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weewx-tempest-pi

Contents

Introduction
Hardware Pieces
    Full disclosure
Linux, etc.
    Editing
    Introduction
    Installation
    dietpi
WeeWX
    Retrieve, Install WeeWX
    Installation Notes
    Status
Install WeatherFlow Tempest module
    Retrieve weatherflow UDP code
    Install
    [[Station]]
    Replace [Simulator] section with [WeatherFlowUDP] content
    [[sensor_map]]
    Get Your Station Identification
Insert your Serial number into weewx.conf
    View web pages
    Turn off Station Identification
Further Configuration
    Measurement Units
Seeing Results
    WeatherFlow Tempest Website
    WeeWX Output using FTP
    WeeWX Map
    Weather Underground
    AWEKAS
    PWS Weather
    Weathercloud
    WOW
Implementation Notes
    Transfer from a Raspberry Pi 4 2GB to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2
    Network Connection: Wireless > Ethernet

Introduction

This document describes setting up WeeWX to process the results from a WeatherFlow Tempest and is derived from:

There is no single cookbook approach to setting up WeeWX with a WeatherFlow Tempest; hence this document. I hope it helps someone.

This document assumes basic knowledge of Linux and a Raspberry Pi if you're using one. If this does not describe you and you want a more detailed approach let me know. I (may, will) add more details in relevant places.

Also, there are introductory notes to show how to publish weather results to:

July 2022

Hardware Pieces

I have the following equipment:

WeatherFlow Tempest Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Full disclosure 😀

I have had the WeatherFlow Tempest running with WeeWX software on a Raspberry Pi 4 2 GB platform since July 2021. Now, I think that a better $ value is to have weewx running on a Pi Zero 2. This document is/was written as I complete(d) the transfer.

See further comments in Transfer from a Raspberry Pi 4.

Linux, etc.

Editing

When editing the configuration and other files, any text editor will do:

  • vim
  • geany
  • thonny
  • ....

Introduction

If you're using Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or other Linux, skip this section and jump to WeeWX below.

Installation

I am using:

Raspberry Pi OS Lite
Release Date: April 4th, 2022
System: 64-bit
Size: 270MB
  • Install onto an SD card as usual (I use rpi_imager)
  • Install SD card into the Pi Zero and start up as usual.
  • Configure ssh to run for remote access.

dietpi

I tried to install weewx with the dietpi distro. weewx found all sorts of modules missing and it just wasn't worth the effort to continue.

WeeWX

Retrieve, Install WeeWX

From the WeeWx Documentation, follow the topics:

Installation Notes

The WeeWX installation will ask for the following:

Value Note
Location of Weather Station Enter the name/location of the station. Use the Tempest name, but any name will do (example: Cherry Beach)
latitude, Longitude Enter the decimal values of the site co-ordinates.
(Note: installation allows any input here and doesn't check. However, hidden system errors occur at runtime when you supply badly formed values.)
Altitude Enter site altitude as directed.
display units Make a choice. Further adjustments are easy to make later in the configuration file.
Weather Station hardware Type Choose: Simulator.

Status

On the WeeWX Installation page, follow the topics:

Value Note
Status Log entries will appear. These values are unimportant at this time.
Verify Web pages to appear at /var/www/html/weewx/index.html
Customize Ignore (for now).
Start/Stop Stop weewx. (sudo /etc/init.d/weewx stop)
Uninstall Ignore.
Layout Keep for reference.

