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It’s the only station of those we tested that’s been selected for so-called gold star status by Weather Underground (which means that it consistently passes quality-control checks). But its setup and configuration process is a lot more complex than the Netatmo’s, and it costs a couple hundred dollars more. Compared with our other picks, the AcuRite 01014M Weather Station tends to report temperatures inconsistently—specifically, 2 or 3 degrees too warm on sunny, windless days. But in all other respects, this five-in-one weather-monitoring system performs well. Unlike most of the weather stations we tested, the Davis solution requires this sold-separately add-on for online weather data logging. Unlike most wind gauges, this Netatmo add-on relies on ultrasonic sensors to detect both wind speed and direction.
Weather station manufacturers typically denote their product’s sensor range from the array to the receiving unit without making allowances for objects between the two points, such as walls or trees. So the actual sensor range can vary, depending on the number of objects that lie between the two points. For example, a weather station with a sensor range of 300 feet may only be able to transmit data up to 100 feet if multiple walls, trees, and hedges lie between the array and the receiving unit. When shopping for one, keep in mind the power source, functions, accuracy, display, and other considerations, all detailed below. This will largely depend on where you want to mount your weather station, but generally you’ll find that they’re a breeze to use. Many leading manufacturers have simple pairing processes with other devices, and they can provide quick and easy results straight out of the box.
Why do you Need a Home Weather Station?
This pick earns its much higher price with even better build quality than the Netatmo, more-sensitive rain and wind measurements, and more-frequently updated data. Apartment dwellers will especially appreciate that the modules can be installed on a balcony without creating an eyesore. And the addition of indoor modules makes it possible to monitor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels on a room-by-room basis.
The price of a weather station depends mostly on the accuracy of the sensors, transmission time, the technologies used, and the number of sensors, in that order. For accurate temperature readings, ensure that the sensors of the outdoor unit are aligned with the direction of the sunlight. Also, ensure to keep it away from artificial water sources such as sprinklers, large vegetation, and heat sources for accurate temperature readings. When mounting the weather station, ensure to keep it at least 4-6 feet above the ground or at a height of 6 to 8 feet if you are installing it on a rooftop. The outdoor unit would be affected by wind turbulence if mounted too low on a roof. Also, it will not get enough sunlight exposure if mounted too low on the ground, and the heat from the ground could affect the readings of the thermometer if mounted too low.
The 8 Best Home Weather Station Reviews in 2022
You can unlock additional features like severe weather percentage values in case of tornadoes, hail, thunderstorms, etc. upon connecting to a WiFi network, which makes this station worth the splurge. The La Crosse Technology V40-PRO-INT comes calibrated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Weather Service standards and the time, date, and other features. This gives you access to additional forecast icons of T-storm, snow, fog, ice, and more conditions, which we found to be a blessing. You get a thorough understanding of the weather with a single glance at the display and can observe readings on the go in real-time as both the display and app have a high refresh rate. The programmable alarms allow you great simplicity in controlling your home network.
We looked for weather stations that had good signal strength that ensured smooth flow or transmission of data from the sensors to the digital console. The signal needs to be strong enough not to weaken once any obstacles are encountered. All the weather stations we picked surely include alarms and notifications to let you know if any value is reported out of the desired range by the sensors.
Best Home Weather Station Reviews in 2022
These categories are weighted to emphasize accuracy and affordability, making up half of a home weather station’s score. Unfortunately, rising component costs and inflation have made the Ambient Weather WS-5000 one of our list’s most expensive home weather stations. That played a big part in losing the top rank in our Best Weather Stations of 2022 rankings (it was #1 last year). While this model has no smart home integration, you can purchase the WeatherLink live separately to enable Alexa to read your current weather conditions through your Echo smart speaker. We found that the real-time lightning data matched better with data from professional lightning detection networks.
