I am seeking suggestions for a new weather station. I've had the LaCrosse station sold by Walmart last year for $99. It worked for several months. There seems to always be a problem with the batteries. I sent the unit back once - they gave me a new rain sensor, but I couldn't get the rest of it to work after that. It is very temperamental and just took up too much time troubleshooting. I would speculate that because the units are not weather sealed, corrosion of the batteries/terminals will always be an issue in central Florida.
I am considering a Davis Instruments unit. The Vantage Vue seems to have all the right features for the price. Especially important is the solar power, and the fast 2.5 second response time for the wind. Is Davis one of the more trouble free, reliable brands?
Are there different units I should consider? If so, which ones and why?
The Vantage Vue is an all-in-one unit. This configuration has pros and cons. Pros are easy set up and maintenance. Are there significant disadvantages, such the inability to set up the components in the optimum location for each function? I understand the unit should be mounted from 5 to 7 feet off the ground, away from trees and high enough so sprinkler systems will not give false readings.
I intend to mount it on a six foot pole using a ground auger type pole receiver. What are some of the methods/devices folks use for mounting this unit in the ground?
Your comments will be appreciated. Thanks.