How to Choose the Right Weather Station
Stay One Step Ahead with Your Own Personal Weatherman
Nov 25, 2008
In recent years, technology has allowed for some significant advances in personal weather stations. These advances have allowed manufacturers to produce these weather instruments more cheaply, bringing the price to a level that just about anyone can afford.
At the same time, with the cheaper prices for both manufacturers and consumers, a flood of products have come into the market. This may make it difficult for some to choose a station that is best suited to their needs, but also a good value. This guide should help make those decisions easier.
It's All Gone Digital
While the good old-fashioned rain gauge and analog thermometer are still available from the local Wal-Mart, these days a majority of personal weather instruments are now digital.
There are benefits to digital: for one, the instruments can be placed outside, and read from the comfort of the home. Most mid and high-level models also come with features that allow for the storing of past weather data, allowing the user to see trends, and in even some cases the weather station will use the data to provide a general weather forecast for that specific location.
Another advantage is better accuracy, as the digital readouts take out the possibility of human error.
Don't Settle for a Cheap Weather Station
There are plenty of inexpensive weather stations out there, including several models available at local retailers. As a general rule, most of these are made rather cheaply and are often inaccurate, and should be avoided.
Expect to pay on the order of a few hundred dollars generally for a decent brand. However, the return on investment will be a product that lasts longer, and in most cases will have substantial customer support behind it if something goes wrong, or upgrades need to be made.
What Features Should A Weather Station Have?
At a minimum:
- inside/outside temperature, humidity
- wind (anemometer)
- rain gauge.
Most models will come with additional functionality.
La Crosse Weather Stations
La Crosse is probably the most prolific of the weather station manufacturers, with dozens of models to choose from. It even produces weather stations for The Weather Channel. However, many of them will not meet the basic needs of those looking for a full-featured device.
The most popular model would be The Weather Channel's Professional Weather Station (model WS-1611), which retails for $149.95. It includes all the features necessary plus a forecast icon. Another is the $299.95 WS-2310, which adds wireless instrumentation and the capability to upload data to a PC.
Davis Weather Stations
Davis Instruments is another high-profile weather station manufacturer, and is well respected among weather enthusiasts. The most popular weather stations here are the Vantage Pro 2, its signature station. A wired version is available for $495.00, while the wireless version is $100 more. Occasionally, these can be found new on eBay for far cheaper.
These stations are considered to be some of the most accurate for their price, and would be best suited for those looking for a mid-range setup. These also offer expandability through optional sensors including UV, leaf wetness, soil moisture, and solar radiation.
Other Weather Station Manufacturers
In addition to La Crosse and Davis, there are several other companies worth taking a look at before making a purchasing decision, including Oregon Scientific, Peet Bros., and Rainwise. Oregon Scientific's stations are very similar to La Crosse, while Peet Bros. have similar functionality to Davis' offerings.
Rainwise is considered the top of the line, and refers to itself as "professional" weather instrumentation. Prices here start at $600-800, and can run into the thousands of dollars depending on the setup. For most, one of the above mentioned manufacturers will be more than satisfactory.
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