Comments on: BIOS Weather Station BW976 – update

By: Lance

Lance — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:55:06 +0000

Greetings,

I just purchased a BW976 for myself as a birthday present. Not thrilled to see that it only works with Windows XP. Emailed Canada and was told that it definitely will not work with Vista and consequently with Windows 7. OK I know that this is a Mac site but does anyone know of where I could get some third party Windows Vista/7 software for this machine?

By: James

James — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:24:36 +0000

Hi David,
I downloaded your app and it seems to run ok on my mac using my bios weather station. Thanks heaps for that – I have been searching for a Mac program for this since I got it at JayCar about a year ago. Well done!
One thing – the wind direction doesn’t seem to work. But it’s still better than the software it came with!
Any plans to develop the app further? I would be happy to be of any assistance.
I live in Onehunga, Auckland.
Best,
James.

By: Geoff Calhoun

Geoff Calhoun — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:56:36 +0000

I just downloaded the Imperial version! What a great thing you have done. I am a weather enthusiast and love to see what’s happening-realtime! This is so much better than having to look at the display unit, since I am often Mac-bound, anyhow. Thank you for your time and trouble that you put into this.

By: Bob

Bob — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:01:44 +0000

What OS versions is this app known to work with (or definitely not work with)? I’m still running 10.4, and despite its being theoretically “supported,” even official Apple apps are starting to just not run….

By: Bob Krause

Bob Krause — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:52:30 +0000

David,

Like you, I’m not too crazy about the software that comes with the BIOS weather stations. I’m a VB6 programmer, but I haven’t had any experience with reading USB devices (although it looks like I will be getting some soon since our lab has some software connecting to gas chromatographs using USB). Can you give me any tips to get me started so I can write my own weather station software using VB6?

Thanks!
Bob

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:09:03 +0000

Hi David,
Looks like you have done a great service to the general population here I am considering buying a BW976 unit but my programming expertise extends only to C#. The source code file I donwloaded had a whole lot of *.m files that seemed to contain C code – is this a Mac thing? i.e. how do you build the app from the source code? What I’d really like is the unit message protocols so I can build a C# version – are they available separately?

By: David Wilson

David Wilson — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:10:13 +0000

Hi there…

Well the answer to your question is a big “it depends”.
The program framework is there, so that’s no problem. Really the question is what do you know about the device. Are there any spec sheets available? or better any documentation on the protocol from the developer. Once you know how the communications work, then the program can be altered to suit. However without it the whole thing will have to be reverse engineered.

I won’t be of much help without having the physical device myself.

By: Davo

Davo — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:24:53 +0000

how easy would it be to modify your program to work with the TE923/Mebus usb weather station.

This product does not use serial (rs232) comms.

By: Mountain/\Ash

Mountain/\Ash — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:05:47 +0000

2. I would take it back and get a replacement – it is clearly a manufacturing fault.

By: Kurt Fritsch WA3TOY (Skywarn ID AAE14)

Kurt Fritsch WA3TOY (Skywarn ID AAE14) — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:40:57 +0000

I just bought a Bios BW953 and have had it up and running for about three days now.
So far the only problems are:
1. When my anti-virus / anti-spyware program is running a scan, I seen to loose my USB connection.

2. The other is that no matter how or where I mount the temperature sensor, it seems to read 8 to 19 degrees (F) higher than an other electronic thermometer, and the general temperature in my area.
The only way I was able to get a relitivly accurate reading, was to mount it in a shaded corner of the shed porch, and build an aluminum shield and enclose 3 sides and the bottom, and have a small fan blowing into the enclosure.
I think the sensor is too sensitive to the radiant heat from the ground and my shed on which it is mounted.
It is now a with in adegree or so of my electronic thermometer who’s sensor I have temporarly place next to the BW953 sensor assembly.