Trixology
Weather => Weather Hardware/Measurement => Topic started by: Doc on May 31, 2012, 11:10:19 PM
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OK, I occasionally do some weather spotting on Amateur Radio through the Central Indiana Skywarn Network. Since I live in Indianapolis, there are plenty of us and I don't really have to go out that much anymore. I do miss it. Then I've got this wacko research associate who is doing many things weather (like supplying me with cameras and such). Then we have this wonderful governor who enjoys killing our education system by cutting funding for the schools in as many ways as is possible, including the sciences. So suddenly there were several hundred very old Davis Weather Monitor II systems in the trash. Most were beyond usable, many were good for parts, some still were in the box fairly used, all had the manuals and some were wireless! Not one single datalogger in the bunch [rainyluck]
So associate hears of the garbage, tells me, we go and fill my pickup truck with as much of the junk units as we could lay our hands on. Managed to get about 90 units. Associate puts up grant money to buy several spools of all weather phone cable, and modular plugs, a case of Dust Off cans, and various hardware we'll need to put some of these back in use. I put one aside for later. A bunch went back to some of the schools that wanted them. A bunch went to a few hospitals. A lot went to the spare parts to keep the rest running for a while. And then there was the one put back for later, actually five of them.
Seems we have this crazy idea of putting these to use mobile during sever weather, and I'm the test truck. It's been done, I know, but this cheap? [lol2]
We already have computers in the trucks, but that's for APRS, which reports our positions and can be brought up online (aprs.fi and find your area, if you use CWOP you will find your station on the screen). This is a pretty useful system the amateur radio operators use during events and can also be used for messaging for the groups.
The unit I have has all the sensors, temp, rain (yes the big bucket), humidity, dew point, pressure, old wind chill, wind speed and direction. Once I get it all working, the rain bucket isn't registering, bad cable I'm pretty sure on this, I'll be working on mounting it on the truck some way. Temporarily. It all has to come down in the winter and at car washes.
Once it's up and working, and after I get a datalogger donated or find one really cheap, I'll have it running Weather Cat in some way. After that, it might get interesting [spin] Just need to add logging of the GPS positions and.........later [bounce]
More to come as time allows!
Doc
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That sounds a really interesting project. So looking forward to hearing how you get on. I know your governor appears to be trashing these weather stations, but ours never get them in the first place. Are we really investing properly in our kids futures anywhere? i doubt it.
Please keep us informed as to progress.
Best wishes
Mike
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Howdy Doc, Mike, and WeatherCat fans,
Sorry, I "lost" this posting yesterday in all the craziness.
Certainly an interesting to be able to collect weather "on the fly." For folk where extreme weather happens - there is a greater potential interest. Although I have to confess my interests in "weather on the go" are much more "mild mannered" than yours. I don't want my beautifully restored wagon anywhere near the sort of weather you and Randall have had to deal with!! [thunder]
So good luck, but my wagon and I will . . . . . sit this project out!! ;D
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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I like that my roof on my truck is built with heavy duty construction to near armor status to survive hail and having things dropped on it. The paint may not hold up, but nothing is coming through the roof any time soon. Any I not adverse to bolting a large sheet of lexan to top of someones prize rebuilt station wagon, after all, we do want to protect that roof don't we [bounce]
Anyway, the project progresses. I had a nice talk with Leticia at Davis today about them selling me individual components for their sensors, so I'm getting two new wind vane 25k pots and several reed switches for the rain buckets. They aren't cheap, but it's cheaper than having Davis do the rebuild.
I'm wondering right now if it would be better to mount the sensors on a heavy duty 2x4 mounted to the tail gate. Or use a pipe mounted to a floor flange and braced to the side wall. The wood mount has the break away advantage should it be hit by anything, I would loose the sensors, but at that point insurance would take over. I'll be looking at several methods.
Weather service people I talked to about what they would like to see reported from a mobile station was:
Winds: Speed, gusts, and if possible direction. To get direction you have to calibrate the wind vane to the truck body and park with the truck
body pointed in that direction, not 100% but close enough according to the weather service.
Pressure: Specifically large drops and rising pressure.
Temperature: Any large change in temperature.
Hail: size does matter
The rest they aren't that interested in. So why the rain bucket? They like that I can get a rain rate reading, which they can use from anywhere!
