Weather station on a TT

Question

We have had a chance to settle in to our new Shamrock hybrid TT, which feels like a huge upgrade from our 2013 HW PUP. Much easier to land and set up at a site, and having permanent walls is such a huge advantage!

I'm starting to think about equipping the TT with the technology we like. Forest River includes a large TV, USB charging ports, and a good antenna/cable system on our rig. (To be fair, they did most of this stuff on the Flagstaff PUP, but there were limits based on the lack of wall and roof space.)

What they don't include…is a weather station.

I'm not surprised, of course. But at home we have an Ambient Weather sensor array mounted to a mast on the roof, connected wirelessly to an indoor display and a special IP router that transmits our current weather data to Weather Underground. (KCTCHESH21, if anyone is interested.) We've loved having that kind of environmental information available to us, especially when we're on the road and wanting to know whether our house is still there. ;)

I'm thinking I'd really enjoy the option of having a weather sensor array roof-mounted on the Shamrock. Obviously there's little value in transmitting weather readings to the Internet, but for our own purposes it would be useful to know current conditions and weather trends.

Have you done such a thing with your rig? If so, can you share any wisdom you've gained from the experience?

Thanks in advance!

second_chance · Answer

I had a Davis Instruments PWS for years at the stix 'n brix (uploading to Weather Underground and NWS). When we hit the road it just wasn't worth the trouble or expense - not to mention mounting and dismounting the sensor array each move (to avoid damage to the array and anemometer). I change the bookmark on my desktop every time we move so I can click directly to the nearest WUG reporting station. I do have one of the little indoor/outdoor thermometers (Lowe's or Home Depot) to check quickly on inside and outside temps. Looking at the big picture, a PWS doesn't give us the forecast information we need to plan, anyway.

Rob

gordonthree · Answer

I have a tiny computer in the trailer acting as a server. It polls GPS every six hours or sixty miles and downloads conditions for my exactly location, I skip current conditions (just look outside) but instead grab a six hour and 24 hour forecast. This also gives me a street address just in case I need that for something.

All this info and more is presented on a mobile friendly webpage that I have bookmarked on my phone and tablets.

jorbill2or · Answer

I have a accurite wireless weather station on the roof of the MH Its securely mounted to a bracket mid roof. Its one of the all in one units. People ask do you leave it up there? ( they see the anemometer spinning) and Yes I do. Two points with that. Everytime we move I'm in a 65 mph windstorm ! :) so its internal predictions are off that day! The unit is meant to point north so it can tell wind direction which is not possable in a moving rv rv and I dont climb on the roof to change it ea time we move. I pointed it to the front of the coach so "north" is always the front of the RV. Its purpose is purely my info of whats going on at the moment. Over a year and 10,000 miles and no problems. The display in the "living room" gives a look at conditions outside and inside for that matter, with just a glance. How much rain yesterday? highest wind? humidity,Temp etc etc.
We also use weather apps for the more serious stuff.Dark Sky"

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Weather station on a TT

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