If anyone is interested in having a weather station like mine, a similar one is for sale on Maplins at a very good price....
(http://images.maplin.co.uk/full/N96FY_package.jpg)
See: http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-wireless-weather-forecaster-223254 (http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-wireless-weather-forecaster-223254)
You can see the output from my Weather Station on:
http://www.winterman.org.uk/weather/index.htm (http://www.winterman.org.uk/weather/index.htm)
This (I picked up on a weather discussion forum) might be worth a try:
?If you use the following voucher code: secret5
you can get ?5.00 off the Maplin offer which is currently
?69.99, then with the voucher code taken off is: ?64.99.
Please note that the voucher code expires 22/02/2011.?
Hi there Geoff-thanks for the heads up on the weather-station offer.
My Oregon Scientific model is 6+years old is showing severe signs of senility, like the rest of us ;)and the rain and wind direction indications have both gone down.
One question- is the "house" display screen battery or battery and/or mains powered?.
I have found in the past that the battery only versions need frequent battery change-outs. The Oregon has batteries as back up but uses a mains supply via a transformer.
Take care-welshcol.
Hi Colin
Just back from a few days away in Birmingham, so my apologies for the delay in responding.
I keep the indoor console plugged in the the USB port on my PC 24/7 so have never had to change the batteries as the power is picked up from the computer. The two batteries in the transmitter last(outdoors) up to a year.
I have been asked to show my Weather Station so here it is:
IMAGE 1: The original Setup
(http://www.pbase.com/geoffw/image/112287316/medium.jpg)
IMAGE 2: Moving the rain gauge to a more stable situation
(http://www.pbase.com/geoffw/image/115878892.jpg)
IMAGE 3: I later built a Stevenson Screen and fixed the rain gauge on it (the wind instrument as some distance back)
(http://www.pbase.com/geoffw/image/127245364/medium.jpg)
Yes the wind readings are effected by the trees behind it when in foliage - but my wife and the council will not let me chop them down ;D
IMAGE 4 The data screen on my PC using Cumulus Weather Application (http://sandaysoft.com/)
(http://www.pbase.com/geoffw/image/132386605/large.jpg)
Finally the output of the weather station can be found HERE (http://www.winterman.org.uk/weather/index.htm)
;) Hi Geoff my unit arrived on Wednesday two days after ordering so please be on standby for technical back up ;D. Very pleased so far as it sits in the box.
BTW there are cable ties on offer in Lidl's this week if you wished to organise your station's cables in a less "bird nest" way!!!!. ;) :D
Well, Colin, I hope your getting ready for some REALLY dramatic weather to record!!
Good luck setting it up - I'm always ready to help!
You will also find lots of helpful advice here: http://sandaysoft.com/forum/index.php (http://sandaysoft.com/forum/index.php)
Hi Geoffw-it looks as if the MHPA weather webpage is now up and running with Milford Docks, Pembroke Ferry, and Lawrenny Yacht Club met. data displayed.
I do not know if this is the final format but IMHO much prefer the old displays.
Anyway available at //http://www.mhpa.co.uk/content.asp?article_id=1072&d=14&directory_id=14 if of interst.
Take care-<welshcol>
Thank I'll bookmark th site excellent!
With my weather station we have the county covered!
Hi Geoffw -Just touching base since I have now installed and commissioned my new weather station and have loaded software and so far things seem to be talking to each other OK and am very pleased with display(s) etc.
One intriguing item, which I do not know if you can help with, is that I seem to lose outside temperature, outdoor humidity, wind speed and direction and rain measurement i.e. all outdoor inputs intermittently-say twice per day.. Loss is for approx 15 minutes or so and with no intervention from me just as quickly all return!!!. There does not "appear" to be a loss from the trend memory.
I fitted two Energiser Ultimate Lithium AA batteries in the outside unit thinking of longevity and reliability and am using 3 off 2700 ma rechargeable batteries in the base station. I am now connected via USB to my PC however.
Physical distance between outdoor mast and base station approx 60ft but through a few internal and external walls.
Worth me changing the batteries do you think? or any other suggestions would be gratefully received.
Quote from: welshcol on June 09, 2011, 01:55:01 pmOne intriguing item, which I do not know if you can help with, is that I seem to lose outside temperature, outdoor humidity, wind speed and direction and rain measurement i.e. all outdoor inputs intermittently-say twice per day.. Loss is for approx 15 minutes or so and with no intervention from me just as quickly all return!!!. There does not "appear" to be a loss from the trend memory.
I fitted two Energiser Ultimate Lithium AA batteries in the outside unit thinking of longevity and reliability and am using 3 off 2700 ma rechargeable batteries in the base station. I am now connected via USB to my PC however.
Physical distance between outdoor mast and base station approx 60ft but through a few internal and external walls.
Worth me changing the batteries do you think? or any other suggestions would be gratefully received.
Hi Colin
Glad you have got it set up and running. Are you using the EasyWeather software that came with it?
