Trixology

Weather => Weather Hardware/Measurement => Topic started by: elagache on February 25, 2017, 11:01:04 PM

Title: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: elagache on February 25, 2017, 11:01:04 PM
Dear WeatherCat Davis station owners and fans,

Davis has another edition of their E-news newsletter.

http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e (http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e)

Not surprisingly, it has a description of the new AeroCone rain gauge collector cone:

http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e#weatheraction_a (http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e#weatheraction_a)

However, finally they have a useful article!  They tell how someone with a travel trailer (Caravan in UK-English) figured out how to add a Davis Vantage Vue!

http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e#weatheraction_b (http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2958&mid=476601&x=f477602e#weatheraction_b)

Too bad the trailer isn't a nice looking Vintage Airstream, but the concept should work even on a vintage trailer!   ;) Now Stu has absolutely no excuse for not developing WeatherCat Caravan Edition!  lol(1)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Felix on February 26, 2017, 10:46:07 AM
Didn't someone here on the forum (or possibly it was WXForum) note that the solar and UV sensors have to be relocated when retrofitting the AeroCone? 


Wonder why Davis didn't bother to mention that point in their E-news write-up?
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on February 26, 2017, 02:35:10 PM
Davis Vue mounted on Caravan.
Driver Gets Lost by Following "Direction of Travel" Display!
...but he knew his exact airspeed!
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Weatheraardvark on February 26, 2017, 07:24:04 PM
or invest in a Kestrel and avoid the whole thing.  ;)
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on February 26, 2017, 08:20:36 PM
Quote
invest in a Kestrel
Are those what we call "mobile homes" over here? Also sometimes referred to as manufactured housing. While they do have axles and wheels, they are rarely moved, even if they are "mobile". And certainly not by a car or a small truck for use on a vacation all over the country! [lol2]

The "Kestrels" I see via the interweb look to be "portable" like the first Macintosh! More like "luggable"! [lol]
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Weatheraardvark on February 26, 2017, 08:39:00 PM
Kestrels fit into your pocket, unless you have the bird, kestrel then it might be an issue.
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on February 26, 2017, 08:45:38 PM
I prefer to keep a Kestrel in my hand. You know what they say about "two in a bush".
(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u666/xAirbusDriver/Groaner_zpsjqr46wqw.gif)
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Steve on February 26, 2017, 09:24:00 PM
A Kestrel is what's in my hand in my avatar and social network links. An American Kestrel (nee Sparrow Hawk) is my favorite bird, and I have lots of transparencies of them but no digital files.

The former fits in my pocket just fine; the latter might resemble Donald Katz' 1987 short story The King Of The Ferret Leggers: The Classic Tale Of Sportsmen Who Put Carnivores Down Their Pants
Title: Software for Kestrel stations? (Re: Caravan weather stations!)
Post by: elagache on February 26, 2017, 11:51:58 PM
Dear Felix, X-Air, Weatheraardvark, Steve, and WeatherCat wanting their caravan to be "just like home" types,

or invest in a Kestrel and avoid the whole thing.  ;)

A Kestrel is what's in my hand in my avatar and social network links.

I'm assuming that this fellow with the traveler trailer wanted something more like a home station with a display instead the trailer of what the weather was outside.  That's what I would like as well, so Kestrel station isn't quite what I had in mind.

As I recall though the Kestrel stations can communicate via Bluetooth.  Is there any new software so that you could leave your Kestrel outside but monitor it from the inside?

A curious mind would like to know!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Software for Kestrel stations? (Re: Caravan weather stations!)
Post by: Steve on February 27, 2017, 04:15:03 AM
As I recall though the Kestrel stations can communicate via Bluetooth.  Is there any new software so that you could leave your Kestrel outside but monitor it from the inside?

Some Kestrel models come with or without Bluetooth, but it is a quite expensive option. My standard Kestrel 4500 has been replaced by the 5500 at $309, and Bluetooth is an extra $90 plus a $30 LiNK dongle.

Or you can buy the $59 LiNK cable to transfer logged data. The problem has always been that the transfer protocol is staggeringly slow. Even the wired download is 230 Kb/s or less than 2% of the transfer speed of the 20 year old USB 1.0 protocol.

So, yes, you can get live data indoors from an outdoor Kestrel, but only using binoculars.

[EDIT] I am mistaken! It looks like the wireless models have made an improvement I wasn't aware of.

