Local Weather Data for Home Assistant! (Ecowitt WittBoy Weather Station)

[@MountainParameters]

The calibration for wind direction is because when you use a compass or phone to point your product North, that is magnetic north, and the WS90 unit algorithm is based on measuring wind from true north. So you have to calculate the declination value for your given area, and then enter it into the calibration field for wind direction. If you live above sea level, you also must adjust your absolute pressure so that the mean sea level value corresponds to values such as the National Weather Service reports for your area. It is protocol for meteorologists to standardize all pressure values from widely dispersed weather stations to mean sea level so they can facilitate meaningful analysis by comparing the difference in values between them.

[@antoniodecrisci2369]

I have this and use it for HA also, works well. For the power wire to the Wittboy, you can hide the wire into the metal tube by placing it in and under the part where you tightening the Wittboy to the tube (there is a little canal for the wire to fit in). Looks nicer and protects the wire (even if its outdoor rated).

[@makeitworktech]

Ah, very good idea, hiding the wire inside the tube!

[@ArsStarhawk]

Can you tell me more about the power wire? How long is it? I assume it goes to a AC/DC converter and then to a plug? Is the converter weather tight?

[@notofinterest]

does a piezo sensor report rain sooner as a bucket one? on my experience its raining for minutes till first bucked will be sensed.

[@zyghom]

I think that split is for the reason: wind should be measured on specific height, open space etc. while temperature and humidity rather lower place, not exposed to the direct sun etc.

[@makeitworktech]

Ah, that makes sense!

[@MarkGhali]

Aaron you yard looks amazing! Where are you at in the US?

[@makeitworktech]

Thanks, I'm in Northeast Pennsylvania!

[@oneiropagides342]

Great video! Did you find out by any chance how it works with the external power supply? It only mentions in the (very bad) documentation, that the external power is for the heater element, but I read in a forum that the sensor array will also be powered by the external power cable if it is connected. Can anyone confirm that?

[@charleskeller4288]

Mine attracts birds perching on top, you might want to add the spikes too. 15:00 I wonder if spraying a surfactant or silicone every few months would help ... i did not search Ecowitt on this idea, your comment simply lead to this thinking-out-loud comment

[@makeitworktech]

I'll keep an eye on mine. Spring-time is the time when birds are the most annoying in my area. That's a great idea! I thought of that too, some surfactant that would break the surface tension of the water and make it run off. Might even be able to use dish soap, but you'd need to reapply it...

[@greggblankman7772]

Are you able to block this device from the internet and still use it in home assistant? Given the privacy concerns that is the only way I would consider using this product.

[@steveanimatrix3887]

Yes, there is a local api (local push) that the official integration uses. The only time it would communicate with the outside is if you set it up to interact with other weather services such as Weather Underground.

[@gordon861]

Looks good, look forward to the review of the other unit before making a decision. Can you access the Gateway from a web browser rather than through the app on your phone?

[@makeitworktech]

Yes you can! Get the gateway's IP and access it via browser. No graphing capability that way though

[@gordon861]

@@makeitworktechSo should make the cut'n'paste to get the URL etc into HA easier.

[@makeitworktech]

@@gordon861 yeah they could definitely make the integration easier

[@theamazinglandshark]

Can this run properly if you block the hub from accessing the internet through your router?

[@zyghom]

+1 from me - please check if it can work completely without internet access - it would be so cool

[@dipendraraikut]

How long does the battery last for the extra Rain gauge that you installed separately. Because I am planning to install in my remote location where I will not be present for around a year. Thanks in advance...

[@makeitworktech]

Same battery now that I put in when I installed it in June of 2022, when I made this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmjFeomQlMeNrKc

[@randyc.wright7226]

How do you connect a HP2564 to a iPhone pro 14 max and a IPad Pro …. Randy

[@netwak]

Is it possible to add a second gateway to the same station? I would like to have one station, and a gateway in my shop for Home assistant, and in the house with some other panel display. Thanks :)

[@makeitworktech]

I think it should be possible, since the station just picks up any Ecowitt RF devices it sees

[@jaredgudnason4400]

Decent looking weather station, however, I would still stick to Tempest. Has more sensors, and all the same local connections for HomeAssistant.

[@makeitworktech]

I'll be testing that next if I can get one!