We're also developing reporting protocol as we go. At the moment, reports will be entered manually into the APRS status lines and these will go out automatically, Skywarn netcontrol can pull this information off APRS.FI. Once I have a Mac available that I can externalize the WIFI antenna, I can put up a mobile WIFI antenna with several miles of range, I know most of the free hotspots out there and can use WC to update a mobile CWOP account as WIFI permits, this will also show up on the APRS maps as a WX station. And there is the possibility of adding a webcam to this mess eventually [sweat2]
At the moment, I think I can do most of this without any major modifications of the WC software. I just have to make sure everything will run mobile, so far so good on that.
I'll have pictures as I progress with this.
Doc
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Fascinating stuff Doc!
Is the idea to drive into some 'interesting weather' and then abandon ship or to stay with it?
Cheers,
Stu.
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat fans,
I like that my roof on my truck is built with heavy duty construction to near armor status to survive hail and having things dropped on it. The paint may not hold up, but nothing is coming through the roof any time soon.
;) Hmm, reminds me of something I've seen on the Discovery Channel. So have you started shopping for a network for which to audition? [lol2]
Any I not adverse to bolting a large sheet of lexan to top of someones prize rebuilt station wagon, after all, we do want to protect that roof don't we [bounce]
In a word . . . . . NO!!!!!
There are lots of things wrong in California, but at least here, trusty wagons are safe in the garage!! (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette_V8_Buick_signature.gif)
I'll have pictures as I progress with this.
Looking forward to the pics and updates! [bounce]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Fascinating stuff Doc!
Is the idea to drive into some 'interesting weather' and then abandon ship or to stay with it?
Cheers,
Stu.
Ah, not on you life......."We that spot and run away, live to spot another day!"
If I'm close enough to see the bad weather, I'm close enough. I've seen 16 tornados and that too many. I don't have any need to get close enough to watch the thing chew up buildings. Having the barometer alarms available will help a little bit.
I do have a HD dashboard camera that might come in handy, but I'm not wanting to have it record either my destruction or that of my truck [sun2]
Doc
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In a word . . . . . NO!!!!!
Looking forward to the pics and updates! [bounce]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
But if you can't take the wagon out in the weather then what fun is that????
No I'm not interested in being on TV, been there, done that, and the T-shirt didn't fit me anyway. I don't mind people coming up when I'm spotting and asking me "What the HELL IS that?", I can tell them about amateur radio and SKYWARN and such. It's fun.
The Truck keeps getting new stuff added to it as time goes on, so you'll never know what I'll do to it next.
I will be posting pictures!
Doc
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Hi Cat Fans
From Edouard =There are lots of things wrong in California, but at least here, trusty wagons are safe in the garage!!
When I was In Oklahoma grape fruit size hail went through the roof of this guys garage and went through the windshield and dented the hood big time so I hope yours is super though
[cheers1]
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Howdy Doc, Randall, and WeatherCat fans,
But if you can't take the wagon out in the weather then what fun is that????
You see, my trusty wagon have had our quota of adventures!! The various restoration efforts have been an attempt to remove some of the battle-scars. There are still some battle scars that need to be taken care off. :-[
So, being a mature lady of "some years" our adventures will be more on the mild-mannered side . . . . never-mind work on assembling the engine doesn't appear to have started yet. :(
When I was In Oklahoma grape fruit size hail went through the roof of this guys garage and went through the windshield and dented the hood big time so I hope yours is super though
Well, this problem is unlikely . . . . on account of the fact that this is a two-story house with the garage on the lower story. I sleep almost directly over the car . . . . . so if something like that happens - I'm the guy in trouble!! :o
Of course California has other natural hazards. What worries me is the eagerness with which the CA residences insist on heaping on some man-made hazards of their own!! :o
Oh well!! ???
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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In Indiana, they tell us that the legislature is in session, and THEN they follow that with the announcement that it's the beginning of Tornado season. One disaster following another, the first being the biggest [banghead]
Then, my truck won't fit in my garage, and neither can my wife's van, so they get hit if it hails. So far, no problem. We are on the high ground away from the flooding and maybe away from the tornados too, and there is plenty of wood to knock on. With apologizes to the trees [sleep]
Doc
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Hi Doc
Maybe all the bad stuff will stay west of us OKla. Missouri, Ill. Wisc. Minn. Iowa, they don't need it either but really don't need it I seen enough while I was in OKla.
[cheers1]
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Hi Doc
Maybe all the bad stuff will stay west of us OKla. Missouri, Ill. Wisc. Minn. Iowa, they don't need it either but really don't need it I seen enough while I was in OKla.
