On the 23 January 2015 we commissioned and installed a new Davis Vantage Vue automatic weather station. This quality unit worked first time from switch on, and seamlessly connected to local PC running the Cumulus software. This Davis weather station replaced previous Oregon Scientific stations (see elsewhere for history) that have been collecting Samford Weather data and sharing it on the SamfordWeather.com web site (previously MySamford.com.au) since 23 January 2004 (yes - a really long time!).

The AWS collects data from it's internal barometer, humidity and temperature sensor, as well as the external (wireless connected) rain gauge, wind direction/anemometer and temperature/humidity sensor. The weather station outdoor unit is mounted on a 2 metre pole above the peak of my carport, and is powered by lithium AA batteries. It connects via wireless to the indoor unit in my office. The indoor control unit includes a data logger to maintain data collection for when the server PC is off air for maintenance.

The server PC runs the CumulusMX AWS weather software which uploads every 5 minutes to various weather sites around the world including, of course, this site! The PC and indoor unit are powered via a UPS which provides about 30 minutes backup in the event of mains power failure. then the indoor unit can continue running on its own internal batteries to continue to retain data in the data logger.

The information is uploaded to a local PC running the Cumulus software, which then displays on the server PC and any other PC that connects to the local network, as well as uploading to the Internet. It is also configured to send email bulletins daily, and emails when certain alarm conditions occur.

The weather display web site was updated to using the Meteotemplate weather templates on 5 April 2017.

Note that this is NOT a professional weather station - it is a consumer level device (but very accurate!). It therefore does has some very small inaccuracies, however it will give a reasonable indication of what's happening in Samford Valley!!

27.37 S 152.84 E 90 m The Weather Station external unit is located 90 metres above sea level at Westwood Drive, Samford Valley, Queensland, Australia. Latitude S 27o22'0" Longitude E 152o50'17". It is mounted at the top of a 2m pole above the crest of a roof, unhindered by nearby structures or trees. The Samford area is located about 22km North West of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, and designated by the Australia Post post code of Queensland 4520.A semi-rural area consisting mostly of acreage properties with a small township in Samford Village. Samford Valley surrounds Samford Village, with the majority being the valley floor surrounded by Mt Glorious, Mt Nebo and the House Mountain ranges. Surrounding areas include Samford Village, Samford Valley, Highvale, Wights Mountain, Camp Mountain, Mt Glorious, Mt Nebo, Yugar, Draper, Closeburn, Cedar Creek, Mt Samson and Bunya. In operation since: Jan 23, 2004 (8108 days) Console - 3 C-cells, Outdoor unit .. CR-123 3-Volt Lithium cell, solar power during the day. 25 records in the control unit, 2560 records in the data logger (about 42 hours) Outside temperature: every 10-12 seconds Wind direction: every 2.5 to 3 seconds Wind speed: instant reading: 2.5 to 3 seconds, 10-minute average: every minute Barometric: every minute Humidity: every minute Rainfall/rain rate: every 20 to 24 seconds #6250 Davis Vantage Vue AWS, #6510USB Data logger, Notebook PC, APC UPS Internet connection - Broadband NBN50/20 from AussieBroadBand Meteotemplate

