Davis Vantage Vue Weather Station

Davis Vantage Vue is available from our online shop!
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Overview

vue-console-450The Davis Vantage Vue weather station provides all the well-known Davis qualities of reliability and accuracy in a lower cost, compact and easy-to-use wireless-only package.

Key features of the Vue include:

  • Measures all six standard weather parameters, i.e.
    • Wind speed & direction, with updates every 2.5 seconds allowing the display of true wind gust data;
    • Air temperature;
    • Humidity;
    • Pressure
    • Rainfall;
  • Additionally displays:
    • Inside temperature/humidity at the console location;
    • Derived readings such as Dew Point and Wind Chill Temperatures;
    • Near-term forecasts in icon form;
    • Calendar data, eg date/time, sunrise/sunset times, moon phase etc;
  • Integrated sensor construction allows the Vue to be used at exposed sites;
  • Available only as a wireless version, using exactly the same outstanding wireless technology as the Davis VP2 stations, with which it is interoperable (for standard sensors), providing reliable operation over a range of 250m unobstructed line-of-sight;
  • Allows fitting of any of the standard 65xx series of Vantage Pro data loggers and operation with the Weatherlink software for full data logging capabilities;

The Vantage Vue station consists of just two components: the display console shown here and a single all-in-one outside sensor assembly (referred to – by analogy with the VP2 systems – as the Vue ISS or Integrated Sensor Suite) – see picture below. Essentially all that’s required to install a Vue station is to attach the ISS to a suitable pole or mast by means of a single U-bolt and within wireless range of the display console, and to power up the system. Could it really be any simpler?

The Vue is designed to be complete in itself without sensor expansion options and is ideal for users seeking a real value-for-money solution to weather monitoring in applications where it is acceptable for a standard set of outside sensors to be located in a single assembly.  The Vue therefore complements the Vantage Pro 2 stations, which may be the more appropriate choice when flexibility of sensor positioning and options to add extra sensors are important requirements. Applications for which the Vantage Vue will be most relevant include:

  • Home users;
  • Education applications;
  • Any application where reliable, accurate data collection, real value-for-money and simplicity of operation are important, but where sensor flexibility is a lower priority;

All Vue stations that we supply come with our 3-year warranty and our unrivalled after-sales support service.

Vue Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS)

Vue_ISS_sky400All of the outside sensors in the Vue ISS (ie wind speed/direction, temperature/humidity and rainfall) are located together in a single, compact, non-separable assembly, specifically designed for ease and simplicity of mounting and for minimising visual impact. This sealed, integrated construction with no external connections also allows the Vue ISS to offer maximum weather-proofing and corrosion resistance thereby making the Vue stations especially suitable for use at highly exposed sites.

A passive radiation shield for the temperature sensor is fitted as standard. And the new ‘tipping spoon’ rain gauge is of course self-emptying.

For anyone already familiar with the VP2 stations, the sensor specifications are very similar to the VP2 in terms of accuracy, data update frequency etc – although the Vue ISS does admittedly look rather different! For full sensor accuracy and update details see the table in the VP2 ISS section (NB Only the sensors designated as ‘Standard’ in this table are relevant to the Vue station and the forecast on the Vue is presented only in icon form.)

Sealed electronics in the ISS provide protection against the elements and thorough testing has confirmed that the ISS survives cyclic corrosion tests simulating wear in extreme weather environments.

The Vue sensors are primarily powered from a solar panel built into the ISS design as standard and backed up by a small lithium battery, when necessary (typical battery life is about 18 months).

It is worth underlining that the wireless technology used in the Vue is identical to that in the Vantage Pro 2 stations. Consequently, all of the wireless repeater options available for the VP2 to extend the range and penetration of the wireless signal are also fully compatible with the Vue. So the range from Vue ISS to console can readily be doubled with a single standard repeater, with the long range repeater option offering still greater range. For more information on wireless range etc with Vue/VP2 stations please see our advice pages.

Note that the Vue system is not designed to receive data from any of the supplementary VP2 wireless transmitters, such as the Supplementary Temperature or Soil Moisture stations. (There is an exception in the case of the 6332 VP2 Anemometer Transmitter – more details on request).

