WeatherDuino - "trouble or fun"?

[Xant]

Does somebody went through WeatherDuino path?! (as in http://www.41south.net.nz/)

https://wiki.weatherduino.com/

Can share experience?

Xant

[Colin Larsen]

That's my site, what would you like to know :)

Colin

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[Xant]

Hi Colin

Thank you for prompt reply (tried to directly, but no contact info on site... pls, consider).

Davis is the "Cadillac" of PWS's, but at a price. Discovered WeatherDuino through your weewx site (which seems an interesting take). Please, share if "too much trouble", "too much time", or actually "fun" as to put all together.

Best (from this side of the World),

Xant

[Colin Larsen]

Hi Xant

If you like to build your own weather station equipment and tinker lots then Weatherduino is a great system. It is Arduino based as the name implies so a little experience in that area is good but not 100% necessary. W'Duino is very very flexible but definitely not plug and play, if you want that then Davis or similar is needed. Happy to offer further advice.

Colin

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[PJO]

Colin,

Can you elaborate on "not plug and play" and on what instruments you chose and why? I've just come across this and am wondering how difficult it is to get going. The ability to replace individual components looks attractive.

Thanks,

Paul

[Xant]

Paul

What that means is the WeatherDuino is not "plug-and-play" as any commercial PWS, but requires assembly, programing and some familiarity with Arduino system.

Please, review WeatherDuino webpage:

https://wiki.weatherduino.com/

And the list of compatible components:

https://wiki.weatherduino.com/supported_weather_instruments

Best,

Xant

[PJO]

Thanks. I understand the term and have browsed the wiki so I understand the concept well. What I don't have a feeling for -- and I appreciate that mileages may vary -- is how straightforward it is in practice.

I use Raspberry Pi SBCs quite a lot but have not yet worked on an Arduino system. I'm happy to assemble a system but before doing so would be interested to see comments on choice of components (that wiki page is uninformative beyond indicating compatibility). My impression is that some old components from other weather stations feature there as potential recycleable items, which is fine, but if building a system from scratch I'm interested to read recommendations. Am also not clear on what programming is involved (with WeeWX?). I realise that there's quite a bit of info on the weatherduino site but I haven't been through it all yet. What I'd really like to see is a YouTube video showing the construction of a sample weatherduino system!

 

[Xant]

Here is my "non-scientific" feedback, as I had not deal with WeatherDuino myself, and some of your inquiries, were mine as well.

Besides some similarities (as I learned), dealing with RPi is not the same as dealing w Arduino

• RPi is to behave as a "micro-computer", while Arduino is to behave as a device.
• RPi you may work with desktop, programs and packages, while Arduino may require more programing skills
• RPi you connect the usual computer periphericals, while Arduino might require a lot more assembly and welding stuff

On my side, while I truly enjoy to play with RPi, with Arduino was not the same pleasant experience. Although I'm a truly handyman, to deal with tiny welding was frustrating (just for a start, not even mentioning programing).

WeatherDuino seems to come mostly assemble, but to note that you have to deal with both transmitter/receiver and still deal with all sensors (and as you note,  compatibility may vary).

Bottom line, WeatherDuino might be a interesting project, but think only if you already are well rounded with Arduino (not RPi), programing, tiny welding and devote time for the experience... as a hobby.

Otherwise (as I may have realized myself), may be more "trouble" than "fun".

Wishing well for those going through this assembly. Wishing well to the WeatherDuino project. But I may not go through this path...

Best,

Xant