GILL MetPak Pro Portable Weather Station
| Brand | GILL |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Model | MetPak Pro |
| Instrument Type | Portable Weather Station |
| Enclosure Rating | IP65 |
| Operating Temperature | −35°C to +70°C |
| Power Supply | 5–30 VDC (<26 mA @12 V, 1 Hz output) |
| Communication Interfaces | RS232 / RS422 / RS485 (2-wire) / SDI-12 (user-selectable) |
| Output Protocols | ASCII, SDI-12 v1.3, NMEA 0183, Modbus RTU/ASCII |
| Data Logging Interval | 1 s / 2 s / 4 s / polled mode |
| Analog Inputs | 2 channels (0–5 V, 4–20 mA, or self-powered) |
| PT100 Input | 4-wire, IEC 60751 Class B compliant |
| Digital Input | Reed-switch or contact-closure for tipping-bucket rain gauge (up to 10 Hz) |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit, ±0.1% of reading + 35 µV offset compensation |
| Wind Measurement | Ultrasonic (GILL WindSonic), 0–60 m/s, 0–359°, ±2% @12 m/s (wind speed), ±3° @12 m/s (wind direction), resolution 0.01 m/s / 1° |
| Air Temperature | Pt100, −35°C to +70°C, ±0.1°C accuracy, 0.1°C resolution |
| Relative Humidity | Rotronic HygroClip probe, 0–100% RH, ±0.8% RH @23°C, 0.1% RH resolution |
| Atmospheric Pressure | Barometric sensor, 600–1100 hPa, ±0.5 hPa, 0.1 hPa resolution |
| Dew Point Temperature | Calculated, ±0.15°C accuracy @23°C ambient / 20°C dew point, 0.1°C resolution |
Overview
The GILL MetPak Pro Portable Weather Station is a compact, self-contained environmental monitoring system engineered for high-reliability field deployment in meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and infrastructure applications. Built around a modular printed circuit board architecture, the MetPak Pro integrates core atmospheric sensing elements—including an ultrasonic wind sensor (GILL WindSonic), a precision barometric pressure transducer, and a calibrated Rotronic HygroClip temperature/humidity probe—into a single ruggedized housing rated IP65 for dust and water ingress protection. Its measurement principle relies on time-of-flight ultrasonics for true vector wind speed and direction (U/V components), platinum resistance thermometry (Pt100, IEC 60751 Class B) for traceable air temperature, capacitive polymer-based hygrometry for humidity, and piezoresistive or resonant barometry for absolute atmospheric pressure. All primary parameters—wind, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and derived dew point—are computed onboard with real-time compensation for thermal drift, nonlinearity, and cross-sensitivity. Designed for unattended operation across extreme climates (−35°C to +70°C), the MetPak Pro delivers metrologically sound data suitable for regulatory-grade environmental reporting and long-term climate trend analysis.
Key Features
- Integrated ultrasonic wind sensor (GILL WindSonic) with no moving parts, eliminating mechanical wear and icing-related failure modes
- High-stability Rotronic HygroClip RH/T probe with factory calibration certificate and long-term drift compensation algorithms
- Four-channel expandable input architecture: two analog inputs (0–5 V / 4–20 mA / self-powered), one dedicated Pt100 channel (4-wire), and one digital contact-closure input for tipping-bucket rain gauges (supporting up to 10 Hz pulse rates)
- Multi-protocol serial communication (RS232, RS422, RS485, SDI-12) with user-selectable baud rates (4800–57600 bps ASCII; 1200 bps SDI-12) and protocol support including NMEA 0183 and Modbus RTU/ASCII for SCADA integration
- Onboard 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion with ±0.1% full-scale accuracy plus 35 µV offset compensation, ensuring fidelity in low-level analog signal acquisition
- Industrial-grade power management: operates from 5–30 VDC, draws <26 mA at 12 V with 1 Hz output, and includes reverse-polarity and overvoltage protection
- UV-stabilized white engineering plastic enclosure with anodized aluminum mounting bracket compatible with standard 30–58 mm vertical masts
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The MetPak Pro is designed for direct atmospheric sampling in open-air environments and is compatible with a wide range of external sensors via its auxiliary inputs—including pyranometers (solar irradiance), pressure transducers (water level, soil gas), thermistors or thermocouples (soil temperature profiles), and conductivity probes (salinity monitoring). Its hardware and firmware comply with EN 61326-1:2013 for electromagnetic compatibility in industrial environments. While not certified to ISO/IEC 17025 as a standalone calibration laboratory instrument, all integrated sensors are supplied with individual factory calibration certificates traceable to national standards (UKAS-accredited for Rotronic probes; GILL’s wind sensors conform to IEC 61000-4 series EMC requirements). The system supports audit-ready data logging when paired with compliant third-party dataloggers and satisfies baseline requirements for GLP-aligned environmental monitoring programs where raw sensor output and timestamped metadata integrity are essential.
Software & Data Management
GILL provides two free, Windows-compatible software tools: MetView and MetSet. MetView serves as a real-time data acquisition and visualization platform, supporting live plotting, CSV export, alarm thresholds, and basic statistical summaries (min/max/avg/std dev per parameter). MetSet enables full configuration of communication protocols, output intervals (1 s / 2 s / 4 s / polled), unit preferences (°C/°F, hPa/mbar/mmHg/inHg, m/s/knots/mph), and sensor-specific calibration offsets. Both applications generate human-readable ASCII log files compatible with MATLAB, Python (pandas), R, and commercial data analytics platforms. Although the MetPak Pro does not include internal flash storage, its deterministic serial output ensures seamless integration with external SD-card or networked dataloggers that support SDI-12 or Modbus polling—enabling full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance when deployed with appropriate audit-trail-enabled host systems.
Applications
- Temporary weather monitoring for construction site safety and dust mitigation planning
- Roadway icing and visibility forecasting via dew point depression and RH trends
- Agricultural microclimate assessment for irrigation scheduling and frost warning
- Wind resource evaluation for small-scale turbine feasibility studies
- Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) requiring short-to-medium term baseline meteorological data
- Calibration reference for co-located low-cost sensor networks
- Hydrological modeling inputs (evapotranspiration estimation, snowmelt timing)
FAQ
Is the MetPak Pro still in production?
No—the MetPak Pro has been officially discontinued by GILL Instruments. It remains supported for legacy installations, and spare parts (including WindSonic modules and HygroClip probes) are available through authorized distributors.
Can the MetPak Pro operate autonomously on solar power?
Yes—its wide-input voltage range (5–30 VDC) and low quiescent current (<26 mA at 12 V) make it fully compatible with standard 12 V solar-charged battery systems used in remote telemetry applications.
Does it support Modbus TCP or only serial Modbus RTU/ASCII?
The MetPak Pro implements only serial Modbus (RTU and ASCII modes over RS485/RS422); Modbus TCP requires an external protocol converter or gateway device.
What is the maximum cable length for SDI-12 communication?
Per SDI-12 v1.3 specification, total bus length should not exceed 200 meters with proper twisted-pair cabling and termination; performance may degrade beyond 100 meters without active repeaters.
Are calibration certificates provided with each unit?
Yes—each MetPak Pro ships with individual calibration reports for the WindSonic sensor, barometric sensor, and HygroClip probe, all traceable to national metrology institutes.
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