Hardware Recomendation for weewx Compatible Hardware

[Tom K]

Hello all - looking for some specific hardware recommendations on a weather station. I am in the US (South Carolina) and looking for a weather station that can provide frequent wind speed measurements (at least every 20 seconds - but more often is better). After looking through the FAQ and the compatible weather station information - I'm still struggling with something that will work for me. I would really like to order from Amazon if possible, but am open to ordering from other places as well. I will be integrating the data from the weather station into my home automation setup (Home Assistant) to control the awning.

Here's my list of "must-haves":

• Compatible with weewx
• Must provide as near to real-time wind speed as possible (I want to use the wind speed to control my awning that must be retracted when winds pick up). So at least every 20 seconds or so - but more often is better.
• Rain gauge, humidity, temperatures are bonus but not absolutely required.
• Would prefer to be able to retrieve the data locally and not have to go through a cloud application
• Cost < $300 USD
• Amazon preferred

Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

Tom

[Xant]

Tom K

Welcome to WeeWX, but also to note, that there are many previous posting regarding this issue (which should check prior to new post).

Always debate regarding cost x performance, but the following is my take:

1) RPi as hosting hardware

Version 3 or 4 performs well, but for minor price diff, 4 is latest and Python 3

2) WeatherFlow

For price x performance, I'm sided to WeatherFlow, which not just ping at 2.5secs timeframe, but also has NO moving parts, ambient light, UV index, solar radiation. Sonic anemometer!

The previous model (which I have) has 2 sensor units. Which it's good, as you can place the 2nd unit in shade for better temp measurement.

On Amazon, for $299.95 (which is 5cents under budget!) :P

To note, there is a newer model - Tempest $329. - not in Amazon yet and back-ordered, but directly from WeatherFlow website:

https://shop.weatherflow.com/collections/frontpage/products/tempest

I don't know the comparison about the 2 in detail, but the new unit is "all-in-one", while the older model it's split in two.

Funny as things goes.... previously, WeatherFlow was "proud" to market the 2 separate units as better measurement (as one could go to shade, instead of direct sun radiation), while now they market the single unit as a great feat (to cut costs for sure...).

Regardless, either one are great and can go no wrong.

Xant

[RobbH]

On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 11:32:46 PM UTC-4, Xant wrote:

Welcome to WeeWX, but also to note, that there are many previous posting regarding this issue (which should check prior to new post).

It is certainly true that there are many previous posts asking questions about hardware, but I don't recall ever seeing one that was primarily concerned with the frequency of wind speed measurements. I just searched and could not find one. Can you?

 

[RobbH]

Tom, you might find it helpful to look at the Hardware Guide at http://www.weewx.com/docs/hardware.htm 

It will tell you the reporting interval for some families of weather stations.

[G Hammer]

Look at either the Ambient Weather WS-5000 Ultrasonic Professional Smart Weather Station or its equivalent, the Ecowitt HP2553
If you don't wish to go the ultrasonic route, the Ecowitt GW1002 or the Ambient WS-2902B or WS-2000 are also nice units.
All will report wind in 16 seconds or less for the ultrasonic units.

Ecowitt has excellent support if needed. Ambient did have but with their recent sale, I don't know for certain.

[Francisco Puig]

This WeatherFlow station looks awesome... All in ONE... its fully compatible with WeeWx? How do you connect the station to the RPi?

On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 11:32:46 PM UTC-4, Xant wrote:

[Francisco Puig]

I found my answers in their website :-) WeeWx its listed as compatible!

[vince]

On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 8:32:46 PM UTC-7, Xant wrote:

2) WeatherFlow

For price x performance, I'm sided to WeatherFlow, which not just ping at 2.5secs timeframe, but also has NO moving parts, ambient light, UV index, solar radiation. Sonic anemometer!

The previous model (which I have) has 2 sensor units. Which it's good, as you can place the 2nd unit in shade for better temp measurement.

On Amazon, for $299.95 (which is 5cents under budget!) :P

They are not sold new any more by the manufacturer so I would 'not' suggest buying a new unit from Amazon.   That said, given the new Tempest is out, you could probably pick up a lightly used Sky+Air+Hub for much less than $300, perhaps not even $150 if you ask on the WeatherFlow forums and find somebody looking to unload their old unit.

(sigh - I gifted mine to a family member just a week ago or I'd have sold the original poster mine for a song :-)

 

To note, there is a newer model - Tempest $329. - not in Amazon yet and back-ordered, but directly from WeatherFlow website:

https://shop.weatherflow.com/collections/frontpage/products/tempest

I don't know the comparison about the 2 in detail, but the new unit is "all-in-one", while the older model it's split in two.

Re-read the web page.  It's a next-generation unit based on the things the manufacturer learned since the SmartWeather station kickstart in mid-2018.

(disclaimer - I'm a beta tester of the Tempest).

Biggest change is they are positioning the Tempest and mobile app into weather prediction very heavily, which might make things like DarkSky integration unnecessary.

Also has IFTT integrations etc. so the original poster could trigger closing the awning off of that, or even do a node-red thing if you run weewx and hook in some event-driven mechanism like MQTT or whatever.

That said, you can 'not' run a WeatherFlow station off the grid.  It has to be able to connect to WF's servers to get+keep the sensors tuned.  If you can live within those constraints, the WF gear (old or new variants) would be a good choice.  The ultrasonic wind sensor is very fast.   If you have it in rapid_wind mode it reports wind every 3 seconds.

[Michi Kaa]

There is little sense having the awning controlled by the wind sensor of the weather station. Since the wind sensor of the weather station should be located at a free, elevated position where the wind can blow uninfluenced at any direction and the awning is mounted to the building, where wind speed can be not only much lower, but also higher and more turbolent. Distinct tools for distinct jobs. If you want to measure wind speed in terms of weather observation, do this task with a properly mounted wind sensor. If you want to protect your awning, attach a wind switch directly to it.

[Tom K]

Thank you everyone for your recommendations and advice. I decided to go with the new Weatherflow Tempest station! Excited to get it (it's back-ordered) and play with it.

On Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 4:16:32 PM UTC-4, Tom K wrote:

[Xant]

If you willing to wait, Excellent choice.