Weather Station Project – PAS

Posted on 09/27/2026 by admin123

Project: Home weather station built (Project Action Support)

Vision:

Mix of everything (Linux; Python; Databases; SSD Drives; Weather; Weather Underground)

Decision points to make (high level):

Local sensors for now.  Maybe BME280. (Web search for: raspberry pi probe for weewx)

Hardware and Software List:

Raspberry Pi 5 – 16GB (running OS versionXX; used to create the SD card for Raspberry Pi 3B+)

Raspberry Pi 3B+ – 1GB (for weather station)

Sub Projects:

Build OS (resolve all parameters; create the SD card)

Raspberry Pi 3B+ running OS xxx online

Basic temp and humidity sensor working on attached breadboard

WeeWx installation (and connecting initial sensor)

Integration of network weather (NWS) to WeeWX

External drive (SSD purchased and installed/configured)

EcoWitt weather station purchased

EcoWitt weather station installed and configured (including Weather Underground)

 

 

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Raspberry Pi Projects – various thoughts

Posted on 09/26/2026 by admin123

There is something fun, spontaneous and empowering about Raspberry Pi, as there are numerous things to do and consider as projects, and it’s a full OS with abilities to make things do stuff – turn lights on; move a robot’s arm, etc.

But, I’ve also found that it’s important to stay-the-course and attempt to complete one project (or area of focus at a time).  Skills tend to accrue over time.

I started off with the Arduino Hero board (100 days Lost in Space), and didn’t pursue.

Then I got back in to Nebula Raiders (Python Focused) after I added the system to a new Raspberry Pi 5 16GB board.

Now I’m distracted with a new Raspberry Pi 3B+ that I picked up, that I’d like to create a weather station on.

Of course, then there’s PiDog and Sunfounder’s awesome looking case.

And…  AI HAT to start connecting things called LLM’s.

Of course, the Raspberry Pi initially is typically using an SD card as it’s drive.  Therefore, an upgrade is to add a USB SATA SSD drive which is more robust and long-lasting.

You get the point.  So many projects and relatively limited time.  So far, I’ve been doing OK, but have also been derailed with some system stability issues that I had to tend to.  So far, so stable right now.

Some of the the projects like the weather station is a latest and loudest interest, as we have some impending storms coming soon.  I’m writing this on 9/26/26.

One school of thought is that it’s OK to have multiple projects happening in parallel, as you learn from each and move everything forward.  That maybe an approach to consider as the weather project will focus more on Raspberry Pi OS and actual applications of Python.  The Nebula Raiders and 100 days Lost in Space, are important, but more fundamental with all the electronics pieces and Python.  I’ve done well so far with doing web searches to resolve problems, but there’s a risk with making a change without completely understanding the ramifications.

So far, I’ve been getting away with using the RP Desktop interface.  With the RP3B+ and the Weather Project, it will need to be a headless system and therefore more command line (CLI) stuff.  I think the outcome interface with WeeWx (weather application) is a local web-server.

After typing all this, I’ve decided to continue with Nebula Raiders project, which is linked to my RP 5 setup, in parallel with the new RP 3B+ Weather system project, integrating WeeWx.  While the weather project typically connects to a system outside that captures weather data, I’m forseeing more near-term weather probes (temperature/humidity) on sensors on a breadboard, connected to the Pi 3B+.  Over time, I’ll get more comprehensive.  The Nebula Raider project is good for learning how to add components to breadboard and deal with things like voltage, resistors, ground, Python programming.

And…  because I’m not going to install Docker and then Home Assistant on the RP 3B+, I’ll install Docker on the RP5 and then Kali Linux so I can learn about security stuff.

I also came across Ecowitt Weather Station Hardware.  Only about $200 to get a station outside that talks to the Raspberry Pi.  Fun stuff.

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Raspberry Pi Imager – various (including troubleshooting)

Posted on 09/26/2026 by admin123

What is Raspberry Pi Imager?

A tool (app) installed on Raspberry Pi OS that I can use to create new versions of RP OS to install either on same device or others

What current version do I have?

At CLI: rpi-imager –version

It comes back with: v2.0.11 (as of 20260925)

How to upgrade (to the newest version)?

sudo apt update

sudo apt install –only-upgrade rpi-imager

Q: What is apt, that I’m updating first?

A: When you run this, it goes out and checks various catalogs, so it knows what current versions are out there.  It doesn’t actually update/upgrade any app on system yet.

Q: What is apt?

A: It is the Advanced Package Tool for Debian and other flavors of Linux.  A convenient way of accessing applications in various data repositories for installation on Raspberry Pi, for example

Before running sudo apt update, I’m noticing some automatic updates pending in the OS, so doing that first.

I also opened the Imager app, and I’m seeing it saying there is an update available (version 2.0.11.1.  Would I like the app to visit the website to download it?