[cheers1]
I've been watching it long enough to see that once it's into Missouri, Iowa, or Illinois, we're next, they form a funnel and it always drains down I-70 right to us eventually. But what a ride [woohoo]
Well, got the lights done today, the computer (for the APRS, and it's windoz) is giving me fits, but I'll get there. The weather station is waiting for parts to arrive and I have to do some fabricating for the anemometer first. But it's looking very interesting. I also need to clean the old debris off the sensors, probably need a repaint too.
Doc
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[rain2] Yay, we finally got some rain, after almost a month without and weeks with the temps in the hundreds. Won't last and we'll be back in the 100s again very soon. [thunder]
Got the weather instruments jerryrigged to the truck, the ISS is wireless and the batteries keep falling out. I don't have the rain bucket up there yet, but that's next.
Still have a few things to do, like replace the incandescent bulbs in the weather display with super bright leds. Still have lots to do, but I'll start posting pictures in a few days. It's been fun!
Doc
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat "mobile" fans, . . . .
[rain2] Yay, we finally got some rain, after almost a month without and weeks with the temps in the hundreds. Won't last and we'll be back in the 100s again very soon. [thunder]
Certainly some changes in the climate patterns that are quite stable this summer. I've been puzzling over what appear to me to be unusually low barometric pressure reading most of this summer. Eventually, the National Weather Service provided the explanation. Northern California is sitting in a trough at the margins of the high that is keeping the Midwest so hot. So we are unusually cool this summer (with a few exceptions like this weekend [sun3])
Got the weather instruments jerryrigged to the truck, the ISS is wireless and the batteries keep falling out.
Uh, ya' sure this is going to work? . . . . . At least in California the road resemble . . . . Eastern Europe!! :o So things better darn well be secure!!
Still have lots to do, but I'll start posting pictures in a few days. It's been fun!
I can't wait to see this!!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Uh, ya' sure this is going to work? . . . . . At least in California the road resemble . . . . Eastern Europe!! So things better darn well be secure!!
Yep, so far at least, the setup isn't pretty, it's supposed to be able to be taken down in a few minutes if necessary. I road tested the platform a couple of days ago up to 90mph, which was as fast as I dared go with it, and everything held still. Now how did I get away with 90? Easy, just waited for one of our local Carmel Teapublican/politician/lawyer jocks to go past me at over 120 or so with the state police following him, and just followed them for a mile or two at 90, no problem, they cleared the path for me very nicely [biggrin] Actually he was going 165 according to what I heard on the scanner, they lost him, couldn't keep up, but they had his address (I was right, Carmel), so they sent a brave supervisor to his house to wait for his pink slip after the arrest. [banghead]
It's always fun driving the northside of Indianapolis!
Doc
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Howdy Doc . . . .
I road tested the platform a couple of days ago up to 90mph, which was as fast as I dared go with it, and everything held still. . . . . . .
;) Some help you are!! >:(
Ya' know I'm spending a lot of money trying to restore my trusty wagon (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette_V8_Buick_signature.gif)
If I keep hearing stories like this - I'll never let my wagon out of the garage again!! :o
[lol2]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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OK, finally some pictures. It's all jerryrigged, and it's not pretty, but it works! All on a nice little 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie with 160,000 miles on it and a nice little 5.9liter V8 engine (35 gallon gas tank and a range of about 25 miles in low 4WD).
First image is the front with the all hazard lighting running, can be seen from 5-7 miles at night, the public address horns can be heard up to 6 miles away and the 130watt horns can be heard up to 10 miles away.
The second image shows the control panel with the light switches, horn and PA controls (the siren is permanently disabled by law). And YES the L/R button is labeled "Missiles" and the button on the other end does say "FIRE". Sorry but as yet The Department of Homeland Security has not authorized vehicles like mine to carry missiles. But I'm ready for when they do, sometimes the air horns just aren't loud enough for some drivers.
The third image shows the sensor package. They are all mounted to the board and bungeed to the truck bed. As I said before, this has been tested to 90mph with no indications of it trying to leave the vehicle. The anemometer/wind vane are secured to the stake hole and held up with a steel beam. Also bungeed for added securing. The wind vane is accurate if I park the truck pointing north, and that does happen sometimes. The wireless sending unit is in a waterproof bag secured to the bungees under the wind sensors.
