GroveWeatherPi Pure Python Software Update

October 4, 2016 Grove, GroveWeatherPi, OurWeather, Solar Power, SwitchDoc Products, Weather, WeatherRack, WXLink
GroveWeatherPi

GroveWeatherPi Pure Python Software Update

GroveWeatherPi
Full GroveWeatherPi Ready for Installation

Our GroveWeatherPi Raspberry Pi Weather Station Kit has just launched a new pure python version of the software.   It is located up at github.com/switchdoclabs.  This fixes all known issues and also improves the configuration of the model.

What is the GroveWeatherPi?

GroveWeatherPi is a Solar Powered Raspberry Pi WiFi connected weather station designed for Makers by SwitchDoc Labs ( www.switchdoc.com). This is a great system to build and tinker with. All of it is modifiable and all source code is included.

 

Features

The most important functions are:

  • – Detects Lightning!
  • – Senses 20 different environmental values
  • – Optionally Solar Powered
  • – Has a full database containing history of the environment (MySQL)
  • – Monitors and reports lots of data on the solar powered system – great for education!
  • – Self contained and monitored for brownouts and power issues
  • – Can be modified remotely
  • – Download your data to crunch it on your PC or Mac
  • – Can be modified to do CWOP, SMS (Text) messaging, Twitters, webpages and more
  • – Has an iPad Based Control Panel
  • – Easy to connect to Twitter, WeatherUnderground, etc

The Fixed Communications Issue

unnamedThe latest issue to occur had to do with the WeatherUnderground interface occasionally receiving bad data.  After IMG_9578 3investigation, it was tracked down to an issue with the WXLink wireless remote WeatherRack system, specifically what happens when a bad set of data was received from the WXLink by the GroveWeatherPi system.   We weren’t looking at the CRC 16 checksum of the data in the GroveWeatherPi software and so on rare occasions took bad data.

GroveWeatherPi
GroveWeatherPi

We added the CRC16 checking code to the software and rejected the bad data.  The picture to the left shows how the bad data has now gone away.

What is the WXLink?

The WXLink hardware allows the placement of the WeatherRack Weather Sensors package away from the GroveWeatherPi (or soon, from OurWeather) Weather Station with no wires connecting the two.  Up to 600 meters for the long range version (100 meters for the upcoming short range version).  You can also add a solar power option (see above for picture) so you don’t need power at all out to the WeatherRack.