Best accurate 5 in 1 alternative

[Sean Jahnig]

I built a weather station using an accurate 5 in 1! a raspberry pi and weewx.

It works well but it the acurite side of things is temperamental. The usb enabled display sometimes needs to be reset and a usb hub is required to make sure it always has power. Not ideal when the station is installed in a remote location.

Are there any better suggestions for a weather station that is more reliable than the acurite? I plan to build another one but I’d like something more reliable than acurite. The station must have anemometer and windvane.

[mwall]

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 1:42:32 PM UTC-5, Sean Jahnig wrote:

Are there any better suggestions for a weather station that is more reliable than the acurite?

many.

but the easiest thing for you would be to buy a US$20 usb-sdr dongle, install the weewx-sdr driver, and start capturing data from your existing hardware using that.  you would also have to add a pressure sensor - this is easily done with an inexpensive chip/board that you snap onto the rpi, install a weewx service, and that adds pressure to the observations.  (the acurite console has the pressure sensor in an acurite-only system)

here is a guide for how to do it:

https://github.com/weewx/weewx/wiki/sdr-rpi-recipe

or you could purchase an acurite smarthub (no longer manufactured, but might be able to find one cheap) or an acurite access (about $40), and capture data from that using the weewx-interceptor extension.

the 5in1 instruments are not bad.  it is only the consoles that are flaky.  some of the console models work pretty well, but given the iffy nature of usb on some rpi models, it is not the most robust solution.

m

[Xant]

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/weewx-user/352gHmTZTjE/5YLlXSOmCwAJ

[Sean Jahnig]

@mwall,

Thanks a lot for the reply, this is very helpful. The acurite sensor i have been using is indeed a good solution if i could bypass the challenges i've faced with the USB to display connection. It sounds like the USB to SDR adaptor is a going to solve the problem, awesome! I am not too concerned about losing the pressure sensor, my main use of the station is temperature, wind speed and wind direction. Is there any particular dongle that you would recommend?

And is there any particular acurite base station model you would recommend?

@Xant, thanks for your reply. I actually contacted Weatherflow about purchasing their smart PWS but they replied to me and said they cannot sell it to me because i am located in the UAE and their product is not yet certified to operate properly here.

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[rich T]

Here is a dongle:

https://www.amazon.com/NooElec-NESDR-Smart-Enclosure-R820T2-Based/dp/B01HA642SW/ref=pd_sbs_147_t_1/146-1630041-2226918?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01HA642SW&pd_rd_r=b26dadf4-ad76-42f2-afca-eb27c0897014&pd_rd_w=LRam8&pd_rd_wg=YcxkB&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=87V3233EBAWMKMZMZ2SY&psc=1&refRID=87V3233EBAWMKMZMZ2SY

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[mwall]

On Friday, December 13, 2019 at 11:45:48 PM UTC-5, Sean Jahnig wrote:

@mwall,

Thanks a lot for the reply, this is very helpful. The acurite sensor i have been using is indeed a good solution if i could bypass the challenges i've faced with the USB to display connection. It sounds like the USB to SDR adaptor is a going to solve the problem, awesome! I am not too concerned about losing the pressure sensor, my main use of the station is temperature, wind speed and wind direction. Is there any particular dongle that you would recommend?

And is there any particular acurite base station model you would recommend?

avoid the older models that are not automatically in usb comms mode.  older consoles default to *not* communicating via usb - if you want the console to communicate with the computer, you must push buttons on the console when the console powers up.  that makes it unsuitable for unattended operation.

the weewx hardware guide has more information:

http://weewx.com/docs/hardware.htm#acurite_usb_mode

be sure to make the usb connection as reliable as possible.  these will depend on the model of your raspberry pi, but some things to try include: use a good power supply, use a powered usb hub, use quality usb cables, do not put any other devices on the usb other than the console.

[Xant]

If going Acurite route and replace a 5x1, the option is Acurite Atlas which is a 5x1 + UV + Illuminance + Lightning (extra optional sensor), making it a "8x1". But reporting time is slow (around 10sec if not mistaken). This might be un-noticeable for regular use, but if using MQTT (with Belchertown skin for example) it makes a difference.

WeatherFlow reports around 3sec, while Davis Instrument reports around 2.5secs (the shortest in the market).

I advocate for WF for the price point and features, but Davis still the industry standard (for a price). Thus Vantage Vue for a cost conscious or Vantage.

X 

[Xant]

(addendum)

That is, check Belchertown Weather website to note time frequency update:

https://belchertownweather.com/

X 

[Rich Altmaier]

I will add: drop the Pi and go for the Intel NUC. Cost is a bit higher but a) no crashes/hangs, b) performance at least 10x.

[Xant]

Rich 

Interesting point and indeed of consideration, at a price and application intent purposes. Congrats to your succesful carrer at Intel, as I recognize you mentioning with great experience. 

Nevertheless, RPi still an amazing piece of hardware and machine, which is cost effective and much suitable for WeeWX application. 

Thanks Tom for continue WeeWX development. 

X

[mwall]

On Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 9:26:56 AM UTC-5, Xant wrote:

WeatherFlow reports around 3sec, while Davis Instrument reports around 2.5secs (the shortest in the market).

actually, ultimeter is more frequent - the ultimeter reports windspeed twice per second.

