jbm wrote:

I am toying with the idea of getting a weather station. I've got my
eye on one from Maplins, mainly because it has a computer interface.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223254

The back garden is tiny, approx 30 feet square, with shrub hedge
boundaries to either side (8ft high), a six foot fence across the
back with two 40ft Canadian Maples outside, and the house on the
fourth boundary. Pretty sheltered to say the least, but the back of
the house and first 15ft of the garden does receive it's full share
of sunshine. The back of the house faces SSE (about 160 degrees
magnetic).

So, questions for the knowledgeable amongst you.
1. How far from any surrounding shrubs and house should such a
station be positioned? 2. How far off the ground should it be?
3. How often would it need to be accessed for maintenance, etc?

Questions 1&2 relate to the sort of neighbourhood this is, where
one's granny needs extra theft insurance! Question 3 refers to me and
heights, specifically ladders, not having a very happy relationship!

Bolted to the back of the house is a 24ft pole supporting radio and
TV aerials. Would it be possible for it to work satisfactorily if it
was positioned about 10 feet up this pole, on a bracket putting it
about 4 feet from the rear wall of the house? That way it's above the
bushes, away from pilfering fingers, but possibly not ideal for rain
measurement from a strong northerly wind.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

jim, Northampton

I have had one of these since October 2008. It is near houses and such,
but I don't find the wind is much different to other local stations. I
do find I have to maintain it about every six month. The cups get muck
on them and spiders live in the rain guage. Cumulus software[1] is much
better than the software privided which I found buggy.


[1]http://sandaysoft.com/products/cumulus


---
zaax
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/zaax/weather/index.htm