WXforum.net
Weather Station Hardware => AcuRite Weather Stations => Topic started by: nincehelser on February 20, 2018, 02:31:53 PM
-
Was not expecting this. Looks like an inexpensive 5n1 kit that reports only to wunderground via WiFi at $149.
https://www.acurite.com/5-in-1-weather-station-color-display-wireless-network-connection.html
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
Was not expecting this. Looks like an inexpensive 5n1 kit that reports only to wunderground via WiFi at $149.
Is this setup with the 5 in 1 that has only one solar panel?
-
So the display integrates the hub and accepts sensor data and routes it direct to WU via a WiFi router connection to the internet?
If so, what's the point of the Access Hub? I assume the Access Hub/Smart Hub gives you the My Acurite Dashboard via the Acurite servers. But if the same data get's transmitted direct to WU what's the point of My Acurite?
Isn't this basically similar to the Ambient Weather WS-1002??
-
This is a pretty sweet offering, but I would miss the ability to monitor my other miscellaneous sensors via MyAcuRite.
For those who expected the 5n1 to just fade away, well, maybe not.
For new users, or those who have an ageing 5n1, and have no desire to move to Atlas, this is great!
I might get this package as a gift, just to get my brother interested.
-
If so, what's the point of the Access Hub? I assume the Access Hub/Smart Hub gives you the My Acurite Dashboard via the Acurite servers. But if the same data get's transmitted direct to WU what's the point of My Acurite?
The Access can report data from multiple sensors. This kit only reports 1 sensor (the 5n1) to wunderground.
myAcurite is meant for more general monitoring other than weather conditions. Wunderground is weather specific.
-
Is this setup with the 5 in 1 that has only one solar panel?
Looks like it. I'm guessing they want to keep the entry-price low.
We'll likely see other kit configurations and the display sold alone at some point.
-
Hopefully you can buy just the display. Looks like a nice one.
-
Maybe this is a strategy to unload the remaining inventory of the 5 in 1's. It seems odd to introduce a new 5 in 1 configuration when the Atlas 7/8 release is supposedly just around the corner. It will be interesting to see if they have this display or one similar to it in a configuration for the Atlas 7/8. That assumes of course that the Atlas will indeed come to market some day.
-
Maybe this is a strategy to unload the remaining inventory of the 5 in 1's. It seems odd to introduce a new 5 in 1 configuration when the Atlas 7/8 release is supposedly just around the corner. It will be interesting to see if they have this display or one similar to it in a configuration for the Atlas 7/8. That assumes of course that the Atlas will indeed come to market some day.
That Atlas was never meant to replace the 5n1. They are simply expanding the width of their product offerings.
This wifi display is similar in concept to what will be done with the Altas Elite.
-
Call me skeptical, but something's "fishy".
1. Why wouldn't the marketing "geniuses" at Chaney offer this WiFi Display as an alternative in place of the $40 Access upgrade especially if it offloads all their data collection worries to WU? I'd gladly eliminate any dedicated hub if this combined capability could be integrated into the display. (no hardwire router connection, no separate hub placement hassles or power needs). I bet 90%+ of their customer base only cares about one 5 in 1 sensor's worth of reporting.
2. MyAcurite Dashboard doesn't bring me any compelling advantage over WU's station page IMHO.
3. Why is this SKU an orphan in their lineup? Does it have Chaney's typical "half baked" technical problems? Does it require a special 5 in 1 sensor or will it work with any existing 5 in 1? I think it's pretty compelling and far less then the price of Ambient's similarly featured WS-1002 assuming it works.
4. For me it should offer better reception since the display is half way between the 5 in 1 and my wireless router.
5. Why's it bundled with the ancient single solar grid 5 in 1?
P.S. This 10538HD SKU is $99 street price:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/AcuRite-Professional-Weather-Center-5-N-1-01538HD/303046970
-
Wow! At $99 it is pretty tempting, but since it is too new to have any customer feedback or reviews and with all the stuff Acurite has been pulling on their customers recently ... I will "wait and see".