As for your queries about loss of contact - I think we all suffer them on occasions. There can be all sorts of sources of interference such as dodgy light switches and other wireless equipment. 60 feet should be OK, but stone of concrete walls can cause loss of signal, and make sure you do not have a fridge, cooker or washing appliance between the transmitter and receiver.
If they are new batteries I don't think changing them will help as they should be fine. Let us know how it settles down.
Thanks for that Geoff will monitor outdoor battery usage and let you know.
Yes-have loaded and am using the Easy Weather software at the moment and finding my way around, slowly!!!, but I am getting there.
Can I multi use my USB port ? :( since I only have two connections and my other one is dedicated to "Acronis" back up.
Yup! mine works fine with one of those 4 port USB adaptors. I bought mine in Tesco!
This morning's (Sunday) weather should be a test of your rain gauge, Colin!
Is you weather day midnight to midnight? If so we can compare results!
<quote> Yup! mine works fine with one of those 4 port USB adaptors. I bought mine in Tesco!</quote>
Thanks for that Geoff have sent of for a four port one from "a famous large river in South America"
for ?4-69p due next week so will let you know how I get on. ;)
PS How are you doing your Quotes Geoff?
"This morning's (Sunday) weather should be a test of your rain gauge, Colin!-
Is you weather day midnight to midnight? If so we can compare results!! " from Geoff
Here we are again!! - according to me Milford rain started at 04-00hrs this morning and as up to 13-00hrs accumulated total is 33mm of rain.
More to come by the look of it so will advise 24hr figure.
Take care :)
As you can see from my sig below you are well wetter than we are!
As an update Geoff - BBC Wales has just quoted 25mm's in 5 hours this morning for Milford Haven on their 5-30pm weather forecast .................................
and MHPA are showing 24mm's for today so far see:- //http://www.mhpa.co.uk/content.asp?article_id=1072&d=14&directory_id=14
Are you in the rain shadow from Graham G's solar panels??? :D :D
I like their first "Service Update".........
QuoteService Update
01-05-11: The rainfall sensor at Pembroke Dock is giving incorrect readings during periods of rain due to the bucket being used as a birds nest.
Hi Geoff-my 24 hr rainfall figure for Sunday 12th June was 36mm's.
BTW I have posted a "walk" entry so would be grateful if you could work your magic on the photos!!!. :)
Colin,
I've found another weather station in Saundersfoot, so we have for last Sunday:
Saundersfoot 25.5mm
Spittal 33.3mm
Milford Haven 36mm
Have you thought of putting your online?
Geoff
I have thought!!!- and I think in the short term until my commissioning and evaluation period is complete I will stay as a lurker ;D . Perhaps at some time in the future will commit to the net after detailed discussions with yourself.
Rain forecast for tomorrow on the Cosheston walk but finger buffet is supposed to be substantial :P.
Excellent visit to Chapel Bay Fort last week on 15th June and I think Daphne is planning a bit of a write up for the webpage but I have volounteered a quick paragraph and photo if she decides not to.
Take care...............
No problem Colin! ...... enjoy your walk.
I didn't give you the link for the Saundersfoot weather site!
Hi Geoffw-bit hot!!! I am showing 24.2 deg C outside temperature compared to your 24.3 deg C so we shall not complain about that!!!.
Is your barometric pressure relative or absolute? since I am consistently 5-6 hpa above you and is showing 1021 dropping to 1020 hpa at the moment.
Seems to tie in with the BBC Milford "Invent" Barometric figure so was just wondering!!!.
Take care-hope its cooler tomorrow but am not on walk so you will not have problem with photo resizing. ;)
Mine peaked at High Temperature 24.7 ?C at 16:20 yesterday, with the High Apparent Temperature reaching 27.0 ?C (Apparent includes wind humidity etc) and is a calculation See: http://www.winterman.org.uk/weather/yesterday.htm (http://www.winterman.org.uk/weather/yesterday.htm)
Today it is down an amazing ten degrees! Brrrh!
As for Pressure. You weather station gives an actual reading but the general rule is you adjust it as if you were at sea level. I have had to calibrate mine by adding 9mb as I am at an altitude of 105m. Another way of doing it is to wait until we have a period of extensive high pressure and then adjust your to read the same as the Milford Weather Station. Which, if I remember is what I did.....
I, of course, use Cumulus - so I'm not too sure how Easy Weather deals with this.
Hi there Geoffw-certainly a bit pleasanter today with external temperature now 15.4 deg C so that's an improvement on yesterday.
With reference barometric pressure I can select the display on my model by selecting pressure then + or - to change between the "rel" or "abs" values. Currently showing 1019 rel and 1006 abs hpa.
I don't remember entering an altitude correction but the "rel " seemed about right so left alone.
The way you are talking you entered an altitude and the machine calculated the difference for rel.
Was this on the weather unit or another programme you are tied into?.
Take care. :)
I just compared my reading with Milford Haven and the BBC on a day of settle high prressure, and the result was I had to add 9 it the calibration window in Cumulus.
This thread and its links might be worth a read.
http://sandaysoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4007
Regards
Thanks Geoffw :)