El cheapo weather station.

[Spanrz (Brett)]

Hi Guys.
Read this thread with great interest a while ago. Finally got my weather station, its from Jaycar.
It very simliar to the station you guys refer to (WH1080/1081)
It's a Digitech XC0348. Sticker on the back says it works on the 433 mhz (other frequencies are for other countries)

It also has the same quirks as some of you guys have had.

1.Tested the rain gauge, works, but display unit wont let me reset the amount.

2.It works, it reads the wireless perfect, however it just wont connect to the PC.
Both on XP and Vista systems, with different weather software (as you guys have tried) and still it won't recognize the USB feature.
Usually when you connect the USB, you get a "new device connected".
Nada, zip, zilch (both systems).

Have you guys figured anything on how and why the USB doesn't connect?
Hunch is the USB cable, but unsure if it's the Display unit that's causing it.

I have the latest EasyWeather software (6.1).

EDIT:
Just tried and found the Weather Display software worked after mucking around with the settings. Direct connection worked (??) as you guys have stated.
Weird, as the display doesn't show up on the PC, it's more the Software looks for the Weather unit, instead of the PC looking for the unit/unit lookng for the PC.

"Easy Weather" will not connect (still), assuming there is still a few bugs to work out. As Weather Display does..... So it's definately a "software" issue and who coded the software.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

i would reinstall "easyweather" and try again

you need easyweather to be workable to change some settings on the console

geoff

[Spanrz (Brett)]

What I thought was software, might not have been. I know I got a reading of some sort through Weather Display software.

However it had said "Data Quality" is green and "Data Received" is red.
All different configs, no good.
Tried a brand new USB cable, no good. Tried another computer, no good.

Starting to think the display is faulty(??).

Do you guys get the following:
1. Clicking sound (relay activated) when connecting the usb to the PC/Display? Mine does
2. Does Windows pop up "USB device connected", when fitting the USB cable? Mine doesn't.

Re-installed Easy Weather software, no good, same. (Not connected)

Might take the unit back tomorrow, if all else fails tonight.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Supposedly the Digitech XC0348 is a rebranded WS-1081

Originally Posted by Spanrz

Do you guys get the following:
1. Clicking sound (relay activated) when connecting the usb to the PC/Display? Mine does
2. Does Windows pop up "USB device connected", when fitting the USB cable? Mine doesn't.

I have a WH-1091
1. Does click.
2. No pop-up. It might have done so the first time it was plugged in.

[Spanrz (Brett)]

OK, the display unit was dodgy.
Unknown reason, but a new display connected the first instant. Windows popped up with the "USB Device Connected".
Jaycar swapped the display without a problem.

Happy days

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Hi all does anyone know the conversion of the Barometric pressure fron Sea level.

Say if this Oregon Sceintific was saying 995 Hpa then you have to add a specific number to it to compensate for your altitude.

Does anyone know this amount per hunder feet.

Jeez i hope i,m on the right path here.

Cheers Kev.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Kevnool

Hi all does anyone know the conversion of the Barometric pressure fron Sea level.

Say if this Oregon Sceintific was saying 995 Hpa then you have to add a specific number to it to compensate for your altitude.

Does anyone know this amount per hunder feet.

Jeez i hope i,m on the right path here.

I just looked up the pressure at the nearest BOM weather station (less than 20Km away), took the value from mine, and did the subtraction.

[Kevnool (Kev)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

I just looked up the pressure at the nearest BOM weather station (less than 20Km away), took the value from mine, and did the subtraction.

Yeah no worries about that but the chart ive seen somewhere and cant put my finger on it thx anyway.

Cheers Kev.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Kevnool

Yeah no worries about that but the chart ive seen somewhere and cant put my finger on it thx anyway.

Cheers Kev.

This looks to be close for heights up to about 1600m

pressure(millibars) = 1013.77*0.999879224^altitude(metres )

http://www.digitaldutch.com/atmoscalc/

for a better version.

[Robert9 (Robert)]

Hi all,

Been reading through your posts with much interest as wife has offered to buy me a weather station for my up-coming birthday. Note that most seem to have the WH1080/1081, and also note that many seem to have problems.

Currently listed on eBay is a new model, WH2081, with an improved display - an "Auto fluoro backlight". HAs anyone had any experience with this model?

Also available is a unit from Oz Plaza,"Pro Wireless Touch Screen Weather Station PC USB Pen 91"

which also boasts an "Improved screen" and touch sensitive.
I think the displays are about the same size - 7", but would be interested in any comments on these units please.

Interestingly, the price on these units has come down below the $100 mark. Probably a reflection on the improved Ozzie Dollar (and not before time!)

I see this has been an on-going discussion over a number of years. How much longer can it go?

Robert

[watcher05]

Yes, this thread has been going for quite sometime. I suppose people like you and I keep posting to it, it may keep going for several more years.