-
Is this setup with the 5 in 1 that has only one solar panel?
Looks like it. I'm guessing they want to keep the entry-price low.
We'll likely see other kit configurations and the display sold alone at some point.
George, I can't understand why Acurite would sell the old one panel 5 in 1? Didn't they upgrade to the 2 panel design because the 1 panel design failed to give accurate data?
-
George, I can't understand why Acurite would sell the old one panel 5 in 1? Didn't they upgrade to the 2 panel design because the 1 panel design failed to give accurate data?
Not everyone benefits from the two-panel unit. In many parts of the US, a single-panel unit can work just as well as a two-panel unit. Maybe even better. It all comes down to the angle of the sun over the course of a year.
As a general rule, the two-panel unit tends to work better as you move further south. That's because it catches the sun better in the early morning and late evening to keep the aspiration fan running longer.
As you move further north, the single-panel unit tends to work just fine. Some have found the two-panel design is worse up north, particularly around solar noon, and have reverted back to the single panel.
I've been running both single and two-panel units in Nebraska and Texas. It doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference for me.
So... Acurite give you options by offering both. You can save a few bucks if the single panel unit works fine for you.
-
My Home depot has only one. This will make a nice station starter.
-
My Home depot has only one. This will make a nice station starter.
I'd be careful. The manual pages on the HD $99 web page were all for a 1536 model, not the 1538. If it's too good to be true, it is probably a typo. The 1536 has USB though, for whatever that's worth.....
-
Speaking of manual pages, here's the new 1538 docs straight from Acu-Rite:
https://www.acurite.com/media//manuals/01538HD-instructions.pdf (https://www.acurite.com/media//manuals/01538HD-instructions.pdf)
-
It would be nice if the $90 upgrade coupon that some of us got from Acurite (actually worth $88.63 when I used it) could be used to buy this, since this bare bones 1538 system is all i really want right now. But the coupon will only work for Access hub purchases or bundles including the Access hub.
I bought a bundle last week consisting of Access hub and Pro 5in one, sale price $149, with coupon $61, so that I effectively got a spare 5in1 for a cost of $21.
Not bad, but this week I just might have spent the extra $38 total $99 plus tax at Homedepot for the 1538 system and bypassed the need for any hub. Funny thing my current smarthub and pro 5in1 cost me $99 in a super deal from WU and Acurite a year ago. Almost like a $99/yr subscription deal.
And how long is the hubless model going to work before they find a way to make it obsolete?
-
And how long is the hubless model going to work before they find a way to make it obsolete?
Given that the upload program is embedded in the console's electronics, I suspect that WU will be the entity making it obsolete by July.....
-
And how long is the hubless model going to work before they find a way to make it obsolete?
Given that the upload program is embedded in the console's electronics, I suspect that WU will be the entity making it obsolete by July.....
2018 or 2019?
-
2017. Knowing WU, it went obsolete before Acu-Rite could even ship the new console..... #-o
-
2017. Knowing WU, it went obsolete before Acu-Rite could even ship the new console..... #-o
you are putting your gold star in danger of revocation ! :lol:
Whatever, IMO $149 is high for this device, and the Homedepot $99 price much more appropriate for a non-pro 5in1 w/o hub. But it's new and some people will want to be the first to have it.
Maybe acurite thinks that the display with ultra-modern "wi-fi" feature is worth the extra $50? :grin: Does The Access hub use wifi?
-
That's interesting offering! Certainly a good price point for people who just want a simple station that reports out to WU...but still has the ability to monitor a screen in your house.
-
2017. Knowing WU, it went obsolete before Acu-Rite could even ship the new console..... #-o
you are putting your gold star in danger of revocation ! :lol:
Whatever, IMO $149 is high for this device, and the Homedepot $99 price much more appropriate for a non-pro 5in1 w/o hub. But it's new and some people will want to be the first to have it.
