Support for new ACURITE 01050C station

[ctccbc]

Acurite is coming out with its new 01050C station in October. Not only does it include a solar-aspirated 5 in 1 system, and a really cool console, but will also include a wireless internet bridge, which will support at least Wunderground and probably more servers as well. I was wondering if there are any plans for Weather Display to support this system. The cost will be roughly in the 150-200 dollar range, and I think alot more people will get into the hobby given this price. Testing of these systems show good quality data as well.

[Weather Display]

Hi
I have been in contact with Rhino on wxforum.net
and he was open to the idea of sending me a hardware sample when its released
so hopefully that happens

[walmsleyc]

This weather station is being sold at Costco in Canada for a extremely good price.

I have one I am testing, and would be interested in know the status of supporting
this device.

C

[Weather Display]

Hi
there is no information available on how to support the station at this stage
the data is sent directly to the acurite server from the internet bridge
one person has done a hack job by intercepting that data stream and then getting that data into WD's clientraw file format (or was it the universal data file format) and set WD to use
there is a thread on wxforum about that

[niko]

Yeah, not a third party software friendly device. Also referring to that wxforum thread it, it seems a bit odd for there to be beta test users, but the thing is already on sale in costco 

[Weather Display]

there was beta testers for the direct (closed system) data to the accurite servers

[stevep]

I hope they cooperate and get you a sample station and docs on their communication protocols quickly.   I just bought a 01025 station and it is exceeding my expectations thus far.    Plus it has a very nicely designed console and instrument pack.   I made a post on their forums about getting you what you need to support their stations and FWIW they said they would.   I know you have been talking to Rhino already but I figured mentions from their customers could only help.

I have been using WD for a long time but the anemometer on my Oregon Scientific WMR-918 died and the cheapest replacement I could find cost $80 so I decided it was time to replace it.   It will sure be nice to get WD working with the 01025.   While I am waiting I have left the WMR-918 in service for CWOP and for my website but switched Wunderground over to the 01025 since my wind data is non-existent withe the 918 now.

Let me know if I can help with the effort in anyway, testing, data collection, etc.

[Weather Display]

I did get an email from them months ago
they were more picking my brains about what would be the best way to get data from it
but I have not heard any more
I am ready when they are

[stevep]

Hey Brian - here is the response they posted on their support forum to my post urging them to get you a unit and docs...

"Here's the response from the product development team:

Yes, we have a relationship with the developers of weather display and a couple of other software packages. I will handle getting them what they need to support our products. We are waiting on some documentation that will let them do that.

Thanks,
Jeff "

I hope they complete their tech docs and get them to you quickly.

S

[Weather Display]

sounds good

[ctccbc]

I finally got one of these units for beta-testing and they are really nice. The bridge works well for the most part, and the data is very representative for my area, close to my Oregon Scientific unit and the local ASOS 5 miles away. The only real issue I have seen is with the pressure, but I'm told that after the unit goes through its 14 day learning mode, this too will correct itself.  I am a professional meteorologist with the National Weather Service, so I will give this unit a nice test.  I wonder if Brian has heard from the Acu-Rite people yet? I'd love to see it supported by Weather Display, because I think this unit has alot of potential and its lower price will get alot of people into the hobby.

Chris
moreheadcityweather.com 

[Weather Display]

yes I have and they are going to send me
I am surprised you are wanting WD to support this station though, as you have openly been a non supporter of WD on wxforum

[ctccbc]

I have no issue with Weather Display. I have been a registered WD issue for many years and I appreciate everything you do with the software. My thinking with the Acu-rite 01050 systems, is that as they improve these units, at the relatively low cost, I think they are going to get alot of people into the hobby and the more options for support, then all the better for everyone.

[niko]

ctccbc: Do you have an idea how the auto calibrating baro works? I read the doc and it sounds like it just adjusts the baro over time so that the averaged reading is equal to some arbitrary "correct" average, but it's not very clear 

[ctccbc]

Niko,

I wrote to them about that today, because while all of the other data is pretty representative, the barometer is way way off (i.e. reporting 29.83 when it should be around 30.30 in/Hg). They said there are three options. One is to let it finish its 14-day learning period to see if it re-adjusts. Second, they said a learning period of 33 days is actually better, because the calibration algorithm runs for 4000 12-minute samples or approximately 33.3333333 days. However, they said the best way is to find a day when the pressure is around 29.92, pull out the batteries to reset and put them back in, then it should be pretty close to right. Seems like a strange way to calibrate an instrument to me. I suggested that they add a method to calibrate temperature/wind/pressure data in the acu-link software, before shipping it to Weather Underground,  or let us calibrate within the console, which I believe you can for temperature and humidity. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the system, except for the pressure readings, and no ability to link with any third-party software and having Weather Underground uploads limited to 15 minutes.

Hope this helps,
Chris