Buying a weather station is pretty much compulsory for people with a vested interest in the weather. Rather than rely on the National Weather Service to tell you when it is going to rain and how strong the wind will blow, it is better to get the information from your own backyard. This is because the nearest National Weather Service may be an hour away from your home and that distance will impact the accuracy of the information you get. What you get by having your own weather station is up to the minute data that is accurate and reflects the actual weather condition of your home.
When you are looking to buy a weather station, you will face many options that will leave you rather confused. Rather than succumb to that confusion and save yourself a heap of time we suggest carefully reading through this guide we have put together to help you in the process of buying a weather station. This post will be focused mainly on what you should look for when buying a weather station and we hope these factors help you make the right choice in your purchase.
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What You Should Look for When Buying a Weather Station?
As we stated earlier, you have to know what you want in a weather station to make the right choice. Some of the factors are more important than others, but you should still look for one that will serve your purpose and give good value for money. So, without much ado, let’s go over what you should look for when buying a weather station.
Important Measurements When Buying A Weather Station
The first things that should determine the type of weather station you buy are the measurements you need. Do you need your station to measure rainfall and wind, or do you want to know the humidity level, temperature, UV rays, barometric pressure, and more?
These factors should influence your choice as you don’t want to be buying a weather station of lesser capability than you need. In the same vein, you don’t need to spend money on capabilities that you will not use. This is taking into consideration that the higher the weather station’s capability, the more expensive it is.
Some features of high-capability weather stations include a thermometer, barometer, anemometer, humidity sensor, rain gauge, danger alert, UV sensor, air quality monitor, and so on.
Accuracy
Accuracy is an essential factor for any measuring instrument, and when buying a weather station this is no exception. There really is no use for a non-accurate weather station, right?
Before you buy one, check the accuracy and more importantly read the reviews to be sure it is true. The accuracy of a good station should not be more than 5% different from the measurements of the National Weather Service.
Therefore, buying a weather station with good accuracy will surely cost you more. However, at the end of the day, it is a feature that is worth the extra cash.
Robustness
An important feature of any weather station is for it to be strong and able to withstand harsh conditions. So, a good weather station is one that can go through a strong storm and come out ok on the other side.
By looking for durability when buying weather station you will not have to worry about ongoing repairs and maintenance.
You won’t be able to gauge the true robustness of a station until it has been delivered and you have set it up. Our expert weather geeks suggest that a good place to start is to read reviews, just like this one!. Customers are usually more honest than the manufacturer, so you can be sure to trust the reliability of reviews.
The toughness and durability of weather stations is often reflected in the price however, this also reflects the capability.
Please note: we have tested some more budget units that are still quite strong and reliable!
Check The Operating Temperature When Buying A Weather Station
An important factor to consider for those who live in extreme weather conditions – either very cold or very hot. It is imperative to confirm the operating temperature range for both the display and the sensor array before buying a weather station.
The operating temperature for the liquid crystal display is usually room temperature. So, these types of displays do not like temperatures below zero degrees and may not work properly if exposed to these temperatures.
It is also important to check the temperature that the sensor unit typically withstands. Most weather stations’ sensor units can detect from -40 C up to 50 C. Moreover, this suits most peoples living climate.
Sealing Ability
Before you buy a weather station, make sure to check the sealing specifications. Water and other forms of moisture can damage the unit if it gets into the wrong places.
In addition, dust and insects can also have adverse effects on a weather station over time. So, be sure that your device is adequately sealed and maybe offer it some protection.
The position of the sensor array outside the machine makes them susceptible to adverse weather conditions. Therefore, try to ensure that all parts are put together correctly when you set up your weather station.
Ease Of Use
Buying a weather station will probably make you feel a bit like a meteorologist. However, don’t forget that you are not one (unless you are one then this doesn’t apply to you!)
As these devices can be quite complicated, our experts suggest to look at ease of use when buying a weather station. This includes from installation to how and where you can read the measurements.
Look for one that comes with a manual. This will give answers to most of the questions you may have about the device. We also suggest to read reviews to get some honest opinions and feedback. There are many articles on this site that compare weather stations within a brand, or stations with included extra sensors.
Durability When Buying A Weather Station
Your brand new unit will be out all day in all types of weather. It is vital to get one that will last through severe storms and withstand intense sunshine. Avoid stations made with plastic materials and go for more durable materials such as metal.
Also, try to avoid models that have all the sensors in one piece. Any fault with one sensor will require you to change the whole device and not just replace the faulty one.
Expandability
You shouldn’t have to change your weather station every time there is a new feature available. Instead, buy a mid-range station that can be expanded along the way as you require more capabilities.
This way, you can keep the main station while you upgrade the sensors as you need. Ask yourself, “what are the capabilities I need now and what are those I may need in the future?” The answer will help you make a better choice when buying your weather station.
Buying A Weather Station For A Smart Home
If you have a smart home, it might be advantageous to buy a weather station that has smart home support. Look for the specific product that will be compatible with your smart home set-up and make inquires to the manufacturers if needed.
In fact, some of the latest models have features that work with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and IFTTT. If it is important to you to have this feature available then make sure the particular weather station is compatible with your smart home setup.
Internet Connectivity
Are you super tech-savvy? Maybe you do not spend much time at home but would still like to know the weather conditions? If either of these is the case, you should look for a station with internet connectivity.
With this type of station, you can get weather reports from your station any time you want. You can do this through the weather station’s app or specialized websites that collect weather data. Connecting your station online allows you to share weather information with others through services such as Weather Underground.
Data Transmission
The length of the cable often limits data from an analog weather station, but, with wireless stations, the limitation is minor.
Most professional weather stations today are wireless and can transmit data over a 100 meters or more.
Top Brands When Buying A Weather Station
If you are ready to buy a weather station but do not know which one to get, here are some of the best weather stations you can choose from. These stations are the best in terms of conditions and have great reviews on Amazon and other platforms. For more information on them, you can click the links and read our in-depth review on them!
Last update on 2024-05-08
Last update on 2024-05-08
Summing Up
So, hopefully we have helped you gain some in-depth knowledge of what to look for when buying a weather station. Our experts have listed some of the best weather stations available in the market today. All you have to do now is to consider what you want in a weather station and choose the one best suited to your needs.
One of the best weather stations on the list is a Davis weather station. Read our review of two amazing instruments from Davis, the Vantage Vue and Vantage Pro 2 on our recent article Which Davis Weather Station Should I Buy – Vantage Vue Or Vantage Pro 2