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trebor

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Posts posted by trebor

    wifi logger for vantage vue

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    I hope this is ok to post, I have no connection to the company it's just something that may be of use to others on here.

    I ordered one of these for my vantage vue a few months back https://www.weatherstations.co.uk/wifi-logger.htm

    after the the pc it was connected to via usb logger died.

    It has been faultless so far, easy to set up and uploads well to wunderground, the only trade off is obviously no local copy of the data anymore unless I download it.

    I think all the info anybody will need is on the link but if anybody has a question I will try and answer it.

     

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    It would be simpler to put uk spec on amazon uk avoiding the vat issue. I have not noticed any issues with frequency it's such a low power thing and the parts need to be close together, maybe I'll try making a call standing next to it and see what happens. 

    The pictures are taken with all sorts of equipment from wide angle lenses up to an 8 inch celestron cassegrain with either a webcam or dslr attached.

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Mandrake said:

    That's good. I have to say that Lucy seems to be the main customer service person. She is the contact I have been corresponding with for some time when I started asking Fine Offset about kit availability.

    I am curious about your acquisition. What frequency did it arrive set to or did they ask before it was sent to you?

    it's 915mhz there was no choice. It's just US stock sent to the UK. That said I have purchased 915mhz kit from UK outlets in the past.

    It works ok and seems accurate. I to have also emailed Lucy direct at ecowitt so either Lucy is global customer enquiries or everybody at ecowitt is called Lucy  

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    I ordered the ecowitt wifi gateway soil moisture and air quality sensors from amazon.com to test the international shipping option they shipped on the 4th and arrived today (8th) no problems with customs or vat.

    I hope every order is that fast and easy because now I have to decide if I get the ambient weather or the acurite station now I know the shipping thing works.

    The sensors seem to work great, setup was easy and the data looks accurate the only bad thing so far is the usb powered wifi gateway it just plugs into a usb port, so it just sticks out of the side of the pc until I can find a power supply or usb extension lead for it. The data uploads to ecowitt.net and an app on my phone.

    • Like 1

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Mandrake said:

    OK I have confirmed that Ecowitt will supply the HP2550 TFT display console and 3 arm sensor package for $199USD. If you want to add the additional thermo/hydro sensors these are basically $10 each and you can have upto 8.

    They will ship the units configured to 433 or 800Mhz as you desire.

    On top of this though there is a $100USD courier cost.

    That does take the shine off it though if you work out the USD to GBP rate it is still favourable. The biggest risk will be if you get hit with VAT by customs which will add 20%.

    I am having a deliberation at the moment as I really want this kit just not sure I can afford to pull the trigger so close after Christmas!

    I asked about the hp2551 and was quoted 269.99 usd with shipping and I think you have to assume we'll have to pay vat and customs duty. That makes it a similar price to the same unit off the amazon US website I think I feel more comfortable ordering from amazon. what a shame nobody in the EU or UK stocks it.

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, Mandrake said:

    Further clarification.

    I have been in dialogue with Lucy and it seems that Ecowitt is the public facing arm of Fine Offset. 

    Lucy will happily sell anyone in Europe via Ecowitt a HP2550 with the 3 arm sensor array for $199 US. It will be the 433Mhz model and so Europe legal.

    All the other bits from Fine Offset are available if you ask including the new air quality sensor

    This is great news and I plan to take them up on this offer in the coming months and I will post here when I get it.

    maybe good news, but they don't show the three arm version as stock and I think you will still pay customs duty and vat when it enters the uk so I will have to work out what that will make the price before I consider ordering.

     

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    13 minutes ago, Mandrake said:

    Have a look at Froggit, they are the closest to Ambient in Europe now that Maplin is no more and sell quite a range.

    https://www.froggit.de/?cat=c38_WiFi-Weatherstation-wifi-weatherstation.html

    There website can be selected to English which makes it easier. You can order bits and pieces as spares if you require or as sets.

     

    thanks for that, I had found froggit on ebay I think it was but I have never found their website. They have the same stock as maplin used to with hp1000 etc which I had two of and both had faulty temperature sensors.

    I think they will eventually get the updated version of the wh3000 that doesnt need an app to get it online, but when is unknown.

     

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    10 hours ago, Mapantz said:

    What's your price range trebor?

    I'm surprised you get 1 - 2 years from a station living in the Orkney's?! lol

    I don't like the price of commercial stations and I still find a lot of traffic scotlands weather gear offline or wrong so i'm not sure price is the answer. I had hoped upgrading to a davis would be the answer but it appears not.

    so I'm looking for something internet capable thats is more reliable than a davis station or something disposable with readily available spare parts at a far price, at this point I will look at any suggestion or recommendation.

    I am also looking at the weatherflow station from another thread but again it's only available in the states. (so far)

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Mapantz said:

    As far as i'm aware, the Atlas and Atlas Elite are all set to work on US frequencies only. I'd suggest taking a look at WXForum, there's been a lot of chatter on there from unhappy customers. Things breaking, temps and humidity being way off etc

    Some have gone through 3 or 4 replacements and they're all the same.  I did see a couple of 'testers' on the forum trying to make out everything is OK and that it might be just down to bad luck. However, the reviews and comments I have seen, seem to suggest that the Atlas stations are a fail, considering how long people have been waiting for them.

