Hi,

I'm a member of a paragliding club. Wind speed and direction dictate where
we can fly, and if we can fly at all. There are some excellent resources on
the net already, but what we really need is to be able to measure wind speed
and direction at our flying sites remotly. A few sites have members living
close by, others are in the middle of nowhere.

Here is what I'm looking for: -

For the sites with members nearby, a weather station (with at least wind
speed / direction detectors) which can be connected to a network without a
PC. This way we can install an internet connection but don't need to have a
PC at the members home.

For the other sites, I need something similar that will work over a mobile
phone, either via SMS or GPRS.

If anyone can suggest any manufactures that make this kind of equipment I
would be very grateful.


TIA,

Darren

Hi Darren,

I might have a system that could help you. I have been working on a
remote data logger for the last year, and am now selling this through a
distributor. One of its features is that it connects to a GSM modem, so
you don't need a phone line. In remote locations, it would be able to
record the wind speed and direction as well as say light level. You
could use the software provided to dial the RDL using its mobile number
and view the logged data as well as the current conditions.

I don't know whether its what you're after, but for more information,
look at http://geode.co.uk/rdl/

Regards,

Mathew Waters

Darren Fieldhouse wrote:
Hi,

I'm a member of a paragliding club. Wind speed and direction dictate where
we can fly, and if we can fly at all. There are some excellent resources on
the net already, but what we really need is to be able to measure wind speed
and direction at our flying sites remotly. A few sites have members living
close by, others are in the middle of nowhere.

Here is what I'm looking for: -

For the sites with members nearby, a weather station (with at least wind
speed / direction detectors) which can be connected to a network without a
PC. This way we can install an internet connection but don't need to have a
PC at the members home.

For the other sites, I need something similar that will work over a mobile
phone, either via SMS or GPRS.

If anyone can suggest any manufactures that make this kind of equipment I
would be very grateful.


TIA,

Darren

Darren Fieldhouse wrote:
Hi,

I'm a member of a paragliding club. Wind speed and direction dictate where
we can fly, and if we can fly at all. There are some excellent resources on
the net already, but what we really need is to be able to measure wind speed
and direction at our flying sites remotly. A few sites have members living
close by, others are in the middle of nowhere.

Here is what I'm looking for: -

For the sites with members nearby, a weather station (with at least wind
speed / direction detectors) which can be connected to a network without a
PC. This way we can install an internet connection but don't need to have a
PC at the members home.

For the other sites, I need something similar that will work over a mobile
phone, either via SMS or GPRS.

If anyone can suggest any manufactures that make this kind of equipment I
would be very grateful.

These are fairly standard features with modern weather stations such
as the Davis range, though there are pros and cons relating eg to
initial cost vs running cost, frequency of update etc, to each
approach that need to be carefully thought through. GSM modem for
example is an approach that can work quite well but is relatively
expensive for each update.

Don't immediately rule out having a PC at or near the remote site.
This typically only needs to be an old PC (eg one that might otherwise
be thrown out) or can be one of the small inexpensive units such as
the mini-ITX boxes now available. And having a remote PC, expecially
if possible in combination with a broadband net connection, can often
be the simplest and most cost-effective solution to long distance
monitoring.

Our website has futher info - see eg:

http://www.weatherstations.co.uk/longerdistance.htm

John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk

Hmm, a bit odd - surprisingly england.weather doesn't seem to be
carried on individual.net so maybe it's a marginal group and I guess
any replies won't propagate to the OP. And further research shows the
original post seems to have been made 6 months ago. Oh well.

JGD