Looking for wireless weather station

[Scooby074]

Yeah I work in the computer industry where a 5 year legacy tail is considered pretty darn long.

But it's not a simple question of supporting them to for 10 years, it's how they withdraw support.

If they stopped selling new ones and then continued to support them for 10 years that would be amazing (and unlikely). If they are still selling them new right up until the day they withdraw support, that is a different story as the people who bought in the last year or two would rightfully feel conned.

Somewhere in between, like make a public statement that they will go out of support at a certain date and stop selling them new 2 years or so before that date is the ethical thing to do that won't bankrupt the company.

I'm not sure which of these paths they took.

I agree that if support was shut off on a specific day and you bought the day before, thats pretty unfair. But from what Ive read it sounds like support faded as parts dried up and there wasnt a definitive end of support date.

And dont forget that if they couldnt support you, they were offering you $100 for your old unit on trade (from what Ive read on some weather forums).

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Well, as an update, I decided to go with the AcuRite 01057.

Thanks for closing the loop with us, FordManTPW! Keep us up to date on how you make out with your AcuRite, OK?

I went through the same thing last year about this time, and ended up with a Davis VantageVUE. I'd been using Oregon Scientific sensors and cobbled together software for weather reporting, and the sensors were fragile and unreliable, as was the wireless radio reception inside the house (it's stucco, and I think the wire mesh under the mud really attenuates radio waves). I've had no such issues with the Davis, and it sits on the exact opposite end of the house from the base station. The only problem I've had so far is bird poop in the rain gauge, and now a little fishing line stretched over the unit keeps 'em from parking where they can do their damaging business. The WeatherLink has been utterly reliable, as has Dean Davis' WeatherTracker software for monitoring and passing data up to WeatherUnderground. That all runs on an old Black MacBook that just keeps chugging along. Yeah, it was a little more than I'd have liked to pay, but once installed I've had absolutely no trouble at all with it. To me, avoiding the frustration so common with homeowner grade electronics is well worth the premium price.:thumbsup::2cents:

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Do the units that measure rainfall empty themselves automatically? Or do you have to dump the rain out manually? I don't see where this is described in the literature on any of the units. (But, I didn't do a lot of searching)

 

[B7510HSD]

Do the units that measure rainfall empty themselves automatically? Or do you have to dump the rain out manually? I don't see where this is described in the literature on any of the units. (But, I didn't do a lot of searching)

They are self dumping...

 

[Country Geek]

They are self dumping...

Yes, in fact the dumping is part of how they measure the rainfall. It's a tipping cup that tips and empties every 0.01 inches and it counts how many times it tipped to measure the total rain.

 

[treefarmerguy]

Have a Vantage Pro2 wireless and love it. Only problem is having to clean out the rainfall bucket that gets clogged with pine needles and heavy pollen. It's on the roof but mounted on a short pole in the open probably would reduce the problem.

 

[Trails End]

I'm curious as to whether anyone has had any problems with the rain gauge tipping cups in below-freezing weather,
especially when freezing rain occurs? Any icing damage?

 

[HeLa]

Well, as an update, I decided to go with the AcuRite 01057.

For about half the price of the Davis units, I was able to get the outdoor sensor, the internet link, and two displays for in the house (one upstairs, one downstairs). I really like the Davis units, but I was on a bit of a budget and couldn't swing one and get it to do everything I wanted. I will probably look to upgrade to a Davis when our AcuRite has lived it's full life. Hopefully I will have more available for a budget then.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

did you buy direct from acurite site? or find it cheaper elsewhere?

i am about to pull the trigger on this model for all the same reasons as you!

 

[fordmantpw]

did you buy direct from acurite site? or find it cheaper elsewhere?

i am about to pull the trigger on this model for all the same reasons as you!

I bought it direct from Acurite. If you sign up on their website, you can get a 10% off coupon. Also, watch their FaceBook page as they run specials. I got 20% off the displays (yes, the unit as a whole counts the display separately) and saved quite a bit.

I just received it today, so I hope to get time to put it up in the next couple days.

 

[treefarmerguy]

If the temp. is below freezing the rain gauge won't work until it warms up. When the ice melts it will then register the melting water.

 

[HeLa]

I bought it direct from Acurite. If you sign up on their website, you can get a 10% off coupon. Also, watch their FaceBook page as they run specials. I got 20% off the displays (yes, the unit as a whole counts the display separately) and saved quite a bit.

I just received it today, so I hope to get time to put it up in the next couple days.

thanks!

 

[forestcreature1]

I have been using Davis gear for 15+ years. If you have any interest in soil moisture, leaf moisture - Davis has attachments for that also.
If you want the best hand held unit, look at Kestrel. {we use these to understand the weather conditions at the site of chem spills}

 

[PandDLong]

I've had an Acurite for 3-4 years. One of their Pro 5-in-1 weather stations. While I've been pretty happy with it, two of the anemometer cups recently broke off (it just looks like the plastic got too brittle with age) and in the last year the temperature reading has started to lag reality on occasion (eg. as the temperature drops in the evening it is still showing warm afternoon temps). I never found the forecasting to be very accurate but perhaps that is a function of my locale.

