Home weather station suggestions

[ponytug]

I love the simplicity of the solid state Tempest style weather stations, but my neighbor has one that despite many updates is wildly off from ours, and from other nearby stations. Wind speed, rainfall are all different. I keep hoping it will improve, but in the interim, I am sticking with Davis.

Like @bdhsfz6, I did the rain cone update as well, and it made a big difference in accuracy for us as well. (1-2% range)

All the best,

Peter

 

[Grumpycat]

The AcuRite 5-in-1 has adjustment screws for the rain gauge. AcuRite provides instructions on how to drip a measured quantity of water while counting the tips (can be heard).

Those bellyaching about 6-9°F hotter readings in the sun do not have a functioning fan. If it works the fan can be heard in almost any light. Mine gets full of cobwebs a couple times per year requiring cleaning of both the fan and the rain sensor teeter-totter.

Having said that, I now have a Tempest.

 

[Grumpycat]

I love the simplicity of the solid state Tempest style weather stations, but my neighbor has one that despite many updates is wildly off from ours, and from other nearby stations. Wind speed, rainfall are all different. I keep hoping it will improve, but in the interim, I am sticking with Davis.

If all Tempest behaved that way then no one would buy and keep one.

My Tempest is mounted 15' from the AcuRite 5-in-1 and reports very similar results. Also in agreement with others of various makes within a mile.

... until the temperature/humidity board in the AcuRite failed due to corrosion. Cleaned it up, soldered some damaged traces, worked for a few hours. Haven't bothered again. Part is $15 from AcuRite, $10 to ship, or $10 for the part, $15 to ship. Still measures rain and wind speed.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My old Ambient Weather WS1001 after a decade of getting beat up by wind, tree debris, and cold temperatures and cost $399 in 2015, finally died when one of the batteries soiled its battery box. I had to silicon spray its wind speed thingy occasionally to keep it freely spinning, as wells glue its wind speed thingy back together when tree debris broke it, but it was a good weather station and i liked how it ties into wunderground.

So today I ordered a new Ambient Weather WS2000 for $239 since Amazon knocked the price down $60 for Prime.

Amazon.com

I really like the weather stations because of our frequent storms, a guy learns that his house starts to vibrate with winds go over 60mph and silly cold temperatures when a guy realizes that he is in the coldest area in North America (mostly because we are further away from a warming oceans).

 

[rontaki]

My old Ambient Weather WS1001 after a decade of getting beat up by wind, tree debris, and cold temperatures and cost $399 in 2015, finally died when one of the batteries soiled its battery box. I had to silicon spray its wind speed thingy occasionally to keep it freely spinning, as wells glue its wind speed thingy back together when tree debris broke it, but it was a good weather station and i liked how it ties into wunderground.

So today I ordered a new Ambient Weather WS2000 for $239 since Amazon knocked the price down $60 for Prime.

Amazon.com

I really like the weather stations because of our frequent storms, a guy learns that his house starts to vibrate with winds go over 60mph and silly cold temperatures when a guy realizes that he is in the coldest area in North America (mostly because we are further away from a warming oceans).

I've had an Ambient WS2000 for about 5 years now, really like it. Its tied into Weather Underground. It also recieves some data from a nearby AW station with sensors I don't have!

 

[CH4Ohio]

We had some scary weather here for a few days until I replaced our weather station. . . . Hard to know how to dress for days like this so we just stayed inside . . .

 

[CH4Ohio]

That reminds me . . . I saw on the news that the old weather guy that came up with the Heat Index died recently. They said he was 88 . . . but felt like 107.

 

[Oaktree]

My old Ambient Weather WS1001 after a decade of getting beat up by wind, tree debris, and cold temperatures and cost $399 in 2015, finally died when one of the batteries soiled its battery box. I had to silicon spray its wind speed thingy occasionally to keep it freely spinning, as wells glue its wind speed thingy back together when tree debris broke it, but it was a good weather station and i liked how it ties into wunderground.

So today I ordered a new Ambient Weather WS2000 for $239 since Amazon knocked the price down $60 for Prime.

I've got an Ambient WS1900 that's been pretty good for the 5 or so years we've had it. Lately it's been acting strangely...both the outside temperature and rainfall totals kind of spaz out periodically. They'll rotate thru different displays (ie-rain event, daily, weekly, monthly) all by themselves. Then it'll be fine for days. Seems like it's really hot days that it doesn't like (sort of like its owner ).

 

[John0829]

We have the Ambient 2000 and is connected to the CWOP. You really do become dependent on the stations when you have one.

 

[Grumpycat]

My old Ambient Weather WS1001 after a decade of getting beat up by wind, tree debris, and cold temperatures and cost $399 in 2015, finally died when one of the batteries soiled its battery box. I had to silicon spray its wind speed thingy occasionally to keep it freely spinning, as wells glue its wind speed thingy back together when tree debris broke it, but it was a good weather station and i liked how it ties into wunderground.

So today I ordered a new Ambient Weather WS2000 for $239 since Amazon knocked the price down $60 for Prime.

Amazon.com

I really like the weather stations because of our frequent storms, a guy learns that his house starts to vibrate with winds go over 60mph and silly cold temperatures when a guy realizes that he is in the coldest area in North America (mostly because we are further away from a warming oceans).

The Tempest is down to $288.50. I like how it has no moving parts. Solar powered battery.