Next picture shoes the main RF antennas (red/HF and the other is 2m/440, the 6m is on the other side) and the Wind sensors.
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Inside the ******pit [goofy] The equipment installed is for Amateur Radio HF 160meters-6meters all modes, 2meter and 440Mhz FM and APRS (a GPS tracking/messaging system using amateur radio and the internet). There is an FRS radio installed as well, when needed. The computer is a surplus Panasonic Toughbook in a docking station under the passenger seat, the keyboard and monitor hook to that and can be pulled out when the seat is needed. The weather instruments are a rebuilt Davis Wireless Weather Monitor II, I have found a datalogger for it too.
There are several GPS units, one for the computer (garmin), one for navigation (tomtom) and a backup for navigation (tomtom). All this is for immediate deployment during any disaster. And for longer needs there are also several "GO" boxes that get tossed in the back for emergencies, with two folding tables, two folding chairs, a 10x10ft canopy with anchors, several battery boxes, an HF rig for all modes and bands and several larger antennas. A 48foot aluminum portable antenna mast is also part of the setup. Several tarps, ropes, blankets, air mattresses and plenty of water containers.
If need be, this truck can go to a disaster, find the high ground and be setup communicating in minutes. In an hour or two with help the rest of the equipment can be setup and with someone making supply runs we can maintain this station for as long as it's needed.
Fun Ain't it!? And because we could, we have an ordained minister and Druid available for services if called for.
Doc
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat "mobile" wantabees . . .
OK, finally some pictures. It's all jerryrigged, and it's not pretty, but it works!
;) I'm sorry, but you are going to get a visit from a comparatively obscure branch of Santa's Workshop: The adult toy equalization board police. . . . You have way too many toys in that one truck!! [lol]
All on a nice little 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie with 160,000 miles on it and a nice little 5.9liter V8 engine (35 gallon gas tank and a range of about 25 miles in low 4WD).
;) What kind of gas mileage did you expect? Probably over half the power of your engine is just going to the generator to power all those electronic goodies!! [biggrin]
The second image shows the control panel with the light switches, horn and PA controls (the siren is permanently disabled by law). And YES the L/R button is labeled "Missiles" and the button on the other end does say "FIRE". Sorry but as yet The Department of Homeland Security has not authorized vehicles like mine to carry missiles. But I'm ready for when they do, sometimes the air horns just aren't loud enough for some drivers.
;) Well I certainly hope that the Department Of Homeland Security does see the wisdom in arming your truck soon. I'm all too well aware of drivers for whom sirens do not seem to apply to them and . . . . I'm most anxious for the principles of natural selection to be applied in a manner that shall we say would usher them to a state of being suitable for their mentality! ::)
In the meantime, my poor wagon will continue to spend most of her time . . . . .safe in the garage!!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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What's this I hear about Santa? (I always keep the red and white hat in the truck)
Now you know why the truck is RED! And when I let Rudolf drive, it just flies!
The milage when it's not in low 4WD is about 19mpg on the highway. I don't have to drive 4WD very often and then it's usually in High 4WD which gets about 8-10mpg. City driving gets about 15mpg. That's with the 36inch tires. When I buy my next set of tires, I'll be putting on a smaller size, about 30 inch this time. According to Goodyear, that will improve my milage substantially by as much as 5mpg, I can live with that.
I'm also using all sorts of fuel enhancements, you know, STP, fuel injector cleaners, synthetic oils, pixie dust. The usual. It does better at high altitudes too.
Doc
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Howdy Doc!
;) Oh yeah, so you want an MPG war huh! [biggrin]
The milage when it's not in low 4WD is about 19mpg on the highway. I don't have to drive 4WD very often and then it's usually in High 4WD which gets about 8-10mpg. City driving gets about 15mpg. That's with the 36inch tires. When I buy my next set of tires, I'll be putting on a smaller size, about 30 inch this time. According to Goodyear, that will improve my milage substantially by as much as 5mpg, I can live with that.
Well, I've have you know that back in 1968 my Dad thought that our wagon (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette_V8_Buick_signature.gif) wasn't doing as well for gas mileage as it was supposed to. He wrote: "better complain to the dealer." Thanks to that vigorous complaint . . . the gas mileage remained stubbornly the same!! :(
Just started a quest for better gas mileage that has taken the better part of a 1/2 a decade. Detailed in part in: The grand adventures of a trusty "billy-goat" Wagon! (http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?250765-The-grand-adventures-of-a-trusty-quot-billy-goat-quot-Wagon!)
