NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style forma

Chainlink · Unread post by **Chainlink** » Sun 05/03/2006 13:35

There used to be a NZ site that gave hourly or 3hrly update in a text style format, from Wx stations throughout the country. Sites like Tiaora Head, Pusuger Point, Secretary Island etc.

Its was a little difficult to follow the rows & column for all the stns as they usually went down to the page below shown on screen...

I think the site had a windy somewhere in the address line.

Anyone know what Im talking about.

Recommendations for a Wx Stn, with data logging, im looking at a La Crosse WS2300 comments on this model?

Flutterbye · Unread post by **Flutterbye** » Sun 05/03/2006 13:53

I don't know if the following is the one that you are after but take a look:

http://www.wunderground.com/global/NZ.html

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 05/03/2006 14:13

Interesting too see a Oxford Weather station now online.

http://www.davidbuckley.name/weather/ Make sure you add it to your favourites!

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Sun 05/03/2006 14:25

Chainlink wrote:Recommendations for a Wx Stn, with data logging, im looking at a La Crosse WS2300 comments on this model?

It's all down to money really.

The domestic consumer-level stations are all pretty much of a muchness, as they say. Some are more expensive than others, with little to show for it. It's easy to spend too much, so go for the one you can afford, as it'll likely perform just as well as the more expensive models you may be eyeing.

If you have a decent-sized budget then skip the Oregon Scientific-Davis-La Crosse-etc level stations and go for the research-grade ones like Vaisala or Campbell Scientific. They cost a bit more but you get premium quality.

Chainlink · Unread post by **Chainlink** » Sun 05/03/2006 14:50

in done a quick serch, but cant find any providers in NZ for Vaisala or Campbell Scientific

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Sun 05/03/2006 15:10

Chainlink wrote:in done a quick serch, but cant find any providers in NZ for Vaisala or Campbell Scientific

There are a couple. I'll send you the info via PM in a little while.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Sun 05/03/2006 17:06

Chainlink wrote:There used to be a NZ site that gave hourly or 3hrly update in a text style format, from Wx stations throughout the country.

I think the site had a windy somewhere in the address line.

That was Brian's (Manukau Head obs) old site - he translated the coded obs from the old MetService website.

You can also get similar info from: http://metservice.com/default/index.php ... servations

Manukau heads obs · Sun 05/03/2006 17:42

Hi
yeah, that was me.....

i developed a program to decode it
but the met service kept on shifting the source of the raw data i gave up on the whole thing, especialy as you can get the info here
http://www.metvuw.com/nzweather/

re weather stations, I recommend a davis station
dont listen to Gary, he had a bad experience with a davis station and now tries to put people off getting one....that is just one persons opinion, but I can tell you that after dealing with 1000's of weather station owners around the globe over the last 5 years, for a personal weather station, the davis VP is the way to go

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Sun 05/03/2006 18:06

Manukau heads observer wrote:re weather stations, I recommend a davis station
dont listen to Gary, he had a bad experience with a davis station and now tries to put people off getting one....that is just one persons opinion, but I can tell you that after dealing with 1000's of weather station owners around the globe over the last 5 years, for a personal weather station, the davis VP is the way to go

Brian, you keep pushing that barrow, yet it's a total falsehood, and I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making such comments. I own and operate a Davis Monitor III and Vantage Pro 2...they are both good stations, only they are grossly overpriced, considering other manufacturers' stations are as good, and significantly less expensive. The "bad experience" was discovering I should have bought a different brand and saved a ton of money, while not losing quality.

I'm sure you're not promoting Davis at every opportunity because you have a software bundling deal with local distributors or something, right? That would be unethical, if you failed to disclose that info, so I'm sure that's not the case.

If somebody wants to buy an inexpensive station for basic weather data collection, I couldn't recommend Davis, on the basis of price. Their gear is quite good, but too pricey. However I'd recommend Vaisala, Campbell Scientific, or similar to those looking at carrying out 'research-level' weather data collection, but that equipment is more expensive than the consumer-grade stuff.

Manukau heads obs · Sun 05/03/2006 18:16

just you apologise right there gary for even making that suggestion
what sort of person are you?

no i have no affiliation with any weather station manufactures and no there are no software bundles what so ever

so you just get off your high horse

Davis is only expensive to get into NZ because of the dealers mark ups

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Sun 05/03/2006 18:42

Chainlink wrote:There used to be a NZ site that gave hourly or 3hrly update in a text style format, from Wx stations throughout the country. Sites like Tiaora Head, Pusuger Point, Secretary Island etc.

