Topic: The Best Home Weather Stations of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 40 times)
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Topic: The Best Home Weather Stations of 2023, Tested and Reviewed (Read 40 times)
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If you are as obsessed with weather-watching as I am, this model is the most feature-rich station in the test. The package co*es with a wind vane and rain gauge, but you can upgrade by adding up to eight sensors (all sold separately). Besides the typical indoor/outdoor temperature monitors and lightning detector, you can add on more unique sensors like indoor air quality, soil moisture, leak detector, and a floating pool thermometer. This is the most versatile unit on the market. Of course, adding sensors means you’re investing more money into an already pricy unit.
The indoor tablet has adjustable dimming and a bright display. All of the weather parameters visible on the screen have labels. However, the screen is busy, so it’s harder to read from far away. The temperature is to the decimal point and the sunrise, sunset, and sun arc information is a rare detail not found in other units.
You can scroll through archived records on the home unit, but it also connects to the Ambient Weather app, where you can check on the status of all the weather parameters and historical data from anywhere with your phone. Both the app and the indoor display have a graph feature, which is a great visual when reviewing weather records.
The outdoor co*ponents only take two AA batteries (as opposed to more in others). I appreciate that you can check the life of the battery in the app, which is convenient since the unit is mounted very high. The manufacturer suggests you’ll have to change the batteries every two to three years. The outdoor contraption also draws on a single solar panel to operate the internal aspirating fan for more accurate ambient temperature reading. The indoor unit needs only the AC power plug (included).
I love this station for its co*prehensiveness, but there are still a few downsides. It is co*plicated to set up and use, as evidenced by the 71-page instruction manual. It took me about an hour to follow the directions and actually put together the pieces and mount the station outside. While I am not naturally an engineer or handy, I can usually hold my own, but this was on the co*plex side.
The aluminum mounting kit is sold separately, and without it, you need to create your own wooden dowel to elevate the station above any obstacles. If you do use Ambient’s aluminum mounting kit, make sure you ground it.
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Baldr has a plethora of choices for weather stations, all within an affordable price range. This particular weather station is the one I keep by my bedside, since it has time, alarm, and snooze functions. I appreciate that the 5 x 5-inch display is bright and easy to read with a black or white backlight. I like the black backlight because it is less assaulting on the eyes in the middle of the night and not disruptive to my circadian rhythm. The weather graphics co*plete with mobile raindrops and pulsating sun are a little overkill. They take up one-quarter of the display, but some may find them fun.
This model displays indoor/outdoor temperatures, indoor/outdoor humidity levels, time/date with alarm capability, barometric pressure reading, moon phase picture, and a weather forecast. Plus, you can add on two remote temperature/humidity sensors for a greenhouse or another indoor room, although you have to toggle to the different channels on the display to see those readings. This is not co*patible with any apps, meaning you can’t monitor the conditions while away from home.
The temperature is to the decimal point. When I first read over the Baldr directions, I was disappointed that the temperature range said the low would only read down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. We spend many days below 0. However, our temps dipped to -28, and Baldr still delivered accuracy. So maybe the manufacturer test was more limited than my own.
The Eve is a thread device meaning it is meant to be used in conjunction with other thread smart-house devices connected via an Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini. If you connect with an Apple TV or HomePod using the same iCloud account as your iPhone, you can access the Eve Weather data from anywhere, but otherwise the app on its own cannot provide real-time data away from home. I do not have those accessories and was unable to test those functions.
I tested this station in a well house where I need to monitor the temperature to prevent pipes from freezing in the winter. The unit is water resistant, so if you wanted to place it outside on a patio or in a greenhouse, you can track the microclimate in those outdoor areas as well.
To use the station out of the box requires a simple push of a button to activate the included single lithium battery, which will last about a year. The display and the sensor are one in the same, but connect to the Eve app for you to track the temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure in a certain home area from your phone. The Eve app provides graphs with historical trends. These are the only three measurements this device is capable of, so it is bare-bones data.
The weather station that is right for you depends on your level of engagement. If you just want the numerical digits telling you the minimum essentials so you can dress accordingly for the outdoors, the budget and minimalist models on this list are sufficient. But if you are more of a weather hobbyist like myself, there are mid-range and advanced systems that can provide more co*prehensive data. Keep in mind, the more bells and whistles, the higher the price tag. There are also add-on specialized sensors or multiple zone configurations for larger homes capable of feeding into a main display.
Given that some stations have more co*ponents and features, I was particularly interested in the assembly and ease of use. The most basic systems require no effort, but more deluxe units with multiple gadgets and sensors may require mounting and a learning curve for everyday monitoring.
Data display can vary, as some units provide a main screen with all the information, while others may require toggling through multiple screens to view records. More and more, weather stations are connected to apps, so you can access all the real-time data from your phone.
The cost of personal weather stations varies greatly, depending on the number of weather attributes the system can track. The cheapest model we tested—which still displayed several weather parameters—cost $50. As you add on sensors and opt for more advanced models that are app-co*patible, the cost trends into the hundreds.
You could just watch the news or look at the weather forecast on the Internet. I find varied reliability with different weather apps, so I prefer a hyper-local forecast, which is what home weather stations provide.
In order to receive the most accurate recording, especially for wind measurements, it’s optimal to mount the station above trees and structures, which means some ladders and climbing is involved. At the very minimum, the unit should be at least 5 feet off the ground, but the higher the better. The National Weather Service actually reco*mends placing a unit 33 feet in the air.
All this to say, you wouldn’t want to just mount the units flat on your deck railing, but above it. Other things to consider would be the radiant heat that transfers from structures, so finding a spot at least 20 feet away from a structure is optimal. If you are mounting the unit on the roof of your house, you’ll want to think through how.
Instructions reco*mend placing any sensors on a north-facing wall in a shaded area or at least under an eave. The sensors are weatherproof, but a well-protected area will just improve the readings.
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If you nerd out on weather patterns, go for one of the best weather stations that archives wind speeds and lightning strikes around your home. But if you don’t want to deal with a bunch of data, and really only need a couple measurements go with a simpler model. Some of those models have larger displays with additional sensors for reasonable prices.
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