Quote
The true versatility of the Kestrel 5500 becomes apparent with the addition of the Kestrel Vane Mount.  This precision-engineered accessory securely mounts the Kestrel 5500 to any tripod or other ?-20 fitted bracket. Once mounted, the Kestrel 5500 becomes a full-featured weather station ? with a large wind vane and precision pivot keeping the Kestrel oriented into the wind for continuous measurement and logging of wind speed, wind direction, and all other key weather parameters. The Kestrel LiNK app also displays the Kestrel?s real-time readings on a vivid, customizable dashboard ? providing a remote display that functions up to 100? away. The ENTIRE Kestrel 5500 + Vane Mount kit weighs just 10.5 ounces / 295 grams, and packs into the included padded belt carry pouch that is just 2.5 x 3 x 8.5 inches / 6.5 x 7.5 x 22 cm. Providing hundreds of hours of accurate measurements, the Kestrel 5500 is truly the world?s most compact weather station. The Rotating Vane Mount is included with the 5500 with LiNK, or available for purchase separately. It works with any Kestrel 5 Series meter.
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Weatheraardvark on February 27, 2017, 06:03:19 AM
just on a side note with the Kestrel,  I use mine to check the instruments and  console  against something else that I assume to be correct.   Anyway,  the caravan mount is worth it if someone travels and wants an idea of changing conditions such as a sudden drop or rise in barometric pressure might be a signal to get the heck out of the trailer and find something sturdy to hide in.
Title: Kestrel looks very practical! (Re: Caravan weather stations!)
Post by: elagache on February 27, 2017, 10:04:31 PM
Dear Steve, Weatheraardvark, and WeatherCat "on the go" types, . . .

[EDIT] I am mistaken! It looks like the wireless models have made an improvement I wasn't aware of.

Yes indeed the 5500 looks like just the sort of platform that could be used to monitor what is happening outside your travel trailer from the inside.  Here is the URL for the curious:

https://kestrelmeters.com/products/kestrel-5500-weather-meter (https://kestrelmeters.com/products/kestrel-5500-weather-meter)

Of course Davis won't be pleased, but it would be simpler to mount a Kestrel to a travel trailer (caravan) then to come up with something that can support the heavier Vantage Vue.  The Kestrel software could be enough to at least be aware of the conditions.  Although, I wonder if Kestrel has published the API so that other developers could access the device.

just on a side note with the Kestrel,  I use mine to check the instruments and  console  against something else that I assume to be correct.   Anyway,  the caravan mount is worth it if someone travels and wants an idea of changing conditions such as a sudden drop or rise in barometric pressure might be a signal to get the heck out of the trailer and find something sturdy to hide in.

If you are in tornado country or some other place with severe weather, you would probably be better served to have a radio that has the National Weather Service alert system (at least in the United States.)  I assume there are similar systems in Europe and elsewhere.

I think the interest to have a weather station when traveling in a trailer would really be the same as keeping an eye on the weather at home.  Stu has told us of some of his caravan trips where the weather was so lousy that his wife and him were cooped up in the trailer.  Without the weather being dangerous, it can be so cold and wet that outdoor activities aren't appealing.  In cases like that, I would expect any "weather geek" would like to know precisely how miserable the conditions are outside - just like at home.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: Blicj11 on August 02, 2017, 02:54:10 AM
Here is the AUGUST 2O17 issue of the Davis Newsletter:

http://enews.davisnet.com/read/archive?id=2993&mid=776114
Title: Yeah, but missing caravans . . . (Re: Latest Davis E-news and caravans)
Post by: elagache on August 02, 2017, 10:26:46 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat fans of weather stations and caravans,

Here is the AUGUST 2O17 issue of the Davis Newsletter:

Yeah, I know . . . . but this issue is really boring.  [rolleyes2]  Not even one caravan in it!  lol(1)

So for those of you in need of a little caravan "eye candy," someone is selling a 1958 Airstream Flying Cloud on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Airstream-Flying-Cloud-1958/162610983886 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Airstream-Flying-Cloud-1958/162610983886)

It has been pulled by a 1947 Chevy 5-window pickup truck and there 4 photos that are adorable!   :)  Alas, eBay has gotten sneaky about how they handle photos, so I can't just insert an image into this posting.  If you want to see cute!  [cat] You've got to click over there yourself!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 02, 2017, 11:37:39 PM
Just click on the thumbnail. A large version will open in a overlaying window. Click and hold anywhere on that image and drag it to your desktop (or any other directory you want). I'll be deleting this image in a few hours...

Well, I've selected/chosen it and it shows in the "Attach" list, but it does not show in Preview nor is there any indication of where it will be in the post. [banghead] I think I've read that this forum s/w always places images below the text of a post.
Title: THANKS! (Re: Caravan weather stations!)
Post by: elagache on August 03, 2017, 11:03:24 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat World Wide Web tipsters,

Just click on the thumbnail. A large version will open in a overlaying window. Click and hold anywhere on that image and drag it to your desktop (or any other directory you want). I'll be deleting this image in a few hours...

Hey thanks!  :)  The contextual menus are disabled on Firefox (I didn't try Safari,) and I assumed that companies like eBay had added something into HTML to prevent people from grabbing images.  I never thought to try drag and drop.  Works like a charm!