I still can't believe that Hamilton doesn't have a 3-hr SYNOP report

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Sun 05/03/2006 18:53

Gary Roberts wrote: I'm sure you're not promoting Davis at every opportunity because you have a software bundling deal with local distributors or something, right? That would be unethical, if you failed to disclose that info, so I'm sure that's not the case.

That's completely false Gary, the NZ/AU/US distributers are not bundled at all with WD, nor they promote it.
psst, Davis NZ offer a 10% discount for NZ weather forum members

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 05/03/2006 21:35

Manukau heads observer wrote:
Davis is only expensive to get into NZ because of the dealers mark ups

Even buying it for the states or anywere its overpriced. Normally you find it much cheaper else were due too the dallor etc. But not the davis!

Chainlink · Unread post by **Chainlink** » Sun 05/03/2006 21:46

Thans - Steven Graham, thats the page/site though in a more formatted form...

Cheers......JW in Mosgiel.

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Sun 05/03/2006 21:48

Manukau heads observer wrote:just you apologise right there gary for even making that suggestion
what sort of person are you?

no i have no affiliation with any weather station manufactures and no there are no software bundles what so ever

so you just get off your high horse

Davis is only expensive to get into NZ because of the dealers mark ups

Hey pal, you're the one who chucked unfounded accusations around...I merely suggested that I didn't believe you were bashing all AWS models other than Davis, while failing to disclose a commercial agreement with that company's distributors, because, you know, it would be dishonest of you, and I can't believe anybody here would be that underhanded. So I'm very glad to hear you confirm I was correct, and it isn't true.

I've owned/installed/operated/maintained numerous models from many manufacturers, and I stand by my assertion that Davis weather stations are overpriced: they simply aren't worth the money, considering, as I said, those from other manufacturers are as good (and sometimes better), while being less expensive than the Davis models. If I'm going to spend top dollar on an AWS, I'll jump up a notch and buy a research grade station...Davis are consumer-grade, yet at almost a research-grade price. Not a good deal.

TonyT · Unread post by **TonyT** » Mon 06/03/2006 09:16

The NZ importer mark ups on the Davis gear are crazy. If you want one, try getting one off ebay from a prviate seller (the Davis resellers are prevented from shipping to NZ by their sales agreement). I paid US$450 for mine plus shipping, which I think was about US$60 via airmail. You may get pinged for GST at customs, but its still way cheaper than the NZ retail. Like Brian, I do think the Davis is probably the best of the consumer level stations - a friend has a Lacrosse and it really didnt look very durable to me, nor as well designed.

You really will be in a different league if you move to Campbell gear, $5k plus by the time you have got a data logger and some decent sensors, but they will have a good resale value for the future. You can sometimes pick up good deals on used Campbell dataloggers and sensors from ebay as well (I brought a CR10 in a few years ago for about NZ$500 I think).

An interesting half way point between the consumer level stations and the Campbells looks to be the HOBO loggers and sensors - they have a basic unit for US$1149 which looks quite good. See http://www.onsetcomp.com/Products/Produ ... guide.html

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Mon 06/03/2006 10:33

TonyT wrote:The NZ importer mark ups on the Davis gear are crazy.

Agreed.

If you want one, try getting one off ebay from a prviate seller (the Davis resellers are prevented from shipping to NZ by their sales agreement).

Or get the US dealers to ship it to an American friend and have them send it to you.

I do think the Davis is probably the best of the consumer level stations - a friend has a Lacrosse and it really didnt look very durable to me, nor as well designed.

I'm not so sure about that...I was not at all impressed with the quality of Davis components when compared with stations that cost me a 5th as much, such as the OS WM-918. I'd expected there to be a significant difference, but that hasn't been borne out: my non-Davis stations have been going great guns, and for as long as (and in one case even longer) than the Davis AWS's I maintain. It's very difficult to justify the huge price difference between Davis stations and those from most other manufacturers when you see so little difference in quality and features.

You really will be in a different league if you move to Campbell gear...

That's for sure!

[You'll pay]...$5k plus by the time you have got a data logger and some decent sensors...

And the rest!

...but they will have a good resale value for the future.

