Mobile Weather Station Project in the works.

[Doc]

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    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. 

It's always fun driving the northside of Indianapolis!

Doc

[elagache]

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

If I keep hearing stories like this - I'll never let my wagon out of the garage again!! 

 
Cheers, Edouard 

[Doc]

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.

[Doc]

Inside the ******pit  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

[elagache]

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!! 

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!! 

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 

[Doc]

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

[elagache]

Howdy Doc!

  Oh yeah, so you want an MPG war huh! 

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 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!

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:



and one of these:



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 . . . .


Ya' know . . . you can get yourself into a real can of worms by just trying to be a good son!!

I now return to you do your regularly scheduled mobile weather station programming!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Doc]

Very Pretty that!  My engine isn't nearly that clean    Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed 

Doc

[elagache]

Howdy Doc and WeatherCat internal combustion art collectors . . .

Very Pretty that!  My engine isn't nearly that clean    Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed 

Don't remind me of how beautiful it is!! 

I've gotten more than one suggestion to put it under glass and display it as art!!   

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!?!?!?!

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!!   

Oh well, the trouble one can get oneself into!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Doc]

Howdy Doc and WeatherCat internal combustion art collectors . . .

Very Pretty that!  My engine isn't nearly that clean    Maybe if we ever get any rain here I might get it washed 

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!!   

Oh well, the trouble one can get oneself into!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

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   

Putting the new one in, that's up to you then 

And today I got everything to work on the weather station!!!!

Doc

[elagache]

Howdy Doc and WeatherCat "short-order mechanics" . . . . 

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   

Uh, now that you mention it . . . . . there is empirical evidence for this in this You Tube Video: http://youtu.be/e5MZcxZdZdw

However, I wouldn't try that on my car!! 

Putting the new one in, that's up to you then 

Tell me about it!!

And today I got everything to work on the weather station!!!!

Congrats!!

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!!

Cheers, Edouard 

[Doc]

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

[elagache]

Well, here are the last of the pictures.

Having a particularly crazy day so just a quick: looks cool! 

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!! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[Doc]

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

[elagache]

Howdy Doc and WeatherCat fans, 

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!!" 

Grin and bear it!! 

Cheers, Edouard