Well..  might as well have the app do it by itself, versus me doing it manually at CLI, so I clicked on update.  Well, this went to the www.raspberrypi.com/software website, and had me download the latest version for debian 64-bit.  Now I have a file in my Downloads folder.  This is a bit weird, as the website says to install you do: sudo apt install rpi-imager (but how do I know if that’s pointing at the download folder?)

I think I’m just going to do the above:

sudo apt update

It comes back with: All packages are up to date

sudo apt install –only-upgrade rpi-imager

It comes back with that the rpi-imager is already the newest version (2.0.11-1).  This is annoying, because then why did it download something to the download folder (when I did within the app?).  It wasn’t obvious that it completed the upgrade.

rpi-imager — version

Comes back again with version v2.0.11.  Does this mean it actually upgraded?

Rebooted the system, as I had done the the updates within the OS feature at top right of desktop

Great.  Now I have a flashing icon in top left of monitor after the reboot.  Not sure what that means.  Didn’t load the desktop.

Ctrl-Alt F1: Failed to start NetworkManager-wait-online.service; cloud-config.service; cloud-final.service; rpc-statd-notify.service

The Network Manager error could be because somehow the startup didn’t see the network connection, even though I have a Cat5 connected to a small switch.  I see a green and yellow light on the RP port.

It’s possible there is a conflict as I think I have both wired and wireless configured at same time, but likely want to stick with wired.  There’s something in boards about specifying which.

Unplugging the Cat 5 and reseating didn’t do anything, and the green light came back on again.  I’m thinking the conflict is within WiFi connection.

I think the goal is to somehow get to a command line; stop the NetworkManager wait online service and then reboot.

Note: I can flip-flop between two screens by Ctrl-Alt-F1 and Ctrl-Alt-F2.  F1 shows the startup errors.

Ctrl-Alt-F3.  Nothing.  I then tried, Ctrl-Alt-F1 thru F6, and could type I think on either F5 or F6.

sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager-wait-online.service

Nothing worked, so I pushed the on/off button on RP5 and it rebooted OK.  Need to look in to this about also having WiFi configured, maybe.

Ran RP Imager – same thing.  It still hasn’t completed the upgrade to 2.0.11.1

This is nuts.  When I try the upgrade within the app, it’s not actually doing the upgrade.  I shouldn’t have to be doing deep dives, to now figure out how to do chmod on an .Appimage download and run that, but here goes

The download went into /home/paul/Downloads

Within that is: imager_2.0.11.1_amd64.Appimage

chmod +x imager_2.0.11.1_amd64.AppImage  (Note: Ensure case sensitivity)

./imager_2.0.11.1_amd64.AppImage

Comes back with No such file or directory.  I don’t get this.

When I double-click the file within file manager, it says it is executable and do I want to execute it.

To be continued….

Addressing NetworkManager errors on startup, where I think there is an issue polling WiFi – and I have a Cat5 cable attached, and don’t see a need for both network connections simultaneously:

To fix NetworkManager errors when you do not use Wi-Fi on a modern Raspberry Pi OS (Bookworm or later), you can disable the wireless interface entirely in the system configuration.

Disable Wi-Fi in Firmware
  • Open the boot config file in a terminal using:
    sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt

  • Add this line to the bottom of the file:
    dtoverlay=disable-wifi

  • Save and exit by pressing Ctrl+O, Enter, then Ctrl+X.

  • Reboot your Raspberry Pi with sudo reboot to stop NetworkManager from polling the missing wireless hardware

Outcome: After the reboot, in top right of screen, it now only showed a connection to the wired and not both wired and wireless.  Progress.

As for upgrading to the latest .1 version of Raspberry Pi Imager, I’m not sure if it’s worth the efforts right now.  Appears that it’s not really designed for upgrading a RP5 in place.

I now have the answer, and it includes how to read version numbers, and it also makes me move on from this sub-project of trying to update Raspberry Pi Imager:

The app is asking to upgrade because your terminal version (2.0.11-1) is actually an older release than the current app version (2.0.11.1). [1]

This confusion comes down to how your Linux system reads version numbers compared to how software developers format them:

2.0.11-1 (Debian Package Format): The hyphen (-) means this is the 1st package build of version 2.0.11.

2.0.11.1 (Upstream Software Version): The extra dot means this is a minor patch release (.1) explicitly pushed out after 2.0.11 to fix a quick bug (specifically a fix for Raspberry Pi Connect)

Because your system’s package manager (apt) treats the dash as a separator for packaging rather than part of the core software version, it sees your installed software version as exactly 2.0.11. Since 2.0.11.1 is a higher number than 2.0.11, the application flags it as an update.

So, I’m going with this option to address is:  Ignore it: If the app is working perfectly for you, you can safely ignore the notification until your Linux OS repository automatically pushes out the 2.0.11.1-1 package update.

 

 

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