    Just to add this this; By the time you've paid for the import duty on it, you'll end up spending more on it than a Davis Vantage Vue. Also, what happens if something goes wrong?

    The manual says it's 433mhz, but that could well be wrong. The reviews have been whats stopped me buying one so far. I have a vantage vue already and that has gone back for service under guarantee. so I am starting to think it doesn't matter how much i spend everything seems to last 1 or 2 years before faults start to appear. Is everything just disposable these days?

    I also have the earlier version of the ambient/ fine offset station which also has it's own issues (mainly the stupid app to get it online) which is why I started looking for a new station, so as everything is around the same cost and appears to have a variety of problems it's tricky to find the right thing.

    can anybody name a weather station that lasts or has reasonably priced and available spares?

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    In looking for the fineoffset station I also found this on amazon

    https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-01007M-Touchscreen-Monitoring-Lightning/dp/B074XKB239

     

    the manual claims this works on 433mhz so is legal in the uk, but the reviews are mixed, has anybody got any thoughts on this station?

    also their website doesn't work in this country (not good) probably something to do with gdpr but I can view it using a vpn client if anybody wants to look, thats the way.

    Weather Flow Smart station

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    18 minutes ago, Dorsetbred said:

    I’d agree with @Mapantz whilst not perfect yet, they are working hard to get it right. Just one concern that at some point you need to sell lots of kit to make money. Right now whilst still selling I see a point whereby the ongoing rectication of matters might slow their income down, however if these updates are just code releases then the cost is low. If as in the case of the rain sensor it ends up as replacement cycle it could be costly for both them and us. Ongoing development as asked by owners into the addition of the battery charging unit, would need a replacement cycle for owners to get such functionality unless it becomes an add-on at a cost. I’m hanging in there right now as the Davis is just outside of my household spending justification

    I started looking at weatherflow because I was unhappy about the quality of the Davis stuff and I don't think the price is much cheaper than the vantage vue, so I think it will be quality and reliability not price that tempts people to purchase over the Davis stations.

    The concept of the haptic rain sensor being a new idea was always going to be the thing that worked or didn't so I hope they get it sorted because the idea sounds good to me, fewer moving parts means less to go wrong. Does anybody in contact with the company know when or if the station will be available to order in the UK, is it stock or the sensor problems that is the hold up?

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, DavidBH said:

    Hi trebor any luck with that weather station. I have been looking around for a new one and really like the sound of this one as well.

    http://www.foshk.com/Wifi_Weather_Station/HP2550.html

    do you think this is the older model then https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2902.html

    Can someone start importing this !! I need to replace a la crosse WS2355 which has worked for years but the anemometer has died, when I dropped it off the roof !! and I have had to move the main unit due to a greenhouse going up.

    Sorry still no luck finding one. I have this version of it already http://www.foshk.com/Wifi_Weather_Station/WH2900.html which has some issues as I have said.

    ambient weather do a re numbered version of most, if not all fine offset stations but sadly don't ship to the UK.

    Ambient Weather WS-2000/ fineoffset HP2550

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    Has anybody found this station in stock anywhere that will ship to the uk? I have been googling all day but the ambientweather is the only retailer I have found and they don't ship to the uk.

     http://www.foshk.com/Wifi_Weather_Station/HP2550.html

    same as this

    https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2000.html#caption

    I have one of the earlier models wh2900 and the display isn't the best it needs an app to connect it to wifi and it's a real pain to set up.

    the newer model looks like it doesn't need the app.

    I asked similar question a couple of years ago about the wh2900 without much luck so hoping for a better response this time please.

    any suggestions thanks

    Thanks

    Weather Flow Smart station

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    5 hours ago, Dorsetbred said:

    So initial reactions, a well priced unit considering the functions it has to offer, and I'm still experimenting with siting the temperature sensor. The main unit I have at the top of a 18ft pole and so far seems stable. Given the way the unit records moisture, I have concerns about the pole it is on as it needs to be firm to avoid vibration, and given we are yet experience any decent wind I can't tell if it will read moisture incorrectly. Moving the unit yesterday did generate 50mm of rain!! One weakness I have noted is the battery compartment locking mechanism, given it's a sliding plastic latch that isn't a solid a feel as I'd like, I can see some longer term issues with it, although hopefully battery replacement shouldn't be too frequent. Not sure how tough the plastic case will be over the duration, hoping the plastic is UV resistant, especially the cover on the light sensor. But so far apart from these points I'm impressed with it.The next generation of weather station is definitely here..

    looks hopeful so far, as you say some things will take time to evaluate. Am I correct in saying there is no solar panel / charger with these units so they run on battery all the time? unlike the davis stations.

    Hope you get some rain and lightening soon  to finish off the initial testing. 

    Recommendations for a good anemometer?

    in Weather stations and equipment

    Posted

    sadly in my experience 2 years is about the lifespan of a weather station before it starts having problems or is dead, even the expensive stuff like davis.

    my solution is purchase 2 stations 12 months apart and run them both that way I always hopefully have one working and it means you can do maintenance

    on one station and still be collecting data. watch your wireless frequencies with 2 stations you will get interference. wired may be the only solution. 

    I have not found a weather station I wouldn't call disposable but I do live in a place that gives them a hard time, the weather here gets bad sometimes. 

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