Replacing that #$%@@#@ Lacrosse

[Blicj11]

WeatherLink comes with whatever Davis DataLogger you purchase. If you get a Vantage Pro2, you won't need to run WeatherLink for any reason. But Davis doesn't sell just the logger; you have to purchase the software too even though you will not use it for anything. I think I read on the forum somewhere that there are some drivers on the WeatherLink CD that have to be installed on your Mac before it can communicate with the Davis Vantage Vue console. This is not the case with the Vantage Pro2. However, nobody has to run WeatherLink for anything if they are using WeatherCat.

Happy New Year.

[WCDev]

For the USB logger, install the latest SiliconLabs drivers from their site:
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx
V3.1 is current.

For the IP version of the logger, you'll need it's IP address to enter into WeatherCat - more info in the WeatherCat manual found in the Documentation folder of the WeatherCat download, from it's 'Help' menu or on-line at http://data.trixology.com/downloads/WeatherCatUserManual.pdf
Page 60 of the current manual.

[elagache]

Dear Seth and WeatherCat hardware gurus,

So if I go with the Weatherlink IP, do I need the Weatherlink subscription?  Or will Weathercat just find the station?

As far as I know the WeatherLink subscription is a completely different service.  You just have to decide if it is of any value to you or not.

I don't have a WeatherLink IP station, but from what I've heard, WeatherCat cannot "find" it automatically.  The WeatherLink IP doesn't have any sort of device recognition protocol like Apple's Bonjour.  So you need to find out what address the WeatherLink IP device has on your home network.

There are instructions on how to do this in the WeatherCat manual starting on page 61.  Basically you need to scan your home network to find out what Davis had set your WeatherLink IP to.  Depending on your home network, you might have to reassign the IP address because it isn't accessible within your home private network.

It is all relatively easy to do.  However, it does represent some additional hassle factor over the USB data-logger.  You might want to ask yourself how much additional hassle you want . . . . . for most of us, ..  we are already way over our hassle quota as it is!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[slavetothelight]

Bought a Vantage Pro 2 and a Weatherlink IP.  Let's see what happens when it gets here.

A little apprehensive all of a sudden about where to site the ISS.  The LaCrosse allowed me to put the rain gage out in the open and the thermo hygro under an awning.  Not really something I can do anymore; wherever the rain gage is, the thermo hygro is.

Here's the roof.  Opinions?  The anemometer is on a piece of 8' conduit attached to one of the balcony beams; the crossbeams sticking out from the roof are plenty big enough for the ISS.  I'm tempted to do that but second-guessing myself.



Also worth noting - all those trees got pruned way back two days ago? except the one directly to the northwest (which cools the deck a delightful amount so I'm not too upset by that).

Thanks for all your help, guys.

[elagache]

Dear slavetothelight and WeatherCat station installation specialists,

Bought a Vantage Pro 2 and a Weatherlink IP.  Let's see what happens when it gets here.

A little apprehensive all of a sudden about where to site the ISS.  The LaCrosse allowed me to put the rain gage out in the open and the thermo hygro under an awning.  Not really something I can do anymore; wherever the rain gage is, the thermo hygro is.

Well, you haven't answered the 64-dollar question as far as ISS location.  Is this a FARS Vantage Pro-2 with the built-in fan?  If so, then you don't need to worry too much about where you locate it, although I think it is preferable to avoid putting the thermometer just above a roof no matter what.

If you haven't, then yes you are in a bit of a pickle.  One option if you can spring for the extra expense is to buy a second Thermometer-Hydrometer unit like this Davis model 6382:

http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/weather_product.asp?pnum=06382

That's how I managed to keep my thermometer-hydrometer under a deck to serve as my radiation shield.  How I did this is described in this thread:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=969.msg8478#msg8478

An important thing to keep in mind is that the rain gauge needs to be at least somewhat accessible because junk will accumulate in it that will interfere with its operation.

If you didn't get a FARS Vantage Pro-2 and can still return it, exchanging what you've bought for the FARS version is another option to consider.  Once more it is another chunk of change, but in exchange, you avoid a lot of installation headaches.  Your time and effort is worth something also.

Hope that's some food to chew on. Let us know how you resolve this!

Cheers, Edouard 

[slavetothelight]

Eduard - fortunately I don't have to put it on the roof.  A better shot, now that it's daytime:



Those are the crossbeams that hold *up* the roof.  Where the rain gage currently sits is within reach when I'm on a stepladder (without having to get on the roof of the condo).  The thermo-hygro is in shade 95% of the day; it faces northwest and is pretty well shaded.  If I put the ISS where the rain gage is now, it'd be in shade all day, which might not be the greatest for the solar panel but it wouldn't get any hotter than it does under the deck.  And under the deck is downright pleasant.  If there's a breeze anywhere, there's a breeze here.  I'm not so worried about ventilation.  But then, I *did* ask so I'm not iron-clad in my assertions.

[Steve]

Seth,

As Edouard noted, you can purchase a second temp/humidity sensor. Another option is to purchase a spare $15 rain collector base. Then you can separate your rain collector from the rest of the ISS. You'd also need to extend the cable back to the ISS.

http://www.archertradingpost.com/atp/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_6_9&products_id=65

[elagache]

Hi Seth, Steve, and WeatherCat station installation experts,

Steve's suggestion makes more sense unless you find having a second temperature reading potentially interesting.  Also, you could give up on using the solar power aspect of the ISS.  Actually, solar power is only used when available and a Lithium 123 battery provides power otherwise.  So if it makes the installation easier and you can live with the hassle of replacing the battery every 4 months or so, that's an option. 

If you need to extend any of the cables, you can use the splice kits I used that should still be available from Davis.

Cheers, Edouard