Tempest Weather System with Built-in Wind Meter, Rain Gauge, and Accurate Weather Forecasts, Wireless, App and Alexa Enabled Amazon.com: Tempest Weather System with Built-in Wind Meter, Rain Gauge, and Accurate Weather Forecasts, Wireless, App and Alexa Enabled : Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Hoho223]

That reminds me . . . I saw on the news that the old weather guy that came up with the Heat Index died recently. They said he was 88 . . . but felt like 107.

Hagagaga

 

[gsganzer]

I have an ambient weather station. I started it with lithium batteries and I think it's been 2 years now. I probably need to get up and replace them.

Love the weather station, even my wife looks at it and follows the weather.

 

[ponytug]

The Tempest is down to $288.50. I like how it has no moving parts. Solar powered battery.

Tempest Weather System with Built-in Wind Meter, Rain Gauge, and Accurate Weather Forecasts, Wireless, App and Alexa Enabled Amazon.com: Tempest Weather System with Built-in Wind Meter, Rain Gauge, and Accurate Weather Forecasts, Wireless, App and Alexa Enabled : Patio, Lawn & Garden

I'd love to like it. I love the no moving parts side of it. However, around here, it appears to be less than accurate. I have neighbor who has one and his readings are at odds with basically all of the nearby weather stations. I had rather hoped that firmware updates might have improved things for him, but not so far. I will say he was an early adopter.

I had my Davis Vantage Pro 2 overhauled at the factory after 17 years of great service. In that time, I had replaced the solar/ battery pack once, and I had upgraded the rain cone to their bird free version, but that was all. The cone spikes really helped keep leaves out of mine. The overhaul price was very reasonable for what amounted to a basically new weather station, and the turn around was only a couple of days, though I'm sure that fluctuates with the demand.

All the best,

Peter

 

[thclimer]

I have had a Davis Vantage Pro 2 for about 13 years, my only complaint is the 1990's looking data logging software.

 

[Oaktree]

I have an ambient weather station. I started it with lithium batteries and I think it's been 2 years now. I probably need to get up and replace them.

Love the weather station, even my wife looks at it and follows the weather.

Yeah, probably ought to replace the batteries in ours too, also lithiums but they're 2-3 years old.
Got this mostly for the wife, she'd wanted one for a while. Ours is standalone, no internet connectivity. Didn't see the need.

 

[Grumpycat]

I'd love to like it. I love the no moving parts side of it. However, around here, it appears to be less than accurate. I have neighbor who has one and his readings are at odds with basically all of the nearby weather stations. I had rather hoped that firmware updates might have improved things for him, but not so far. I will say he was an early adopter.

I have an AcuRite 5-in-1 about 15' away from my Tempest. They track temperature and humidity very closely. Wind can change directions between buildings and trees. Sometimes one registers a bit more rain than the other.

I had my Davis Vantage Pro 2 overhauled at the factory after 17 years of great service. In that time, I had replaced the solar/ battery pack once, and I had upgraded the rain cone to their bird free version, but that was all. The cone spikes really helped keep leaves out of mine. The overhaul price was very reasonable for what amounted to a basically new weather station, and the turn around was only a couple of days, though I'm sure that fluctuates with the demand.

Davis is a very good choice as well. AcuRite has a new model but for decades the 5-in-1 has been made of cheap UV sensitive plastic without update so I don't think much of the company.

 

[Grumpycat]

Yeah, probably ought to replace the batteries in ours too, also lithiums but they're 2-3 years old.
Got this mostly for the wife, she'd wanted one for a while. Ours is standalone, no internet connectivity. Didn't see the need.

Internet connection makes it easier to see how yours is reporting vs others nearby.

 

[Blue Mule]

The main issue with the Ambient stations and other brands like it is that they put all of the instruments on one unit, which means it is impractical to mount the anemometer at 10 meters AGL where it belongs, which means your heat index, wind chill, and wind speed/direction readings are all going to be inaccurate.

The reason I like the Davis VP2 stations so much:

- Can remotely mount the anemometer
- Can add lots of different sensors for UV, soil moisture, etc
- Updates every 3 seconds or less, which is critical in a severe thunderstorm where you want to capture max wind gust
- Uses solar/capacitor design so that battery replacements are several years between
- Has option for 24 hour FARS to keep temperatures accurate in summer
- Rainfall tipping spoon can be calibrated to match manual gauge readings almost perfectly
- Radio transmission range is WAY greater than most other stations, opens more mounting location options

 

[Oaktree]

Internet connection makes it easier to see how yours is reporting vs others nearby.

Neither of has any real interest in doing so.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The main issue with the Ambient stations and other brands like it is that they put all of the instruments on one unit, which means it is impractical to mount the anemometer at 10 meters AGL where it belongs, which means your heat index, wind chill, and wind speed/direction readings are all going to be inaccurate.

The reason I like the Davis VP2 stations so much:

- Can remotely mount the anemometer
- Can add lots of different sensors for UV, soil moisture, etc
- Updates every 3 seconds or less, which is critical in a severe thunderstorm where you want to capture max wind gust
- Uses solar/capacitor design so that battery replacements are several years between
- Has option for 24 hour FARS to keep temperatures accurate in summer
- Rainfall tipping spoon can be calibrated to match manual gauge readings almost perfectly
- Radio transmission range is WAY greater than most other stations, opens more mounting location options

I've been using Davis wireless, solar powered weather equipment for more than 30 years. Needed a few minor replacement parts now and then but mostly bulletproof.

I have mine mounted on a hilltop, over 1/4 mile from the house. There is almost no limit to the allowable distance between sensor and display using the appropriate number of repeaters.