Maybe acurite thinks that the display with ultra-modern "wi-fi" feature is worth the extra $50? :grin: Does The Access hub use wifi?
The sensor alone retails for about $80. That leaves $70 for the display. Assuming it's a HD display, that's not too shabby.
$99 will buy you a 5n1 sensor and a black & white non-wifi LCD display at WalMart.
The only difference between a "pro" and a "non-pro" is the number of solar panels. Many do not need two-panels... much depends on your latitude.
The Access does not use Wifi.
I'm not so sure about the $99 Home Depot version. There are inconsistencies in the model number and documentation.
-
Maybe this is a strategy to unload the remaining inventory of the 5 in 1's. It seems odd to introduce a new 5 in 1 configuration when the Atlas 7/8 release is supposedly just around the corner. It will be interesting to see if they have this display or one similar to it in a configuration for the Atlas 7/8. That assumes of course that the Atlas will indeed come to market some day.
That Atlas was never meant to replace the 5n1. They are simply expanding the width of their product offerings.
This wifi display is similar in concept to what will be done with the Altas Elite.
I will defer to your insider knowledge with Acurite as a beta tester/preferred customer. But as an acknowledged newbie in weather stations (I have been waiting for the Atlas before I buy anything), it looks to me like there is is a lot of overlap between the 5n1 pro's and the Atlas 7/8 series in capabilities and function ... especially now since they will both require the Access for uplinks. Since Acurite has refused to give us any substantive information about the Atlas for over a year now since their original announcement, please enlighten us about how the Atlas 7/8 is not a replacement for the 5n1 series. I don't mean this post to be a challenge to what you said. I would just like to learn so I can decide if the Atlas is still worth waiting for.
-
I will defer to your insider knowledge with Acurite as a beta tester/preferred customer. But as an acknowledged newbie in weather stations (I have been waiting for the Atlas before I buy anything), it looks to me like there is is a lot of overlap between the 5n1 pro's and the Atlas 7/8 series in capabilities and function ... especially now since they will both require the Access for uplinks. Since Acurite has refused to give us any substantive information about the Atlas for over a year now since their original announcement, please enlighten us about how the Atlas 7/8 is not a replacement for the 5n1 series. I don't mean this post to be a challenge to what you said. I would just like to learn so I can decide if the Atlas is still worth waiting for.
I hate making car analogies as they always ultimately fail, but in this case it might help.
If the 5n1 is a car, it's an economy box with little to no comfort features. If you slam the door it sounds a bit tinny. However, it is enough to get you from point A to B. It's priced to be affordable to most anyone, including those on a tight budget.
If the Atlas is a car, it is a luxury sedan. Lots of nice-to-have features standard. If you slam the door it would give you a nice satisfying "thunk" that tells you it is well-built. The optional lightning sensor module (i.e. the Atlas 8 ) is the optional "sport" package. It's priced higher, but not so high to be out-of-reach to the upper-middle class buyer.
If the Atlas Elite is a car, well... it isn't a car, but a big 4-wheel drive monster truck. Flames shoot out of the exhaust. The ground shakes. Women, children, and small animals flee in fear. Pricing? Get out your checkbook. Being "Elite" isn't cheap.
Now back to reality...
If the beta documentation holds true, the Atlas (specifically the outdoor sensor part) will have a 2-year warranty instead of the one-year warranty on the 5n1. Indoor components are still at one-year. I think this is Acurite's way of saying that this is a substantially sturdier build than they've put out before.
If you held a 5n1 in one hand, and the Atlas in another, the difference in build quality would be obvious. That Atlas is bigger, heavier, and looks like it could eat the 5n1 for lunch.
The same thing can be said for the console display. Most of the 5n1 displays are LCD models with a few being "HD". The Atlas display goes a bit further and adds touch-screen features on par with a quality tablet or smartphone.
