[TowerTalk] TowerTalk Digest, Vol 195, Issue 3

Sun Mar 3 13:19:22 EST 2019

I bought a Davis Weather Station for my wife, who is a Weatherbird, seven years ago. As I recall, it was a six hundred dollar unit. In the past seven years, the only maintenance I have performed on it is remove a seed (from my neighbor’s tree) that blocks the flow of moisture through its self-emptying range gauge. It has a solar panel that recharges the unit’s rechargeable batteries. I have yet to change them.

The unit is attached to a twelve-foot pole. 

The installation instructions are a little vague on various points, but that’s the only criticism I can make of this package. Not a cheap station, but one my wife has been happy with, as the base unit sits on a end table by her chair in our living room. She checks the base station five or six times a day when she’s not monitoring the Weather Channel or the ND DOT online.

73,
Mike
KB0RIA

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 3, 2019, at 11:01 AM, "towertalk-request at contesting.com" <towertalk-request at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
> Send TowerTalk mailing list submissions to
>    towertalk at contesting.com
> 
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>    https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftowertalk&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729220042&sdata=FI9nbMxi4RDKi bom3c%2BGS%2Fe0hsbtLibj%2FgMKHTSjOhmo7U%3D&reserved=0
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>    towertalk-request at contesting.com
> 
> You can reach the person managing the list at
>    towertalk-owner at contesting.com
> 
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of TowerTalk digest..."
> 
> 
> Today's Topics:
> 
>   1. Weather station recommendations esp wind, direction and
>      speed? (Kevin Zembower)
>   2. Re: Weather station recommendations esp wind, direction and
>      speed? (Richard Solomon)
>   3. Re: Weather station recommendations esp wind, direction and
>      speed? (Randy Lake)
>   4. FW: Silver vs Aluminum vs Copper Re: OT: Inductor Calculator
>      (Matt)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2019 16:01:16 -0500
> From: Kevin Zembower <kzembower at verizon.net>
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind,
>    direction and speed?
> Message-ID: <9cfa4fec-6ca6-76f4-6f48-c2d116e380f5 at verizon.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
> 
> I second the recommendation for Ambient (https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fambientweather.net%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729220042&sdata=evpQPfTAILf1vSAE0vFLuegjma43NOPgoQ4R0Hk6AWQ%3D&reserved=0). I 
> got their WS-2902A for Christmas, so, less than three months experience 
> with it so far. I like it very much, except for some concerns:
> 
>  * The wind direction and speed sensors are mounted too close to the 
> housing, so any snow over 3 inches stops both of them from turning.
> 
>  * The remote weather sensors (the outside unit) requires an AA 
> battery, for a backup when the sun's not shining. I want to mount this 
> unit on a mast at the peak of my roof (where the center-point feed of my 
> 40/20/10 fan dipole also mounts), but am not looking forward to an 
> annual trip to the peak of my roof to replace the battery.
> 
>  * The wind direction sensor vane is not balanced by weight, so, if 
> it's not absolutely level, it settles in the same direction when there's 
> no wind. Right now, graphs seem to indicate a predominantly west wind at 
> my home, when, in reality, the sensor unit is just a little out of level.
> 
> Overall, though, I'm very pleased. Didn't know about Peet instruments, 
> but the Ambient station was about $170, less than the Davis units. Unit 
> connects to my WiFi router, and reports my station's data to WUndergroud.
> 
> Let me know if anyone has any questions.
> 
> -Kevin
> KC3KZ
> 
>> On 2/26/19 12:00 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:39:57 -0600
>> From: Kim Elmore<cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
>> To:towertalk at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind
>>    direction and speed?
>> Message-ID:<15813242-0289-8272-a93c-3a6900104d1e at sbcglobal.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>> 
>> I'll add that as a research meteorologist, weather instruments are sort
>> of a "thing" for me. Davis makes nice instrument sets, but sells each
>> instrument separately, which makes it all more expensive but much more
>> flexible in optimal placement. For example, most of us don't live 10 m
>> above the ground and have more interest in air temperature/dew point at
>> no more than 2 m above the ground.
>> 
>> I have a friend (another ham) that uses an Ambient weather station. It
>> seems to hold up well and is accurate as any of the others for
>> temperature, dew point/RH, pressure, and wind-speed/direction.
>> 
>> My Vantage Vue needed to have the anemometer element replaced after a
>> few years because the bearings wore out, nut its very easy to do.
>> 
>> Some good reviews can be found athttp://weatherstationexpert.com/.
>> Similar reviews may also be found athttps://www.weatherstationadvisor.com/.
>> 
>> Should money be no object and should you insist on research quality
>> instrumentation, we use R. M. Young? instruments for most of our field
>> projects. And you thought high-end transceivers were expensive...
>> 
>> Kim N5OP
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2019 14:26:10 -0700
