Altitude and Weather Gadgets

glennmac · Oct 19, 2001

I can see it coming: more Star Member gadgeteering.

Over in Forum Feedback Harv has been on an aggressive campaign to profile non-profilers. Then, in a PS, he suddenly asks billboe what altitude he is at. I believe this is a coded message that Harv is issuing to other Star Members to begin installing altimeters on tractors. It will probably involve magnets, welding, valves, air tools and digital photography.

I'm not going to do it. I have a Suunto Vector Wrist Computer, which includes an altimeter, thermometer, barometer and compass. I can just wrap it around my steering wheel or fel crossbar.

The front of my house is at 350' above sea level. My drive slopes up to the street, which is at 380'.

I wonder which TBN members live at the highest and lowest altitudes. Of course, this info is also useful for our profiles.

Von · Oct 19, 2001

Glenn,
I don't know what altitude I'm at, lend me your watch and I will let you know!

Bird · Oct 19, 2001

I used to know exactly what the elevation of my property was, but I've forgotten, and I'd have to go dig it out of a storage box to find out, but I do know the "normal" elevation of the lake is 424.5' and the top of the dam is 443 feet, and the water would go over the top of the dam before it gets it me./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Best I can remember, I'm at about 458'.

Bird

MDNick · Oct 19, 2001

My Goldwing has an altimeter. I figure it is for when I do the jumps /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. 30-40' off the ground. So. Md. ain't but a few feet above sea level, so it reads pretty much zero all the time, though I have seen it up to 2700 in the applachians.

Farmer kid usetabe, Farmer Wannabe

Knight9 · Oct 19, 2001

Here in Edmonton, AB, we are at an altitude of 668 metres, 2192 feet above sea level.

Kevin

ronjhall · Oct 19, 2001

Glenn
My house is at 961' Back of my property raises to 998'. For reference, city of Detroit is at 600'. Most people don't realize they have to climb almost 400' to get my home./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Harv · Oct 19, 2001

an aggressive campaign to profile non-profilers

It's not a campaign, it's a crusade!!!

I believe this is a coded message

... and only Star Members are issued decoder rings.

I have a Suunto Vector Wrist Computer

Apple makes a better version.

I wonder which TBN members live at the highest and lowest altitudes.

I believe Bird Senter is head and shoulders above the rest of us. Glennmac is, well... closer to sea level. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

ejb · Oct 19, 2001

The elevation of my property is approx 1400 feet, give or take a bit...but this thread did remind me of soemthing I wanted to do:

DO any of you guys (and girls?) have one of those home weather stations? You know the ones that mount on your roof and give you a nice read-out on your PC of the temperature, windspeed, barometer etc? Ideally even one that logs the info to a file so that you can easily call up 12 to 24 hour trends/graphs?

I'd like one, but don't want to spend a ton of money..any specific recommendations?

GlueGuy · Oct 19, 2001

Harv

Your attit (er) Altitude is showing....

/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

ejb

I like the little jobs from Davis instruments. Best thing is the fully automated one that operates wirelessly. Sends its information to a little reciever that you attach to your PC. Also has an automated rain gauge. It fills up so far, records the amount, then flips the catch-cup over to re-fill. Very cool. Runs about $400 as I recall.

We're at 2400 (and some change). If you just consider where the floor level of the house is, it's about 2440 give or take. The driveway drops down about 20 or 30 feet, then goes up to a bit over 2500 before it drops down to the main road at about 2300.

The GlueGuy

glennmac · Oct 19, 2001

So far, GlueGuy is our highest member.

TWINKLE_TOES · Oct 19, 2001

Glenn,

My place is about 330 feet above sea level any lower and the toilets would back up on high tide./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

DrDan · Oct 19, 2001

Aaah so glad you asked ejb,

I have an Oregon Scientific Wireless with anerometer, wind direction, two thermometers, rain gauge, etc. All wireless and very easy to set up. I downloaded free software from net to display it on PC screen and do exactly what you wanted (record trends, etc). It is all very good stuff. Been sitting here running for two years w/o a hitch. The sensors have solar cells in them and also batteries that recharge so it is maintenence free. Another neat thing is that it will broadcast weather reports to you web site if you have one for display.

There are several on eBay...

Here's just one example: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1286767467

Dr Dan

scruffy · Oct 19, 2001

DrD, I ain't got none of that, got lotta attitude though, don't care about altitude. The ONE thing I do have thats worth anything is a loving family and I am STILL alive...the rest don't matter.

DrDan · Oct 19, 2001

LOL Good for you Scruffy... That's what it's all about, but...

I a single bachelor type (nobody will have me) so I have lots of gadgets. One thing I like to know is all about the weather and this Oregon Scientific stuff is really good. From the basic unit you can get literally 100's of different measurements. I had it all hooked up to record and track, but got bored and moved onto other things. It just plugs into the serial port of the puter. Software is available as trialware and to be bought for about $30. It is really neat to watch it all when we have a storm. Last winter I had a roof ripped off my 30' X 50' concrete block outbuilding. I checked the anerometer the next morning and we recorded wind gusts of 94 MPH. Amazing for the Ohio River Valley! If you are interested in the weather and got $300 to blow - get one - you'll love it and it won't take you a month to install. It's wireless.

Dr Dan

scruffy · Oct 19, 2001

It is something that I've always wanted to do, but it seems that (raised four kids, working on the fifth) there is always something of more importance needed. Oh well, a father's work is never done...sanity may be over cooked, (teenage daughters will do that to you) but the work is always there!
Maybe if things go well health wise over the next year, I can rethink that, but until I have a reasonable expectation that the cancer is remission for more than a few months, I'll do without!
P.S. - Doc its always nice to know how fast that roof was traveling when it left!
Edited by scruffy on 10/19/01 10:45 PM (server time).

gvw · Oct 19, 2001

Ok you guys - how does 7650' sound - no I'm not kidding and our other place is pushing the 8200' mark. Nothing like elk in the front yard serenading us to sleep at this time of the year.

glennmac · Oct 19, 2001

Well, now we're getting up there. The rule for this thread is that we are talking about the altitude at the place where your tractor is. So, gvw, which one is it. You will have the record du jour in either case.

I really would love to find that someone who tractors below sea level. Any Death Valley or Dead Sea area tractor owners out there???????

Harv · Oct 20, 2001

love to find that someone who tractors below sea level.

If memory serves, you gave it a try yourself, Glenn. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

glennmac · Oct 20, 2001

OOhhhhhhh, now I get it, Harv. My, my, you are subtler than a troll. Yes, I tried to go beneath sea level 5 times to be exact. Four times I had to be rescued by the U.S.S. Towtruck. The last time I surfaced with planks and car ramps and a climbing rope tied to the back of my Honda CRV.