Vue Console

The Vue console, pictured at the top of this page, provides a detailed real-time display of current weather conditions and can also call up details of past weather conditions in summary form. Specific console features include:

  • Easy-to-read, backlit 8 x 11cm LCD screen;
  • Glow-in-the-dark keypad;
  • Dedicated display areas for all main weather parameters, ie wind data, temperature, rainfall, pressure etc;
  • A ‘Weather Centre’ area, providing additional information for each weather variable, e.g. daily highs and lows;
  • ‘Change in weather since yesterday’ feature, allowing comparison of day-to-day trends in weather conditions;
  • Forecast icons;
  • A simple graph display area: Graph summary data for the past 25 hours, days or months;
  • Alarms: set up to 22 simultaneous alarms to alert you to conditions such as high winds, freezing temperatures etc;

Additional console on a VP2 system

Because the Vue is wireless compatible with the VP2 wireless stations, one attractive option for users wanting an additional console on a VP2 system is to use a Vue console. Although its display is limited to the standard Vue weather parameters (along with solar and UV readings available in the Weather Centre area of the Vue display), this will not be a concern to many VP2 owners for use as a secondary display and especially bearing in mind that the Vue console is available for around half of the price of a standard VP2 console.

Vue Data Logging

The Vue is fully compatible with the complete existing range of Davis Weatherlink VP2 loggers, including the WeatherlinkIP logger, and software (v5.9.0 and later) – you don’t need to buy a special Vue-specific logger. Full details of the Weatherlink logger packs will be found on the Weatherlink page but, in brief, fitting the optional Weatherlink data logger allows you to:

  • On your local PC:
    • Maintain a fully detailed and permanent log of daily weather conditions;
    • See a live display of current weather conditions on your PC screen, updated every 2 seconds;
    • View your logged weather data in the form of impressive visual charts and graphs;
    • Create monthly summary reports, detailing eg daily min/max values;
    • View weather variables not available on the console, eg heating degree days;
    • With add-on software, send emails and SMS messages in response to alert conditions occurring (SMS requires subscription to an SMS gateway service);
    • Optionally use the full range of Weatherlink loggers, including eg the 6544 logger model which allows the control of external electrical equipment in response to changing weather conditions;
  • Upload data to weather websites:
    • Create your own live and automatically-updating weather-reporting website;
    • Upload data to the Weatherlink website (WeatherlinkIP logger only) – the simplest possible way of making your weather data visible to others around the world on the web;
    • Participate in online communities such as the GLOBE project (for schools), CWOP, Weather Underground etc, where your weather data is shared automatically with others around the world on collaborative websites;

Vantage Vue vs Vantage Pro 2

Some comparisons between the Vantage Vue and VP2 stations have been included within the descriptions above. As a further aid, the table below provides more of a consolidated overview of the key differences between the two station types.

Feature Vantage Vue Vantage Pro 2
ISS-to-console data link Wireless only Choice of cabled or wireless models
Outside sensor assembly Single integrated unit Anemometer can be mounted separately
Built-in Radiation Shield Passive only Fan-assisted as an option
Solar/UV sensors Not compatible with Vue ISS** An option on all VP2 stations
Supplementary Sensor Stations Not available (except wind)*** Optional on wireless VP2 models
Console LCD display size Medium (4 x 3 inches) Large (6 x 3.5 inches)

* This is a comparison of our discounted special offer bundles for the weather station plus data logger. The stations are also available separately without data logger.
** Solar/UV sensors cannot be fitted to a Vue ISS. However, a Vue console can pick up solar/UV data from a VP2 Plus ISS.
*** There is one exception in that a Vue console can receive wind data (only) from a second wireless transmitter, which could be either a 6332 Anemometer Transmitter (as used on a VP2 system) plus the 6410 VP2 anemometer or, alternatively, a second 6357 Vue ISS which is available as a separate item. These configurations allow the wind readings to be measured up high where they will register higher speeds while the other readings are made closer to ground level where they will also read more accurately. There is obviously a significant extra cost to this option.

But remember that build quality, reliability and, for the set of standard weather parameters that both stations measure, intrinsic sensor accuracy are all essentially identical between the two station types. (However, because the VP2 design allows more flexibility in sensor positioning, an optimally installed VP2 system will offer greater accuracy across the complete set of weather readings. For example, on the VP2 the anemometer can be mounted high for optimum wind readings, with temperature and rainfall readings made closer to ground level for greater measurement accuracy and better compliance with official standards.)

Davis Vantage Vue is available from our online shop!
Buy Now