I just purchased the: "Pro Wireless Touch Screen Weather Station PC USB Pen 91"

Hopefully it works out well and take it from there. However, they seem to be nameless brands, although the previous company you mentioned does say the manufacter but you go to their site and doesn't list this product??? Hmmmm.

We'll see.

Cya

Originally Posted by Robert9

Hi all,

Been reading through your posts with much interest as wife has offered to buy me a weather station for my up-coming birthday. Note that most seem to have the WH1080/1081, and also note that many seem to have problems.

Currently listed on eBay is a new model, WH2081, with an improved display - an "Auto fluoro backlight". HAs anyone had any experience with this model?

Also available is a unit from Oz Plaza,"Pro Wireless Touch Screen Weather Station PC USB Pen 91"

which also boasts an "Improved screen" and touch sensitive.
I think the displays are about the same size - 7", but would be interested in any comments on these units please.

Interestingly, the price on these units has come down below the $100 mark. Probably a reflection on the improved Ozzie Dollar (and not before time!)

I see this has been an on-going discussion over a number of years. How much longer can it go?

Robert

[acropolite (Phil)]

FWIW I started this thread back in March 2008, my weather station is still going strong, the only problems I've had have been caused by spiders building nests on the Outdoor unit.

[Robert9 (Robert)]

That's good to know Phil. My concern is mainly on the robustness of the outdoor unit. What model did you get? If its only spiders I need to worry about, that'll be fine. If the wind gets at it so the arms and legs fly off, then that's a big problem. I also have read that touch screens might not be all that crash hot. I have a little HP M130 organiser which has a touch screen. Its starting to give me problems now.
Watcher05, I'll be interested to hear your comments on it's build when your unit arrives.
Cheers,
Robert

PS Welcome to the group Watcher 05 - note this is your 1st post.

[snowyskiesau]

My unit still going or at least part of it is. Rainfall and wind speed stopped working but wind direction is still OK
Just recently, it stopped updating the readings for a short while and when it resumed, the minimum temperature was -500 degrees and the maximum 900 degrees. !

It could be batteries as it's been running on the same set for nearly 12 months.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Robert

What model did you get?

The WS1081 model. Mine initially didn't display wind direction, I removed the PCB under the vane and ran a magnet past the reed switches, seems they were a little reluctant to actuate initially; they haven't missed a beat since.

[Robert9 (Robert)]

I can't remember whether it was last summer or the one before when the temperature at home reached 48.7C. That was plenty hot enough. 900C, wow!
Does seem like mechanical problems can happen often, though Phil your W1081 unit seems like it was a good buy, so I'll probably opt. for the latest version, the W2081. Nevertheless, watcher05, when your unit arrives I would be interested in your assessment.

Thanks for all your your comments guys, much appreciated.
Robert

[watcher05]

Hi Rob/all,

I received the new unit today and have it setup in a temp position out the backyard.

All seems to be working but when I followed the instructions and keept referring to this dam icon . It says this will display when connection between the transmitter and the LCD has been successful. Well, it did take me over an hour to work out that I was receiving the relative info without the icon, and all seems to be working as it should (although without this icon activated?????). Can anyone out there help me out with this??

Anyways, all else seems to be going okay. We are getting rain here on the north coast (Lismore) and rain is registering and all the other information is there as well (wind, pressure and direction etc).

Have connected it to "cumulus" and some of the info seems to be different to the LCD. Not sure............will play around with it all when I have a chance.

Overall it looks like a good unit, and will see/update in the coming weeks.

thanks Heaps _ Lyall

Originally Posted by Robert9

I can't remember whether it was last summer or the one before when the temperature at home reached 48.7C. That was plenty hot enough. 900C, wow!
Does seem like mechanical problems can happen often, though Phil your W1081 unit seems like it was a good buy, so I'll probably opt. for the latest version, the W2081. Nevertheless, watcher05, when your unit arrives I would be interested in your assessment.

Thanks for all your your comments guys, much appreciated.
Robert

[Robert9 (Robert)]

Hi Lyall,

Glad to hear that your unit arrived safely and seems to be functioning OK. Sorry I can't help with the icon problem.
Do you have another rain-gauge against which you can check the rainfall recorded by the instrument? Also another barometer? These would make for interesting comparisons.
Structurally, do you find the instrument sturdy enough to survive the weather conditions it is supposed to be able to measure eg. wind velocities? Pictures I have seen suggest it might be a bit flimsy, but pictures and real life are usually very different things.

Cheers,
Robert

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Robert9

Also another barometer?

Look down this thread. There is an item for setting the relative pressure based on your altitude and the absolute pressure. My offset is about 14hpa.

[Robert9 (Robert)]

My unit has arrived from OzPlaza. Interestingly, the postage label said the sender was NEW AIM P/L ibn North Melbourne.
The "Pen 91" is a WH1091 unit. Specs. are different to as advertised. Rain sensitivity is 0.3mm, not 0.1mm and range is 100m not 150m.
I have one problem - no reading from the anenometer of wind-speed. Anyone had this problem?
Robert