Davis Instruments 6163

If you're looking for a superior weather station, the Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus Weather Station is as good as they come! Vantage Pro2 offers the professional weather observer and the serious weather enthusiast rugged performance and a wide range of options and sensors. You'll get your own local forecast, highs and lows, totals or averages, and graphs for virtually all weather variables over the past 24 hours, days, months or years on the included Vantage Pro2 console. Vantage Pro2 is also an excellent choice for emergency professionals, farmers, schools, researchers, municipalities, and others to monitor wind and moisture conditions, irrigation requirements, and potential flooding. It can be customized with a range of add-on options, such as additional temperature and humidity sensors, soil moisture stations, and long and short-range repeaters.

Two key factors that set the Vantage Pro2 apart from many other complete weather stations are the refresh rate and the transmission distance:

• Refresh Rate - A packet of data is sent from the outdoor transmitter to the receiver every 2 1/2 seconds! This means when you look out the window and see the wind blowing, the weather station will reflect it almost immediately.
• Transmission Distance - The first in its consumer price range to use frequency hopping spread spectrum radio technology, the Vantage Pro2 can transmit and receive data up to 1000' (300 m) line of sight. This is a much greater distance than most other weather stations. This technology also provides improved reception through multiple walls and greater immunity from RF interference.

The Davis Vantage Pro2 provides extensive additional information for each weather variable. These include daily highs and lows, temperature changes by the hour, air pressure changes and astronomical data such as moon phase and meteor showers. Additional consoles can be purchased for placement in other areas of your home such as a den, bedroom or backyard.

To make viewing weather data easier at night, Davis designed the Vantage Pro2 console with an easy-to-read backlit LCD display. A data collecting device in its own right, the console's built in sensors provide indoor temperature and humidity as well as barometric pressure measurements.

The Vantage Pro2 6163 outdoor Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) is energized by a solar panel during the day and stored energy for power at night, making it an ideal product or gift for the "green" consumer. The Davis 6163 also includes Davis Instruments patented 24-hour Fan-Aspirated Radiation Shield for maximum accuracy of temperature and humidity readings. The system has additional radiation shield plates and a second solar power panel, which powers a motor-driven fan. The fan draws air through the sensor chamber 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Airflow across the sensors is 500 feet per minute (2.5 m/s). At night, when the effects of radiation are less, the solar-powered model runs on battery power and the airflow is 280 feet per minute (1.4 m/s). In far northern or southern latitudes, or in areas with extended periods of heavy cloud cover, there may not be enough sunshine to power the fan or recharge the battery during the winter. However, as the level of sunlight goes down, the need for fan aspiration also diminishes. The fan will start running and the battery will recharge as soon as sufficient sunlight returns.

Vantage Pro2 Plus model include two additional sensors:

• Solar Radiation Sensor measures solar radiation and solar energy. You can display solar radiation, highs for the day, month, and year as well as evapotranspiration and Temp/Hum/Sun/Wind (THSW) index, and set alarms for high readings. The diffuser element and housing are carefully designed for accurate cosine response. Silicon photo diode provides good match to solar spectrum. Two-piece housing minimizes radiation heating, allows convection cooling of the sensor, and prevents the trapping of water or dust.
• UV Radiation Sensor measures the sunburning portion of the UV spectrum. Allows you to display UV index, UV index for the day, the daily, monthly, and yearly highs; or change scale to see UV in current, hourly and daily MEDs, dose rate, and daily and accumulated dose. You can also set an alarm to warn of high UV dose/index. Multilayer filter provides a spectral response that closely matches the Erythema Action Spectrum. Diffuser provides excellent cosine response. Two-piece housing minimizes radiation heating, allows convection cooling of the sensor, and prevents the trapping of water or dust.

You can set over 70 alarms on the Vantage Pro2 for multiple functions simultaneously. You can view over 80 graphs including additional analysis of temperature, rain, rain rate, wind, and barometric pressure. The ticker-tape display shows forecast details and additional information with over 100 different messages.

To view your weather data either on a PC or to stream the data to the online cloud you may purchase a WeatherLink data-logger and upload near real-time weather information.

All Davis Vantage Pro2 Complete Weather Station models include:

• Console with AC power adapter. Wireless console may also be powered using three C batteries. Batteries should also be added to cabled console for backup during power outages.
• Integrated sensor suite with rain collector, temperature and humidity sensors, and anemometer. The temperature and humidity sensors are integrated beneath the rain collector (very nice).
• 40 foot (12 meter) anemometer cable. The anemometer connects to the Sensor Interface Module (SIM) on the side of the rain gauge.
• AeroCone with bird spikes. The AeroCone rain collector reduces wind-induced errors by providing a more aerodynamic path around the collector. Its contours are designed to streamline the airflow and reduce flow distortions. The design improves rain data accuracy in high wind situations where the horizontal wind velocity can cause under reporting. The inside of the rain collector is equally well designed, keeping intact the carefully engineered interior walls that reduce splash out during high rain conditions. The new debris screen locks into place, ensuring that it remains in place during high winds and heavy rainfall events. The rain collector has optional spikes that can be installed to avoid potential nesting.

