Looking for advice on purchasing a weather station

[isobar]

I've been surfing the net for weather stations, and Davis and LaCross brand keep coming up. Just curious on what you guys have and what you would recommendation.
Like I mentioned in another post, my husband wants to get me one for my birthday, and judging by the prices, I told him it would count for the next 5 birthdays.
Thanks!

[azskyman]

Donna....

Davis has been around a while. But then so have LaCrosse and Oregon Scientific.

If you are looking for a weather station that is expandable, but doesn NOT yet include wind equipment, I like the Davis line. Check out their website at:

http://www.weathermonitor.com/?engine=adwords&keyword=davis+instruments

If you are getting into wind equipment...drop me a note. I've learned a lot about it over the years, and I can tell you.....less expensive instead of more expensive will disappoint you.

[wx247]

Thanks for the link. I have been keeping weather records for 3 years now with a rain gauge and a high/low temp. digital thermometer. I need to upgrade so that link was helpful. Thanks!

[isobar]

Thanks so much Steve, for the link and the advice. I love all weather, but my supreme interest is in wind and BP changes, hence my nickname. So I definitely would like to add wind equipment at some point.
Are you saying that a separate anemometer is the way to go? Are the ones with rooftop sensors most accurate?

Garrett - Good luck with your search also!


Donna

[azskyman]

Some of the anemometer models that are out there tend to have problems with their balance, their interface with the base, and over a fairly short amount of time, can lose their accuracy. And then, once that happens, you have wind equipment that isn't reliable. Same goes for the wind direction equipment.

Some use potentiometers (like rheostats on a light dimmer) that wear out or wear down relatively quickly. These causes "blind spots" in their accuracy that frustrate an observer who takes both his hobby and his investment very seriously.

Finally...and this happens with even the best equipment, a good ice storm or alternating melting and thawing in winter can find your sensor frozen in one position for days. That is disappointing if the ice storm is followed by a vigorous cold front and winds of 60 mph yet it just sits there frozen.

If you are REALLY serious about a purchase, let me seek out a little consensus from some of the observers I know around the country...and see what they say about the instruments they have.

[pawlee]

hey Steve, what do you think of the following company? know anything about them? i've been salivating over the product in the link below ever since NWS here suggested to the COOP's and SWOP's about linking local online obs. stations into their network. once we move across town at the end of this month, i'll be getting cable so i would ultimately like to build an real time online wx station into the pawleewurx matrix... p

http://www.weathershop.com/lcm_WS2310.htm

[azskyman]

Paul...I think the uplink to a computer is so great. Data right there whenever you need it. My problem with that set up is not the interface or the wizardry of the unit...it is the durability of the sensors.

There is nothing more disappointing than spending hard earned cash on something that has you salivating only to find out that it begins to fail after one of your frigid and icy winters or gets gummed up by the saltspray in the air during the wintertime.

ANY weather station requires care and at least annual maintenance, so I'd be prepared to spend some money on keeping it operational. Otherwise, before long, you'll have a weather station that provides data that is of no use.

In short. A neat set up...but am leary of the sensors.

[Cumulonimbus]

Donna:

I have had a Davis Weather Wizard for 6 years and am happy with it. I have the computer interface software and so far it seems to be working pretty well. I live in Seattle...the land of wet and mild with few extremes so seldom do I have a problem with cold temps, freezing, thunderstorms...etc etc.
Just thought I would pass that on.

Alex

[chadtm80]

*Bump

[dafwx]

I've been surfing the net for weather stations, and Davis and LaCross brand keep coming up. Just curious on what you guys have and what you would recommendation.
Like I mentioned in another post, my husband wants to get me one for my birthday, and judging by the prices, I told him it would count for the next 5 birthdays.
Thanks!

GET THE DAVIS WEATHER MONITOR OR THE VANTAGE PRO! I bought the V.P. after months of research. There is simply no comparison to stations in the price rage. If you are willing to really shell out the money, there are Rainwise and Texas stations ...that will run you up 1500-2000 bucks. The Davis has been very accurate with all weather elements and it has very nice features.

Here's one little tip:

http://www.scientificsales.com .....the BEST prcies on the Vantage Pro!

[Downdraft]

I've had a Davis II for years. It's been reliable, accurate and except for running wires into the house through the wall (wife went ballastic) no problems encountered.

[ColdFront77]

Are there any weather instruments on the market that record the daily early morning low and afternoon high temperatures?

It is impossible to know when the early morning low and afternoon high occurs everyday if you are not looking at your thermometer at the exact moments these temperatures are reached.

For example, say my early morning low temperature while I am sleeping is 74°, occurring at 6:53am; then I am online (or elsewhere, not near my unit) during the afternoon hours... and the high temperature of 96° takes place at 4:18pm.

Thank you in advance.

[bkhusky2]

I have the Davis Vantage Pro, and it tells me when the morning low and afternoon high was. I got my station about a month ago, and love it.

The best price I could find on any of the Davis Products is at http://www.ambientweather.com/davislow

BTW, I am now purchasing WeatherLink and will have my live conditions up on the internet in a couple weeks.

[ColdFront77]

Thank you, bkhusky. I have been thinking about this for a number of months. Maybe I will get it some day soon.

I am aware of Davis Instruments. I have gotten some of their thin catalogs in the mail in the last few years.