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An independent video review of Weatherlink Live and its associated Weatherlink smartphone app is available on YouTube. This is a good, informative review but note that there are some important aspects of WLL such as the highly functional browser app (as distinct from the smartphone app) and multi-transmitter capability that are not covered. WLL can actually do much more than is illustrated in this review. This additional 2-minute Davis video fills in some extra detail on the browser app.
The 6100 Weatherlink Live (WLL) unit is a new data-gateway product in the Davis Vantage Vue/Pro 2 family.
In brief, Weatherlink Live is a standalone indoor unit that receives data direct from a Vue/VP2 wireless transmitter (eg an ISS) and uploads that data directly to the Davis online weatherlink.com weather network.
WLL therefore combines, in a single unit, features from both the WeatherlinkIP logger (direct uploads to the Davis weatherlink.com via a network connection) and VP2 Envoy consoles (as a pure data receiver with no built-in display). It also adds some important extra features like multi-transmitter reception, WiFi connectivity and built-in data backup.
And, to reiterate, WLL receives data direct from a Vue or VP2 ISS or other transmitter and so does not require either a console or additional logger, although some users may still choose to purchase a console to provide a dedicated visual readout of current weather conditions.
One of the standout new features of WLL is the ability to receive data from any mix of up to eight VP2 transmitters (in this respect it resembles the older Envoy8X console type but WLL has a completely new data interface).
This also means that ISS sensors can be spread across more than one transmitter (eg solar/UV separated off) and that multiple sensors can be attached to a single 6332 transmitter (the old Anemometer-only Transmitter).
WLL connects to your local network via either WiFi or a cabled Ethernet connection and its commonest role will be to upload data to the Davis Weatherlink.com cloud platform for worldwide weather data. To be clear, WLL passes data only via a network connection (ie it does not offer a USB or serial option) and is not compatible with Weatherlink for Windows, although some existing third-party software such as CumulusMX, Weather Display and Meteobridge now offers support for WLL.
Other features include being able to view data locally on any WiFi device such as a smartphone or tablet running the Weatherlink app (for iPhone or Android) and ability to access a local API. The WLL unit effectively supersedes the existing WeatherlinkIP logger since it provides much the same functionality as the IP logger (and many more features as well) but will actually cost less.
All the standard features of the weatherlink.com platform are of course available with uploads via Weatherlink Live – see left for current live weather conditions at our Littleport office uploaded via WLL and which should update once per minute.
Some further background information on using WLL units can be found under the Weatherlink Live topic on our Davis knowledgebase.
Notes: Weatherlink Live was not initially compatible with transmitter data received via a VP2 wireless repeater, but a recent firmware update has now removed this limitation. Also, Weatherlink Live is a wireless receiver and so is not compatible with cabled VP2 stations.
Applications
The flexibility of Weatherlink Live allows many new station configurations and potential applications. Here are a few ideas:
- The WLL unit stands quite separately from a console and so can be added to an existing ISS+console system or indeed used without a console at all as a pure WLL+ ISS system. (An ISS being the outside sensor assembly for Vue and VP2 stations);
- Because WLL is a WiFi-enabled unit it can be located anywhere with VP2 transmitter reception and a reasonable WiFi signal. There is no longer any need to cable a unit to a nearby router or network switch, as was the case the with WeatherlinkIP logger (though cabling remains an option if preferred)’
- For many users, WLL may well remove the need to buy a separate logger at all – WLL costs only modestly more than a standard logger and provides the extra option of placing the station console and WLL unit in different locations;
- Since WLL is able to receive data from any mix of up to eight VP2 transmitters this opens the door to several new station configurations, for example:
- Solar and UV sensors no longer need to be installed on the ISS but can be attached instead to a 6332 multi-sensor transmitter mounted at a different location from the ISS;
- The limitation of only one ISS per console no longer applies, so users wishing to install, for example, two or more anemometers or rain gauges in a single VP2 station can now do so;
- Multiple sensors can now be attached to a single 6332 multi-sensor transmitter (the old Anemometer Transmitter). (Previously the rule was one sensor per 6332 box for reception by a VP2 console, but WLL overcomes this limitation.);
- WLL can do most of what the existing WeatherlinkIP can do (and more!) and should be a little cheaper too. So WLL should be ordered in preference to WeatherlinkIP, which is now discontinued;
- Direct connection to local software via a local API will be possible (though be aware that WLL cannot emulate the old Weatherlink logger protocol because it is too limiting and so WLL is unlikely to be compatible with existing programs unless they are upgraded to talk to the WLL API);
- If you have previously been logging data local on a copy of Weatherlink for Windows (but not for Mac) then a Pro account at weatherlink.com to which a Weatherlink Live uploads will also allow you to consolidate all your past data in a single text file and upload this to weatherlink.com so that all of your historical data can be accessed in one place. WLL is the only upload mechanism to weatherlink.com that currently provides this consolidation option.
- If you like the features offered by Weatherlink Live but in addition you want to do more local data handling than weatherlink.com allows then consider adding a Meteobridge Pro Black to your system. This Black unit is essentially a dedicated miniature low-power computer that can receive data direct from a WLL unit and offers comprehensive additional data handling options.
Features
In a little more details, the features of the WLL include:
Monitor YOUR environment
Configure a custom network of multiple Davis sensors with one WeatherLink Live.
Add any combination of up to eight of the following:
- Vantage Vue Sensor Suites
- Vantage Pro2 Sensor Suites
- Sensor Transmitters with up to five sensors
- Wireless Leaf & Soil Moisture/Temperature Stations
Welcome to the smart home
- Ask Amazon’s Alexa about your weather.
- Connect your data to smart irrigation systems or other IoT/smart home devices.
Securely share your data
- Contribute your weather data to the global WeatherLink community.
- Share data with friends, family, or co-workers via the WeatherLink website and mobile applications.
- Upload to a growing list of third-party sites like Weather Underground or CWOP.
- Build your own weather tools with our powerful suite of API products.
Enjoy real-time data
- Experience the fastest reporting weather data on the market with any personal device.
Never lose data
- Safeguard recorded data with WeatherLink Live’s internal auxiliary memory.
- Protect against data loss with redundant battery backup.
Effortless setup
- Simple Bluetooth setup using the WeatherLink app.
- No Wi-Fi? No problem. Easily connect to Ethernet with the included cable.
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