So now it falls upon me to renew the quest for better gas mileage . . . and I just might succeed even beating your truck . . . . .
Although it is going to take one of these:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Biquette%27s%20new%20engine/Assembled%20views-2.JPG)
and one of these:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette%20200-4R%20tranmission.jpg)
and . . .
When I buy my next set of tires, I'll be putting on a smaller size, about 30 inch this time.
And ya' know this is going to cost a whole lot more than a new set of tires . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/sad-smiley.png)
Ya' know . . . you can get yourself into a real can of worms by just trying to be a good son!! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/can_of_worms_emoticon.jpg)
I now return to you do your regularly scheduled mobile weather station programming!! ;D
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Very Pretty that! My engine isn't nearly that clean [lol2] Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed [sweat2]
Doc
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat internal combustion art collectors . . .
Very Pretty that! My engine isn't nearly that clean [lol2] Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed [sweat2]
Don't remind me of how beautiful it is!! :o
I've gotten more than one suggestion to put it under glass and display it as art!! [cheer]
The only problem with that idea is that . . . my poor wagon would still need an engine and . . . . the camshaft is getting more and more worn out! :(
So sooner or later . . . this engine better darn well actually power the car . . . . . and then . . . .
How on earth do I keep it that clean!?!?!?! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/confused_do_no.gif)
Alas, spent most of the day trying to rally the troops for the engine installation and . . . . it ain't going to be as easy as it looks and . . . . it doesn't look easy!! [banghead]
Oh well, the trouble one can get oneself into!! [goofy]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat internal combustion art collectors . . .
Very Pretty that! My engine isn't nearly that clean [lol2] Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed [sweat2]
Alas, spent most of the day trying to rally the troops for the engine installation and . . . . it ain't going to be as easy as it looks and . . . . it doesn't look easy!! [banghead]
Oh well, the trouble one can get oneself into!! [goofy]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
Well first you have to get the old engine out, just hook some long chains to it, attach them to a large sturdy tree and put the car in reverse, back up real fast and out she comes [rockon]
Putting the new one in, that's up to you then [woohoo]
And today I got everything to work on the weather station!!!!
Doc
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat "short-order mechanics" . . . . [biggrin]
Well first you have to get the old engine out, just hook some long chains to it, attach them to a large sturdy tree and put the car in reverse, back up real fast and out she comes [rockon]
Uh, now that you mention it . . . . . there is empirical evidence for this in this You Tube Video: http://youtu.be/e5MZcxZdZdw (http://youtu.be/e5MZcxZdZdw)
However, I wouldn't try that on my car!! :o
Putting the new one in, that's up to you then [woohoo]
Tell me about it!! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/sad-smiley.png)
And today I got everything to work on the weather station!!!!
Congrats!! [tup]
You'll have to snap a few more pictures and we all can't wait for you to try it out in a severe thunderstorm!! [thunder]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Well, here are the last of the pictures. I got everything properly mounted so that I can see out the windshield, (a little important). Everything is set up so that I have to pull over to look at the screens. Don't want to be looking at a screen when I'm supposed to be driving. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bad weather day for Indiana. Either that, or the heat will cause it to dissipate before it does us any good. But I will be out in it if it get's bad. The data logger was damaged and they are sending me a new one direct from Davis, so I won't be logging any of the weather quite yet. And I do have a camera on the truck, but it doesn't hook to the computer direct. Maybe later. Once of our guys has built a remote pan and tilt mount for a small camera placed on the roof of his truck, but it also doesn't hook into the computer. We'll figure something out. And yes that's Marvin the Martian in the window, I do his voice pretty well most of the time.
Should be loads of fun!
Doc
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Well, here are the last of the pictures.
Having a particularly crazy day so just a quick: looks cool! [rockon]
Tomorrow is supposed to be a bad weather day for Indiana. Either that, or the heat will cause it to dissipate before it does us any good. But I will be out in it if it get's bad.
Well, if you do, be safe!
And yes that's Marvin the Martian in the window, I do his voice pretty well
Is that so, well then lets have you audition . . . .
Marvin to Bugs Bunny: "That's an interplanetary flying space saucer - we are going to Mars in it."
Bugs to Marvin: "We?!?!?!"
