El cheapo weather station.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Mine's still going strong, I bought the first one, in fact I've not even had to replace the batteries in either unit, not bad since I created this thread on 21/3/2008.

[snowyskiesau]

Mine was working but has developed the problem where wind speed causes the rainfall total to increase.
The original one I bought was returned for this same problem.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by astroron

My touch screen has been frozen for months but the Data is still going through to Cumulus and onto weather underground

When I came back off my Trip the touch screen worked for on day and now it is completely frozen in the date and resetting anything, but all the Data is still going through to the computer, Cumulus and Weather Underground:
Geoff(GTB) are you still using Cumulus,if so have you upgraded it?
Cheers Ron

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

yes Ron

still using cumulus - quite a few improvements now

I am using the latest 1.8.9 - build 910 version

this one lets you put in a manual observation - with pretty icons even

http://www.gtbastrowise.com.au/weath...ulus/index.htm

geoff

[sheeny (Al)]

I've had mine for about 18 months or so.

The main console has a few problems (failure of the touch screen mainly) but the data keeps coming through to the PC fine. Still going on original batteries too. Oh yeah... I've had a few problems with spiders setting up camp in the rain gauge. The buggers tie up the tippler... it must keep them awake on rainy nights!

I've only been running Cumulus since December. Its the go though!

Al.

[astroron (Ron)]

Before I went away I dis-connected all my computer and weather station connections,but did not take the batteries out of the sender unit,I was amazed when I got back I re connected everything and the sender unit downloaded all the information for the last four months
A great little unit for the price even though the touch screen is frozen

[craig2 (Craig)]

Thanks for letting me know. All i have to do now is keep an open eye on EBay.

Cheers.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by craig2

Thanks for letting me know. All i have to do now is keep an open eye on EBay.

Cheers.

My WH-1091 should arrive tomorrow. $110 post free on e-bay ex Sydney.

[craig2 (Craig)]

I've got another question about these units. I see that they have a USB port on them so if they are wireless and you have a WIFI at home shouldn't they hook up to that or are they 2 different frequencies? I see this one is wireless
http://www.foshk.com/en/products/show.asp?id=59 but it uses a dongle

any insight would be great.

[rogerg (Roger)]

Originally Posted by craig2

I've got another question about these units. I see that they have a USB port on them so if they are wireless and you have a WIFI at home shouldn't they hook up to that or are they 2 different frequencies? I see this one is wireless
http://www.foshk.com/en/products/show.asp?id=59 but it uses a dongle

any insight would be great.

They're wireless only in the sense that they connect to the outdoor unit wirelessly. To download information to the computer you need to use the USB port. That one you link to is quite different and from the picture appears to have Bluetooth or something to connect to the PC.

[acropolite (Phil)]

I've got another question about these units. I see that they have a USB port on them so if they are wireless and you have a WIFI at home shouldn't they hook up to that or are they 2 different frequencies

There is more to wireless connectivity and Wi-Fi operation than simply the frequency.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

heh Ron !

i found cambroon

http://www.wunderground.com/auto/wxmap/

geoff

[astroron (Ron)]

Pretty Cool, Hay

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

the owl is there too !

and RB

how many more of you are there ?

geoff

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Good read all. I'm in the process of considering what weather station to get. Seems as though this one is fairly popular, probably due to price.

I just have a few concers/questions:

1) Is the screen contrast a real issue? I spoke to a seller on ebay and he said that he as sold over 1000 of these units and only about 2-3 people have complained about the contrast/brightness level. Does anyone have a photo of the base control which demonstrates the contrast problem?

2) The base unit can store 4080 bits of data. Once the memory is full, it overwrites the oldest data. The amount of time it can record varies according to how often you sample. The minimum is 5 mins. So does this mean it records/logs one single data point i.e. temperature, wind etc every 5 mins? I guess this isn't very good for wind measurements. If 5 mins is chosen, how long does it take to fill up the memory? For example, could I leave the unit to collect all day and it won't overwrite any data?

3) What is the sampling rate when connected to a PC? Does it do well to pick up bursts of wind gusts?

EDIT: ebay seller just informed me that even when the unit is connected to a PC, the sampling rate is still only what you set it to on the base unit i.e. it still records data in every 5 minutes because the PC just reads the recorded data in the memory in base station. Is this correct??

Originally Posted by GTB_an_Owl

just noticed

new model available
WH-1091

new screen plus looks like improved wireless distance

$115 + $20 postage

might bring down the price of the WH-1081 being offered at the moment

geoff

I also came across the WH-1091 which uses the same weather station and software as the WH-1081 (WS-1081). The 1091 base unit LCD is smaller (5.6" vs 7"), orientated vertically and comes with a stylus stick. While the 1091 is a newer model, it is cheaper than the 1081.

Does anyone have the 1091 model? Are there any issues with the contrast?

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

Hi Swannies

all the answers are here

http://sandaysoft.com/forum/

geoff

[swannies1983 (Dan)]

Thanks for that Geoff. So basically if you want to see realistic changes in wind, such as wind gusts, then this unit isn't really going to be good enough as it records/transmits data every 48 secs. Or do I have my thinking wrong? Does the unit record data continuously and then transmit this data every 48 secs OR does it just send instantaneous wind, temperature data etc once every 48 secs?

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

IMO a wireless weather station should transmit continuously
as does my Oregon
every 2 secs i believe
Data storage is a separate beast
for those with a taste for number crunching
as to what avail I don't know ?
there is NO control on weather

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

no - you will get wind gusts recorded Swannies - transmitted every 48 sec(if thats what the rate is)

actually, in Cumulus you can set what the period is for the transmit - well the record of it i think
we are not running a professional weather station here remember

if you want accuracy, you have to find the dollars for a Davis (or Oregon) unit
these Fine Offset units are a good first choice i reckon - you get to learn the ropes - and we can't all afford the top end stuff

i'm having a lot of fun with mine, and it's great to be able to see whats happening at home when i am away

geoff

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by swannies1983

Thanks for that Geoff. So basically if you want to see realistic changes in wind, such as wind gusts, then this unit isn't really going to be good enough as it records/transmits data every 48 secs. Or do I have my thinking wrong? Does the unit record data continuously and then transmit this data every 48 secs OR does it just send instantaneous wind, temperature data etc once every 48 secs?

As PM'd, for other people's info.

It has an average and a gust value. I haven't sat and watched it to see exactly how often the screen updates. Where it is located at the moment has too much wind shadow for proper readings. There are two lines on the graph - average and gust - and the gusts are up the 3 times the average.