It has all those features that you always want a weather station to serve you. If you want to know more about the La Crosse C85845, you are the apt place to assist you. Highly accurate and relevant data to your home is a plus apart from the vibrant LCD featuring several colors. Almost all the necessary weather parameters are displayed, and the station receives time and data updates automatically.
When you’re buying a product online, it’s important to consider the features that are important to you. Make sure to read the product description carefully, and check the customer reviews to get an idea of what others think of the product. This is especially important in the fall and winter, as those are the hardest months on your equipment. Depending on weather conditions and the surrounding environment, some may need to perform maintenance as frequently as every month. You’d be surprised how quickly weather stations get dirty; this build-up causes your readings to be inaccurate.
A good weather station remains intact and operational even during high winds. After tallying up the results, the Ambient Weather WS-2000 and Ambient Weather WS-2902C. These stations recorded the most accurate data across the board. The manufacturer claims a small variation in accuracy, which is common. However, more often than not, the variation was not a factor in achieving precision. The WS-2000 has a remote indoor sensor that is independent of the display tablet.
If possible, keep it away from HVAC vents and damp spots to avoid skewing the interior temperature and humidity data its sensors collect. If you have smart home technology around the house, I strongly recommend purchasing a home weather station that is smart home compatible. You can use your weather data to trigger these devices, such as turning the lights on inside the house when it gets dark outside. These are the basics, and some stations can measure much more than just these. Wind speed and direction data may be useful if you have an obstruction-free area on your property to place your station; others offer UV and solar energy data or lightning detection. For models that record wind direction, we mounted the units outdoors and oriented them to true north using a survey compass.
The WeatherLinkIP does add quite a bit to the total cost, but we feel that it’s a worthwhile add-on, especially for those who want to dive into hyperlocal historical weather data on a really granular level. Netatmo’s big-picture measurements proved to be more accurate than we expected—high and low temperature data were right on the mark, as were sustained wind measurements. The hardware (considerably larger and more substantial than Ambient’s) comes largely preconstructed and sets up quickly, and a small mounting base is included in the kit. Where AcuRite fails—miserably—is in getting the system connected to Wi-Fi, so you can get all of this information via the web or the AcuRite app. This process is downright barbaric, requiring you to connect to AcuRite’s temporary network, plug in an IP address, then enter your Wi-Fi credentials on a bare-bones web page. This process failed for me repeatedly, requiring a half-dozen factory resets and plenty of prayer before finally, mercifully, beginning to work.
Despite the Netatmo system’s overall excellent accuracy, it wasn’t always as sensitive as the Davis Instruments station at picking up rapid or short-duration changes in weather conditions. On March 22, for example, we had a series of rapid temperature drops that in the records of our other picks accurately appear as a succession of stairsteps. Despite reporting the temperature frequently enough to catch these stairsteps, the Netatmo’s sensors didn’t cool off quickly enough, so they reported a steadier decline instead. The Netatmo system also missed some momentary gusts of wind , and it was a few tenths of an inch low on accumulated rainfall on the rainiest days, pre-calibration.
So, using the best home weather station will help you in every situation. What is the use of a weather station if it can't provide you with accurate readings? With BALDR, your problem has just been shooed away, and you can expect precise and sensitive readings that are hard to find in various luxurious weather stations also. But, if you try to find something like Ambient WS-8480 Weather Station, it is hard to find. The ability of this station to support seven optional sensors is one of the prime features that sets it apart from others. Just make sure that the outdoor weather sensors are not in the line of sight of sunlight, rain, or snow, as it may lead to inaccurate measurements.
#6 Customer’s Choice – AcuRite 01012M Weather Station
If you’d like a weather station to simply get an accurate reading on the temperature outside before you head out, a simpler screen with clear data visibility should do the trick. One of these areas is construction, by using cheaper and subsequently less durable materials, the manufacturers can offer inexpensive models. Remember that your weather station is going to be out in the elements year round, and in potentially extreme conditions. If you can afford to purchase a high-end home weather station, do it, you’ll have something that lasts a whole lot longer as a result.
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