The forecast stops at the gate
Site weather monitoring puts an automatic weather station where operational decisions are made, measuring wind, temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall and solar radiation. Gill offers two approaches: MaxiMet, a compact all-in-one station on a single cable, and MetConnect, a separable station that places sensors at different heights and accepts third-party inputs.
Why does a site need its own weather station?
A site needs its own weather station because decisions are made on the weather at that place, at that time. The nearest official station may be at an airport or on a hill, accurate there and approximate for you. An on-site station measures the conditions a crane lift, spray window or solar forecast actually meets, and keeps a record of them.
A crane lift, a spray window, a solar output forecast, a road gritting run. Each depends on the weather at one place, at one time.
The nearest official station might be at an airport or on a hill. Its readings are good for that place and approximate for yours.
A station on site closes that gap, and it keeps a record of the conditions each decision was made in.
The engineering question is which kind of station: one compact unit that is quick to install, or separate sensors placed exactly where each measurement belongs.
Every sensor wants its own spot
A weather station is a set of measurements, and each one asks a different thing of the installation.
Wind wants height and clear air. Temperature wants shade and ventilation. Rainfall wants a level, open position.
A compact station makes a sensible compromise in one housing. A separable station lets each sensor sit where it measures best.
The correct choice depends on the decision the data supports and how much installation the site can take.
Moving parts need visits
Cups, vanes and tipping buckets wear and clog. Every visit to a remote station costs more than the sensor.
Ultrasonic wind | Optical rainfall
One cable or many
An all-in-one station installs on one pole with one cable. Separable sensors take more mounting and commissioning.
MaxiMet: one unit, one cable
Standards may set the heights
Where WMO siting guidance applies, sensors need to sit at defined heights, which a single housing cannot do.
MetConnect: sensors separated by height
The data has to reach the system
Readings are only useful once they reach the SCADA, logger or dashboard that acts on them.
RS232 | RS422 | RS485 | Modbus | SDI-12
Compact or separable
Both approaches are sound. The table shows which fits which kind of site.
| Consideration |  Compact station, MaxiMet |  Separable station, MetConnect | Built from individual sensors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installation | One unit, one cable, one output string | Hub box plus sensors at chosen heights | Each sensor mounted, wired and configured |
| Sensor siting | All sensors at one height | Sensors separated by height in line with WMO recommendations | Fully flexible |
| Third-party sensors | No | Contact closure, Pt100 and two analogue inputs | Depends on the logger |
| Moving parts | None for wind; optical rainfall on rain models | Integrated WindSonic on MetConnect One | Depends on the sensors chosen |
| Best for | Operational monitoring where speed of installation matters | Professional meteorology, research and WMO-guided sites | Specialist systems with a dedicated integrator |
A compact station is not a lesser choice. For most operational decisions it gives the measurements needed with the least installation. MetConnect earns its place where siting standards or extra sensors matter.
Convenience costs flexibility
Compact means one height
MaxiMet sensors share one housing at one height. That is convenient, and it is not WMO-ideal separation.
Separable means more installation
MetConnect needs more cabling, mounting and commissioning time, because separating the sensors is the point.
Heating has limits
MaxiMet heating is transducer-only, around 7 W. MetConnect One’s integrated WindSonic is unheated, so cold sites need MetConnect THP with a heated anemometer.
Wind range
MaxiMet and MetConnect One wind is WindSonic-based, 0 to 60 m/s. Higher wind speeds or formal approvals are a WindObserver job.
Two ways to build a station
Both ranges measure wind ultrasonically, with no moving parts, and output to common logger and control protocols.
MaxiMet
Compact all-in-one weather stations
Wind with any combination of temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall and solar, depending on model, in one housing.
MetConnect
Flexible, separable weather stations
MetConnect One integrates wind, temperature, humidity and pressure. MetConnect THP takes wind from a connected Gill anemometer.
TruMet PW100
Optical rain gauge
Rainfall with no moving parts, replicating a tipping-bucket pulse so it connects to MetConnect, MaxiMet GMX550 and GMX551.
insight
Why separable stations exist
The WMO guidance on siting weather instruments places different sensors at different heights. Wind is measured high and in clear air. Temperature and humidity are measured lower, shaded and ventilated.
A compact station cannot follow that guidance literally, because every sensor shares one housing. For most operational uses that does not matter. The station measures the conditions where the work happens.
For professional meteorology, research and some regulated applications, it does matter. MetConnect exists for that case: a hub with sensors placed where the guidance says, plus inputs for a Pt100 probe, a rain gauge and third-party analogue sensors.
The practical question to ask first is whether the data has to conform to a siting standard. If it does, start with MetConnect. If it does not, a MaxiMet usually does the job with far less installation.
The full explanation is in What should I consider when choosing a weather station?
Weather that drives decisions
ApplicationSolar site monitoring
Weather data for solar output and asset protection.
ApplicationReference and long-term monitoring
Stations that have to produce comparable data for years.
IndustryAgriculture
Spray windows, irrigation and crop decisions.
Application noteAN0024 Monitoring at solar farms
Weather monitoring on solar farm installations.
Speak to our team
Tell us what you need to measure, where and under what conditions. We’ll help you work out the appropriate approach.
Site weather questions
An automatic weather station measures conditions on site and sends the data to a logger, SCADA or telemetry system without anyone there to read it. A typical station records wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity and pressure, and often rainfall and solar radiation. Gill makes the instrument at its centre: MaxiMet as a compact all-in-one unit, or MetConnect with separable sensors. Both measure wind ultrasonically, with no moving parts to wear.
A compact weather station, such as MaxiMet, houses all its sensors in one unit on one cable. A separable weather station, such as MetConnect, places sensors at different heights around a hub and can accept third-party sensors. Compact stations are quicker to install; separable stations suit WMO-guided siting and research.
A professional weather station typically measures wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity and barometric pressure, and often rainfall and solar radiation. Gill MaxiMet models offer these in different combinations, and MetConnect adds inputs for a Pt100 temperature probe, a rain gauge and analogue sensors.
Gill weather stations output RS232, RS422, RS485, Modbus and SDI-12, with ASCII, Modbus RTU and ASCII, NMEA 0183 and SDI-12 protocols on MetConnect. The exact options depend on the model, so the output should be matched to the logger or control system.
Yes, with the correct specification. MaxiMet offers optional transducer heating of around 7 W on selected models. MetConnect One’s integrated WindSonic is unheated, so cold-climate sites should use MetConnect THP with a heated WindObserver or WindSonic M.
An all-in-one weather station places every sensor at one height, so it cannot follow WMO guidance on separating sensors by height. For operational monitoring this is usually acceptable. Where WMO-compliant siting is required, a separable station such as MetConnect is the better choice.
Yes. TruMet PW100 connects to MetConnect through its contact-closure rain input and to MaxiMet GMX550 and GMX551 through their tipping-bucket input. MaxiMet GMX603 has optical rainfall built in.