Vantage Vue – a first look

Davis Vantage Vue is available from our online shop!
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Now available in bundle with WiFi logger – exclusive to weatherstations.co.uk – order on our online shop.

This page is an outline introduction to the Vantage Vue station. For a more detailed description of the Vue model please visit our main Vantage Vue page. There is also a video further below showing the Vue set-up procedure.

The Vantage Vue is the entry-level station in the Davis range and so is the most affordable model. If you’re looking for a straightforward weather station but one that still measures all six of the standard weather readings, the Vue may be all the weather station that you ever need. It is excellent value for money; made to full Davis specifications; and easy and convenient to set up. But remember that the Vue cannot be expanded to incorporate extra sensors and has certain other limitations. If you might need a more comprehensive specification, be sure to look at the Davis Vantage Pro 2 model too.

Description

As with all Davis stations, the Vantage Vue consists of two main parts: the main sensor assembly (right-hand item in the image above and often referred to as the ‘ISS’) and the display console (left-hand item above). The sensor assembly (ISS) obviously sits outside in the weather, while the console is usually placed indoors where its LCD display screen can easily be read to see the very latest weather readings.

NB Mounting pole is not included as standard.

To see the various components of the Vue station and how easy the Vue is to set up in a new installation take a look at the following Davis video:

Weather data is passed automatically from the ISS sensors outside to the console via a special low-power wireless link using exactly the same wireless protocol as the more highly-specified Vantage Pro 2 stations. Wireless range is up to 250m line of sight. And, in general, the Vue employs some of the latest available sensor technology and circuitry including, for example, solid-state magnetic switches for sensing wind speed and direction.

The Vue will provide readings of the following weather parameters:

  • Wind speed and direction (wind cups for speed will be seen above the ISS, with wind vane for direction below);
  • Air temperature and humidity (sensor is inside the white multi-element screen on the rear underside of the ISS);
  • Rainfall (funnel for the self-emptying gauge is the circular opening in the top of the ISS);
  • Atmospheric pressure (sensor inside the console unit);

The Vue has a simple all-in-one design for the sensor assembly; mounting the ISS simply requires it to be attached to the top of a pole and secured by the (supplied) U-bolt fixing. Exactly how you site the pole will obviously depend on your own particular situation, but one suggestion is shown right where we have attached the ISS to the top of a 3m pole, secured to a wooden fence post. But there are other possible mounting options – please ask. Do remember that you may need occasional access to the ISS to change the battery or e.g. to clean the rain gauge.

vue-console-238The Vue console has an easy-to-read 8 x 11cm LCD panel (with backlight) divided into three areas, plus a set of control and navigation buttons below. The most important readings (wind speed/direction, air temperature etc) are always visible in fixed positions on the display. Then there is a good range of other readings that can be called up using different button presses in the lower-right ‘Weather Centre’ display area. And finally there is a simple graphing area at the bottom left of the display.

In addition to the primary weather readings listed above, the console will generate many derived readings such as wind-chill temperature, rainfall rate, 2- and 10-minute average wind speeds etc, together with other read-outs such as sunrise and sunset times and a simple forecast for a few hours ahead. Both console and ISS come complete with well-written and comprehensive instructions.

Vue Limitations

The Vue is an excellent entry-level weather station, but please remember that it has two limitations. First, it is not an expandable station – no additional sensors (eg sunshine sensor or additional temperature sensors) can be added to a Vue system. (Adding a separate anemometer transmitter is possible for the Vue and is the one exception to the no expansion rule.)

Second, the all-in-one ISS (sensor assembly) design on the Vue, while very convenient, does inevitably mean that the sensors cannot be located separately, each at their own individual optimal height. So, as one example, higher and more consistent wind speed values will always be measured if the sensors are mounted at a good height. But accurate rainfall value can only be measured when the gauge is closer to ground level. So a decision needs to be made when siting a Vue ISS as to whether wind speed or rainfall is the priority. If both wind and rainfall are important then the Vantage Pro 2 station is the better choice because this allows the separate anemometer to be mounted up high while the other sensors can be closer to ground level.

PC connection and weather-reporting websites

Many users like to link their weather station to a PC in order to keep detailed long-term weather records and also, perhaps, to run their own live weather-reporting website (see right). Both of these options are perfectly possible with a Vantage Vue by fitting a Weatherlink data logger pack to the standard Vantage Vue station – a straightforward and easy-to-use option.

The Vue will accept the same wide range of data loggers as are available for the Vantage Pro 2 stations, ranging from the popular 6510USB type through to the 6100 Weatherlink unit (and also the related third-party options such as WiFi Logger and Meteobridge).So the full range of compatible software will work equally well with the Vue as the VP2 stations – the only limitation is that weather readings can of course only be available for those sensors fitted to the Vue as standard.

A first introduction to the capabilities available if you link a Vue to a PC (or Mac) and, potentially, also to a website can be found on our introductory page to loggers, PCs and weather websites.

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