Install WeatherFlow Tempest module

Retrieve weatherflow UDP code

  1. Visit https://github.com/captain-coredump/weatherflow-udp
  2. Download the .ZIP download of the project from the GitHub web interface
    1. Button: CODE
    2. Choose Download ZIP

This retrieves: weatherflow-udp-master.zip

Install

sudo wee_extension --install weatherflow-udp-master.zip

Edit the configuration file: weewx.config

sudo edit /etc/weewx/weewx.conf

[[Station]]

In the [Station] section near the top of the configuration file, edit:

    station_type = WeatherFlowUDP

Replace [Simulator] section with [WeatherFlowUDP] content

  1. Find the section [Simulator], and delete / comment out all lines in the section, including [Simulator].
  2. Copy the following lines to where [Simulator] was previously:
[WeatherFlowUDP]
    driver = user.weatherflowudp
    log_raw_packets = False
    udp_address = <broadcast>
    # udp_address = 0.0.0.0
    # udp_address = 255.255.255.255
    udp_port = 50222
    udp_timeout = 90
    share_socket = False

    [[sensor_map]]
        outTemp = air_temperature.AR-00004444.obs_air
        outHumidity = relative_humidity.AR-00004444.obs_air
        pressure =  station_pressure.AR-00004444.obs_air
        # lightning_strikes =  lightning_strike_count.AR-00004444.obs_air
        # avg_distance =  lightning_strike_avg_distance.AR-00004444.obs_air
        outTempBatteryStatus =  battery.AR-00004444.obs_air
        windSpeed = wind_speed.SK-00001234.rapid_wind
        windDir = wind_direction.SK-00001234.rapid_wind
        # lux = illuminance.SK-00001234.obs_sky
        UV = uv.SK-00001234.obs_sky
        rain = rain_accumulated.SK-00001234.obs_sky
        windBatteryStatus = battery.SK-00001234.obs_sky
        radiation = solar_radiation.SK-00001234.obs_sky
        # lightningYYY = distance.AR-00004444.evt_strike
        # lightningZZZ = energy.AR-00004444.evt_strike

(original source: https://github.com/captain-coredump/weatherflow-udp)

I edited the top part to be:

[WeatherFlowUDP]
    driver = user.weatherflowudp
    log_raw_packets = False
    #   log_raw_packets = True
    #   udp_address = <broadcast>
    #   udp_address = 0.0.0.0
    udp_address = 255.255.255.255
    udp_port = 50222
    udp_timeout = 90
    share_socket = False

[[sensor_map]]

Replace the sensor_map section with the following content:

    # This section is for the TEMPEST WeatherFlow Bridge packets, via UDP broadcast on local subnet

    [[sensor_map]]
        outTemp = air_temperature.ST-00000025.obs_st
        outHumidity = relative_humidity.ST-00000025.obs_st
        pressure = station_pressure.ST-00000025.obs_st
        #lightning_strikes =  lightning_strike_count.ST-00000025.obs_st
        #avg_distance =  lightning_strike_avg_distance.ST-00000025.obs_st
        outTempBatteryStatus = battery.ST-00000025.obs_st
        windSpeed = wind_speed.ST-00000025.rapid_wind
        windDir = wind_direction.ST-00000025.rapid_wind
        #luxXXX = illuminance.ST-00000025.obs_st
        UV = uv.ST-00000025.obs_st
        rain = rain_accumulated.ST-00000025.obs_st
        windBatteryStatus = battery.ST-00000025.obs_st
        radiation = solar_radiation.ST-00000025.obs_st
        #lightningXXX = distance.ST-00000025.evt_strike
        #lightningYYY = energy.ST-00000025.evt_strike

ref: https://github.com/captain-coredump/weatherflow-udp/blob/master/sample_Tempest_sensor_map.

Get Your Station Identification

The sample code is for data coming from station ID ST-00000025. You now need to find out your station ID.

