My pending dilemma *looking for suggestions*

[jennajon]

After 18 good years of service, my Vantage Pro 2+ is beginning to show her age. I am considering saying goodbye to Davis completely and going with the Ambient WS-5000.
I am well aware this means leaving WeatherCat too, because the 5000 does direct upload to their Network and WU (and one other which escapes me at this writing).

There is an option for MicroSD card for storage of data. I like the idea of the new design, and I would be able to add a lightning detector and heating element for melting snow for a lesser price than what it would take to update the Davis.

But I have to admit it would break my heart to leave WeatherCat, and the additional sites to which I have been uploading information to for over 14 years.

I am respectfully asking all members to give their ideas, thoughts and reasons on this dilemma. I am drowning in information, and overwhelmed in attempting to make sense of what I might be able to do with the Davis to keep her going, or buying the new WS5000 and what might work to keep going with Weathercat.

Many thanks in advance to all. 

[Weatheraardvark]

Do what makes sense for you and what makes you happy.

[Blicj11]

All of us Davis users will sooner or later face the same dilemma. The advances in technology incorporated by other manufacturers look very promising compared to Davis. In addition, Davis doesn't have anyone on their tech support team who knows more about macOS than WeatherCatters. I recently looked at lightning detectors myself, and took another look at macOS alternatives to the Cat. For me, it boils down to WeatherCat. In my opinion, there isn't a better macOS alternative, even taking into account Stu's current circumstances with his day job. Therefore, for me, I choose WeatherCat, which means I stick with Davis. For now.

Best of luck, and please let us know what you decide.

[Weatheraardvark]

there isn't a lot of weather software that is solely dedicated with MACOSx.    the closest is WeatherDisplay.

Considering that most TV shows, have prop iMacs or laptops, why developers are not flocking to to the opportunity to develop software for the mac, I have not a clue.

Davis is a good system,  However you might want to look through the possible weatherhookups to your proposed station,  or even ask the Weathercat person about using the model you are proposing as being one more in a future edition.   

Have you considered the option of taking the data chip and directly downloading it into weather cat?

[elagache]

Dear Jenna, Weatheraardvark, Blick, and WeatherCat faithful,

After 18 good years of service, my Vantage Pro 2+ is beginning to show her age. I am considering saying goodbye to Davis completely and going with the Ambient WS-5000.
. . . . .

As other faithful WeatherCatters have already pointed out, we are all feeling this squeeze.  I'm not sure what happened at Davis, but the original founder must have been quite old when he sold the company.  There is no doubt that for the past decade or two, Davis Instruments was cruising along without much direction.

However, since the company has been sold, there has been a lot of innovation.  Clearly new life is being breathed into the company.  So you might need only to be a little patient before the next generation of Davis stations finally hits the market.  Exactly what is the mechanical status of your Vantage Pro 2 station?  Could you replace some components and buy yourself another year or two before making the switch?  Another possibility would be to have your station refurbished.  It would mean some data downtime, but that would reduce the maintenance costs and once more allow you to defer a station switch.

That's the strategy I'm following at the moment.

Do what makes sense for you and what makes you happy.

You just reminded me of my boss and mentor while I was working on Master's and PhD at U.C. Berkeley.  Mike Clancy was a lecturer at the computer science department and was a perfect image of the 1960s hippie - right down to the Birkenstock sandals he always wore.  One of his favor phrases was:

Do the right thing!

In a way it is an utterly silly and nonsensical thing to say, but Mike had such a sweet way of saying it that he made everybody happy - even if none of us were exactly sure what the "right thing" actually was in any given circumstances.

So thanks Weatheraardvark for the memories! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[jennajon]

To all Weathercatters and Davis devotees:

I have decided for the time being to go with WiFiLogger2 and just forget that rain collector--will use my Stratus to determine rainfall. Will do some cosmetic replacements *the front door* and hope she holds up for a few years more. I have made it thus far with melting snow and measuring, so that means I really do not NEED the heated rain collector whatsoever.

Moreover, it is precisely because of Weathercat and this forum that I will hang on. I have had the supreme pleasure of support from so many in this group, it would amount to heresy to leave now!

Many thanks to all who offered their thoughts. Not only does this decision make sense, but it makes me happy too!

[Blicj11]

I like your thinking and decision. WiFiLogger2 works very well according to Ryan at Scaled Instruments.