[wxqc] Davis VP2 Pro 6153 (Wireless+Aspirated) Complete Station Cost Estimate... A Good Value?

[Dave Helms]

Hi,

Saw the discussion of the WMR-968 and thought I would give an idea of 
the cost of the Davis VP2 6153 "complete" system.

1.  Basic system (VP2 6153):  Console, sensors, wireless ISS, aspirated 
temp/hygristor (RH) sensor
http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/weather_product.asp?pnum=06153
*  Purchased on Ebay  (patiently bid on several auctions for this price)
$485.00+$17.00 shipping

2.  WeatherLink for Vantage Pro or Vantage Pro2 for Windows (USB)
$119.95 from ProVantage.com

3.   Vantage Pro2 Anemometer Transmitter Kit - allows separate siting of 
anemometer from ISS
$112.94 each from ProVantage

Shipping for items 2 and 3 :  $15.25

4.   Betts and Thomas Gable End Antenna (Anemometer Mast) Mount
$35.00 each from Ben's Antenna
Shipping:  $25.00 (express)

5.  PC Computer - New Dell Dimension 521 Desktop with Window Vista and 
18" Flatscreen
$600.00 from Dell

6.  10 ft wood 4"x4" post (treated and painted white) - ISS and 
Temperature, Hygristor (RH), and  Rain (automated tipping) Gauge Siting; 
post trimmed 2 ft, 3 ft in ground and 5 ft above ground
$15.00 from Lowes

7.  1 bag Readi-mix Concrete - for ISS post siting
$7.00 from Lowes

8.  1 1/4" x 10 ft Aluminum Post - for anemometer, mounted in Gable End 
antenna mount
$5.00 from Lowes

9.  UPS Battery Backup (250 amps?) + Surge Protector
$100.00 from Circuit City

Total Cost:  $1,537.14

The biggest pain in the tookus is installing the Gable End antenna 
mount, which was an all-day affair.  Gathering the equipment, hopefully 
at the lowest cost, took about 2 months (what's the rush?).  If you go 
with a Davis VP 2 wireless, unaspirated, model #5153, you will pay about 
$100 than the 6153 model, or around $400 on Ebay plus shipping.  The 
kicker with the Davis is the need for the WeatherLink connector hardware 
which adds another $120 to the cost of the weather station.   Most every 
Personal Weather Station will cost at least $200 for even the most 
inexpensive console/sensors, and then you still need all the other 
accessories (including data logging application = $50-$150), so the 
difference between an Oregon or a Radio Shack system and a Davis VP2 
5153 is about $270 (subtracting the cost of the cheapest data logger 
application), or about a 17% increase in the total cost of a complete 
weather station.   For the 17% additional cost of the "total" station, 
IMHO the Davis system as a very good value as the Davis sensors are very 
competitive with even professional sensors when properly sited.

Understand that Davis is a hardware company that wrote the WeatherLink 
software almost as an after thought (why many switch to Ambient or other 
data logging applications). WeatherLink does much of the time derived 
CWOP parameters (gust, 1 hour and 24 hour precipitation) in memory (and 
not from log files written to the PC from the application) while (and 
only) in "Bulletin" mode (which you need to manually start from within 
the application).  After 3 months, the equipment is operating very well 
so no complaints for Davis.  I have also operated a Peet Bros Ultimeter 
2100 (wired) station which cost and performance is similar to the Davis 
VP2 5153.  The Peet Bros after market support is very good, and I have 
never had to wait for a replacement part with first year warranty 
support done with no issues whatsoever. 


Hope this helps,

Dave
CW0351



>  
>