aerial elements (at either end of the link) by making an extension aerial from suitable coaxial cable. Commonly called a "bazooka"

You will need something like this

http://www.hamuniverse.com/bazooka.html

Thanks, Phil, but I don't really want to start modifying my station like that; it could end up being more expensive than a repeater!