Nobody ever sells their weather stations. They just keep buying more! It's like a heroin addiction or something.

You can sometimes pick up good deals on used Campbell dataloggers and sensors from ebay as well (I brought a CR10 in a few years ago for about NZ$500 I think).

Ooooh...good idea! I've never even looked for that kind of gear on eBay...time to take a look, methinks!

An interesting half way point between the consumer level stations and the Campbells looks to be the HOBO loggers and sensors - they have a basic unit for US$1149 which looks quite good. See http://www.onsetcomp.com/Products/Produ ... guide.html

Yes, they are nice. An alternative is the Fascinating Electronics range of components, and of course the Dallas One-Wire stuff. I played with the models from Jaycar recently: those are not going to win any Met Service awards, but for somebody just looking to do some basic stuff from home, and on a budget, they're surprisingly un-sucky. I don't think they'll become the new WM-918, but they'd do for most people.

That's the crux of it really: I say spend a small amount on a basic station, one you can afford to replace or upgrade later if necessary, if all you're interested in is basic data collection, and uploading it to a webpage for general interest. If you're genuinely keen to do some real meteorology, save your pennies (or refinance the house) and buy a real weather station from Campbell Scientific or a similar manufacturer of research-grade equipment. It's too easy to spend a lot of money on an overpriced consumer-grade AWS only to find it performs no better than a much less expensive station, and is of a similar quality. Save the big bucks for when you want to go research-grade (which means CS, Vaisala, et al).

As with all things, shop around first.

ricky · Unread post by **ricky** » Mon 06/03/2006 11:28

The Jaycar stuff is all OEM LaCrosse 23xx so low end but useable

I had to go up and lubricate the anemometer on mine this morning.. they seem to need it about every 6 months..
Yes it seems like the cheapest way to get good quality is to do it yourself to some degree as several here have done. The actual high grade sensors aren't too expensive on their own it would seem unless you get into ultrasonics for wind etc.
The Weather Display software supports a direct contact pulse anemometer as well as the one wire and digital high grade sensors via Labjack which makes it easy to upgrade, or you can find other or write your own software..
I'd really like to design a decent hardware logger for good sensors, forget all the fancy displays etc but hey add it to the huge list of cool things to do

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Mon 06/03/2006 13:16

ricky wrote:The Jaycar stuff is all OEM LaCrosse 23xx so low end but useable I had to go up and lubricate the anemometer on mine this morning.. they seem to need it about every 6 months..
Yes it seems like the cheapest way to get good quality is to do it yourself to some degree as several here have done. The actual high grade sensors aren't too expensive on their own it would seem unless you get into ultrasonics for wind etc.
The Weather Display software supports a direct contact pulse anemometer as well as the one wire and digital high grade sensors via Labjack which makes it easy to upgrade, or you can find other or write your own software..
I'd really like to design a decent hardware logger for good sensors, forget all the fancy displays etc but hey add it to the huge list of cool things to do

So much to do, so little time!

RWood · Unread post by **RWood** » Mon 06/03/2006 14:04

Flutterbye wrote:I don't know if the following is the one that you are after but take a look:

http://www.wunderground.com/global/NZ.html

I think SW Capes' AWS is out of action for wind recording - it has had "calm" for days. I collected some records for windy coastal sites and lighthouses etc, and it had the top average speed for the ones I found.

Manukau heads obs · Mon 06/03/2006 15:29

again its a case of gary having a bad experience with a davis station
but that is one persons experience, and he likes to push that wheel barrow that davis is not the way to go
but I have dealt with people from all over the world, totaling 1000's in contacts and emails and weather forums, and i can tell you that for a home personal weather station, which is what this forum Q is about, davis is the way to go, if you can afford it (alot of people get a cheaper one then later buy a davis and whish they had the first time)
I have had all the comsumer home weather station equipment here over the last 5 years and I use myself a davis VP
i can say thats if the best of the bunch
everytime someone asks what to get, gary trots out that davis should be avoided...but thats one persons opinion, which he is intitled to, but I having dealt with 1000's of people and their different weather station types around the world, including vaisala (which weather display supports (and is used by the US navy around the world )and cambel scientific (which weather display supports ( see the scott base weather station).
I think i have alot of credibility in this, having been in the weather station hardware and software business for a long time (and working with one of the first WM918's in the country in late 1999)

still looking for that apology gary, your accusations were hurtfull and way out of line

Gary Roberts · Unread post by **Gary Roberts** » Mon 06/03/2006 15:49

Manukau heads observer wrote:again its a case of gary having a bad experience with a davis station

As I already explained Brian, the only bad experience I had was feeling ripped-off. I consider feeling ripped-off to be bad, but perhaps you don't. The two Davis stations in my care work fine -- and so they should, considering the price of them -- but they aren't much, if any, better than the far cheaper stations available out there.

