Detailed summary of the AYC Weather system
Installed Spring, 2004

John Mandell


The general configuration is:

A) WX instruments mounted in an open area (Davis Vantage Pro)
            |
            |  Wireless link (see notes re wireless)
           V
B) WX device display w/serial interface (also Davis)
            |
            |  Serial wire (phone line)
           V
C) PC running Windows & WX software (clubhouse display)
            |
            |  Ethernet cable
           V
D) Broadband router/hub/NAT box
            |
            |  Ethernet link (see notes)
           V
E) Broadband Internet connection (RoadRunner)

I reviewed several WX systems.  We had a total budget of $2,000.  With
that as a constraint, the Davis System was the logical choice.  They have a
broad product line and a large number of users. Their support reputation is
poor, but I found them to be generally responsive. I really wanted a "commercial
grade" system, but found that the price jump to do this was WAY beyond our
budget.  There are other "low end" systems, but I thought Davis was best overall
value.

The only problem I had with Davis is that their wireless link sorta
stinks. They claim up to 400' range between sensors and console.  They also sell
repeaters with a claimed 400' range.  My experience was more like 200'
range, best case! I was very disappointed as I had ~1000' to span.  After some
lost sleep, I got some help and we made a few local modifications to improve
performance (contact me directly for details).  The AYC system still has one
repeater in the loop simply to get the signal from the top of the clubhouse
to the back side where the rest of the system is located.  (Depending on your
application, if the wireless link is a problem, I have other suggestions.)  If
you can avoid the Davis wireless link altogether or an make it work with only
one ~200' hop, that's what I'd recommend.

(NOTE: A few months after I installed this system, Davis introduced a new
system with claims of much better range.  I had several contacts with the Davis
tech support director and I'm very disappointed they never made any overtures
to me regarding the new system, which might have solved my problems.)

The Vantage Pro system includes a small display console.  It would be
great for your desk at home, but I wanted a bigger, brighter display for a small
audience to watch in the clubhouse.  So, I got the Davis "data logger" which is
basically a serial interface to a PC.  The PC was donated (~450MHz) & running
Windows (I'm using Win98 SE).  I added a 17" LCD display for the clubhouse viewing.

The data logger comes with some Davis software, but I deemed it
inadequate.

I reviewed 3 other 3rd party SW packages and settled on Virtual Weather
System from Ambient.  I think it's clearly the best - you can very easily
customize the PC display - very "drag & drop".  The "Internet" version of VWS
also manages all the uploading of data to the AYC web site - it's been working
great.  We have a broadband connection, but I think it will work with dial up as
well. VWS support is only fair.

We had to add a small UPS to the broadband (RoadRunner) hub, as it would
occasionally get a power glitch and stop working.  The UPS did the trick.  We
have the main PC also on a UPS and it is configured to boot up in the correct
configuration, with the keyboard locked (we have too many techies at AYC!).
That makes it easy for anyone to restart the system, but this has not been
necessary.

The web site I created with Front Page.  I'm obviously no web guy!  But I
simply placed the images.  The PC uploads (via FTP) a collection of JPG
files and overwrites the previous ones in the web site file directory.

A local windsurfer has just developed "WindLine" in his spare time.  It's a tiny
  app that displays Wind Speed in the System Tray - it also shows direction &
gust.  It has colors, alarms, etc that you can set at personal limits.  It's now available
for downloading from the AYC web site.  Anyone interesting in adapting this app to
their local station would need to deal directly with the WindLine author.

Here's the final parts lists & costs, if I were to do it over (my actual cost
was a bit higher because of some failed paths, such as wasted Davis repeaters):

$680 Davis Vantage Pro/wireless, 1 repeater, data logger (ProVantage.com)
  600 LCD display, keyboard, mouse, UPS, NIC (PC was donated) (newegg.com)
  100 Ambient VWS SW
    70 Yagi antenna
    60 FTP and PC locking software
  100 mounting, connectors, misc installation stuff
 ------
$1,610 total

Couple links:
http://www.ambientweather.com/
http://www.weathermatrix.com/
http://www.weatherunderground.com/
http://www.provantage.com/
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.davisnet.com/weather/index.asp