I hope this helps give you a general feel for the difference.
-
Thanks for the reply. I understand that the Elite (if it ever comes to be a product) is in a whole different league than the 5n1 or the Atlas 7/8 and the comparable competitors When I buy, I will be evaluating the Elite against the Davis Vantage Pro2, not the "all in one" integrated sensor arrays, especially considering the "leaked" price of $599 for the Elite. That is probably where my main interest is, and I truly wish Acurite would give us some indication of product details, prices and availabilty. I am a very patient person if I have some information to work with, but Acurite's refusal to provide detailed information about the Atlas series is getting pretty old.
It is good to know that the build quality of the 7/8 series is that much better than the 5n1, so thanks for making that distinction. I guess time will tell (after 2 or 3 years of service) if that adds sufficient value to that series to distinguish it from the 5n1 series. That said, it still makes me wonder if Acurite will continue to sell and support the 5n1 series for very long after the Atlas 7/8 is released since functionally they appear to be more or less equivalent. I suppose a substantial price differential could work for them to keep both model series viable. But using your car analogy... think about Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Chevy. We know how that turned out.
With all the bad press with Acurite, I would go with the Ambient Falcon except for one thing ... no aspirating fan option. Knowing my siting options, I think it would be a big mistake to buy something that doesn't have at least a daytime fan. I know Davis has the best brand reputation, but in my opinion it is overpriced and terribly outdated in its convoluted configurations for uplinks, fan and display. So unless they come out with something new, Davis is crossed off my list. That is why I still wait to see what opportunities the Atlas will provide.
I am more than willing to pay the price (within reason of course) if I can get a high quality product with the features I want. The Atlas looks promising, but like I said ... how long should I wait when month after month Acurite gives us nothing for information about the product. "Coming Soon" displayed on their web site for 14 months without incremental details just doesn't cut it.
-
As a newbie in weather stations, your collection of them has room to grow. I have stations from three different manufacturers here, and was just asked to put up a fourth mast.
If you are committed to the Acu-Rite ecosystem, why not pick up a 5-in-1 now? If/when the Atlas ships, pass the 5-in-1 along to someone else or run it parallel with the Atlas for a backup/second opinion.
With that said, I'd certainly be miffed if I bought a 5-in-1 and they released the Atlas the very next day.....
-
Alanb,
Don't worry too much about the station having a "fan". It doesn't make up for poor siting, and in my experience, can make the readings worse if the thermometer is improperly installed. When you buy an "all in one", you are basically siting for the temperature and rain gauge... Forget the wind.
-
I got lots of messages where people have gone through so many cheap stations and then finally brought a Davis VP2 and then wished they had earlier
-
Alanb,
Don't worry too much about the station having a "fan". It doesn't make up for poor siting, and in my experience, can make the readings worse if the thermometer is improperly installed. When you buy an "all in one", you are basically siting for the temperature and rain gauge... Forget the wind.
I have a different view-- Without a fan or a really top-notch auxiliary heat shield (I don't think there are any for the 5 in 1 unit) you are going to get totally erroneous temp spikes as soon as the sun hits the un-aspirated 5 in 1 unit. On the other hand, an aspirated 5 in 1 unit can give pretty accurate temps at the expense of getting wind data from the NWS officially recommended 33' mounting height. The typical lower mounting of the 5 in 1 will however give you local micro-climate data on the wind in and around where you are living/walking.
-
I got lots of messages where people have gone through so many cheap stations and then finally brought a Davis VP2 and then wished they had earlier
IMHO, the Davis VP2 looks like it's from the Atari era. The other problem is they charge $200 extra for a IP dongle to connect to the router and if you can't locate the console next to the router you need to string ethernet cable or buy a separate console.
If you use Airbridge from the Davis sensor the 1000' range drops to 300'. (probably more like 100' in the real world)
The Davis solution is a kludge IMHO. They need a new color console with integrated WiFi.