Not sure which model to choose? Visit our Davis Weather Stations Comparison Chart to help you decide. Includes the Davis Vantage Vue weather station as well.

Note: We do carry magnetic compasses to help you orient your anemometer to true north. Those can be located under the "Accessories" tab. For more information on set up, please visit the anemometer page on our WeatherShack education center.

Maximum Number of Each Transmitting Station Type:

• Vantage Weather Stations Console Features
  Click here for a detailed comparison chart of Davis Vantage Weather Stations console features.
• Solar Powered Integrated Sensor Suite
  The wireless, rugged outdoor sensor suite runs on solar power. A lithium battery provides backup at night and during cloudy, winter days. The cabled version receives power from the base station.
• Solar Powered Fan-Aspirated Radiation Shield
  Includes additional radiation shield plates and a second solar power panel, which powers a motor-driven fan.
• Temperature
  Current inside and outside temperature, and for each of the last 24 hours. High and low temperature alarms.
• Humidity
  Current inside and outside humidity, and for each of the last 24 hours. High and low humidity alarms.
• Barometric Pressure
  Current and for each of the last 24 hours. Five position trend arrow shows whether pressure is rising, falling, or stable. High pressure warning for storm clearing (rising trend) and low pressure for storm warning (falling trend).
• Rainfall
  Rainfall for the last 15 minutes and the last 24 hours, 24 days, 24 months, and 24 years. Flash flood and 24 hour rain alarms. Rain gauge uses tipping spoon (self-emptying) technology.
• Rain Rate
  Current and for each of the last 24 hours. Rain rate alarm.
• Rain Storm
  Rainfall for the last 24 storms, with beginning and ending dates for each storm. Rain storm warning and alarm.
• Wind Speed
  Current wind speed. Average for the last ten minutes and each of the last 24 hours. High and average wind speed alarms.
• Wind Direction
  Current and for the last 24 hours, 24 days, and 24 months. Direction of high wind speed.
• Wind Chill
  Current wind chill. Wind chill alarm.
• Dew Point
  Current and for each of the last 24 hours. High and low dew point alarms.
• Heat Index
  Current and for each of the last 24 hours. Heat index alarm.
• Solar Radiation
  View solar radiation, highs for the day, month, and year as well as evapotranspiration and THSW index. Set alarms for high readings.
• Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation
  View current UV index, UV index for the day, the daily, monthly, and yearly highs; or change scale to see UV in current, hourly and daily MEDs. Set alarm to warn of high UV dose/index.
• Highs & Lows
  For most weather variables, with time and/or date, for each of the last 24 hours.
• Sunrise/Sunset & Moon Phase
  Time of sunrise/sunset and moon phase at your location - it even takes daylight savings time into account!
• On screen graphing
  Graph current conditions, averages, or highs and lows for the last 24 hours, days, months, or years.
• Your Own Forecast
  The Vantage Pro2 forecast icons show sun, part sun, clouds, and rain, or snow. You may also check the scrolling ticker-tape at the bottom of the display for more details.

Major Dimensions:

• Console: 10.625" x 6.125" x 1.625" (270mm x 156mm x 41mm)
• LCD Display: 5.94" x 3.375" (151mm x 86mm)
• Integrated Sensor Suite:
  • ISS Anemometer Side:
    14 1/2" x 5 1/4" x 17 1/2" (370mm x 130mm x 445mm)
  • ISS Rain Collector Side:
    11" x 9" x 13 1/2" (280mm x 230mm x 340mm)

Integrated Sensor Suite Mounting:

• With the supplied U-bolt, the ISS can be mounted on a pole or rod having an outside diameter ranging from 1.25" to 1.75" (32 to 44 mm).

Backup Battery Life:

• Vantage Pro2 Console/Receiver: 274 days
• Vantage Pro2 Sensors: 240 days

Note: Actual battery life will vary depending on station setup and usage.

• Vantage Pro2 Sensor Installation Information
• Davis Vantage Pro2 FAQ and Comparison to Other Weather Stations
• Vantage Weather Stations Comparison Chart
• Vantage Weather Stations Console Features Comparison
• Vantage Pro2 Console Manual
• Using Wireless Diagnostics
• Vantage Pro2 ISS Installation Manual
• Fan-Aspirated ISS Installation Handbook Addendum
• Wireless Model Specifications and Sensor Accuracy
• Vantage Pro2 Sensors are NIST Traceable
• Alternate System Configurations for Vantage Pro2
• Derived Weather Variables in Davis Products