=====
Here's a quick preview of this month's contents:
=====
Introducing our new weather station — Vantage Pro... Davis weather stations explore Antarctica ...Making the cast in Cast Away ... Enjoy!

=====
Davis: Announcing Vantage Pro, our new weather station
=====
In September of 1998, we asked Weather Club members for input on the "next generation" of weather stations. Did you ever wonder what we did with your ideas?

Well, we combined your ideas with some of our own and came up with Vantage Pro. Vantage Pro features a larger LCD display than any of our previous weather stations (http://davisnet.com/productpics/big/6150countertop.jpg). You can see wind, rain, temperature, humidity and lots more all on the same screen. We've also included forecasting. You can see a forecast icon all the time and, with the press of a button, get a scrolling forecast ticker tape.

The outside sensors have a new look too. We've bundled them into an "Integrated Sensor Suite" that comes pre-assembled in two pieces. You can mount them together (http://davisnet.com/productpics/big/6150_pkflw.jpg) or separately (http://davisnet.com/productpics/big/6150cpst.jpg).

Current weather station owners can enjoy the new display without purchasing a whole new station. Just add ConsoleLink and our wireless Vantage Pro console/receiver to your existing Weather Wizard III or Weather Monitor II. If your Weather Wizard or Monitor is wireless, you don't even need ConsoleLink. The Vantage Pro console will receive data from your existing wireless sensors. It couldn't be easier.

For complete details see http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/stations.asp.

A word of caution: we're still in the product-launch mode, so shipping of the new units is unpredictable. We are taking orders and will ship as soon as units become available.

=====
Cool Applications: Davis weather stations explore Antarctica
=====
For the past few months, we have been working with a Stanford University research group as they prepared for an Antarctic expedition http://www.thistle.org/a2k/a2kpage1.html. The research team consists of Stanford undergraduate students in engineering and an industry mentor. One team member will set up two weather stations that will remain in Antarctica over the winter. Our Health Enviromonitor will track wind, temperature, solar radiation, and UV for the project. UV is of special interest, because it tells us something about the ozone hole over the continent. The weather stations are equipped with radio transmitters so that data can be sent back to Stanford via satellite and web links.

The polar explorers left earlier this month and are busy setting up the weather stations (http://www.thistle.org/a2k/photos/index.cgi?Wxblu1_1.jpg). Ronald Ross, the Stanford representative, has the base station up and running. So far the station has been transmitting weather information steadily. The real test will be when the explorers come home, and the station is on its own. Stanford has set up a site http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wxpage.cgi?ke6jab-1 where you can see the Antarctic weather data.

=====
Fun Information: Did we make the cast in Cast Away?
=====
In September's newsletter, we proudly heralded our inclusion in "The Perfect Storm." The movie is now out in video for those who missed it in the theatre. At the same time, we said that "we haven't heard anything about "Castaways" (another possible starring role) -- we can't even find a website for it."

A few days after September's newsletter went out, publicity for Cast Away (the correct movie title) began. The movie, starring Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt, tells the story of a man who is stranded on a desert island for years http://www.castawaymovie.com/index2.html. It opens on December 22nd. We don't know if we made the cast, so if anyone sees a Davis product in the film, please let us know.