Vantage Pro versus Vantage vue

[Andrew Milner]

As a non-davis user, but thinking about splashing out the cash, does anyone have views or opinions on the benefits or disadvantages of the vue over the pro2 davis stations - for reliability and/or accuracy?  The vue looks to me to be the better option - but maybe I am missing some important differences.

I was going to use either weatherlink usb or belfry boy clone usb logger with the device to connect the console to my raspberry pi over usb and replace my fine offset.

Many thanks for any inputs/advice.  As I said I want to know the differences or disadvantages of one over the other.

Andrew

[k_her...@yahoo.com]

Andrew,

The main difference I see is about $200 US. :-)

Actually I have a Vantage Pro2 running on my iMac that is used for my main weather station. When I purchased the Pro2, I wanted a another station console in my living room to monitor the station also. So I ordered a Vue console. It worked great, reading my Pro2 equipment perfectly/ 

I also wanted to learn more about Python so I got a Raspberry PI. Now I use it as a test station for changes I make to weewx before I install on my main system.

I had a spare data logger for the Pro2 so it worked out great. Hook up the Vue to the PI and it reads the equipment for the Pro2. Weewx runs like a champ.

I know this is not differences or disadvantages but just my 2 cents worth.

Keith

[Greg Troxel]

Andrew Milner <andrew.s...@gmail.com> writes:

> As a non-davis user, but thinking about splashing out the cash, does anyone
> have views or opinions on the benefits or disadvantages of the vue over the
> pro2 davis stations - for reliability and/or accuracy? The vue looks to me
> to be the better option - but maybe I am missing some important differences.

I got pro (not pro2) in 2002 or so, and it failed in 2012ish (New
England), with the outdoor unit no longer sending, at first during
temperature extremes, and then at all. Before that the rain gauge
failed, and I fixed it, I think by replacing the reed switch by buying a
part from Davis, but I no longer remember the details. My Pro console
is still working as a temp/humid/pressure sensor just fine.

I then got a Pro 2 in January of 2013. Overall, I have the impression
that the design has been updated for reliability, but I don't really
know that. But I can say that other than taking out pine needles and
wasps, it has been trouble-free. A friend has a pro2 also and has not
complained about it breaking.

I do not have the fan aspiration or the heated rain gauge.

I have another friend who got a Vue, and it failed within a couple of
years. I have the impression from that (admittedly single data point)
that the Vue is less reliable.

I have not looked at the accuracy specs. I would expect the pro2 to
have the edge if any difference.

Overall, I find the state of equipment somewhat distressing, as there
seems to be a number of sub-$200 stations that generally fail in a year
or so, and then there's the Vantage Pro2 that seems quite expensive but
reasonably reliable.

I wonder if a large part of the weather station market is to have
not-that-expensive things to give as gifts for people that have
everything, vs people that really want to spend enough to get a weather
stations that actually works.

> I was going to use either weatherlink usb or belfry boy clone usb logger
> with the device to connect the console to my raspberry pi over usb and
> replace my fine offset.

I think the vue and pro2 are the same with respect to the logging/data
port.


So my advice is to get a Pro2. My guess is that it will be cheaper in
terms of $/year. (My limited data suggests 10 years for pro2 and 3
years for vue.)

[Jeff A. D.]

I think the main advantages of the Pro over the Vue is the ability to split the anemometer from the other sensors, so that each can be placed more optimally.  The wind sensor as high as you can get, the others not so much.  And the Pro has the ability to add other sensors (extra temp stations, soil moisture, leaf wetness, and such).  I use an extra temp station to help avoid frozen pipes in winter, for example.

I still have an original Vantage Pro, not the VP2. 15 years old and still going strong, though I did buy up a spare station and extra parts when they came out with the VP2 to try to keep it running as long as possible, but both stations are still fully functional, with the exception of the original anemometer that had the bearings going bad.

[Jeff A. D.]

Perhaps I should clarify that I'm talking about the wireless VP.  I'm not sure extra sensors can easily be added to the cabled.

[Jeff A. D.]

Also I have replaced the supercaps (that store the solar energy to power the station at night).  That will most likely be required on either the Vue or Pro after a few years, but from what I understand the Pro is easier to access and service, assuming you have some skill in soldering.

