Cumulus Support

Looking for some advice and recommendations regarding weather station hardware. I've been running Oregon Scientific WMR-928 stations for many years. I bought a second station a couple years ago and have been swapping components to keep one system operating. The future does not look too promising as parts are getting increasingly rare.

So -- I'm planning on purchasing a replacement station in the coming months and want to make a reasonable choice. I'm in the US. And of course, I'm on a limited budget! Pro-level hardware (at least new hardware) just isn't in my budget, so I need ideas about what's a reasonably decent station for my needs:

1. Must be a wireless connection between the sensors and the base station. Lightning and location issues preclude a wired system.
2. Independently located sensors - I can find quite adequate locations for the individual sensors, but no acceptable common location.
3. Reasonable accuracy/resolution - I don't need pro-level sensors, but would like realistic data.
4. Used equipment is perfectly acceptable as long as repair/replacement components are available.

Thanks for your ideas.
Jim

I purchased a Davis Vantage Vue a while back and did a "take apart" on it and its well contructed. Better yet is a Davis Vantage Pro II wireless setup.

You can find these used on Ebay and reasonably priced sometimes.

I lucked out with my Vantage Vue Purchase at $166 USD with wireless console.

Doesn't that model require all the sensors to be mounted together? I can't mount the wind sensor anywhere close to the rain collector.

JimDantin wrote:Doesn't that model require all the sensors to be mounted together? I can't mount the wind sensor anywhere close to the rain collector.

They have to be wired together, yes. With the Davis VP2, you can get an optional wireless transmitter for the anemometer; I don't think this applies to the Vue.

I think the nearest station to your requirements would be one of the newer Oregon Scientific stations, e.g. the WMR-200, which like the older OS stations has completely independent sensors. Accuracy and resolution is not particularly good with OS stations, but the WMR-200 is probably no worse than your WMR-968.

steve wrote:

JimDantin wrote:Doesn't that model require all the sensors to be mounted together? I can't mount the wind sensor anywhere close to the rain collector.

They have to be wired together, yes. With the Davis VP2, you can get an optional wireless transmitter for the anemometer; I don't think this applies to the Vue.

I think the nearest station to your requirements would be one of the newer Oregon Scientific stations, e.g. the WMR-200, which like the older OS stations has completely independent sensors. Accuracy and resolution is not particularly good with OS stations, but the WMR-200 is probably no worse than your WMR-968.

That's exactly what I keep finding -- 'WMR-200 is probably no worse than your WMR-968' unfortunately isn't a great endorsement! I'll check into the wireless anemometer transmitter you mentioned - that may be an option. Thanks