  1. Under [WeatherFlowUDP] set:
    log_raw_packets = True
  1. Save the configuration file (weewx.conf).
  2. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

weewx will start watching for the UDP packets from the Tempest and dump them in the log. We can see this information with:

sudo tail -f /var/log/syslog

You are looking for records like:

May 26 22:26:55 raspberrypiZ2-2 weewxd: weatherflowudp: MainThread: raw packet: {'serial_number': 'ST-00052000', 'type': 'rapid_wind', 'hub_sn': 'HB-00041000', 'ob': [1653618412, 0.52, 315]}
May 26 22:28:25 raspberrypiZ2-2 weewxd: weatherflowudp: MainThread: raw packet: {'serial_number': 'ST-00052000', 'type': 'rapid_wind', 'hub_sn': 'HB-00041000', 'ob': [1653618504, 0.29, 312]}
May 26 22:28:26 raspberrypiZ2-2 weewxd: weatherflowudp: MainThread: raw packet: {'serial_number': 'ST-00052000', 'type': 'device_status', 'hub_sn': 'HB-00041000', 'timestamp': 1653618505, 'uptime': 26712917, 'voltage': 2.763, 'firmware_revision': 156, 'rssi': -64, 'hub_rssi': -64, 'sensor_status': 131072, 'debug': 0}

(I have slightly obfuscated the serial numbers from my own Weatherflow Tempest).

Terminate the log viewing with Ctl-C.

Insert your Serial number into weewx.conf

  1. sudo edit /etc/weewx/weewx.conf
  2. We want the Tempest serial number (here: ST-00052000) in the sensor map code:
    In /etc/weewx/weewx.conf, search/replace ST-00000025 with ST-00052000 (but with what you found in your log file)
  3. I also uncommented all lines in [[sensor_map]]. Not sure what effect this has.
  4. Save the configuration file (weewx.conf).
  5. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart
  6. Let run for 10 - 15 minutes (or more).

View web pages

WeeWX has main ouput in web pages at: /var/www/html/weewx. To see if WeeWX is working for you, view the web index.html file.
vim /var/www/html/weewx/index.html

Browse down and look for output like:

  <div class="widget_contents">
  <table>
    <tbody>
      <tr>
        <td class="label">Outside Temperature</td>
        <td class="data">61.7&#176;F</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td class="label">Heat Index</td>
        <td class="data">61.0&#176;F</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td class="label">Wind Chill</td>
        <td class="data">61.7&#176;F</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td class="label">Dew Point</td>
        <td class="data">52.6&#176;F</td>
      </tr>

What's notable here is:
Outside Temperature appears with a value of 61.7. If weewx is not configured correctly, you will likely see N/A.

Turn off Station Identification

When you are satisfied that weewx is getting the UDP packets from the Tempest hub, you will want to turn off log_raw_packets since it will put lots of now unnecessary stuff in the system log. Edit the configuration file (weewx.conf).

  1. sudo edit /etc/weewx/weewx.conf
  2. Set log_raw_packets = False
  3. Save the configuration file.
  4. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

Further Configuration

Measurement Units

The default measurement units for StdReport appear in /etc/weewx/weewx.conf and are set to US units. I set mine to the following (Canadian units):

  1. In /etc/weewx/weewx.conf, navigate to: StdReport >> Defaults
  2. Set unit_system = metric
  3. Navigate a few lines down to Units >> Groups, and edit the respective lines to read:
    group_pressure  = kPa          # Options are 'inHg', 'mmHg', 'mbar', 'hPa', or 'kPa'
    group_rain      = mm           # Options are 'inch', 'cm', or 'mm'
    group_rainrate  = mm_per_hour  # Options are 'inch_per_hour', 'cm_per_hour', or 'mm_per_hour'
  1. Save the configuration file.
  2. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

Seeing Results

WeatherFlow Tempest Website

On your phone or tablet and in the Tempest configuration app, you specify if you want to share your results publicly.

    Settings > Stations > (Station name) > Public Data > Share Publicly

A few lines below is the Share Page with the URL of where your weather results appear:

    https://tempestwx.com/station/nnnnn

...where nnnnn is your given station number. It is not the same as the serial numbers of the Tempest of the Hub.

WeeWX Output using FTP

I use Infinity Free as a web hosting site. It's:

  • free
  • allows regular ftp upload
  • is mostly smooth in producing pages

... and suits my non-professional purposes.

