Weather data:
July 7 2008 update:
The lightning detector is now installed and being tested. It is
expected that any lightning activity within 80 km (depending on
intensity and bearing) will be detected.
The lightning detector is a Hobby Boards kit.
It does require some assembly as it does not come with a case. I used
grey PVC ducts to insulate the antenna and circuit board. It is
attached on the same mast as the rest of the weather station, about 8'
off the ground. So far, I have not received any interference from my
VHF/UHF amateur radio installation, local aircraft or the air traffic
control's primary radar.
Picture to follow shortly....
-
In order to export data to the web, I had to install / configure the following:
-
Apache server (I'm running Ubuntu)
- install rrdtool
- modify oww's setup file (add an entry to the postlog folder)
- enable logging every 60 seconds in oww
- create an rrd database using the tools provided in the oww_plotter archive.
- I had to modify the rrdcreate script to add the lightning, relative humidity and dew point data.
- manually create the first datapoint in the db
- modify the wx_plots.php and wx_plot.php to accomodate the new data, added dew point to the temperature graph
Note: you need to think of what sensors
you may eventually use before creating the database, as additional
fields are not easily added in the future.
http://www.hobby-boards.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=1550
June 3 2008 update:
The weather station is up and running again. It has been moved from the
Moose Jaw RC club to the house due to a broken transmitter. Humidity
and pressure are now available. We are currently experimenting with
webcams.
Overview:
Built around Dallas 1-wire technology and chips, the 1 wire weather station.
The basic instrument provides wind speed, direction and temperature. Additionnal sensors are available for humidity, pressure,
soil moisture comment, lightning detection, etc...
The system requires no batteries (except for the weather detector which
uses a single 9V alkaline, good for about a year), as it is powered by
the USB port of any computer.
Software:
The system runs on Linux, using oww to capture data from the sensors.
Sources:
http://www.hobby-boards.com
http://www.aag.com.mx
Note:
These weather instruments are not plug and play. Assembly requires making cables, sealing components and some minor assembly.
For a simpler instalaltion, take a look at the wireless instruments available from "La Crosse", "Oregon Scientific" or "Davis"
Setup
I'm currently building a solar powered station that will transmit weather reports directly to the internet ... more to come.
- AAG weather instrument
- AAG humidity sensor
- OpenTracker 2 (APRS packet encoder)
- Sealed lead acid battery (12 VDC, 8 Ah)
- Solar Panel 5.5 W (0.4 Ah)
- Yaesu VX-2R transceiver
- 60' of Cat5E cable
- Antenna: TBD
With this equipment, the station should be able to transmit a 1 second data burst every 20 minutes, 24 hrs a day.
My Weather
http://www.db0anf.de/app/aprs/stations/weather-CW2444
This weather station is located at the Moose Jaw RC aircraft club.
Weather sources
WUnderground: collects data from several sources such as personal weather stations, aviation forecasts and other freely available
weather sources (such as Environment Canada)
My wundergound page:
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=iskmoose3
APRS: there are thousands of weather stations that broadcast their information wirelessly. The information is relayed through
gateways back to the internet.
example: http://www.db0anf.de/app/aprs/stations/weather-CW1203
CWOP:Citizen Weather Observer Program is a program developped to supplement NOAA weather sampling. The data collected
by personal weather stations and amateur radio APRS weather stations is collected on the www.findu.com database and used to
augment and improve forecasts.
http://www.wxqa.com/
with lightning reports) here: 