So it is probably time to replace. As per the other posters, I may go back to Acurite and just recognize I may need to replace the unit every few years but the outlay each time is pretty reasonable. But two features I'd like to get with the next unit is:

1. Data logging. I want to be able to look up recent history - particularly rainfall where my current unit tells me how much rain has fallen in this "event" and in the month but not in the last week or in the last "event". Of course once I had data logging I would think of more uses for it. Looks like this feature is available, so I am sure I will get it.

2. Snowfall. Living in the north, how much snow and/or rain equivalent is pretty useful information for half of the year. Do any units measure this?


Weather! Always something to talk about and being the local micro-climate expert is nice.

 

[Scooby074]

I'm curious as to whether anyone has had any problems with the rain gauge tipping cups in below-freezing weather,
especially when freezing rain occurs? Any icing damage?

No issues with my units.

Davis offers a heater for the rain gauge as well. Im considering it, or at least a home brew version of it.

 

[HeLa]

I've had an Acurite for 3-4 years. One of their Pro 5-in-1 weather stations. While I've been pretty happy with it, two of the anemometer cups recently broke off (it just looks like the plastic got too brittle with age) and in the last year the temperature reading has started to lag reality on occasion (eg. as the temperature drops in the evening it is still showing warm afternoon temps). I never found the forecasting to be very accurate but perhaps that is a function of my locale.

So it is probably time to replace. As per the other posters, I may go back to Acurite and just recognize I may need to replace the unit every few years but the outlay each time is pretty reasonable. But two features I'd like to get with the next unit is:

1. Data logging. I want to be able to look up recent history - particularly rainfall where my current unit tells me how much rain has fallen in this "event" and in the month but not in the last week or in the last "event". Of course once I had data logging I would think of more uses for it. Looks like this feature is available, so I am sure I will get it.

2. Snowfall. Living in the north, how much snow and/or rain equivalent is pretty useful information for half of the year. Do any units measure this?


Weather! Always something to talk about and being the local micro-climate expert is nice.

thanks for the feedback. i would love to get a davis based on the specs and reputation (looks like nearly all the WUnderground PWS units listed near me are davis!) but i'm just not ready to drop that kind of coin on it at the moment. i think the acurite will be a good start into this hobby and already much more informative than what we are using now - a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. let's see how it goes!

 

[HeLa]

I've had an Acurite for 3-4 years. One of their Pro 5-in-1 weather stations. While I've been pretty happy with it, two of the anemometer cups recently broke off (it just looks like the plastic got too brittle with age) and in the last year the temperature reading has started to lag reality on occasion (eg. as the temperature drops in the evening it is still showing warm afternoon temps). I never found the forecasting to be very accurate but perhaps that is a function of my locale.

So it is probably time to replace. As per the other posters, I may go back to Acurite and just recognize I may need to replace the unit every few years but the outlay each time is pretty reasonable. But two features I'd like to get with the next unit is:

1. Data logging. I want to be able to look up recent history - particularly rainfall where my current unit tells me how much rain has fallen in this "event" and in the month but not in the last week or in the last "event". Of course once I had data logging I would think of more uses for it. Looks like this feature is available, so I am sure I will get it.

2. Snowfall. Living in the north, how much snow and/or rain equivalent is pretty useful information for half of the year. Do any units measure this?


Weather! Always something to talk about and being the local micro-climate expert is nice.

thanks for the feedback. i would love to get a davis based on the specs and reputation (looks like nearly all the WUnderground PWS units listed near me are davis!) but i'm just not ready to drop that kind of coin on it at the moment. i think the acurite will be a good start into this hobby and already much more informative than what we are using now - a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. let's see how it goes!

 

[B7510HSD]

thanks for the feedback. i would love to get a davis based on the specs and reputation (looks like nearly all the WUnderground PWS units listed near me are davis!) but i'm just not ready to drop that kind of coin on it at the moment. i think the acurite will be a good start into this hobby and already much more informative than what we are using now - a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. let's see how it goes!

What's the price on the Acurite unit? The Davis Vue can be had for around 257.00..

 

[HeLa]

What's the price on the Acurite unit? The Davis Vue can be had for around 257.00..

the acurite that i went with 01057 (same as OP) was 143$ delivered. includes sensor unit, display console and internet bridge (i want it online for sure).

what does davis give you for that price? that seems considerably lower than the prices i found for sensor/console/connectivity solutions.

if/when i upgrade, i would really like a unit that separates the anemometer from the other sensors.

 

[fordmantpw]

thanks for the feedback. i would love to get a davis based on the specs and reputation (looks like nearly all the WUnderground PWS units listed near me are davis!) but i'm just not ready to drop that kind of coin on it at the moment. i think the acurite will be a good start into this hobby and already much more informative than what we are using now - a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer. let's see how it goes!

Those were the reasons I went with the Acurite.

What's the price on the Acurite unit? The Davis Vue can be had for around 257.00..

You can get an Acurite unit for < $100.

 

[fordmantpw]

the acurite that i went with 01057 (same as OP) was 143$ delivered. includes sensor unit, display console and internet bridge (i want it online for sure).

what does davis give you for that price? that seems considerably lower than the prices i found for sensor/console/connectivity solutions.

if/when i upgrade, i would really like a unit that separates the anemometer from the other sensors.

The Davis unit does not come with internet connectivity for $257. There is an extra charge for that.