Indoor sensor readings are not shown on the web site. The indoor thermometer is part of the indoor console. - Resolution and Units: Current Data: 0.1°C , Historical Data and Alarms: 1°C - Range: 0° to +60°C - Sensor Accuracy: ±0.5°C - Update Interval: 1 minute - Current Data: Instant Reading; Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Low - Historical Data: Hourly Readings; Daily and Monthly Highs and Lows; Highs and Lows for Last 25 Days; Temp change per hour, Temp change for last 24 hours. - Alarms: High and Low Thresholds from Instant Reading Indoor sensor readings are not shown on the web site. The indoor humidity sensor is part of the indoor console. - Resolution and Units: 1% - Range: 1 to 100% RH - Accuracy: ±3% (0 to 90% RH), ±4% (90 to 100% RH) - Update Interval: 1 minute - Current Data: Instant Reading; Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Low - Historical Data: Hourly Readings; Daily, Monthly Highs and Lows - Alarms: High and Low Threshold from Instant Reading The outdoor thermometer is part of the external unit. - Resolution and Units: 1% - Current Data: 0.1°C , Historical Data and Alarms: 1°C (user-selectable) - Range: -40° to +65°C - Sensor Accuracy: ±0.5°C above -7°C and ±1.0°C below -7°C - Radiation Induced Error (Passive Shield): +2°C at solar noon (insulation = 1040 W/m2, avg. wind speed =<1 m/s) - Update Interval: 10-12 seconds - Current Data: Instant Reading (user adjustable); Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Low - Historical Data: Hourly Readings; Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Lows - Alarms: High and Low Thresholds from Instant Reading The outdoor humidity sensor is part of the external unit. - Resolution and Units: 1% - Range: 1 to 100% RH - Accuracy: ±3% (0 to 90% RH), ±4% (90 to 100% RH) - Temperature Coefficient: 0.05% per °C, reference 20°C - Drift: ±0.5% per year - Update Interval: 50 seconds to 1 minute - Current Data: Instant Reading; Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Low - Historical Data: Hourly Readings; Daily, Monthly Highs and Lows - Alarms: High and Low Threshold from Instant Reading The outdoor pressure sensor is part of the external unit. - Resolution and Units: 0.1 hPa/mb - Range: 540 to 1100.0 hPa/mb - Elevation Range: -999’ to +15,000’ (-600 m to +4570 m). - Uncorrected Reading Accuracy: ±1.0 hPa/mb (at room temperature) - Sea-Level Reduction Equations Used: United States Method employed prior to use of current "R Factor" method ("NOAA"), Altimeter Setting - NOAA Equation Source: Smithsonian Meteorological Tables - NOAA Equation Accuracy: ±0.3 hPa/mb - NOAA Elevation Accuracy Required: ±3m to meet equation accuracy specification - Overall Accuracy: ±1.0 hPa/mb - Trend (change in 3 hours): Change 2 hPa/mb = Rapidly, Change 0.7hPa/mb = Slowly, - Trend Indication: 5 position arrow: Rising (rapidly or slowly), Steady, or Falling (rapidly or slowly) - Update Interval: 1 minute - Current Data: Instant and Hourly Reading; Daily, Monthly, Yearly High and Low; Barometer change 24-hour - Historical Data: 15-min and Hourly Reading; Daily, Monthly Highs and Lows - Alarms: High Threshold from Current Trend for Storm Clearing (Rising Trend), Low Threshold from Current Trend for Storm Warning (Falling Trend) - Range for Rising and Falling Trend Alarms: 0.1 to 8.5 hPa/mb The outdoor wind speed sensor is part of the external unit. - Resolution and Units: 1 km/h - Range: 3 to 290 km/h - Update Interval: Instant Reading: 2.5 to 3 seconds, 10-minute Average: 1 minute - Accuracy: ±3 km/h or ±5%, whichever is greater - Current Data: Instant Reading; 10-minute and Hourly Average; 10-minute High Gust with Direction of Gust; 2-minute Average; Hourly High; Daily, Monthly and Yearly High with Direction of High; Beaufort Scale - Historical Data: 2.5 sec., 10 min. and Hourly Averages; Hourly Highs; Daily, Monthly and Yearly Highs with Direction of Highs Alarms: High Thresholds from Instant Reading and 10-minute Average The outdoor wind direction sensor is part of the external unit. - Display Resolution: 16 points (22.5°) on compass rose, 1° in numeric display - Range: 0-360° (that's a relief!) - Accuracy: ±3° - Update Interval : 2.5 to 3 seconds - Current Data: Instant Reading; Hourly, Daily, Monthly Dominants. - Historical Data Past 6 10-min. Dominants on compass rose only; Hourly, Daily, Monthly Dominants The rain gauge collector and sensor is part of the external unit. - Resolution and Units: 0.2 mm (1 mm at totals >= 2000 mm) - Range: 0 to 6553 mm - Rain Rate: 0 to 1016 mm/hour - Accuracy: Greater of 4% or 1 tip - Update Interval: 20 to 24 seconds - Storm Determination Method: 0.5 mm begins a storm event, 24 hours without further accumulation ends a storm event - Current Data: Totals for past 15-min, Past 24-hour, Daily, Monthly, Yearly (start date user-selectable) and Storm (with begin date) - Historical Data: Totals for 15-min, Daily, Monthly, Yearly and Storm (with begin and end dates) - Alarms: High Threshold from Latest Flash Flood (15-min. total, default is 12.7 mm), 24-hour Total, Storm Total - Range for Rain Alarms: 0 to 999.7 mm