Vantage Vue questions

[THX]

I was getting ready to pull the trigger on a new Vantage Vue system but I starting to have more questions than answers.

The Vantage Vue is model # 6250 from Davis.

What advantage, if any, is the model # 6251 from Davis? As I understand it, Model # 6251 is the Vantage Vue but with the Vantage Pro2 console. Any pros or cons with this setup?

If I want to go with either the 6250 or the 6251 I see that a datalogger is required. Ambient Weather says that a 6510, 6555 or 6520 is required. What differences, if any, are there between the three? Are there options besides these three?

I also see that the Vantage Pro2 with the standard radiation shield is the same price as the Vantage Vue system. Therefore, what advantage if any, is there going with the Vantage Vue system as opposed to going with the Vantage Pro2?

My ultimate goal is to send rapid fire updates to wunderground.com. Is this possible with Model # 6250 or # 6251? If so, how is this accomplished?

I see a lot of people are using WD (Weather Display). This software looks uber cool. Is this a piece of software running on the desktop only? If so, can this software in conjunction with a datalogger send rapid fire updates to a website of my choosing including rapid fire to wunderground.com?

I have so many more questions. Thanks for all of your help.

[Budgie]

I can't find any reference to #6251 but #6351 is Vantage Vue console number.

The data loggers are as follows:
#6510 - USB or Serial for Windows
#6555 - IP data logger
#6520 - USB for Mac
Obviously the option to go for is the one that fits your needs and PC setup. The Serial datalogger has less problems with local interferrence that the USB version for Windows, but that's the only difference between them. The IP logger is better if you don't want to store the weather data on a local PC and use Davis's server instead.

You'll be hard pressed to find a VP2 for the same price as a Vue. You find that the Vue has the data logger included and the VP2 doesn't. 

WD will upload to Wunderground Rapid fire as well as other sites and your own website, all at the same time. It will also download METAR data, warnings, and host of other stuff.

[prodata]

What seems to be happening here is that Ambient (in the US) are marketing a bundle with what appeares to be the Davis part number 6251. In reality there is no such Davis part number (to check look at http://www.davisnet.com/weather/search_product.asp and search for '6251'.)

It's actually not a bad idea for budget-conscious users who would still like the extra flexibility for future expansion that the VP2 console provides (though rather limited by not being able to add solar/UV to a Vue ISS) while paying less than for a full VP2 system.

But I'm guessing that the Davis lawyers may be on to Ambient at some point to use some other label for the bundle - right now it looks like Ambient are pretending that this is an official Davis designation, but AFAICS it is not. (The only other possibility is that Ambient have got advance notice of a new Davis 6251 bundle, which Davis themselves haven't as yet added to their website.) If the number does turn out to have its origins at Davis then that's a backward step in my book - Davis part numbers are confusing enough already, they really should introduce the convention used by many other manufacturing companies that a part number should differ in at least two characters from any other part number and not just in one character! Much less scope for accidental mistakes that way.

[niko]

6250 - standard vue $349.95
6251 - vue with vp console $ 362.70
6152C - cabled vp2 $ 331.95
6152 - wireless vp $396.95

(all without weatherlink logger, from Ambient)

Seems to me that if you are thinking of spending the extra for the minimal extra possibilities of a vp console, you may as well spend another $34 and get a whole vp2.

[looney2ns]

I can't find any reference to #6251 but #6351 is Vantage Vue console number.

The data loggers are as follows:
#6510 - USB or Serial for Windows
#6555 - IP data logger
#6520 - USB for Mac
Obviously the option to go for is the one that fits your needs and PC setup. The Serial datalogger has less problems with local interferrence that the USB version for Windows, but that's the only difference between them. The IP logger is better if you don't want to store the weather data on a local PC and use Davis's server instead.

You'll be hard pressed to find a VP2 for the same price as a Vue. You find that the Vue has the data logger included and the VP2 doesn't. 

WD will upload to Wunderground Rapid fire as well as other sites and your own website, all at the same time. It will also download METAR data, warnings, and host of other stuff.

Vue does not include the data logger. It is an option that cost's extra just like all their stations.

[Budgie]

I missed a "may" out from that sentence. 
It should have read:

You may find that the Vue has the data logger included and the VP2 doesn't.

[stumpey]

As THX does not show where they are located and to give prespective why in the UK we are buying the Vue these are the prices in the UK from a UK supplier with UK spec Davis stations. You can shop around but you get the idea.

All prices standard setup no Fars, UV etc

VP2 Cable GBP467
VP2 Wireless GBP554

Vue GBP328

These prices do not include the data logger which is GBP217 but this price is discounted when you buy together with a weather station (approx GBP125) for any station as they are the same.

Steve

[THX]

Another question regarding this potential setup.

With the Vantage Pro2 console it asks if you are using large cups, small cups or other cups.

If I am using the Vantage Pro2 console with the Vantage Vue ISS, which should I select?

[RainmanWeather]

Another question regarding this potential setup.

With the Vantage Pro2 console it asks if you are using large cups, small cups or other cups.

If I am using the Vantage Pro2 console with the Vantage Vue ISS, which should I select?

For Vantage Vue ISS, the Pro2 console should be set to Large Cup.

just as an aside, the small cups are no longer even available on the new (since Sept. 2009) Pro2 stations due to redesign.