Home weather station suggestions

[Oaktree]

I've been a weather spotter for the local office of the NWS for four decades. At one of the meetings I regularly attend, I happened to mention the internet connection I have with my Davis station. I live in a fairly remote location and it turns out, they were very interested in my data. I gave them the link and they monitor it regularly.

How does that work? Do you need to open ports on your router so they can access it?
I am VERY leery about "connected" appliances, as from what I've read most are not very secure. If the NWS can get in, hackers can too, and who knows what they can get to thru that open door.

 

[ponytug]

How does that work? Do you need to open ports on your router so they can access it?
I am VERY leery about "connected" appliances, as from what I've read most are not very secure. If the NWS can get in, hackers can too, and who knows what they can get to thru that open door.

I have mine set up so my older Davis Vantage Pro 2 connects via serial adapter to a small computer that packages the data and sends it to WeatherUnderground and CWOP. I believe that CWOP data is monitored/used by NWS.

The computer is firewalled off (a couple of times) from everything else locally for exactly those connected appliance (IoT) concerns.

I believe that the more modern Weatherlink console transmits directly via WiFi, but last time I checked, only to weatherlink.com.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bdhsfz6]

I believe that the more modern Weatherlink console transmits directly via WiFi, but last time I checked, only to weatherlink.com.

All the best,

Peter

Yes, that's the way mine works.

 

[Blue Mule]

The Davis is approaching 30 years old, it has had some maintenance in that time, but the overall cost of ownership is probably lower than the Tempest.

Yeah I bought my Davis station in 2007. It was hit by lightning in 2013. I had it repaired and put it back in service. Used it until 2021 or so, when my buddy called me one day and said he saw a "weather station" in a local store that sells Amazon returns. I went to check it out and turns out it was a $1,200 fully decked out Davis VP2 with the UV sensors, 24 hour FARS, etc. It simply needed a new AC power adapter. They had $300 on it. I offered $250, on the grounds that I didn't know for sure if it was problem free or not until I got it home (which I didn't.) They accepted. So I saved almost $1k on a new Davis VP2 with even more add-on sensors. So that one got put into service and now my old one is used for spare parts.

These stations last forever and are of much higher quality and accuracy, that's why they are expensive.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

How does that work? Do you need to open ports on your router so they can access it?
I am VERY leery about "connected" appliances, as from what I've read most are not very secure. If the NWS can get in, hackers can too, and who knows what they can get to thru that open door.

A few years ago I installed a Tempest Weather station. The day after I did, my computer got hacked. Here is a thread that describes the nightmare.

Identity theft. What a nightmare

Saturday while quail hunting with family, I got a text saying someone wanted to 'port' my cell number to another carrier. About 30 minutes later, when I got back to the truck, I called the number in the text message and was told that the 'port' had already been done, and then my phone went...

www.tractorbynet.com

I don't know for sure if I was hacked through the weather station, but it sure is funny it happened the day after I went online with my Tempest.

 

[Popgadget]

My Davis console is connected to a computer running Davis weatherlink software via a good old RS232 serial connection.

It uploads to WU and the NWS. It used to upload to a web page that I maintained as well, but have long abandoned.
As there is no incoming connection through the firewall, it’s not much of a threat for hackers. To be clear, I am sending the data, they are not retrieving it.

 

[Grumpycat]

I like PopG have both and maybe if I didn't have my Web site for all to see I could get by with the Tempest BUT they are no where near the same for me. You get what you pay for as they say. IMO

I have NEVER found I "Get What I Pay For."

I have found I "Get What I Shop For."

Simply paying more for something doesn't make it better.

"You get what you pay for" is what the salesman says.

 

[Grumpycat]

My Davis console is connected to a computer running Davis weatherlink software via a good old RS232 serial connection.

It uploads to WU and the NWS. It used to upload to a web page that I maintained as well, but have long abandoned.
As there is no incoming connection through the firewall, it’s not much of a threat for hackers. To be clear, I am sending the data, they are not retrieving it.

I got tired of the room running warmer than other rooms even when using a Mac Mini as the weather station data computer. I'd use a Raspberry Pi these days but there is no point when the Tempest does a good job on it's own.

Tempest and AcuRite internet connected weather stations put the data on internet host sites, if you wish. The sites do not retrieve the data.

 

[B7510HSD]

I have NEVER found I "Get What I Pay For."

I have found I "Get What I Shop For."

Simply paying more for something doesn't make it better.

"You get what you pay for" is what the salesman says.

Glad it works for you!

 

[Grumpycat]

Glad it works for you!

It does. Now wire me $100 to make this reply even better!