This area shows the construction and completion of a wired but extremely compact portable weather station. This version is called the "Weatherlab IV" and is designed with strength, ease of setup, portability, light weight, and simplicity in mind. The unit is constructed with two removeable triangular panels of 3/16" aluminum plate to which all components are mounted to. The electrical package is two LED amber rear lights, a rotating emergency beacon, and two powerful side illuminating tractor lights. The unit is powered by the SAME switchbox and control unit as the previous versions of the weather station. The same magnet mounts are also employed. The tried and true Oregon Scientific WM-918 weather station is the heart of this weather station. Mounting is simple "screw on design" for the anemometor mounting as well as dewpoint / temp sensor, rain guage, and optional video camera. Two antenna connections are also built into the metal sides as well as a speker (audio) connection using F-type connections. The unit is spray painted in high-visibility and corrosion-inhibiting yellow paint. Finally, the entire unit, assembled, less the anemometor mast, weighs about 30 pounds and can fit in a suitcase! Check out the pictures of the "Weatherlab IV" unit on this page!

"WEATHERLAB IV" PICTURES

Here is a picture of myself holding the completed "Weatherlab IV" unit. The key design here is light weight, strength, and reliability. Note that most components seen on previous versions of this project have been used. Also note that there is an upper and lower "deck" of the unit, and more "fragile" components are placed under the upper "deck" for protection against hail and debris. Both "halves", phased together by three 6 inch lengths of 3/8" stainless steel bolts, easily come apart if needed, and most components are designed to be either plugged in or screwed on by hand! This unit sets up in mere minutes and has six chrome handles for carrying and easy tie-down. four large magnets allow the unit to me mounted atop most vehicles. Actually, no more than a crescent wrench or a pair of pliers is needed to set up this unit. Removing the anemometor mast, magnets, and rain guage (all screw-on by hand designed), allows the entire unit to be packed away for travel. Weight is roughly 30 pounds, well below the new TSA limits for air travel of 50 and 70 pounds.
Here is another view from the front of the "Weatherlab IV". The triangle shape allows aerodynamic advantages and actually looks "cool"!
Here is another view from the rear of the "Weatherlab IV". Note the two antenna mounts on each rear corner of the top deck of the unit while all wiring is contained below. The audio, power, and antenna connections are along the lower deck. Also, rather than having three cables run from the weather station for the anemometor, temp / dewpoint sensor, and rain guage, only one cable is used as the concentrator for the cabling is also contained on the first deck of the unit.
The "Weatherlab IV" uses the SAME power controller and connections as previous versions of this project.
The same Oregon Scientific WM-918 weather station equipment was adapted to also be easily employed on the "Weatherlab IV" prototype.
The video camera package, used on other versions of the "Weatherlab" project, can also be mounted on the "Weatherlab IV" unit.

ULTRA PORTABLE UNIT

This is a smaller "La Crosse" based unit, in operation, and is ultra-compact and can go anywhere. The La Crosse is a smaller low-budget unit that can be had at Wal-Mart or any store selling electronics, for around $50. The only modifications were for the two units (the RF sender with temperature and dewpoint and wind cups) in order to magnet-mount them using the SAME magnets in the larger unit shown above and in previous versions of this project. The only drawback is that there is no wind direction, but windspeed, temperature, dewpoint, and barometric pressure are all provided by this low-cost (and compact) unit. A rain guage (not shown) is optional, and the unit sports a battery life of about 2 months. Two magnets mount the entire unit shown here, and the wind package can be removed if temperature / dewpoint are the only concerns.
This small "La Crosse" based unit can easily fit inside this small carry-on case, including all mounting hardware, magnets, and the console.

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