[@glynnmrrtt]

I have a new HP2564 but the rain reading is very low do you know if adjusting the rain gain higher under calibration will increase the readings? Thanks

[@makeitworktech]

What is an HP2546?

[@glynnmrrtt]

Pantech weather station with a Haptic rain gauge

[@josemanuelsuarezroman6201]

How much time between sensors updates?, each minute?

[@makeitworktech]

30 seconds, but you can adjust it

[@mrxmry3264]

The question is, is that internet connection required or optional? If it is required I won't buy this thing.

[@daniele9160]

Hi, I followed your video to the letter but in the home assistant in the ecowitt integration, I can't find any weather station or any entity, could you advise me on what I can do to resolve this? It works perfectly on my phone . thanks

[@makeitworktech]

Is your base station connected to your Wi-Fi properly?

[@franciscor9527]

Hello. Can you indicate how to pass the data from the Ecowitt WittBoy weather station to influxdb?

[@makeitworktech]

I used Home Assistant with influx db as an add on

[@bluearcherx]

too bad they couldn't be thoughtful enough to have a PoE option. Imagine changing batteries on your roof.

[@makeitworktech]

Ah yeah. You shouldn't have to change them too often at least!

[@andersyuran7725]

But its solar so rechargable ones. Should last long time

[@charleswheatcroft]

@@andersyuran7725 I thought the same but I can't see anywhere that the unit recharges batteries which seems like an oversight.

[@john1182]

Most weather stations are like that and need batteries. This one uses solar and is normally self powered. The back up batteries are just that a back up for a series of really overcast days. But battery only systems last 12 months plus

[@john1182]

The camera feeds here in Australia have so many people's back yards and pools. Its a bit of a wrf

[@JamboM23]

Are you able to create an alert as soon as it detects the start or rain drops?

[@samturner4406]

I have this question also. I want to auto close windows on rain start.

[@bkemp28]

Tempest Weather Station…

[@samturner4406]

@bkemp28 that does not answer the question 🤔

[@makeitworktech]

Bets to use a rain detector I think

[@makeitworktech]

Use a rain detector I think. Weather stations can have false positives, but A rain detector is much more accurate

[@africola5270]

My Neighbour has this weaterstation and provides the data over the internet. How can I use his data for my own home Assistant integration?

[@makeitworktech]

How does he "provide" the data to you?

[@Hielton100]

Do you know if ecowitt Wittboy is accurate in calculating rainfall?

[@makeitworktech]

Based on the limited testing I showed in the video, it may take some tweaking of the settings to make it as accurate as the bucket-style

[@gbadishomeassistant748]

if i click to any amazon product it is always unavailable. Give us solutions with chinesse products which are cheaper and always available

[@makeitworktech]

s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_mPD3AFC

[@falenone11]

Thank you. Please consider ditching amazon as it's the crappy and expensive aliexpress anyway nowadays

[@Tntdruid]

Currently unavailable .

[@makeitworktech]

What is?

[@Tntdruid]

@@makeitworktech the items you link to on Amazon.

[@bones549]

Well ya had me till i need cloud

[@makeitworktech]

Need cloud for what

[@pseudonym3396]

@@makeitworktech rain

[@XSpt1]

200$ I’ll pass, I’m not a farmer

[@makeitworktech]

Not a data nerd then, eh?

[@wilfredswinkels]

Yeah, VERY overpriced!

[@makeitworktech]

Wait until you see the price tag on the Weatherflow Tempest!

[@cpufrost]

@@makeitworktech It's all overpriced Chinese junk! The sensor used for rainfall is a piezo speaker element that costs a few cents! The batteries will die with no warning. Lightning strikes are essentially made up. Hopefully none of the data from these devices is used for actual weather research. Temperature and pressure data are the only things (trends) that would be useful. Wind speed is completely inaccurate from these devices and cannot be trusted at all. Rainfall too, as the units will register fireworks and gunfire as precipitation. Not to mention any kind of vibration. We have one mounted on a 60 foot tower and today the winds are 20-30 mph and the sky is clear yet (Tempest) is showing heavy rain!

[@robertt8273]

How about making something practical. Not to just power a fan.

[@makeitworktech]

Power a fan?

[@stevefromuk]

As soon as I hear a KZbinr say full disclosure I lose all interest 😞

[@makeitworktech]

😮

[@greggblankman7772]

Why? I personally question the credibility of any KZbinr who does not disclose.