-
Alanb,
Don't worry too much about the station having a "fan". It doesn't make up for poor siting, and in my experience, can make the readings worse if the thermometer is improperly installed. When you buy an "all in one", you are basically siting for the temperature and rain gauge... Forget the wind.
I have a different view-- Without a fan or a really top-notch auxiliary heat shield (I don't think there are any for the 5 in 1 unit) you are going to get totally erroneous temp spikes as soon as the sun hits the un-aspirated 5 in 1 unit. On the other hand, an aspirated 5 in 1 unit can give pretty accurate temps at the expense of getting wind data from the NWS officially recommended 33' mounting height. The typical lower mounting of the 5 in 1 will however give you local micro-climate data on the wind in and around where you are living/walking.
I disagree. I have an Excelvan / Fine Offset wh-2310 weather station with USB hooked to my meteobridge to send to the national wx service, and it is more accurate than the 5in1 with a fan. All I did was use some reflective heat shield that you put under roofs as the way to keep the sun off the stock shield. I have three rings of it on there that I cut to fit. I posted a pic at one time in the wx pics section.
here it is...
(http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=33400.0;attach=29176;image)
-
DoctorKnow, I was referring to 5-in-1 type units. It would be hard to shield a 5-in-1 like you did with your WH-2310. No 5-in-1 is an optimal design although the Elite is supposed to allow for separating the anemometer which would go a long way to improve the design limitations of the older Acurite models.
(Don't you have an Atlas test model? Did you set it up with the anemometer kit? How is the temp accuracy of the aspirated Atlas as compared to the WH-2310?
-
I don't have the anemometer kit, they didn't send one for testing.
The thermometer on the Atlas runs 2 F more in the day and 2 F lower at night or so. I don't have the thermometers installed close to each other, so it is hard to say this is a good comparison, but I like the result of the WH-2310. If you don't shield the thermometer, the highs in the day on it are up to 10 F too high.
-
I got lots of messages where people have gone through so many cheap stations and then finally brought a Davis VP2 and then wished they had earlier
Certainly have seen that here for people who are a bit more serious about the hobby.
I have to imagine for most average backyard weather users, a basic station is just fine. If it doesn't work after a period of time, they either replace it or just let it be.
-
I was at Home Depot today, and took a stroll through the seasonal department. The $99 deal that was on their web site is most indeed the new wifi model! As tempting as it was to buy it on the spot if for no other reason than to hack it up, I remembered my vow from a while back to never buy another piece of equipment in the Acu-Rite ecosystem so I put it back onto the shelf and kept on shopping.
Unfortunately, I succumbed to temptation a few seconds later, and purchased an Acu-Rite product. Does anyone know how to get the $1.98 Acu-Rite 00866HDSB glass rain gauge to automatically upload to WU????? :lol:
-
I was at Home Depot today, and took a stroll through the seasonal department. The $99 deal that was on their web site is most indeed the new wifi model! As tempting as it was to buy it on the spot if for no other reason than to hack it up, I remembered my vow from a while back to never buy another piece of equipment in the Acu-Rite ecosystem so I put it back onto the shelf and kept on shopping.
Unfortunately, I succumbed to temptation a few seconds later, and purchased an Acu-Rite product. Does anyone know how to get the $1.98 Acu-Rite 00866HDSB glass rain gauge to automatically upload to WU????? :lol:
Good deal thanks for the heads up?
-
From our local Home Depot's garden section today.....
(https://images.hvtraffic.com/images/2018/02/26/20180226005823-c4ff20c8.jpg)
(https://images.hvtraffic.com/images/2018/02/26/20180226005829-babc3bdc.jpg)
(https://images.hvtraffic.com/images/2018/02/26/20180226005835-8d676076.jpg)
-
I usually go to Lowe's rather than Home Depot, but I decided to stop by today to see if they had this Acurite model after reading vreihen's post.