[Dave Webb KB1PVH]

My super cap went on my Vue in 4 years. Unfortunately on the Vue they seal the whole iss unit in epoxy so you destroy it to replace it. I spent the $96 on a new replacement board. 

Dave-KB1PVH


Sent from my Galaxy S9

On Fri, May 25, 2018, 12:03 Jeff A. D. <jadav...@gmail.com> wrote:

Also I have replaced the supercaps (that store the solar energy to power the station at night).  That will most likely be required on either the Vue or Pro after a few years, but from what I understand the Pro is easier to access and service, assuming you have some skill in soldering.

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[vince]

On Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 10:33:13 PM UTC-7, Andrew Milner wrote:

As a non-davis user, but thinking about splashing out the cash, does anyone have views or opinions on the benefits or disadvantages of the vue over the pro2 davis stations - for reliability and/or accuracy?  The vue looks to me to be the better option - but maybe I am missing some important differences.

• The Vue is smaller and lighter and less expensive.  The VP2 is bigger.  Like really really bigger.
  
• The consoles are different, but I think they're both hideously ugly and 1978ish in appearance.
  
• The battery backup on the VP2 console is a nice feature if your power bounces occasionally
• The VP2 permits you to add additional sensors (not many people need this)
• The Vp2 lets you split the sensors so the anemometer is near the recommended 10m height while the rain/temp sensors are at the recommended lower 1.5m or so height    I used to have my VP2 at about 9 feet elevation and finally put up a flagpole that let me mount the anemometer at 20 ft or so....made a massive difference in finally reading the wind and especially the gusts.

Davis-related:

• Maintenance is nothing basically other than popping the rain collector off and clearing out bugs/dirt/etc. a couple times a year.   I haven't had any problems with birds nesting/perching, but I think the new VP2 come with bird spikes to attach to the rain collector to prevent that.
• Replacement parts are easy to find, from cards to sensors to consoles etc.

My VP2 has been up since Jan-2009 and just plain works.  I had to replace the reed switch 18 month ago which was 5 minutes of soldering, Davis sent me replacements for free.   They also sent me a replacement sensor card 'after' the unit was out of warranty.  Great service on the phone and via email every time I've contacted them.  I can't say anything bad about the hardware or the people.

That said, their datalogger price is just a total scam for money in my opinion, but I found a deal back then for under $100 and got the serial logger.  Works fine with a serial2usb converter.

I guess I'd say that if you can get the anemometer up very high to mount it as close to properly as possible, see if you can do the VP2 for that feature, if you can handle the price.

There are lots of places that sell Davis gear with ok prices.  The Vue looks like about $160 cheaper at places like Scaled Instruments (stations and parts available there).

[Andrew Milner]

To everyone - thanks a million for all the comments and advice.

I shall have to think about this carefully.  I currently have my anemometer at 10 m and yes, putting the whole vue iss at that height may be a little too high for my pole to have the weight at the top end.  This may well end up pushing me towards the pro2 if only for that reason.

Anyways - many thanks for all the help in my decision making process.

Andrew

[Muireadach O Connor]

Hi Andrew, 

It is possible to put a separate Davis wireless anemometer on a pole for the Vue too for better accuracy, I have this setup though this is the only additional sensor possible to the best of my knowledge.

My Vue is well into its sixth year now with a annual clean up of spider webs and scheduled battery replacement as the only maintenance I've needed 

I would like to be able to have a separate soil temperature /moisture monitor being a keen gardener but can live with manually checking every now again given the cost differential between the two. 

I had a Blake-Larsen sun recorder previously but that died after about four years, if it was still alive I would have stuck with Windows as the software (windows only) integrated with Cumulus exclusively to to best of my knowledge (open to correction). I REALLY miss being able to measure sunshine, the Pro2 can approximate this with its intensity sensor (if purchased) but it's apparently not very accurate which would put me off spending extra.  I would love a sun recorder like the Blake-Larsen that works with Weewx, that would definitely go on my Xmas list!
Best of luck with whatever you go for!

[Andrew Milner]

Thanks - I went for the VP2 in the end and a belfryboy USB logger.  Just waiting for things to arrive out here in sunny Cyprus so I can become a born-again-kid and have a play and hope my pressure does not rise and fall with the aircon turning on and off as happens now with my fineoffset station!!