Topic: Ambient Weather WS-1000 WiFi beta review

[JACK10562]

All you need to do is to plug in your station ID# IN UPPERCASE and password into the display console weather server field, (once the wi-fi connection is established) and you're good to go.

Sometimes it takes a day or so for WU to start showing your data, so don't be too concerned if you don't see it live, right away.

[ambientweather]

7. There are plans to add WeatherBug and CWOP. If there is one thing I have learned, it is best to start simple, and add additional features later.

When the software that allows uploading to CWOP and WeatherBug is released, will we be able to upgrade the software on the beta consoles, to give us this capability?

Yes, you will see it listed here:

http://ambientweather.wikispaces.com/ws1000-wifi

[ambientweather]

As for his recommendation, another option instead of a USB connection to computers, is have the data still transmitted through wifi and to have a computer on the network be able to receive it. This way the console can be placed in the living room or kitchen and the weather computer somewhere else.

That is the plan... one thing at a time 

[JohnN]

With all the snow I have gotten this year, I have noticed another design flaw. It doesn't take much snow to block the anemometer from spinning. On the Vantage Vue, the anemometer is higher from the ISS, which means it takes a lot more snow to block it.

[Zappo5]

FWIW, I currently have a WS-2080 and use Weathersnoop on an old Mac Mini running in my garage.  I upload the data to WeatherUnderground, but in spite of heroic efforts from the Weathersnoop guys, I periodically lose my feed to WU.  I'm pretty sure that this is problem with the WS-2080, not Weathersnoop.

This station sounds like what I have been waiting for.  The real weather geeks may not like it, but if I can get a weather station appliance that will make weather measurements and upload them directly to WU, I'm ecstatic.  I might buy 2: one for my main home and a second one for my second home in California.

[Dr Obbins]

It has been uploading with out issue here. Sends data from my back fence to the console and then wifi to WU.

[Zappo5]

With no offense to the weather geeks, that is exactly what I want.  I'm going to buy one ASAP.

[JACK10562]

I noticed they are back in stock, after having been temporarily unavailable a short while ago.

http://www.ambientweather.com/amws1000wifi.html

It is by far the simplest way to get on WU.

Navigating the console display control panel to set it up requires a little patience but is in the end relatively easy.

[Dr Obbins]

Never noticed, or looked specifically either. I just checked out 5 different stations in this post. Must not be windy today. 4 of the 5 stations were reading 0mph current and less than 10mph high for the day. With the average calculated over the entire day, averages of 0.4 & 0.7 mph average does not seem out of line. The 5th station (mine) has a 21.7 mph high for the day and the average is 3.8 mph. (dropped to 3.7 as I was typing this) The average on my VP2 which is at the same location, but mounted 15' higher is 6.1mph. I would think 2.3mph difference over the course of a day is reasonable considering the height difference.

[weathering_here]

Hi.
New member here.
After many years I've decided to finally indulge my inner weather buff and plunk down a couple hundred dollars to buy a system.

Thanks to this forum, I think I've been able to educate myself well enough to take the plunge.
I've narrowed my choice down to the WS-1000 for $250, or a 3-year old Davis 6153 (24hr FARS + WLIP) for $350.
It will be a generic suburban roof-top installation.

I'm really liking the WS-1000 for it's display, price, and sense of innovation.  But alas, it's pretty new still. 
Seems like Vantage Pro2 is the defacto standard for the sub-1000 realm.  And would give me high confidence to do it's job for 5-10 more years.

I checked a few WS-1000 WU sites with adjacent Davis sites, they look very comparable.

I'm here to ask those of you who own both what advice you have to help me make my decision, as a wanna-be hobbyist. 

The +/-$100 doesn't break the bank now, especially if the Davis will save me money and grief in the future.  On the one hand, ultimately I just want the data.  On the other hand, I want to enjoy getting the data.  If that makes any sense.

I'm starting to wonder if making this decision is actually a Personality test:  Am I "Adventurous and Innovative"?  Or am I "Safe and Risk Averse"?

Thanks.

[SSVT]

I'm in the same boat as you - just starting. I did buy the WS-1000 and it should arrive by Tuesday so I'll let you know how it goes for me

Hi.
New member here.
After many years I've decided to finally indulge my inner weather buff and plunk down a couple hundred dollars to buy a system.

[George Richardson]

weathering_here,

I am shocked you haven't had a reply so here goes. If you are in the US, my recommendation goes from 98% get the Davis to 100% get the Davis. Davis telephone support is unbeatable, while the email support lacks a little. The ability to virtually "trade in" a system for a good as new one for $100 (factory reconditioned). If you do decide not to get the Davis, PM me and I'll take it (could always use a third one!)

FWIW

George

[ambientweather]

Hi George,

I am a bit surprised your comment is on a thread about the WS-1000-WiFi beta test but here goes. Our phone and email support is excellent as well. In addition, we also offer Davis equipment.

Regards,

Ed
Ambient Weather

[George Richardson]

Hey Ed,

Please Read: From weathering_here "I've narrowed my choice down to the WS-1000 for $250, or a 3-year old Davis 6153 (24hr FARS + WLIP) for $350."

As a VERY knowledgeable Weather Station Dealer, can you honestly say you would choose your product over that 3 year old $1K+ Davis package that you might have even sold yourself.

I said absolutely nothing against your product. Its sort of like comparing a Hyundai with a Hummer.

George

PS: I own a Davis 6152 which I bought from you in June 2006 but I wouldn't trade you even for your new product. I don't own any of your hardware so I can't speak to the quality or support of hardware but I do own VWS and I can speak to the support of that.

[JohnN]

Ambient Weather is a good company, and their e-mail support is very good also. The WS-1000 is a good station, but for only $100 more, I would definitely get the Davis. With the 24 hr FARS and the IP logger, a new one would be about $700. I have the WS-1000 and can confirm that it is reliable and accurate, but the Davis is the better value, at least in your case.

[ambientweather]

Hi George,

No, I would not recommend our station over a Davis unless the customer is on a budget. The WS-1000-WiFi is easily set up and configured to Wundeground.com and supports WiFi connectivity at a $250 price tag.

To achieve this with a Davis costs about $600 and requires a USB data logger, WeatherBridge, and 2.0 Hub converter. Three pieces of hardware to go from the console to Wunderground.com

I guess what I objected to is the WS-1000-WiFi Beta Test program, which was very specifically designed to test the functionality of beta test units not ready for production, and get feedback.

It somehow has been hijacked into a discussion about comparing a Davis (Hummer) to our new weather station (Hyundai). I wish we can get back to the discussion of the beta test.

If you want to start a new thread, that makes more sense. Just want to stay on topic.

Regards,

Ed

[weathering_here]

Thanks for the replies everyone.
I'll start a new thread if I have anymore questions on the Production WS-1000.
Now I'm tempted to get both so I can decide for myself.  I might lose a bit on the re-sale afterward, but then I know for sure, for me.

Though... last time I did this kind of buy-both comparison on a gadget, I liked them both and kept both. 

[JohnN]

So in one of the firmware updates, the UV sensor reading was removed. I don't know what firmware version removed it, because I upgraded from the beta firmware to version 1.6.1. Are there any plans to re-add the UV feature in the future?

[SSVT]

FWIW, I just checked mine and the UV is there. I upgraded to 1.61 from 1.31 (what was installed when I bought mine) last week.

[JohnN]

Just for the record, here is a picture of my WS-1000 console, lacking UV readout. I've noticed that UV is no longer mentioned on Ambient Weather's website, either.