I am on my third sky1
I saw the unit and called their order dept . Told to order it from Amazon as they didn't have any in stock. So I ordered it. The first one arrived quickly , I got it with the solar panel. My first clue that things were not great, had trouble getting it to sync with the router. It wouldn't connect until after 3 resets. When it rained I lost signal and it would disconnect.
I packed it up and sent it back to Amazon as it was defective. They sent me a second one. This one wouldn't hold a charge, seemed the solar panel was did not work. I also noted that it dropped signal. So I bought the biggest router Best Buy had. A Linksys 1900 which is for large homes. I put that right next to the window where the Bloomsky was. I noticed that the signal had issues. So I downloaded an app called "Wifi Sweetspot" from the apple store. when put on the same router that the Bloomsky was, I could walk around the yard until I got the optimum signal.
Still it was losing charge, a good friend of mine sent his back and didn't get a replacement for the same reason. I contacted Bloomsky. they sent me a new Sky1 from their supply (obviously they had replacements) and I replaced the solar and unit. This one immediately linked to the router, but it wouldn't work in the previous location, so I walked around , found the sweet spot and here we are.
I asked Bloomsky a few questions. the temperature range -the low end is -4F. It gets that cold at times, can I keep the unit outside? They said "no" the low temp would damage the unit. That is interesting, Damage, not cease to work at that temperature, but damage. So When we get into the thick of winter, I am bringing it inside, putting it in the bay window and plug it in, I'll do the same with the solar panel.
Can the battery be replaced as the unit grows older? No, it can't be replace, eventually it has to be a new unit (much different from any of the real stations.) Accuracy,
Right now it is overcast. The davis reads 59.3F The Bloomsky 60F. Pretty close, but it is overcast. In direct sun.. the Davis is lower. I'd go with the Davis here.
Humidity, 96/97%. same score. Barometer. 30.03 Bloomsky, 30.10 Davis. dew Point, 59F bloom sky, 58 Davis.
When the sun is out, both units in direct sunlight, The radiation shield on the Bloomsky will run higher. But I expect that. For the price of the unit, the plastic construction, it would be what I expected.
I bought it for the camera that is nice. I also kickstarted their Storm, the wind/rain unit. i am eager to see how that compares.
So durability, I would say that the solar panel is good. The unit itself, can't take the cold winters out here, but these kids who designed it live in California where -4F doesn't happen. You have to bring the unit in , during the cold. I would always go with the Davis or whatever professional station you have.
I do like that I can go to the portal
https://bloomsky.desk.com/ to see the battery life, the stats on the station, download them and so forth. Yes, this unit right now seems to be doing its job. What the Kickstart Storm has I don't know. It arrives sometime in October.