Re: Cumulus, USB, and 1-wire
Posted: Sat 21 Apr 2012 1:38 pm
Hi Charlie,
First of all thanks for your reply and thanks again for your work in this hard project.
I do not know if this kind of input is what you look, but I will try to answering some of your questions to guide you better in this project. BTW, I also like much that you take into consideration not only your needs for this project, but needs of other possible users.
In the budget range of personal weather stations, basically what I personally look is the basic functions/features, like what the FO WH-1080/3080 stations have. Indoor Temp/humidity; Outdoor Temp, Humidity, Wind speed and direction, Pressure, Rain. Solar readings not a requirement but a plus.
Having some kind of display or console to see the readings without a computer is important, in case I loose the PC (this becomes more important during events like hurricanes). But I guess if the price is right, one could manage with just the PC and cumulus reading.
I have mostly used weather stations that are wired to an external sensor, and send wireless the data to the internal sensor/console; and that is the setup I mostly prefer. But again, if price is right, I guess a complete wired station (like yours) will not be a "deal breaker" despite my preference, if all other requirements are to my liking.
The ability to get replacement sensors (easy and cheap) do would be a great plus also. Stations do require occasional maintenance and is sometimes frustrating to buy a 100USD station to then replace a small one component at a price of 50USD plus shipping.
Thinking wild here... maybe having a station capable of both, completely wired and wireless from outdoor to indoor might be a good feature But I guess will also add more on the development and selling costs...
BTW, the reason I like more the set up wired sensors in the outside, but wireless to the inside (like the FO), instead of all wired like your, is a simple logistics one I find like you that wired is less prone to error than wireless, but wireless is easier to get inside the home without drilling holes in the walls or windows... So I find the best middle approach is like what the FO stations do... all outside sensors wired to the External TX and then an internal RX to receive that wireless signal.
I also like stations (like the FO) that have the sensors wired to that External TX Unit, but is not all in just one big piece. That way one can place better the sensors, like raising the wind instruments higher in a pole and/or putting the outside temperature sensor in the shade.
Well hope input like this is what you were looking for. I am not saying build your station like this, I am just letting you know what a customer like me would be normally looking, based on my personal preferences. Hope I understood what you want. I also apologize for any part of what I say you do not understand. Although I do have a very good written and oral english, I do must accept english is not my primary language. And I sometimes may forget a word or two in moments like this; and those words may be crucial for the communications to flow.
If I can help in any other way with more information, or clarify anything I told here, I am at your orders...
Francisco
First of all thanks for your reply and thanks again for your work in this hard project.
I do not know if this kind of input is what you look, but I will try to answering some of your questions to guide you better in this project. BTW, I also like much that you take into consideration not only your needs for this project, but needs of other possible users.
In the budget range of personal weather stations, basically what I personally look is the basic functions/features, like what the FO WH-1080/3080 stations have. Indoor Temp/humidity; Outdoor Temp, Humidity, Wind speed and direction, Pressure, Rain. Solar readings not a requirement but a plus.
Having some kind of display or console to see the readings without a computer is important, in case I loose the PC (this becomes more important during events like hurricanes). But I guess if the price is right, one could manage with just the PC and cumulus reading.
I have mostly used weather stations that are wired to an external sensor, and send wireless the data to the internal sensor/console; and that is the setup I mostly prefer. But again, if price is right, I guess a complete wired station (like yours) will not be a "deal breaker" despite my preference, if all other requirements are to my liking.
The ability to get replacement sensors (easy and cheap) do would be a great plus also. Stations do require occasional maintenance and is sometimes frustrating to buy a 100USD station to then replace a small one component at a price of 50USD plus shipping.
Thinking wild here... maybe having a station capable of both, completely wired and wireless from outdoor to indoor might be a good feature But I guess will also add more on the development and selling costs...
BTW, the reason I like more the set up wired sensors in the outside, but wireless to the inside (like the FO), instead of all wired like your, is a simple logistics one I find like you that wired is less prone to error than wireless, but wireless is easier to get inside the home without drilling holes in the walls or windows... So I find the best middle approach is like what the FO stations do... all outside sensors wired to the External TX and then an internal RX to receive that wireless signal.
I also like stations (like the FO) that have the sensors wired to that External TX Unit, but is not all in just one big piece. That way one can place better the sensors, like raising the wind instruments higher in a pole and/or putting the outside temperature sensor in the shade.
Well hope input like this is what you were looking for. I am not saying build your station like this, I am just letting you know what a customer like me would be normally looking, based on my personal preferences. Hope I understood what you want. I also apologize for any part of what I say you do not understand. Although I do have a very good written and oral english, I do must accept english is not my primary language. And I sometimes may forget a word or two in moments like this; and those words may be crucial for the communications to flow.
If I can help in any other way with more information, or clarify anything I told here, I am at your orders...
Francisco