Let us know when you'll be expanding your horizons to check out the weather on Mars!! [lol2]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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I think we have several weather type satellites orbiting Mars right now, and they do have meteorologists working on the Martian weather. Kinda important for any future manned missions to Mars. Maybe we can get a WeatherCat system up and running on Mars too!
I tried to do a recording of my Marvin voice. But it's gone, I sound like a bad Kermit the Frog now, the chemotherapy drugs did a number on my voice, it's all gravely now.
Our local weather did just what I said it was going to do. It was hot and all of the storms went east of us. They had some rain east and in Ohio, but nothing in the central part of Indiana and lots of lightning, we lost a bunch of stations due to getting hit. And since Indianapolis had nothing, I didn't go out into it.
We're still ready to have fun at a moments notice though!
Doc
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Howdy Doc and WeatherCat fans, [cat]
Racing through the forums here between various troubles . . . .
However, this snippet I just cannot resist:
I tried to do a recording of my Marvin voice. But it's gone, I sound like a bad Kermit the Frog now, the chemotherapy drugs did a number on my voice, it's all gravely now.
Said in a suitable voice of Marvin: "I'm not angry, just terribly, terribly hurt!!" [lol]
Grin and bear it!! [biggrin]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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[sweat2] thanks
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Well, winter is on it's way and I've been working on getting my truck ready for it. I've reinstalled all of the radios and computer monitor/keyboard and weather station so that I can once again have a passenger if necessary. It's all very stable now since I found a nice (and cheap) gamber/johnson computer mount for the monitor and keyboard and revised the mount for the radio heads. It's all very nice now. I can see without any problems, but I can also fold down the monitor if needed. Here are some pics of the current installation. Still looking for a good place to mount the Davis Monitor II (wireless no less and I did get a datalogger for it, it does work with my laptop, but not with the PC and APRS).
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Howdy Doc!
Yup, very impressive!! [tup]
Just one thing. Does the truck drive itself now? There hardly seems any room left for . . . . the driver!! ;D
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
P.S. Today, I finally seems to have located a radiator that will work for my trusty wagon, so one step closer to having . . . . mobility to observe the weather!! [mostlysunny]
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Indeed, totally impressive! Is there a switch there marked 'Missiles'???? [biggrin]
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Not quite ready for autonomous driving yet. Plus I like to drive! Mostly, I need to keep the stuff out of my lap and away from me when I'm driving and not in a position to be cooked by the suns heat. So far so good there. I'm still working on where to hang the three microphones that are there. And possibly another one soon. Working on that.
I've got to take all the pointy stuff off tomorrow so that I can get it all washed and pretty for a demonstration on Saturday. Plus getting the fluids changed/topped off and lubed too. But by Saturday it should be ready for winter.
For those Scouters out there, I'll be working JOTA on the 20th using the Callsign WD9BSA, so if you are participating, look for us!
And as for the question about the Missiles button, yep, and there's the FIRE button on the other side. I just hate having an unlabeled switch there, so it's there until something needs it. Until then, just think of it as an ICBMD. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Dodge, running around with a six pack and a Polaris [goofy][woohoo]
Next thing to work on will be getting mobile wifi working, that's being problematic at the moment. Still working on it.
Doc
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[banghead]
Well, almost, that's not my truck! [cheer] But the nice nearly new Government Surplus, nearly free, Panasonic monitor suddenly, with malice but no warning, released all of it's magic blue smoke. I tried to put the smoke back in, but found out that the magic smoke leaves a magic residue all over the insides, and the magic residue is conductive thus shorting out many other circuits. Fortunately, I have a backup monitor and put it in use. All is much more better now [biggrin]
Doc
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Howdy Doc and Mobile weather tracking fans,
Well, almost, that's not my truck! [cheer] But the nice nearly new Government Surplus, nearly free, Panasonic monitor suddenly, with malice but no warning, released all of it's magic blue smoke.
Certainly glad that nothing more serious happened. . . . . . cuz sometimes . . it does!! :o
However, . . . . I thought you were setting up a first-class mobile weather station. Government Surplus monitor!?! ::)
For all you know, this monitor may have been assigned to the budget office . . . . . Over there, they need lots of smoke and mirrors!! [lol2]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
P.S. By the way, fans of da' trusty wagon may like to know I have been keeping myself busy modifying the dash to accept air conditioner vents. The center panel has been modified and the next challenge is to cut the holes for the outer two vents. The latest hope is that the engine swap will happen in December. December is a slow time in the automobile repair business because people are too busy merry-making.