I couldn't find it anywhere.
I decided to look for rain gauges. Same deal. Nowhere.
I decided to look for thermometers. Again. Nowhere.
????
I thought I was going nuts. How can a hardware store not carry rain gauges or thermometers?
I asked a couple of Home Depot employees... "We have no rain gauges in this store." "We don't have thermometers, but we have thermostats."
I guess that's why I usually go to Lowe's.
I did see a plant I liked in the garden center, though, so I bought that.
-
Home Depot's web site is really good at telling you exactly what aisle/bay an item is located at in whatever you select as your default store (at least locally), along with offering to check nearby stores to see if an item is in stock at one of them.....
-
Home Depot's web site is really good at telling you exactly what aisle/bay an item is located at in whatever you select as your default store (at least locally), along with offering to check nearby stores to see if an item is in stock at one of them.....
I must have a really sucky local Home Depot. I just checked the website, and the Acurite is not there. I also checked thermometers and rain gauges. Not at that store, either. Weird.
The website shows them at other Home Depots in town, though.
-
Might be a regional thing. They are not in stock here in central California either.
-
I understand that this 5n1 wireless commuincates directly with WU with no dependence on My Acurite. I assume that means that it will not commuincate with My Acurite. So does that mean the display is the only way to see your indoor temp/humidity and that information is not available from a computer or phone?
In a related question, I know that connectivity to My Acurite is included with the yet-to-be-released Atlas Elite. Do we know that the Elite will also communicate directly to WU or other reporting sites? Or will the Elite be dependent on My Acurite to report to WU in the same way the Access/smarthub connected devices do?
-
I understand that this 5n1 wireless commuincates directly with WU with no dependence on My Acurite. I assume that means that it will not commuincate with My Acurite. So does that mean the display is the only way to see your indoor temp/humidity and that information is not available from a computer or phone?
Most likely. Displays don't send their indoor temp/humidity to myAcurite now, anyway.
In a related question, I know that connectivity to My Acurite is included with the yet-to-be-released Atlas Elite. Do we know that the Elite will also communicate directly to WU or other reporting sites? Or will the Elite be dependent on My Acurite to report to WU in the same way the Access/smarthub connected devices do?
We don't know for sure if the Elite sends data to myAcurite. It's just an assumption that it will.
The Access and SmartHUB both send data directly to wunderground now. Their dependence on myAcurite is to manage the device settings, and in the case of the SmartHUB, keep the time set correctly (as the SmartHUB has no clock).
Also, the SmartHUB wants to know that myAcurite is there, otherwise it resets trying to re-establish communications. I'm not sure if that is also true with the Access or not (well... it's not true for at least 12 hours). Obviously that is not true with the recent display.
-
Thanks for the clarifications George. The spec sheet Acurite published on the Atlas Elite a year ago has this bullet point: "Share environmental data online that you can access anywhere with My AcuRiteTM using the Atlas Elite indoor display to connect to your wireless network." I suppose they could have changed their mind on that though.
-
Thanks for the clarifications George. The spec sheet Acurite published on the Atlas Elite a year ago has this bullet point: "Share environmental data online that you can access anywhere with My AcuRiteTM using the Atlas Elite indoor display to connect to your wireless network." I suppose they could have changed their mind on that though.
Oh. I missed that one. I guess myAcurite connectivity is more than an assumption, then. :-)
-
So, my questions are, how often does the display unit transmit data to WU? Does it support multiple sensors? Do we have any control over over the WU data other than turning it off or on? I think this is a fantastic option by the way!!!
Jack
-
So, my questions are, how often does the display unit transmit data to WU? Does it support multiple sensors? Do we have any control over over the WU data other than turning it off or on? I think this is a fantastic option by the way!!!
It doesn't seem to say specifically in the documentation, but I would expect it to be sending rapid-fire to wunderground every 18 seconds. It's possible it might be 36-seconds, though... it just depends on how they programmed it.
