Noobie Davis hardware question

[elagache]

Howdy xairbusdriver and WeatherCat station design consultants,

Great shot Edouard! I'll show her that! Here's one I just took to help her see (no pun intended, of course) how easily it could completely hidden from view!

The biggest problem now is to train the bird to fly around every time she goes outside...

  . . . . I dunno' but I think y'all are goin' about it . . . . da' hard way!  . . .

Actually, I have pretty much decided to mount the pole on the wall on the right-hand side of that upper story, "dog house" (just to the right of the bird's tail). From the street, only the pole and the anemometer will be visible. I think a 10 foot pole can still get the anemometer at least 6 feet above all the roof within ~7 feet and at least 4 feet above the highest peak to the SE.

That's exactly what I did.  I bought a 10 foot section of 1 inch galvanized steel pipe and then secured to a wooden bracket using "U" bolts.  Looking at your latest photo that is probably about the best data you are likely to get unless you want something monumental enough to get over the canopy of the nearby trees.

Question (May qualify as a dumb one!): Have any of you tried 'camouflaging' the pole; light blue/white/grey and maybe 'dull-coat', also

I wrapped my pole in bicycle tire inner-tube believe it or not to provide a cushion between the pipe and the wood bracket.  I didn't cover it the whole way, but that does definitely give it a flat invisible look on the section that was treated that way.  I double-checked the photos of that anemometer on the flag-pole and I was wrong about the assumption of a dark anodized coating.  Instead they painted the pole the same color as the house - dark brown.  That might not be a bad strategy for you.  At least if the pole is the same color as the house it will look like it belongs there instead of sticking out like the section of visible galvanized pipe at the top of my anemometer bracket.

If it would help, I could take pictures of my bracket to give you at least one approach to consider.

When you start thinking about actually spending money, definitely ask us about the dealers with the best prices.  Otherwise, you'll end up spending too much!

Glad things seem to be progressing!

Cheers, Edouard 

[xairbusdriver]

OK, spent a few hours comparing pricing, only on the interweb!!

Used five sites: RainmanWeather, Provantage, Scaled Instruments, Scientific Sales, WeatherShack, and Davis. That list indicates lowest to highest prices for the 6152 (wireless, non-FAR), 6332 Anemometer kit, WeatherLink S/W for Mac, plus lowest cost shipping (if any). Prices ranged from 652.48 to 995.00. The highest without including Davis was 871.85 (with "free" shipping!).

Until I joined here, Provantage is the only place I knew about. I've read good things about tech support from  Scaled Instruments and (I think) Scientific Sales in various threads. Really small price differences among the four lowest 'bidders': RainmanWeather, 652.48; Provantage, 669.25; Scaled Instruments, 671.30; Scientific Sales, 681.10. Scientific Sales claims to have a "Low Price Guarantee" but I don't see any actual link for an explanation. They also have a "Norton Shoppers Guarantee" which limits lower prices in 30 days and only at their own site , and "Norton" did more damage to Macs, in the past, with their "protection" software than most hackers/SPAMmers. In other words, I avoid "Norton" at all costs!

Opinions on these dealers? Any problems with any of them?

Thanks!

[elagache]

Dear xairbusdriver and WeatherCat bargain hunters,

Opinions on these dealers? Any problems with any of them?

I've been struggling with that "mellar-drama" in the other thread and ended up buying a lot of stuff from Scaled Instruments.  Ryan Wilhour, who owns and runs Scaled Instruments, has really stood behind me since I made my first purchase.  He also gave me some really helpful disassembly instructions so that I could pull off all the changes I made.  There would have to be a really big discount for me to not go back to Scaled Instruments.  The customer service from Scaled Instruments just can't be beat.

Cheers, Edouard 

[Blicj11]

I purchased from Rainman because they had the lowest prices and I was pleased with their service. I've never had to send anything back. I get all my tech support from Davis (excluding this forum). I put a lot of stock in Edouard's opinion (unless it has to do with buying bulk batteries from Herb).

[Bull Winkus]

I haven't bought anything in awhile, so any anecdotal advice I might offer is probably stale. However, if you ever need some batteries?

One source you may have overlooked is eBay, if you have the patience to wade through all the auctions. I have, on occasion, found good deals going down on the VP2. However, it was a while ago. Hang on? Let me check. ? ? ? ? Yep! Here's one!

Oops! Almost forgot the batteries! You're going to need at least one in about 6 months to 3 years, depending on weather and sunshine availability. ? Unless you're a tinkerer, like Edouard, then you might use them all in one week. 

 

[xairbusdriver]

Being the paranoid type, I tend to avoid eBay, although my wife has had several good purchases from that source. For anything over $25, I want a public name and address. Three of the dealers actually have lower prices on the 6152 hardware and have good reviews here, also. I'm probably too hard on some folks trying to make a living with eBay, but that's my problem.

You're going to need at least one in about 6 months to 3 years

I also look askance at predictions that are too detailed! The more precise, the less I trust them... that's one reason I usually turn off the TV "weathermen"! Besides, I've read some where about someone named "Herb" that gives away batteries? I think he may be in cahoots with the guy that sells some kind of highly educated feline (possibly a 'robotic' breed) that communicates with a Mac (probably via the mouse port) about the weather. We already have a cat, so I doubt we could use that feature...

[LesCimes]

You might take a look at Ambient Weather as well. Think that was where I ended up buying my VP2 some years ago. I haven't purchased anything from them since then. But I do include them in my price comparisons.