...[Gary] likes to push that wheel barrow that davis is not the way to go...

And I explain why I feel that some people should avoid buying a Davis: most would be just as well off with a less expensive station (and save a lot of money), while those who need research-level equipment should spend a little more and buy something like Campbell Scientific or Vaisala, rather than consumer-level stuff at professional prices, which is what they get from Davis.

...I have dealt with people from all over the world, totaling 1000's in contacts and emails and weather forums, and i can tell you that for a home personal weather station, which is what this forum Q is about, davis is the way to go, if you can afford it (alot of people get a cheaper one then later buy a davis and whish they had the first time)
I have had all the comsumer home weather station equipment here over the last 5 years and I use myself a davis VP
i can say thats if the best of the bunch...

Whoopee, that's awesome, but as somebody who purchases, installs, operates and maintains many AWS's in all sorts of locations, from coastal to alpine, it's my experience that Davis products are not value for money for most people.

...everytime someone asks what to get, gary trots out that davis should be avoided...

I did not discourage anybody from buying Davis in this thread. Reread my first post...of course you knew that already, but are twisting my words to suit yourself.

On the other hand you take every opportunity to tout Davis products. Strange.

...but thats one persons opinion, which he is intitled to

You betcha.

...but I having dealt with 1000's of people and their different weather station types around the world, including vaisala (which weather display supports (and is used by the US navy around the world )and cambel scientific (which weather display supports ( see the scott base weather station).
I think i have alot of credibility in this, having been in the weather station hardware and software business for a long time (and working with one of the first WM918's in the country in late 1999)

Wowee. You da man. And good to see you promoting your software here again at the NZ Weather Forum. And again. And again...

...still looking for that apology gary...

For what?

...your accusations were hurtfull and way out of line

You really are a bit of a drama queen, Brian.

NZ Thunderstorm Soc · Mon 06/03/2006 17:59

OK you guy's, stop acting like children

A new guy to our forum and from Mosgiel, Mosgiel being an asset to our forum asking a question about a weather station and you 2 jokers end up fighting

I wonder what he thinks???
Steven, can you deal with this??

JohnGaul
NZTS

Manukau heads obs · Mon 06/03/2006 19:42

A Davis VP is far better than a WM918 Gary, I am not refering to a WMII, I am refereing to a VP
Do you have a WMII or a VP

it's my experience that Davis products are not value for money for most people.

You would be a very lone voice there Gary
Anyone else you know who agrees with that?

On the other hand you take every opportunity to tout Davis products. Strange.

Thats because I have seen so many problems reported with other hardware , but less problems with davis equipment. If there is a problem, davis or their resellers stand by their product and will replace them

again, i see you are thinking I am to gain from promoting a davis station
i dont,and stop infering that I am, i am just trying to get people to make the correct decision in the first place, they often wish they had later (I am talking about a VP here)

And good to see you promoting your software here again at the NZ Weather Forum.

thanks, I will, and why not. I have not been told to do so otherwise by the wonder of the forum (a good idea might be for me to be become a sponsor of the forum via paid advertising to cover the costs of running the forum, now thats an idea Steven?)

I see still no aplogy for the accusations you made, but I dont expect one from you Gary, thats just the person you are.
Yes, sorry to the orginator of this thread that it has been hijacked.

Manukau heads obs · Mon 06/03/2006 20:12

one very important thing to note:
Davis has greatly improved the design of the ISS
as there was corision problems with the earlier designs
and so maybe you have one of the those gary
how old if your davis station?
I think until you have a later model davis station then you cant realy compare....my thoughts

NZ Weather Forum

NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style forma

NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style forma

Re: NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style f

Poviders in NZ for Vaisala or Campbell Scientific ?

Re: Poviders in NZ for Vaisala or Campbell Scientific ?

Re: NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style f

Re: NZ Weather site, that gave 3hrs? updates, in txt style f