electronic rain gauges?

[thatguy]

I use the Oregon Scientific RGR126 wireless model, have had for about 2+ years, has a few quirks but I like it overall. You can scroll back 9 days and see day by day total as well as total rainfall.

Here is a link to it on Amazon:
Amazon.com: Oregon Scientific RGR126 Cable Free Long Range Rain Gauge: Home & Garden

RavensRoost

I have this one. it works BUT is a poor design... On the rain gauge you have remove 10 small screws to put batteries in it.. AND if you want to 'reset it' to it so it synchs up with receiver you must remove the same 10 screws to get to the button.. There has to be an easier way for inserting batteries.

Brian

 

[Mike120]

I used an Oregon Scientific WMR968 for about 3 years. The rain gauge worked on and off, but my main problems was with the wireless communications. I never had bugs in the rain gauge, it was usually the elecrtonics going out on it. I switched transmitters and still had problems. I replaced it with a Davis Vantage Pro2. Communications work great but the rain gauge just started going off and on. I suspect this time it's bugs and will check it this weekend because the Davis is a much better unit. however, I trust my manual rain gauge more than either one of the weather stations.

 

[mikim]

To my knowledge -- the Davis is the better "public" models out there for weather info gathering. Any of the "pro" stuff is too $$$$ to even be considered. That being said... your best bet for getting accurate rain measures is a gauge with a round top that is either 4 or 6 or 8 inches in diameter. For years the NWS has used a "standard" 8 inch rain gauge that was dip sticked to get the measurment. The "tipping bucket" type gauge is very handy but even with the Davis model you need another accurate gauge next to it to calibrate it for several rain events until you get it tweaked in. If that's needed ....then what's the point of using a tipper? The NWS uses 'em at remote sites from the office because the data can be transmitted and there's nothing to empty. Another type was a weighing gauge - it kept an accumulated amount of water in it and measured the difference in weight for each event. We kept a measured amount of oil in it to prevent evaporation and after it started getting full we'd have to make a road trip to empty it and maintain it. For my money - I'd find a 4 inch ....but haven't yet. I'm still using a rock. (if it's wet it's raining)

 

[Ken45101]

I tried a few from Walmart but they didn't last long (no big surprise). Early this year I bought the Davis Vantage Pro 2 and I love it!

One time it wasn't showing the rain and it turned out that something was clogging the collector funnel. I cleared that and it quickly caught up as the funnel emptied

Ken