Wireless Weather Stations

NTRotty · #1 09/15/10, 06:07 AM

Anyone have a model they have good luck with? I don't wish to spend over $100 and don't care to have rain and other sensors. Just a basic unit that is dependable and easy to operate; time, temp, humidity sort of thing.

MO_cows · #2 09/15/10, 07:48 AM

We have an Acu-rite model 00634. DH mounted the outside sensor on our flag pole. It gives wind speed, temp, humidity, barometric pressure, etc on the indoor display unit. It cost around $40 a year ago. Might have been a closeout bargain, I wasn't with him when he bought it. One afternoon this summer it showed 105 degrees with enough humidity to make the heat index 128. Nuthin got done outside that day.

**Cabin Fever** · #3 09/15/10, 07:52 AM

Never had a weather station, but do have a outdoor wireless thermometer. It "shuts down" when the outdoor temp is below -4ºF. Lot of good that does for us!

Jim-mi · #4 09/15/10, 09:08 AM

The indoor/outdoor temp things are suckin batterys way to fast.
The indoor lasts just fine . . .but the out door transmitter is NOT battery friendly.

The 'Sharp' brand unit with the 'atomic' clock is kinda neat

Windy in Kansas · #5 09/15/10, 10:07 AM

Can't give any opinions on any of these but Taylor brand is usually a reputable brand.

http://www.partshelf.com/taylor1441.html

My Acurite unit was an inexpensive unit and simply did not last.
My SkyScan unit does not have humidity and the outside temps don't work above and below any decent range.

Be sure to read the directions for mounting the outdoor sensor in the proper location, height, etc. Many are mounted in incorrect locations and therefore give false readings.

Doesn't it take the really expensive lithium batteries to power the outdoor units during extreme cold? Extreme---any time I might be super cold. lol

stanb999 · #6 09/15/10, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NTRotty

Anyone have a model they have good luck with? I don't wish to spend over $100 and don't care to have rain and other sensors. Just a basic unit that is dependable and easy to operate; time, temp, humidity sort of thing.

Wireless for less than 100... Sorry but IMHO not worth it. I've already went thru 2.

Get a big thermometer and a rain gage. cost about 25 bucks

foaly · #7 09/15/10, 10:17 AM

One thing I learned this week: If you have a rain gauge and it is pretty far from the house, you can put a drop or two of food coloring in it to help you read the amount of rainfall easier.

Not earth-shattering information but useful. Clearly, it doesn't take much to impress me.

arabian knight · #8 09/15/10, 10:38 AM

3 batteries a year is sucking batteries?
That is dirt cheap imo. I have one of those temp ones sending a signal indoors to the unit, tells me the outdoor temp, humidity. I have had it now for 4 years and I love it. Bought it at Menards.

WindowOrMirror · #9 09/15/10, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

Never had a weather station, but do have a outdoor wireless thermometer. It "shuts down" when the outdoor temp is below -4ºF. Lot of good that does for us!

oh come on... its totally functional six months of the year!

Windy in Kansas · #10 09/15/10, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foaly

One thing I learned this week: If you have a rain gauge and it is pretty far from the house, you can put a drop or two of food coloring in it to help you read the amount of rainfall easier.

I did that for a number of years, but now I have the large diameter, and tall tube rain gauge which has a neon colored float in it. Very easy to see from a distance, but I did enhance the ¼, ½, and ¾ inch increment marks with different colors for easier reading. Seems to be very accurate and almost always agrees with the National Weather Service recording if the rain is a general one and not spotty.