Use the notes in FTP in the WeeWX User's Guide for FTP transfer.

For illustration, I have configured:

enable = true
user = epiz_redacted
password = redacted
server = ftpupload.net    # The ftp server name, e.g, www.myserver.org
path = /rongrimes.42web.io/htdocs    # The destination directory, e.g., /weather

# Set to True for an FTP over TLS (FTPS) connection. Not all servers
# support this.
secure_ftp = False

# Most FTP servers use port 21
port = 21

# Set to 1 to use passive mode, zero for active mode
passive = 1

WeeWX Map

WeeWX maintains a world map of all registered WeeWX stations at:

To register on the map:

  1. sudo edit /etc/weewx/weewx.conf
  2. Navigate to: [StdRESTful] > [[StationRegistry]]
  3. Set register_this_station = true
  4. Navigate to station_url (above in the config file).
  5. Set station_url to your Weewx website. Really, set it to any website you have control over.
  6. Save the configuration file.
  7. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

Check the WeeWX map and your site will appear soon. (I don't remember if it takes 5 minutes, an hour or a day.)

Weather Underground

There are two ways to get your Tempest weather data published to Weather Underground.

  1. Direct the Tempest website to publish to Weather Underground. This is the method I use.
  2. The weewx configuration file can be set up to send data to Weather Underground. See the section in the configuration file: [[Wunderground]]

Steps: Weather Underground

  1. Navigate to http://www.weatherunderground.com
  2. Login to the site. (Use Join if you're a new member.)
  3. In My Profile, go to My Devices.
  4. Use Add New Device and provide data as prompted.
  5. From the Devices page, record your ID and Key.

Steps: Tempest Website

  1. Go to https://tempestwx.com/ and login with the same username & password that you created for the mobile app.
  2. Navigate: Settings > Stations > (Your station) > Public Data > Weather Underground
  3. Enter your Station ID and Station Key for Weather Underground from above, and enable the Send Rain switch.
  4. Click < at the top of the page to exit.
  5. Check Weather Underground in a day or so to see that it's publishing.

I found that Weather Underground took a while to show my station on the map, but I could find my data explicitly on the Weather Underground web site via My Profile > My Devices.

AWEKAS

AWEKAS (Automatisches WEtterKArten System) is an Austrian weather station collecting site with a strong European presence. It is similar in principle to WeatherUndergound in North America.

To get your weather results displayed with AWEKAS:

  1. On the AWEKAS page, navigate to:
    My Awekas > My Station Panel
  2. Use Register New, and supply details as required.
  3. Update the WeeWX configuration file with your login information.
  4. For illustration, I have:
    [[AWEKAS]]
        # This section is for configuring posts to AWEKAS.
        
        # If you wish to do this, set the option 'enable' to true,
        # and specify a username and password.
        # To guard against parsing errors, put the password in quotes.
        enable = true
        username = redacted
        password = redacted
  1. Save the configuration file.
  2. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

PWS Weather

Weathercloud is a Minnesota (US) station collecting site with fairly repeasentative presence worldwide.

To get your weather results displayed with PWS Weather:

  1. On the PWS Weather web page, use Log in, and create your login ID.
  2. Click the button to Add a station. If you don't see Add a station, log out and log back in again.
  3. Provide your station details and then click SAVED STATION.
  4. Click your station button on the Stations web page and retrieve:
    • your Station ID
    • your API Key.
  5. Update the [[PWSweather]] section in the WeeWX configuration file with your station information. (Use your API Key for the password).
  6. For illustration, I have:
    [[PWSweather]]
        enable = true
        station = EASTTORONTO
        password = 218_redacted
  1. Save the configuration file.
  2. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

Weathercloud

Weathercloud is a Barcelona station collecting site with a strong European and North American presence.