> From: Richard Solomon <dickw1ksz at gmail.com>
> To: towertalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind,
>    direction and speed?
> Message-ID:
>    <CAC5FBO-iDaiRq+118tBTtQ9_64PhG2FprNts52mCuNAApC9AGw at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> I downloaded the Manual and noticed
> that part of it operates in the 915 MHz
> portion of the band.
> 
> If you operate in the 902 - 927 MHz
> band (and I do), this unit may not
> like that.
> 
> I thought most companies had realized
> the Ham Activity in that Band and
> ceased using it.
> 
> Too bad, it looks like a nice unit.
> 
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ
> 
>> On Sat, Mar 2, 2019 at 2:01 PM Kevin Zembower <kzembower at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>> I second the recommendation for Ambient (https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fambientweather.net%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=gniS1jhFN8dDa7tVSjOJqJt3M9%2BpbvGpDifqubpi3pU%3D&reserved=0). I
>> got their WS-2902A for Christmas, so, less than three months experience
>> with it so far. I like it very much, except for some concerns:
>> 
>>  * The wind direction and speed sensors are mounted too close to the
>> housing, so any snow over 3 inches stops both of them from turning.
>> 
>>  * The remote weather sensors (the outside unit) requires an AA
>> battery, for a backup when the sun's not shining. I want to mount this
>> unit on a mast at the peak of my roof (where the center-point feed of my
>> 40/20/10 fan dipole also mounts), but am not looking forward to an
>> annual trip to the peak of my roof to replace the battery.
>> 
>>  * The wind direction sensor vane is not balanced by weight, so, if
>> it's not absolutely level, it settles in the same direction when there's
>> no wind. Right now, graphs seem to indicate a predominantly west wind at
>> my home, when, in reality, the sensor unit is just a little out of level.
>> 
>> Overall, though, I'm very pleased. Didn't know about Peet instruments,
>> but the Ambient station was about $170, less than the Davis units. Unit
>> connects to my WiFi router, and reports my station's data to WUndergroud.
>> 
>> Let me know if anyone has any questions.
>> 
>> -Kevin
>> KC3KZ
>> 
>>> On 2/26/19 12:00 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:39:57 -0600
>>> From: Kim Elmore<cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To:towertalk at contesting.com
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind
>>>      direction and speed?
>>> Message-ID:<15813242-0289-8272-a93c-3a6900104d1e at sbcglobal.net>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>>> 
>>> I'll add that as a research meteorologist, weather instruments are sort
>>> of a "thing" for me. Davis makes nice instrument sets, but sells each
>>> instrument separately, which makes it all more expensive but much more
>>> flexible in optimal placement. For example, most of us don't live 10 m
>>> above the ground and have more interest in air temperature/dew point at
>>> no more than 2 m above the ground.
>>> 
>>> I have a friend (another ham) that uses an Ambient weather station. It
>>> seems to hold up well and is accurate as any of the others for
>>> temperature, dew point/RH, pressure, and wind-speed/direction.
>>> 
>>> My Vantage Vue needed to have the anemometer element replaced after a
>>> few years because the bearings wore out, nut its very easy to do.
>>> 
>>> Some good reviews can be found athttp://weatherstationexpert.com/.
>>> Similar reviews may also be found athttps://
>> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.weatherstationadvisor.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=DGy8tEa25FtzjQrPkcO9AVKkrGu5Z8aEnGKlro%2Fner4%3D&reserved=0.
>>> 
>>> Should money be no object and should you insist on research quality
>>> instrumentation, we use R. M. Young? instruments for most of our field
>>> projects. And you thought high-end transceivers were expensive...
>>> 
>>> Kim N5OP
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftowertalk&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=qL%2BBw8%2Fxp5nl2n0NQb4qgECSW8c40TXGqvTqfZFLpI4%3D&reserved=0
>> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2019 17:30:41 -0500
> From: Randy Lake <randyn1kwf at gmail.com>
> To: Kevin Zembower <kzembower at verizon.net>
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind,
>    direction and speed?
> Message-ID:
>    <CACnmA1OoHJUc8+EPZHChSeWv9unyZpLOKBnx-AZTNR-66Rm1DA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
> 
> Stay away from Acurite. You get what you pay for. Not a happy customer.
> 
> Randy N1KWF
> 
>> On Sat, Mar 2, 2019 at 4:01 PM Kevin Zembower <kzembower at verizon.net> wrote:
>> 
>> I second the recommendation for Ambient (https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fambientweather.net%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=gniS1jhFN8dDa7tVSjOJqJt3M9%2BpbvGpDifqubpi3pU%3D&reserved=0). I
>> got their WS-2902A for Christmas, so, less than three months experience
>> with it so far. I like it very much, except for some concerns:
>> 
>>  * The wind direction and speed sensors are mounted too close to the
>> housing, so any snow over 3 inches stops both of them from turning.
>> 
>>  * The remote weather sensors (the outside unit) requires an AA
>> battery, for a backup when the sun's not shining. I want to mount this
>> unit on a mast at the peak of my roof (where the center-point feed of my
