Replacement hardware

[serowe]

I couldn't really place this into one of the brand specific forums (forii?? ) so this thread...

I am currently (still) using a WM918 hardwired station which has been operating since late 2000 without any major problems. The outside temperature sensor has, over the last 2 years, started to play up on extreme days (> 35 C when the sun just about clobbers it - the sensor is outside under the house eaves on the south side - remembering I am in the southern hemisphere). Under these conditions, for a period of around 40 minutes, the sensor can start to go open circuit which suddenly drops the temperature to -6C - it is a known fault condition on this station and I can, at this stage, handle this.

But...recently humidity has also been suddenly going off the scale - again, I nkow what to look for and can edit data.

But - with these faults starting to happen I need to start looking arouind for a replacement station - so, which one?

My requirements:

• Needs to be as stable as the WM918 (console, btw, has only had one change of batteries in the 9 years it has been operating - that was about 9 months ago...)
  Preferably wired - I know wireless is the 'way to go' - I simply don;t trust them plus remote sensors need batteries/power and, whilst I have a good, stable 12V DC supply circling the house for the security cameras, most wireless sensors I have sen only use 3 or 6 V. Plus there are so many woreless devices in my vicinity (including a wireless weather station across the road) I just don't trust them and some of the threads on here tend to support this)
  Compatible with Cumulus
  Basic sensors - temp, hum, wind sp/dir, rain. Not particularly worried about additional sensors such as solar.
  Rain gauge should preferably read to 0.5 mm without modification (WM918 only reads whole mm without modifying the gauge collector funnel).
  Be reliable!
  Spare part availability (not a deal killer, but just in case)

So - not asking for too much - but something realistic - and affordable.

Any suggestions (be nice now!)

[gemini06720]

Stephen, I know you will not like it, but the only very reliable station that I can think of and that I will recommend is the Davis Vantage Pro2 (wired or wireless) - more expensive than the WM918, yes, but then, the Vantage Pro2 is a professional weather station and not one of those toy stations...

[serowe]

Why do you think I won't like it? The only 'anti' or deal killer is the wireless component really. Everything else is up for research and negotiation.

[philcdav]

Hi Steven.

Ive only used the Fine Offset unit. Had it here for 2.5 years TROUBLE FREE.

Sensors are more than adequate accuraccy for our purposes and the cost is affordable.

You could buy 2 off the latest units for the same cost replacing your old kit. Just put one in store for later

Seriously though, its good kit. One set of good quality (Duracell) batteries ran for 2 years and was changed when i serviced the unit.

Copes with gales, sea air, +30 to - 10 C and all the other crap our weather throws at us in Liverpool, UK.

[serowe]

Phil - is there a model number? Are these wired or wireless? (As I mentioned, this is the only real 'deal killer' for me)

Edit - just looking at the specs on some of the Fine Offset stations - they qute rain accuracy on most models as -+ 1.5 mm - that's a large variation isn;t it??

[sunwharf]

I am a Davis WMII user and I recently tried a Ventus (Irox based) W928, which seemed to tick all the boxes, for a new station I was setting up. I have now stopped using it and purchased a VP2. The problem was accuracy, the Baro reading varied according to indoor temp and outside temp was often a few degrees different to a mercury thermometer I was using as a control. The rain and Wind, though, seemed as accurate as other nearby stations.

Cheers
Nick

[serowe]

Nick - thanks for that. This is one of tghe issues I have read from users about the Fine Offset units - wind, baro, temp and rain all not corresponding to known, adjacent, readings (eg rain gauges located directly beside the Fine's rain gauge with reading sbeing well away from each other - pressure being inconsistently under compared to local official readings - by up 10 14-15 mB).

[Ned]

Sensor accuracy is heavily influenced by their location, and not many of us can install the different components of a PWS in ideal positions - something to bear in mind when making comparisons with other stations. I'm satisfied with my F.O. data, although the humidity could be better, but it's not so important.
The F.O. rain gauge should be no worse than any other tipping bucket gauge, being very simple devices. It's easy to increase the collector size for finer resolution.
Using Cumulus calibrations, the sensor performances can be tweaked to quite acceptable accuracy.

[philcdav]

hi steve.

im using the FOSH WH1080 and yes, it is wireless. No problems over 20m RF path thru house.

the quoted rain guage spec is 0.3 mm (<10000 mm)

I have modded the rain catcher by fitting a 7 cm ally internal skirt on top to stop bounce..

Apart from spiders and ice have had few problems.

[serowe]

Phil,

Have you been able to compare pressure readings with anything locally? A couple of local reports on the FO I have seen here suggest that the baro readings - when compared to an official Bureau of Met (Australian) site located only 1 km from the station - show marked differences that are not consistent ie they are sometimes higher, sometimes lower - and the differences vary between 1 and 15 mb! I can understand a mb or 2 difference but these suggest other issues.

Yje issue, for me, about RF isn't the distance (although with the proliferation of wireless devices everywhere it will soon be an issue) but maintaining power (think I mentioned in the first message, I do have a regulated 12V DC supply around and throughout the house for existing security equipment, but most wireless sensors I have seen operate on 2 or 4 batteries ie 3V or 6V).

[sunwharf]

Forgot to mention I had wireless reception problems over a very short path (about 60ft) through two walls. This wasn't entirely the fault of the Ventus as a borrowed Davis VP1 had the same problem which, I think, was caused by a TV set top satellite box. When the box was receiving I lost the wind and rain readings (the Temp sensor was nearer). The VP2 has had 100% packet reception in exactly the same positioning, it has a higher signal strength to the original VP and does frequency hopping.

[serowe]

Do any of the wireless units allow for wired connection as well? (Seem to recall seeing/reading this somewhere with one unit - but can't for the life of me remember which one).

[6719jason]

The La-Crosse WS2350 Range I believe offer both Wired & Wireless Setups.....

[serowe]

Jason (Trainee PHP programmer ) - is that an older model? LaCrosse web site only show a 2355 which I am presuming a newer/replacement model.

[6719jason]

I think it is a older Model (La-Crosse 2350) though I'm not that well educated on the La-Crosse but as far as I am aware, use a Serial to Serial Cable with the La-Crosse, not the awful Usb to Serial Adapters and your good to go!