[aprssig] [aprs-sig] Setting up a basic weather station

[Alexander Sack]

On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 4:14 PM, Stephen H. Smith <wa8lmf2 at aol.com> wrote:
> On 8/8/2011 3:26 PM, Alexander Sack wrote:
>>
>> Folks:
>>
>> I am thinking of setting up a weather station at community co-op as a
>> service to the gardeners.  I want to relay the weather information to
>> my home base and then broadcast it on the web.
>>
>> I was thinking of doing the data collection via RF.  Problem, I am not
>> going to keep a D710A or other substance at the garden.  Is there a
>> cheaper way to do this?  I have no problem setting up an antenna and
>> we do have a shed with a lock on it.  Is there a cheap way to relay WX
>> objects via APRS (RF)?
>>
>> Looking for some ideas,
>
> If you are going to do this via APRS, you will obviously need a weather
> station, a radio and a TNC of some sort.
>
> Probably the cheapest way would be to pick up an old junker-clunker
> crystal-controlled two-meter rig at a hamfest or swapmeet, crystal it's TX
> for 144.39,  and combine it with a Byonics WXtrak.   The WXtrak   ($33 kit
> or $42 assembled with case)  is a specialized transmit-only TNC designed
> solely to connect to certain weather stations.  You plug the WX station into
> the WXtrack serial port, and connect the TX audio and PTT at the other end
> of the device to your radio's mic jack or data port.  WXtrack supports a
> limited variety of weather stations. Check the list of supported WX stations
> before buying one.   Details here:
>
> . <http://byonics.com/wxtrak/>
>

Guys thank you very much.  A local club and a few members have offered
some older radio VHF equipment that may do the trick.  The Byonics
WXtrak seems very attractive given its cost and simplicity.

Now the issue is the weather station itself.  Any recommendations?  I
am asking folks on this list since APRS enabled weather stations are
somewhat common among amateur radio operators.

-aps (KC2ZSX)