To get your weather results displayed with Weathercloud:

  1. On the Weathercloud page, navigate to:
    Get started
  2. Use Sign up, and supply details as required.
  3. You will receive an email with:
    • Weathercloud ID
      redacted
    • Key
      redacted
  4. Update the WeeWX configuration file with your ID/key information.
  5. For illustration, I have:
    [[WeatherCloud]]
        id = redacted
        key = redacted
  1. Save the configuration file.
  2. Visit https://github.com/matthewwall/weewx-wcloud, and follow the directions to install wcloud - the weewx extension that sends data to WeatherCloud.
  3. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

WOW

WOW is the UK Met Office WeatherObservationsWebsite with a strong Western Europe, Australia/New Zealand and some North American presence.

I found this site more difficult/less intuitive to set up, and hence a few more notes here regarding configuration. In your WeeWX config file you are asked for two values:

  • station
  • password

The notes below will help you find these (it's not obvious until you know!).

To get your weather results displayed with WOW:

  1. On the WOW page, use Sign up, and supply details as required.
  2. Use Create a Site and supply the information to configure your station entry on WOW.
  3. For Step 1: Configuration screen in (2) Site Details, it will ask for "Authentication Key". Use any value here (but avoid spaces, and "some" special characters), and this will be your WeeWX password value.
    Example:

  1. Click Complete on the web page to register your site.
  2. Review your site (you can find it under My sites).
  3. The coded value under your station name, is the station value for the WeeWX config file.
    Example:

  1. In weewx.conf, update the [[WOW]] section with your WOW credentials. For illustration, I have:
    [[WOW]]
        # This section is for configuring posts to WOW.
        
        # If you wish to post to WOW, set the option 'enable' to true, then specify a station and
        # password. To guard against parsing errors, put the password in quotes.
        # >> Example values to match images.
        enable = true
        station = "3251462c-74fc-ec11-b5cf-0003ffffffff"
        password = "EvilPlace"
  1. Save the configuration file.
  2. Restart weewx.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx restart

WOW Site Data Preferences

The WOW Site registration page uses the 4. Site Data Preferences section to describe the realistic accuracy of your station. This section was horribly cryptic until I found the section description in the Support Pages:
   Support > Site Ratings

Debugging the link

I found some help in debugging the upload process in:
   Support > Data Formats and APIs

In particular, I found that using the Example URL meant that instead of working with WeeWx to communicate to WOW which could take 5 minutes per cycle, I could instead, manually send REST requests off to WOW at any speed. This way I finally got the station (= siteid) and password (= Authentication Key = siteAuthenticationKey) correct.

Implementation Notes

Transfer from a Raspberry Pi 4 2GB to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2

As mentioned above, this document was written when I transferred the WeeWX software from a Raspberry Pi 4 2GB to a Raspberry Pi Zero 2.

The essentials of the transfer were particularly easy. I loaded a new WeeWX on the Pi Zero using the directions above and then to transfer the data across:

  1. Stop weewx on the Raspberry Pi 4, and the Raspberry Zero 2.
    sudo /etc/init.d/weewx stop
  2. Copy /var/lib/weewx/weewx.sdb from the Pi 4 to Pi Zero 2.
  3. Start weewv on the Pi Zero 2. The FTP to web server module picked up immediately and transferred web pages on the next 5 minute boundary.

Network Connection: Wireless > Ethernet

I found the wireless connection got faulty after a few days. The symptom being that weewx would lose data and frequently show temperature (and other readings) as N/A with the daily graphs being dots instead of continuous lines.

Cure: I turned off wireless in the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 and used ethernet-to-usb. The data reception was rock solid from then on.

About

Step by step instructions to connect a WeatherFlow Tempest to WeeWX and to multiple weather services

weather.rongrimes.ca/

Topics

raspberry-pi weather wow weewx tempest pws-weather weatherunderground weathercloud raspberrypizerow weatherflow pws-platform awekas weewx-documentation

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