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Yea thanks [goofy], in Indiana, specially with OUR state government, we have to deal with a lot of smoke and mirrors. But there were pallets full of these taken out of service, some of them had never been installed, and I got to pick and choose, the last one I bought was only $20 with the gamber/johnson monitor/keyboard bracket and the monitor and keyboard. So I'm not out much, that's why I got two of them. [bounce]
The weather station is working very well. The rain sensor died again, seems that I need to seriously reinforce the reed switch, they do not take to vibration well it would seem. It's a low priority according to the weather service, so I'm not in a hurry at the moment. The winter weather kinda keeps me from working on the outside of the truck in the driveway [freeze]
But next month should be a great deal of winter fun! [cold1] First of the month we have a deep woods trail marathon which will run no matter the weather, as long as the runners can run, the only thing that will stop it would be deep snow, and that's not going to happen this far south! [snow]
And then, in January, barring me breaking my ankle again like I did last year, we have the Purdue Orienteering Clubs main event, three days of Orienteering fun (for them). Take a few hundred people, backpacking in the forrest, looking for waypoints to get a paper punched, nothing electronic allowed, no gps, no radio, no cellphone, no ipad, no iphone. The only equipment they are allowed are their survival supplies, I think a flairgun, food, cooking equipment, a map and a compass. They run day and night till they are done, or the three days are done. My group is there for safety, we man the fire stations, several camps, and then we patrol the forest fire roads and such (my job) looking for people dropping out. It's really great fun. I'm hoping for snow, just bought a new set of mukluks to keep the feet warm and me upright on the ice [woohoo]
Once it get's dark, I'll get taking a few breaks and running 160meter mobile for the hams out there, either that or I'll be too tired and I'll [cold]
Or I could just set fire to the truck again to keep warm?
Sounds like the wagon is coming along nicely!
Doc
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Great stuff Doc! Thanks for posting.
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[cold] Here we are in Indiana and Summer has changed to Winter again, fall just sorta falls by the wayside as usual.
Things have been very busy with the Emergency Communications/Command/Disaster Response Truck.
The Weather station is gone, at least gone until I can replace the wind sensors. Do you know what happens when a Davis Wind sensor has a confrontation with a tree at any speed in the forest? The anemometer looses it's cups first and the wind vane redeploys without a parachute, leaving wires dangling and broken housings. Leaving only the instrument package only. I was just about to redesign the weather mast to allow better access to the truck bed when it happened.
Cost concerns and other requirements have since kept the weather station offline in the truck, I still have the instrument package hooked up for barometer/hygrometer and temperature readings, but that's all for now. I've been conversing with Davis about installing a more "armored" wind sensor from a third party, but so far they aren't being much help. I know the specs on their sensors now very well and I think I may be able to modify one of my military sensors for this use. If it will survive underwater in a submarine, it should survive the Hoosier National Forest, we'll see.
In the meantime, requirements have been changing for what is expected of us. Add search and rescue to our list of things we may be called for. So I just finished rebuilding the roof rack with the addition of a punched out square steel tube to hold the new accessories. Six new LED offroad lights, each 24 watts and my gods are they bright. Two forward, two to the back and one for each side. Turn on all of them, and I bring you daylight in the woods at night. But I now can see when I'm backing up and when I'm on those fire trails, I can see much better than before.
I also got very lucky and acquired two more items, a nice 1993 Dodge Dakota truck bed (the back half of the truck, the front half was burned away in a fire). Nicely converted into a little trailer, with big tires and heavy duty suspension. On the front of that was added an old 1978 ONan 4kw gas generator. I'm working on getting the genny up to spec, it seems to be missing a fuel pump, once I replace that, it should be 100%. Or close I hope.
Why? Well, I do like camping, and I'm having bariatric surgery in a month and will be loosing a lot of weight and once again I will be able to go camping again. There are several companies who make tents for truck beds and my wife bought me one for our anniversary, add a large air mattress to the bed and it's very comfy. Sleeps two nicely. In the winter, I'll add an electric blanket to help with keeping warm [sun2] [bed] With the addition of a small triangular cargo box to the front, things should making camping out very nice in the future.
It's been suggested that I put the weather station on a shelf behind the generator. But that won't work, the heat from the generator and the vibration would through the weather reading off too much. As part of this setup, I have a 47 foot radio antenna mast that I can put up, this will also be used for a fixed weather station from time to time once the sensors have been replaced. Should be fun.