>> 40/20/10 fan dipole also mounts), but am not looking forward to an
>> annual trip to the peak of my roof to replace the battery.
>> 
>>  * The wind direction sensor vane is not balanced by weight, so, if
>> it's not absolutely level, it settles in the same direction when there's
>> no wind. Right now, graphs seem to indicate a predominantly west wind at
>> my home, when, in reality, the sensor unit is just a little out of level.
>> 
>> Overall, though, I'm very pleased. Didn't know about Peet instruments,
>> but the Ambient station was about $170, less than the Davis units. Unit
>> connects to my WiFi router, and reports my station's data to WUndergroud.
>> 
>> Let me know if anyone has any questions.
>> 
>> -Kevin
>> KC3KZ
>> 
>>> On 2/26/19 12:00 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:39:57 -0600
>>> From: Kim Elmore<cw_de_n5op at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To:towertalk at contesting.com
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Weather station recommendations esp wind
>>>      direction and speed?
>>> Message-ID:<15813242-0289-8272-a93c-3a6900104d1e at sbcglobal.net>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>>> 
>>> I'll add that as a research meteorologist, weather instruments are sort
>>> of a "thing" for me. Davis makes nice instrument sets, but sells each
>>> instrument separately, which makes it all more expensive but much more
>>> flexible in optimal placement. For example, most of us don't live 10 m
>>> above the ground and have more interest in air temperature/dew point at
>>> no more than 2 m above the ground.
>>> 
>>> I have a friend (another ham) that uses an Ambient weather station. It
>>> seems to hold up well and is accurate as any of the others for
>>> temperature, dew point/RH, pressure, and wind-speed/direction.
>>> 
>>> My Vantage Vue needed to have the anemometer element replaced after a
>>> few years because the bearings wore out, nut its very easy to do.
>>> 
>>> Some good reviews can be found athttp://weatherstationexpert.com/.
>>> Similar reviews may also be found athttps://
>> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.weatherstationadvisor.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=DGy8tEa25FtzjQrPkcO9AVKkrGu5Z8aEnGKlro%2Fner4%3D&reserved=0.
>>> 
>>> Should money be no object and should you insist on research quality
>>> instrumentation, we use R. M. Young? instruments for most of our field
>>> projects. And you thought high-end transceivers were expensive...
>>> 
>>> Kim N5OP
>> _______________________________________________
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TowerTalk mailing list
>> TowerTalk at contesting.com
>> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftowertalk&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=qL%2BBw8%2Fxp5nl2n0NQb4qgECSW8c40TXGqvTqfZFLpI4%3D&reserved=0
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Randy Lake N1KWF
> 73 Gunn Rd.
> Keene,NH
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2019 22:02:56 -0600
> From: "Matt" <maflukey at gmail.com>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] FW: Silver vs Aluminum vs Copper Re: OT: Inductor
>    Calculator
> Message-ID: <000901d4d175$fbdbc590$f39350b0$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"
> 
> When the surface area of the anode is relatively large compared to the
> cathode, galvanic corrosion is generally not a problem when the stainless is
> cathodic.   Hence using relatively small 18-8 stainless fasteners on
> aluminum elements or galvanized structures generally presents little
> interaction provided that the assembly is not in a salt laden or heavy
> chloride environment.   The British Stainless Steel Association has
> published some scholarly articles on this subject as well as NACE.
> 
> I regularly use high chromium stainless washers to isolate copper from
> aluminum or zinc galvanize without issue.  A generous application of no-ox
> compound provides added protection and if using stainless threaded
> fasteners, anti-seize compound is a must.
> 
> 73
> Matt
> KM5VI
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> john at kk9a.com
> Sent: Friday, March 01, 2019 9:05 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Silver vs Aluminum vs Copper Re: OT: Inductor
> Calculator
> 
> Very true but I believe that most antenna manufactures use these materials
> together.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> Bert Balmemo VE3NR wrote:
> 
> Stainless steel and aluminum don't go well together - galvanic corrosion! 
> 
> Bert VE3NR
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftowertalk&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=qL%2BBw8%2Fxp5nl2n0NQb4qgECSW8c40TXGqvTqfZFLpI4%3D&reserved=0
> 
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avg.com&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729230053&sdata=GA7hTpouZoEgC1D5DvTPDJmrnRXCp6k%2F8SWI1W3HGAE%3D&reserved=0
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Subject: Digest Footer
> 
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk at contesting.com
> https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Ftowertalk&data=02%7C01%7C%7C0fc2c1934f534ef869c708d69ff9d596%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636872292729240058&sdata=Fz0D3kj6B%2F0WqS8wsUF3M0YmuLTk0kyZfucBDXT2DS4%3D&reserved=0
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 195, Issue 3
> *****************************************