It seems to support only one sensor... the 5n1.
There are no other wunderground controls that I know of other than entering the Station ID and key. You have to set your wunderground station up beforehand with the detailed specifics.
-
I'm thinking bad signal issues are going to be more of an issue with the 5n1 to Wi-Fi display, most people I think will have it centered in a living room type area NOT close to a outside wall or window like I think most do with the bridge/Access to receive the best sig. possible.
-
Here is the one I bought. I got it for $80 on cyber Monday.
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
A quick little review:
I have the sensor suite (5-n-1 with single solar screen) mounted 175 feet away from my living room. This seems to be the upper limit for wireless range. I can literally look out the window to the point that the display and the 5-n-1 are both in eye sight at the same time. Yet, my reception indicator goes from "no bars" to "4 bars" and everything in between on a repetitive basis. It's performing OK for now, but it will freeze and not receive an update for minutes at a time sometimes. When I move it to my bedroom it is 150 feet away from the 5-n-1 and then I have no reception issues. That's why I think I'm on the upper end of range. This is about HALF of what they advertise in perfect conditions. Something to take into account.
WiFi connection was a BREEZE. I was reporting to WU in minutes, and I've never had an online station before! Very easy! My router is in the attic and I'm on the 1st floor, so my signal strength is about half scale to quarter scale on the display most of the time. Still, there have been zero issues reporting to WU so far.
WU updates are every 18 seconds or less it seems.
Accuracy is high when it's cloudy or the sun is set. When the sun is shining, the temperature is affected pretty bad. I've seen it as much as 5 degrees too high compared to my VP2 and the nearby mesonet sites. Keep in mind that it's winter. So, during summer there is no telling how inaccurate this thing is going to be. I have it mounted perfectly level, roughly 12 feet above grassy surface, with the solar panel facing due south. Seems to me that the aspirating fan doesn't help this unit any. Wind readings have been very good so far. I did the calibration for the rain gauge and got it very close, but haven't tested it in a rain event yet. Will do that this weekend.
The display is beautiful and simple to use. However, my BIG complaint is that there is no battery backup. This is terrible. Everytime the power goes out, or I need to move the display to another room I have to go back through and reset all my settings. Why couldn't they put battery backup on this???? Also, the screen is way too bright. Even on the very lowest settings, it'll light up the entire bedroom and prevent you from sleeping. They really need to work on this.
Overall, for $80 I feel it was a good deal. I would not pay full retail for this station, but if you can get it at a discount it's a nice secondary unit just to get some data online quickly without fooling around with Access and other things.
-
Great review! Check to see if the fan is running when the sun is out. Sounds like that could be the cause of your temp spikes. I have two 5 in 1 stations and they don't have the temp spikes some have reported. When the sun is out, I can hear the fans running. Each is mounted to a shed via an antenna mount and a metal pole. You can actually hear the fan when you area inside each shed.
-
In the winter, I find the single solar panel fan works best. I have both, and when I used the 2 solar cells, I found my temp was 5F or so high as well. It is the sun angle this time of year.
-
I climbed the tower today and verified that the fan is running on my 5-n-1. You can hear it plainly running in the sunlight.
Ironically, the fan on my VP2 which I couldn't get to work all summer is working today too. :roll:
I'm still seeing a temperature generally 3-4 degrees higher than my VP2 or the surrounding mesonet sites that are ~10-15 miles from me to the north, east, and south. As soon as the sun sets, everything is spot on again.
Overall though, I'm still pretty happy with it considering the price and ease of installation.
-
I'm still seeing a temperature generally 3-4 degrees higher than my VP2 or the surrounding mesonet sites that are ~10-15 miles from me to the north, east, and south. As soon as the sun sets, everything is spot on again.
No surprise, the radiation shield of the fan aspirated VP2 remains one of the best in the business...as long as the fan is running, especially the 24hr variety.