Weather Station Recommendations

SCRich · Oct 8, 2008

Yes Davis has heated rain gauges... Most anemometers do not have a problem with snow but it all depends on what TYPE of snow, tops of Mt. Greylock and such would have problems. I have seen SOME units that are also heated but are rare. I think the reason it's not a big problem is due to design MOST of the time. With snow you often get a slight wind and that will keep it moving as long as the cups are moving and the vain it should not freeze up but once it stops snowing or misting then there could be a problem with the remaining residue getting frozen.

Not a bad idea but I'd wax my anemometer prior to installation if it's a big worry. At least for the first year most moisture should wick off and if snow is a big problem in your area a yearly fall waxing may be of help.

polo1665 · Oct 8, 2008

Dan,
I would want to measure wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature, (wind chill), humidity, barometric pressure, and I would also like to be able to keep track of results on the computer. Wind speed and direction would also be a big problem for me, dependent on where I mounted the meter. Our home is situated on the east side of a large hill and we are also protected from the south. I didnt' even realize how strong the winds were when the remnants of "Ike" blew through here. I could see the tops of the trees blowing about, but at ground level it was not very windy, that is until we left our little grotto and walked to the front field.
Does any one know how far the remote stations will transmit the information? Is 500' to 700' out of the question? I guess I should be doing alot more research rather than asking questions. I do appreciate all the replies though.

thanx again
Mark

SCRich · Oct 8, 2008

I believe Davis claims 1,000ft but I have never tested it out. Currently mine is about 200ft away and my base unit is on the opposite side of the house from the instruments so it has a lot of blockage from the home.

I too have similar problems, my homesite is carved into the middle of a pine tree stand, about 375ft from the road and the road is about 10ft higher than the homesite. The pine trees are about 70ft high give or take and the house is about 30ft to the peak. I mounted my instruments on a tripod and 20ft of mast out in the yard but that's not good.

I have a 12/12 pitch roof, not the most plesant place to work. I am not sure if I want to mount my anemometer on a tripod on the roof or not, if I do I'd probably need 20ft of mast to make it worthwhile and that would require guy wires. One of these day's after hunting season I'll have to take my base unit out towards my food plot. It's roughly 800ft away (but some dense woods to the house) and see if I have enough range. If so I may be better off installing the instruments over there since the 2 story house does not come into play, just the trees.

dmccarty · Oct 13, 2008

Rich,

Your place sounds like my place.

There just is not a good spot to put up the wind meter. I checked on how the meter was supposed to be installed and there was no way I could do it per specification.

Putting it up on the top of the house is the best I could do. And the best spot to put it on the roof would be the farthest from the station. The wireless SHOULD work.

But I don't think it was supposed to be mounted that high. And ANYWHERE I put the meter the trees will block the wind.

At the moment is just use weatherunderground.com to see the stations near me for certain data. But even though the stations are less than 10 miles from me its amazing the differences in the data between the stations.

Later,
Dan

polo1665 · Oct 13, 2008

The nearest weatherunderground station is about four or five miles away from me. Heck, it could rain two inches there and I might not see a drop for the garden.

I couldn't even come close to the tree tops on the west side of the house if I went to the peak of the roof. I know darn well that I'm not going up there either.

Mark

SCRich · Oct 13, 2008

Yep..that roof sure would be a PIA to work on! I see one option that MAY work for you, that chimney seems to be large. Normally I would not suggest to mount an annemometer near the soot but it may be large enough to offset the gauge and if you have it on a 10ft mast or so it may do just fine since smoke USUALLY does not climb that high unless there is NO wind.

But still you are right those trees are going to be tough. This weekend is a good example. Opening day of hunting season and I am at my food plot, the wind was howling at the crack of dawn, had been for a few days and it did not let up. I finally came back home and looked at the station, no more than a single 10mph gust and my sustained winds had to be over 10mph with gusts over 20mph.

The plot is not perfect but if I can get the wireless range it will be better than at the home. It's just going to have to wait.