Concerning service, I always call Davis Instruments about problems. I've never tried to call the business from where I bought my equipment. However, it sounds like some of the businesses have been helpful, e.g. Elagache comments about Scaled Instruments.

[elagache]

Dear Herb, xairbusdriver, Michael, and WeatherCat bargain hunters,

Being the paranoid type, I tend to avoid eBay, although my wife has had several good purchases from that source. For anything over $25, I want a public name and address. Three of the dealers actually have lower prices on the 6152 hardware and have good reviews here, also. I'm probably too hard on some folks trying to make a living with eBay, but that's my problem.

I still prefer to buy things somewhere else than eBay if possible, but I have to admit there really good bargains and lots of things you can't get anywhere else.  My HO logging railroad has taken advantage of eBay and especially for parts for my assertive trusty wagon.

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=392.0

Even so I usually will go elsewhere for mainstream items.  The only exception is if I've had a good experience with a seller on eBay in the past.

If you can afford to pay a little more, I think you would be more comfortable with a more conventional business like Scaled Instruments.

Cheers, Edouard 

[xairbusdriver]

OK, another source! Although the Ambient Weather prices are not competitive (total cost is second highest, not counting Davis, of course!), there is a blurb that I haven't seen at the other sites. Apparently Davis made some "improvements" last year? Here's what the AW site mentions:

Our inventory has the improved rain cone design introduced in 2014. The changes include grip grooves, bird spikes, a new debris screen and the Davis logo

Not sure about the other stuff, but I'd sure like to have that Davis "logo"!

In the meantime, I think I might steal some ROHN engineering wall mounting designs. I'll use U-bolts instead of their strap steel, however. Angle iron is easy to find, Home Depot has 14 gauge available, as well all the other pieces. I also realized that I can mount the Anemometer Kit on the same pole since it is more accessible mounted on this wall. I'll still need to devise/build/buy some method of mounting the solar panel at an angle. It does not have the angle that comes with the 6152 unit; it's actually perpendicular to the horizon! The Sun, even at the Poles, is much higher that that! I'm ~ 35N... should be ~45 angle to the pole, I think.
[removed link to the now castly photobucket.com site]

...HO logging railroad...

OH NO!!! Another Model Railroading "nut"! When we built this house ~19 years ago, I had a small room designated as "The Layout Room"! Unfortunately, every time a flew a trip, SWMBO added some kind of box to the stash in there. Eventually, I got her to agree to relocate them... then our two Grand-Daughters and their Mother moved in with us (not to mention the Grand-Dog!). "My" room became their Den. Oh well, I still have a subscription to Trains, looking at Model Railroader just made me frustrated! I gave most of my tools and models to a good friend, kept the stuff that belonged to the JLC & E. Now I concentrate on my small fish pond (no expensive Koi, just colorful Shebunkins) and planning the weather station!

[Randall75]

Hi xairbusdriver
 You just need to shop around
I check with all top sellers and for my self I got the best deal at Scientific Sales but they all run specials so when you have the money saved up just go to each site and see who will give you the best deal




cheers
 

[xairbusdriver]

I agree, there's a summary of the prices I got at six different sites. Will probably order Saturday, after I verify the sites are supplying the 2014 hardware. If it is older, not-improved stuff, that may explain the price differences. Don't want to pay this years prices for last years model, even if the changes aren't significant. Gotta save some money for those batteries!

[Blicj11]

Sounds like you are getting close.

Yes, make sure your Davis is the most recent model with the anti-bird nesting spikes on the collector cup. They came out with that design a couple of months after I bought my most recent unit last year. Fortunately, there are enough trees around that the birds here aren't interested in the rain cup.

Sharp of you to pick up on the greatest improvement to Davis hardware in a decade - the addition of their logo on the collector cup. Who wouldn't pay extra for that?

Davis, Amazon and Ambient will always be the highest prices. Your other sources will always be relatively close to each other and are probably your best bet for saving enough to buy a 5-year supply of 3.0 volt batteries with something left over for the Mrs.

Let us know what you end up ordering and from which vendor. Have fun.

[Bull Winkus]

Sounds like you just about got it figured out, so I'll offer just one small piece of sage advice. When you go to set the anemometer, make sure you take a compass or have a fairly precise location for true north.

Just trying to save you another trip up and down that ladder.

Best,

 

[xairbusdriver]

make sure you take a compass or have a fairly precise location for true north

Good point! But in my hundreds of hours of planning, thinking, researching, over-thinking, and planning, I came up with a way for my buddies still flying to help me out. I'll ask one of them to schedule his arrival back in Memphis at a time I'll be on the roof. Then, I'll have him fly several racetracks with north/south legs directly over my house. Simple, no problems with compass deflections caused by the metal pole or the steel plates in my brain head! Of course, there is also the moss-on-the-north-side-of-a-tree method... or is it the south side... sounds like another search at DuckDuckGo!

[xairbusdriver]

After all the valuable help from you "guys", I decided purchase of a Davis Vantage Pro2 (6152 w/the Mac software) and the Anemometer Kit from <RainmanWeather>. I contacted them (Mr. Ingham) this morning to confirm they had the new version with the Davis logo, of course. His quick, positive response means he is either not very busy or highly customer oriented! I'll hope for the latter. I placed the order about 3:05pm. I just got confirmation that he's already had UPS come pick it up at 4:08pm (at least they've started tracking it)! I even realized they sold the 'patch kits' that add a layer of water-proofing to wall/roof mounting and ordered that only minutes after my main order. They saw my note and combined the two orders and deducted the extra shipping created by my not getting my act together after only 30 days of planning! I may need to visit Home Depot earlier than I planned!