Overview

The optional Davis Weatherlink pack contains all you need to link a Davis weather station to a PC (Windows PC or Mac) and to be able to store, view and analyse all your weather data and to upload your latest data automatically to a website. While the Vantage Pro console already has an impressive set of features for displaying current weather readings, Weatherlink offers a further extension of capabilities by:

• Storing fully detailed weather records, permanently and automatically; 
• Presenting the weather data in vivid, detailed graphics;
• Providing daily, monthly and yearly summaries of conditions;
• Enabling you to build your own automatically-updating weather reporting website;
• Allowing you to work with exported weather data using other PC programs;

Below you'll find a summary of all the standard features of the Weatherlink logger and software. If you are interested in the possibility of using the Weatherlink as a data source for a custom software project or, for example, to view weather data at a distance please also see our Advance Topics pages.

The Weatherlink logger connects by default to a single program running on a single PC. It is only this single program that can receive a live feed of weather data, although this specific program can of course generate web pages that can be viewed in a standard web browser on other PCs. However there is a special software utility called VirtualVP (read more) that can relay the live data feed to up to four client programs all running on the same PC or on different networked PCs.

The Weatherlink pack comprises two components:

• A hardware data logger plus cable and adapter to attach to a serial or USB port on the PC (please specify serial or USB when ordering). A serial-to-USB converter is also available for existing serial port loggers.
• Comprehensive software.

During 2005, a set of four special 'Streaming' Weatherlink data loggers was released. These are described on a separate page.

Data Logger

All Davis stations must link to a PC via the Weatherlink data logger module, which provides the key benefit of storing weather data for extended periods, even in situations when the linked PC is switched off or even when no PC is connected. Alternatively, if a PC is actively linked, the latest data can be passed directly  from logger to PC for immediate display. Users therefore have the option either of viewing current data directly on the PC screen or of downloading stored data from logger to PC at a date and time of their choosing, which can be to an automated schedule if preferred.

There are two versions of the Weatherlink pack, one for Vantage Pro and the other for the WMII and Wizard stations, with quite different physical designs of data logger:

The Vantage Pro logger is a small module that attaches neatly to a recess on the back of the VP console and can store up to 2500 data records. (One record is a complete set of readings from all installed sensors at a given time point. The interval between records may be selected from pre-set times ranging between 1 and 120 minutes.)

The WMII/Wizard logger is a larger module designed to fit within the stand of the console. This is an older electronic design that is much slower in operation (2400 baud vs the 19200 baud of the VP logger) and can store only around 1000 records.

Each logger is supplied with an 8-feet (2.4m) long cable for connecting to a PC. A standard Davis extension cable of 40-feet (12m) can be used for longer runs. There are various further connection options for passing data from logger to PC, including longer distance links, described in our Advanced Topics area, which also contains more details on operation of the data logger.

Weatherlink Software

Introduction

The Weatherlink software is much more than a basic data logging program and offers a substantial number of sophisticated features, including the capability to run a live weather reporting website. The software is professionally produced, robust and, after a little familiarisation, easy to use.

There's space here only to describe the software briefly, but to give you a flavour here are a composite screen image and a summary of the key features of Weatherlink. A broader discussion of the benefits of linking a station to a PC and of the Weatherlink details will be found in our Using Weather Stations area.

This image shows four of the principle Weatherlink windows: Browse; Plot; Strip Charts; and Bulletin in a tiled composite image. Each of these windows and others can be individually displayed full-screen for maximum clarity.

Weatherlink Software: Key Features

• Detailed weather data is stored in long‑term database files on the PC hard drive, one month's data per file;
• A text listing of all stored records may be displayed and edited in Browse mode;
• Bulletin mode offers an auto-updating colourful graphical snapshot display of all main weather readings;
• Strip Charts mode provides a graphical tool for monitoring the trend of multiple parameters in close to real time;
• Plot mode is a comprehensive charting module for detailed presentation and comparison of all stored data;
• The Summary window provides an auto-updating daily text summary of conditions with highs and lows etc;
• Text Reports provide Monthly and Yearly summaries with appropriate calculated statistics;
• Weatherlink provides comprehensive features for running an automatic weather reporting website for either local (Intranet) or public (Internet) use, with webpages able to contain text values, graphics and trend graphs (see below);
• All settings on the weather station console may be controlled from the PC;
• Logged data may be exported in a variety of text formats for easy compatibility with other eg spreadsheet programs;

Sample web page

This image shows a reduced-size sample webpage of the type that Weatherlink can create and maintain automatically. This example shows a standard layout of text and graphic elements and is one of the templates supplied free with the software for instant use. But users familiar with laying out web pages can readily create their own designs and use those particular readings and graphic elements of their own choice.

Further comments

The latest versions of Weatherlink (v5.4 and later) are compatible with both WMII type and VP stations (although because of the more limited capabilities of the WMII stations, not all software features will be available with the WMII Weatherlink).

Our specialist knowledge of linking weather stations to PCs enables us to offer expert advice on using Weatherlink as a source of data for other applications and for custom software application. Please feel free to contact us for further discussion.

There is now a well‑established market in third party software that will accept data from Davis weather stations and provides still more powerful and more comprehensive analysis and display of the weather readings. Leading third‑party packages include Weatherview32, Virtual Weather Station and Weather Display. These are described elsewhere on this site.