The Belmont Station Site
Behind the scenes - my setup

Pictured left are my Davis Vantage Pro 2 wireless sensor and my weather camera - below and to the left.

My weather station is a Davis Vantage Pro 2 Wireless, which means I don't need to hardwire directly to the sensors on the roof.  It includes a solar collector which powers the sensors and stores power, and it is mounted clear of the actual roof using an accessory pole mount sold by Ambient Weather.  I decided not to actually pierce the roof to mount the sensor.

The main console next to my computer receives data from the sensors, and it uses a USB data logger to communicate with my computer and with my Virtual Weather Station software. This is my second weather station and both it and my first one were purchased from Ambient Weather. Ambient also produces and sells the Virtual Weather Station software package.  I use the Internet version.  I also purchased a second console I have in my living room to check current readings right next to my easy chair.  It is a Davis Vantage Vue console which monitors the sensors wirelessly every few seconds, and is compatible with the Pro 2 sensors.

The Virtual Weather Station software, once setup, handles converting raw data to html pages automatically, and uploads them via built-in FTP to your website, using a schedule you set up.  I have modified the .htx files to customize my pages on my site.  If you wish you can just use generic .htx files provided by VWS.  The software also includes cool update technologies allowing you to participate on several weather servers such as Weather Underground, WeatherBug and others.

My website is hosted by ipage.com.  I highly recommend them.  I purchased the hosting service and my domain name from them and it was all pointed and working in minutes.  Amazing.

I have posted related pictures on down this page.

 

I am using a simple, inexpensive IP weather / security camera for this station that was recommended by Ambient Weather.  It is a Foscam F18906W Outdoor Wireless IP camera.  Mine is hard wired to my network router, but WiFi is built in and available to be used if desired.  I purchased it from Ambient Weather, but it also available direct for Foscam.  Ambient Weather includes instructions for setting up the camera to upload to Weather Underground, if you don't already know how to do that.  The FTP program to upload image data is built into the camera monitoring software and runs on any network computer.

This camera has infrared lights surrounding the camera lens to illuminate after dark, and they cycle on and off automatically. You can also just leave them switched off.  The lights give off a faint, red glow but are nearly invisible to the human eye.  I like what the lights give at night when there is precipitation in the air, but otherwise they don't help me much as my camera is pointed high. I have included some screen shots with and without the IR lights farther down the page.  I have also included some screen shots of the camera control panel from a network computer screen.

This is the main console next to my computer.  The data logger is plugged into the back and to the computer via USB.  If you want to interface with your computer, be sure to include a data logger in your system.

This is the Vantage Vue Console I have next to my easy chair.  Very handy!

This is the Virtual Weather Station software package and a computer screen shot.

  

Foscam Control Screens
The camera has its own FTP program built into the firmware.  Mine is setup to FTP a new image to my site server every 180 seconds.  Any pages that use that image then display the updated image, which is called by the page or 'referred' to on the server.  Weather Underground also pulls that image on their schedule to post along with other weather cameras all over the United States.  If you don't have your own weather page you can FTP the image directly to Weather Underground.

 

 

 

 

Camera Screen Shots
The first two shots below are with the IR lights on.  In the third shot they are switched off, but there is plenty of ambient light around due to the snow cover.  Normally this shot would be almost black, showing only some street lights or car lights in the distance.

 

 

 

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