Web-based temperature monitor
Martin Holladay
| Posted in General Questions on
I’m interested in buying a simple, inexpensive web-based temperature monitor. I don’t need a system that can accept inputs from multiple sensors — just a simple temperature monitor for one location, that can be hooked up to the internet via a wireless modem.
I’m looking for a system that allows me to monitor the air temperature over the web — hopefully without paying a monthly fee for the service.
There are lots of systems out there. Which one should I buy?
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Replies
Would Hobo meters do the job?
Dan,
I'll look into it. The Hobo monitors that I have all need to be plugged into a computer to download the data. But perhaps Hobo also makes monitors that communicate with the Web. I'll check it out.
Have you used such meters from Hobo?
I'm guessing you probably don't want to go through the trouble of building one yourself, but if you feel inclined to do so, it's a doable option using an Arduino: http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Super-Simple-Arduino-Weather-Web-Server/
In this strange century we live in, doing something simple--just sensing temperature--is hard to do without getting into more complexity. As far as I know, the lowest cost solution would be to set up a webcam ($30-$40) pointed at an old-fashioned analog thermometer (you probably already have one), unless you want to get into programming Arduinos or other small low-cost computers and wiring up sensors to them.
But some options that are more like what you want, and that all include a way to access the data from the web, without paying for an account, are:
1) a $99 sensor/logger with Wi-Fi:
https://www.microdaq.com/lascar-wifi-temperature-data-logger.php
2) Netatmo which includes indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity and indoor CO2 for $150
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0095HVAKS/
3) For $70, an interface that links compatible wireless weather sensors to the internet. Add a basic temperature/humidity sensor for $13, and you have the complete system for less than the cost of the alternatives, and the potential to add more sensors if you want.
http://www.acurite.com/environment-systems/aculink-internet-bridge-for-acurite-weather-sensors-09150trx.html
There is always the Nest thermostat...
Michael, Charlie, and Bill,
Thanks to all of you for your excellent suggestions. I'm particularly grateful to Charlie, who provided a well-researched survey of my options.
Last year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) show had some items which might be of interest:
http://venturebeat.com/2015/01/13/5-smart-home-gadgets-were-excited-about-from-ces/
I here from people who went to this year's show that interconnected "home things" were again on display in large numbers - but you never know what products will actually make it to mainstream based on what you find in the show. Here's some things to do with home security systems from this year's show:
http://www.cnet.com/pictures/the-high-tech-home-security-gadgets-of-ces-2016-pictures/
And finally, if you are feeling masochistic, here's a list of CES exhibitors that used the tag "smart home" (so much dross!):
http://ces16.mapyourshow.com/7_0/search.cfm?srch-type=pavilion&srch-query=Smarthome%20%26%20Sensors&srch-showresults=true&CFID=155108499&CFTOKEN=4cec5a2173841819-FA5A57CB-CA89-09C8-02048912BF782E99
Here's another one at about $100:
https://www.lacrossetechnology.com/alerts/temperature-humidity-monitor-general-purpose-no-probe.php
As far as I know, Onset/HOBO does not make a stand-alone temp. monitor that is WiFi enabled.
http://www.onsetcomp.com/products/data-loggers/web-based-data-logging-systems
Dan,
Thanks for the link -- but I'm too cheap to spend $900.
Without getting into or relying on a service of some type you will need to get something that has a built in HTTP server, or build on up yourself. The webcam aimed at an analog thermometer is a good option. Look at the HIKVISION cameras on Amazon, etc. This will get you what you need for around 100 dollars. The company has a free phone app for Android/iPhone. The camera will punch through your router using UPnP, or you can forward the ports manually. I have setup many of these cameras across a few different properties.
I was thinking Charlie's webcam at a thermometer plan was brilliant, achieving cheapness through the sort of simple thinking I could never manage. But That Guy inspired a thought in me that's more my kind of complexity - that can easily beat it out on price and reliability (though accuracy is not particularly great). You can even add cellular monitoring for a fairly low price.
Fun fact: Pretty much all smart phones contain at least one temperature sensor - in the battery. No other internet capable temperature sensor can beat the smart phone for economies of scale.
I of course haven't tested these steps, and there are probably a million different ways to do it, but this is what I came up with first.
Step 1. Get the cheapest android smart phone you can. For me, this would be free; I've got several old ones in my basement. Or buy an old one used. Or, worst case, you can buy a new one, for $20 - TRACFONE (and some others) will sell you a smartphone very cheap because they hope to charge you to make phone calls with it (suckers!)
Step 2. Install WeatherSignal: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opensignal.weathersignal&hl=en
Step 3. In the WeatherSignal settings, set your desired update frequency in "background frequency", reduce the maximum number of rows to store as low as you can, and check the 'auto save' box
Step 4. Install the 'Autosync Google Drive' app
Step 5. Configure the autosync app to upload the folder that WeatherSignal saves to
And now you've got internet accessible temperature recordings, using a (free) Google drive account! It's even resilient to power and internet outages!
Maybe someone else who's better at simplicity can even suggest a less rube goldberg approach to it.
Tim, if you want to get really creative -- (I posted my reply for more of a high level view as I realize most don't know the dirty details of how to do this stuff) -- anyway, get a cheap android smartphone/tablet, yes the battery is monitored for temp. Go to the Play Store and download IP Camera app. This app allows you to overlay sensor data in the video stream. So, you get your temp data *and* a camera in one. Now, you need to figure out a way to weatherproof. But I have this app on a few old/discarded cell phones and tablets and it does work. The app is an HTTP server, video stream, snapshot, and two-way audio. It is really clever, and seems to work pretty well. I still like the purpose-built IP camera, weatherproofed, etc. The firmware has a lot of functionality with email triggers, etc. on movement, line crossing detection, intrusion detection, and other motion sensing. In other words, you could monitor the movement of an analog thermometer and send yourself an email when your temp is triggered. :)
I'm probably mistaken, but my understanding is that one of the best ways to monitor the temperature of the internet is to see what is trending on Twitter.
https://www.ecobee.com
Malcolm, that's an excellent idea! You can take a $20 Particle Photon ( https://store.particle.io/ ), a DS18B20 1-wire temperature sensor, and then use an IFTTT action to tweet the temperature. Some assembly required.
(This way costs more, but I don't think IFTTT can tweet the battery temperature. You get better accuracy, at least, and 1-wire sensors are cheap and easy to daisy chain so it scales well)
I ended up spending $83 for the AcuRite option suggested by Charlie in Comment #4. I paid $70 for the "Internet bridge" and $13 for the temperature sensor. Shipping was free.
The set-up did not go smoothly. Documentation that came with the equipment was incomplete, and the online help options were insufficient. It took two phone calls to get the equipment to work, but I must say that the telephone help was courteous and thorough. Now the system works.
The advantage of this approach is that data points are saved, and the web site provides a graph of stored data points (one day, one week, etc. of data can be viewed on a graph). See the screen shot below.
(Although I only wanted a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor also provides RH. The barometric pressure is a freebie that comes included with the "Internet bridge." The barometric pressure is measured at the "Internet bridge," not at the sensor location.)
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