NH Weather Data uses a Davis Vantage Pro 1 Plus weather station (cabled) which is mounted on a tripod with a 10 foot mast on the roof of the building, putting the Anemometer apporx 40 feet in the air. The Integrated Sensor Suite (ISS) sits 4 feet above the roof. We mounted the ISS/Anemometer in this location to avoid obstructions that would effect our wind readings. The ISS also includes a rain gauge bucket heater to measure the moisture content of snow fall and freezing rain we receive here, November through April (sometimes earlier/later). It also has several additional sensors to measure the Ultraviolet Index (UVI) and Solar Radiation, in addition to the normal Temperature, Barometer and Humidity sensors. We use Virtual Weather Station software by Ambient  to process all of the data retrieved from the station, format it and prepare it for uploading to our web server. The software also creates several different maps that we use online, including our NH Mesonet map. It also tracks and downloads airport Metar data from the National Weather Service and places that online. It does quite a bit more, but I won't bore you with those details. We also use WeatherFlash software to display real time weather data online, using Macromedia flash technology. This information is presented using virtual gauges and is updated every 5 seconds.

The Boltek Lightning Detection System (LDS) antenna is mounted on the outside of the building, inside a custom made 9" long PVC tube enclosure. This enclosure sits on top of a 10 foot PVC mast, which gets the antenna approx 35 feet in the air, well above the roof line. The heart of the detector system is the StormTracker PCI card installed in the computer. It processes the data received from the antenna and determines the distance and direction of each lightning strike. We then process the information using NexStorm software by Astrogenic Systems. This software plots the lightning strikes on the map, archives the data and sends the current data to the web server. The results are what you see online, live lightning strike data, in just about real time. The LDS is quite accurate within a 375 mile range, but will also detect lightning strikes a lot further away then that. We've already tracked thunderstorms this season well over 700 miles away, with dead on accuracy. We are still in the process of getting this system calibrated and fine tuned, so expect better things to come. Our station also transmits our lightning data to the StrikeStar Lightning Detection Network. This network gathers lightning data from different sensors around the country, analyzes the data for accuracy and plots the strikes on a map of the United States. NH Weather Data is proud to be a part of this project. We also offer lightning data on your cell phone/mobile device through the Spark CLX interface. The computer the LDS is run on is a custom built 933 MHz Pentium 3 with 256K of ram, 40 GB hard drive, CD-RW burner and 4 USB ports.

 The computer used to process all of our weather data is a custom built 3.8GHz Pentium 4 dual processor with 1024 megs of ddr ram, 160GB  hard drive, GeForce 5200 video, DVD/CD-RW burner and 8 USB ports. All computers are tied into a 100Mb ethernet network which consists of LinkSys routers & hubs and a Motorola SB5100 cable modem. The cable modem provides 24 hours real time connection to our web server to keep the web site updated with current weather data, real time weather warnings and dozens of other tasks.  There are 5 other computers on the network which are used to process other information vital to keeping the data flowing to the web server. All computers, network equipment and weather equipment are backed up with extended run UPS's and emergency generator power. This allows us to keep things up and running, when everyone else is in the dark.

Our streaming WeatherCam #1 is a small bullet cam from SuperCircuits and is mounted to view the Ammonoosuc River. WeatherCam #2 is a Toshiba IK-WB21A, which has pan, tilt and 22x zoom functions. It is mounted in a heated outdoor enclosure. Users can move the camera to view different areas. Cam #1 images and streaming video are processed through the ImageSalsa software, which overlays the current weather data in real time and pipes it to the web server for your viewing pleasure.  MovieSalsa is used to make our daily weather video (Cam #1) which can be viewed online. ImageSalsa is also used to create our weather stickers, that are available for you to place on your web site. Streaming video & PTZ functions of the Toshiba camera is handled by webcamXP.

If you are interested in any of the software we use on our site, you can purchase it through our web site. We offer many of the software packages used here through various Affiliate Programs. If you purchase your software through our site, we get a commission on each sale. This helps support NH Weather Data, so it is a win-win situation for everyone!

Boltek LDS on Left & Davis VP1+  mounted on Tripod

Boltek LDS PVC tube enclosure

Toshiba IK-WB21a PTZ Camera w/ heated enclosure