Sometimes you've just got to try stuff!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 04, 2017, 01:46:09 AM
You must be a new Mac convert. First thing you have to do is forget that every thing is supposed to. E complicated and non-intuitive. [lol2]
Title: Not new . . . . too old! (Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter)
Post by: elagache on August 04, 2017, 10:03:21 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat users from the golden age of the Mac,

You must be a new Mac convert. First thing you have to do is forget that every thing is supposed to. E complicated and non-intuitive. [lol2]

*Sniff*, Quite the opposite.  :(  I still remember when things like drag and drop could be depended upon to work all the time.  These days, developers are so sloppy with their user-interfaces that you can't rely upon it all the time.   The Mac just isn't what it once was . . . . . . :(

Oh well, . . . . Edouard
Title: Re: Latest Davis E-news newsletter and caravan weather stations!
Post by: xairbusdriver on August 04, 2017, 10:56:42 PM
Quote
You must be a new Mac convert.
Quote
*Sniff*, Quite the opposite.
I think you do know I was pulling your chain... [lol]

Not to point one finger while having several others point at me... but, just yesterday, I noticed a couple of slides my wife was going to use today had dark blue text on a black background. I suggested that there was so little contrast with those two colors that not many in the audience would be able to read the text. I, of course, agreed to tackle this complex technical challenge for her.

That's when I saw that the slides were in Powerpoint, the coulda been Keynote app from the company famous for making the simplest things complicated.
Quote
"You use a browser to find files on your computer?"
"No, 'Explorer' was how we find files before we even had the inteweb, the names are just a coincident we didn't see a need to clarify.
The user will figure it out... eventually. Besides, it adds a sense of discovery to boring tasks like finding where something is... eventually.
We use the same logic to limit name suffixes to 3 letters, that's more than we'll ever need."
Still, how hard can it be to change a font's color?!

Unsurprisingly, the first thing I noticed was that the 'text-entry' cursor looked 'funny'. In fact, it was two 'text-entry' cursors slightly offset vertically and horizontally. Strange, but it seemed to be able to select the barely legible text, although not totally. While the left-hand edge of the high lighted area covered the first character, the right-hand edge only covered about half of the last character. Trying again, made no difference. Selecting from right to left didn't change the display, either.

Even with these two different UI problems, I continued to think that the task would be simple. I think this is the definition of what is called "tunnel vision"? Anyway, with the vast majority of the text selected, I felt sure the little button with a colored "A" on it would be all it would take to change the color, so I clicked the button and selected a nice, light shade of blue-gray.

"Thanks!", she said? Not on your life! Apparently, 1 plus 1 don't always equal 2 in Redmond. The text changed in absolutely no way; it was still in the glorious dark-navy-blue-nearly-impossible-to-read color! [banghead] Several more attempts, even trying different buttons and twisting my tongue till it hurt, resulted in nothing more than sharply increasing my blood pressure. [blush]

Fortunately, we were on a Mac and Keynote easily opens most PPT files. In less time than it takes Powerpoint to open, I had control-clicked the Powerpoint file telling the OS to open it in Keynote. I then selected the offending text, from the left to right-hand ends, with a single text-entry cursor. I then clicked the color I wanted in the multi-mode color picker and saved the file as a ".ppt". Reopened Powerpoint which happily, if somewhat confusedly, displayed the slides with much more legible colors. I'm sure you've guessed that the MS software had to be used because the computer to be used does not run the macOS without sacrifices/contributions to Mr. Gates' Foundation.

The Mac and the OS (or even Apple) are not nearly perfect, no question. But I still don't understand the MS "philosophy" of doing different things than what the user expects. Do they really think users like 'surprises' when working on their computers?! Oh well, I'm just glad I don't have to remember 'tricks' when using Windows. I understand they still have those delightfully memorable "function" keys on their keyboards where the same key does something different depending on what app happens to be in use... I guess people like to play guessing games while switching between Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Exploder, etc., not me, thank you very much! [goofy]
Title: Very few geeks "get" user interface design. (Re: Was: Davis E-news newsletter)
Post by: elagache on August 05, 2017, 10:17:26 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat users of the venerable "desktop" user-interface,

Quote
You must be a new Mac convert.
Quote
*Sniff*, Quite the opposite.
I think you do know I was pulling your chain... [lol]

Yes indeed you did!  However, probably not in exactly the way you intended!

But I still don't understand the MS "philosophy" of doing different things than what the user expects.

Unfortunately that is hitting the nail on the head when it comes to user-interface design.  Just what exactly is a user supposed to expect since they aren't literally interacting with the computer via commands like UNIX or MS-DOS?

What made Mac OS so unique that Microsoft had to copy it was the desktop user interface.   Behind this is a insight that certainly doesn't seem well understood by either geeks or the general public.  Since you can't understand out a computer really works, the computer must provide for you a virtual reality that you already understand: like a desktop.  The folks at Xerox PARC understood that the general public would need some sort of paradigm that they did understand so that they could use a computer without a lot of training.  Steve Jobs helped himself to the desktop paradigm and as they say "the rest is history."

Sadly it is much more ancient history than it should be.  So that is the analogy with daily life that allows you to figure out how to use an iPhone?  As far as I know, there isn't anything of the sort.  It is a Graphical User Interface, but without any real world analogues that would help new users figure out how to use iOS. 

Apple is better at user interface design than most companies, but they have failed to understand why Mac was such a success - so much so that Microsoft had to steal that user-interface.  As much as we would hope Apple is otherwise, it is now just another warehouse of geeks and they do not have the sort of awareness of everyday people that was the inspiration for the Mac.  We are all worse off because the sort of academic attention to detail that was present at Xerox PARC didn't get copied into Apple and other high-tech giants.

Cheers, Edouard