 

[Xant]

Matthew, I was not familiar w Ultimeter, and now curious to see Ultimeter performance under MQTT (although, it can get pricey as to add all sensors).

It seems there are indeed options to "buyer" to identify preferences, features, performance and cost.

Thank you for your continue support and drivers development.

X

[Sean Jahnig]

Hi All,

Is there any easy solution to get this Davis anemometer/wind vane (https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Instruments-Anemometer-Vantage-Pro2/dp/B004GK9MFO/ref=sr_1_22?keywords=davis+vantage&qid=1576991632&sr=8-22) working with weewx directly?

This item is originally meant to be a replacement for a larger station so i'm guessing that it needs some kind of interface to translate the date into a readable format - but i really only need wind speed and direction so this would be perfect if i could just purchase this item.

Thanks!

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[Sean Jahnig]

Hi,

Compliments of the season to all.

I have purchased and received an acurite 5-in-1 device with and SDR usb dongle and i have begun installing it. I originally used this tutorial: https://github.com/weewx/weewx/wiki/sdr-rpi-recipe but then i found there were 1 or 2 steps missing, like running the config and enabling SDR which adds the SDR section to weewx.conf. I found this by using the second tutorial https://github.com/matthewwall/weewx-sdr

At this point, it is almost working - but it's just not 100% yet. Please take a look at the below - would appreciate any suggestions.

When i run both of the below, i am receiving sensor data from the acuritie 5-in-1 directly with the sensor code of 013E (example wind_dir.013E.Acurite5n1Packet)

• sudo rtl_433 -M utc -F json
• sudo PYTHONPATH=/usr/share/weewx python /usr/share/weewx/user/sdr.py --cmd="rtl_433 -M utc -F json"

I have added the below to weewx.conf under the [SDR] / sensor_map section:

    driver = user.sdr

    cmd = sudo rtl_433 -M utc -F json

    path = /rtl-433/bin

    ld_library_path = /libusb-1.0.20/lib:/rtl-sdr/lib

    [[sensor_map]]

        windDir = wind_dir.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        windSpeed = wind_speed.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        outTemp = temperature.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        outHumidity = humidity.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        rain_total = rain_total.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        txBatteryStatus = battery.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

        rxCheckPercent = status.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

When i run sudo service weewx status - this is what i get

● weewx.service - LSB: weewx weather system

   Loaded: loaded (/etc/init.d/weewx; generated)

   Active: active (running) since Sun 2019-12-29 09:55:05 +04; 2min 55s ago

     Docs: man:systemd-sysv-generator(8)

  Process: 1440 ExecStart=/etc/init.d/weewx start (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

    Tasks: 8 (limit: 1599)

   Memory: 28.9M

   CGroup: /system.slice/weewx.service

           ├─1455 python /usr/bin/weewxd --daemon --pidfile=/var/run/weewx.pid /etc/weewx/weewx.conf

           ├─1459 sudo rtl_433 -M utc -F json

           └─1466 rtl_433 -M utc -F json

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: StationRegistry: Registration not requested.

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: Wunderground-PWS: Data for station IUMMAL1 will be posted

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: PWSweather: Posting not enabled.

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: CWOP: Posting not enabled.

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: WOW: Posting not enabled.

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: AWEKAS: Posting not enabled.

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: WindGuru: service version is 0.1

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: restx: WindGuru: Data will be uploaded for 10002

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: engine: Starting up weewx version 3.9.2

Dec 29 09:55:05 raspberrypi weewx[1455]: engine: Starting main packet loop.

When i access the pi via the chrome browser on another computer using http://192.168.1.150/weewx/ it does not look like any of the sensor data is reaching weewx because all the fields are blank.

Much appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean.

On Fri, Dec 13, 2019 at 10:51 PM mwall <goo...@lancet.mit.edu> wrote:

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[Andrew Milner]

what is the archive interval set to in weewx.conf?  data is only written to the database every archive interval.  your last log ended just after the main packet loop commenced, so the first data would be written 5 - 30 minutes after that point, and until then the database will remain empty.

[Sean Jahnig]

Thanks for the reply.

It is 300. You are right, if i wait 10min it has started reporting so it is working.

I am having intermittent issues though and i think it is because i am using the wrong antenna on the dongle. If i move the station more than 5m away from the dongle, it loses the signal. And there's no way of knowing i am losing signal because the 'Signal Quality' field in http://192.168.1.150/weewx/ just says N/A. Is there no way to parse the signal quality from rtl_144 to weewx ? I was hoping this would do it, but it doesn't rxCheckPercent = status.013E.Acurite5n1Packet

Also, can anyone tell me what length of antenna i should be using on the SDR dongle? The sensor is transmitting at 433Mhz. At the moment the antenna i have is about 12cm long (the type that you find on a wifi access point) and it loses signal with the sensor when i go 5m+ away.

thanks

[Andrew Milner]

try this youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVsqGX0iBOM

it should help you

[Sean Jahnig]

Thanks for that Andrew, that was super helpful and now the problem appears to be solved.

I would still love a solution for checking the signal between the sensor and the SDR dongle if anyone has any ideas?

Thanks

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