Topic: 2902D

[davidmc36]

I got an email. Is this news or old hat?

"On January 31st, 2023, the AmbientTool App will be discontinued.

The AmbientTool app allows you to connect your Ambient Weather WS-2902 Weather Station Console, sold from December 2016 - May 2018, to your Wi-Fi router and the internet.
If your WS-2902 Console disconnects from Wi-Fi for any reason and needs to be reconnected after the app discontinuation date, you will no longer be able to reconnect your console to the Ambient Weather Network (AWN).

To maintain a connection to AWN, you will need to upgrade to the Ambient Weather WS-2902D Console BEFORE January 31st, 2023. Ambient Weather offers a limited-time discount for those affected by this app discontinuation. You will be eligible for a $35 console rebate through the end of 2022.

For details on the app discontinuation and claiming your upgrade program rebate, please click below."

[alanb]

Good question. I got the same email today although my station is a WS-2000 and I am not familiar with the 2902 consoles. But from what I can tell, Ambient has had several hardware revisions of the 2902 series weather station and console .... 2902, 2902A, 2902B, 2902C and now 2902D.

In poking around on the web, I did find this explanation from an older atricle:

"In 2018, the Ambient Weather WS-2902a took its place as the replacement for the WS-2902. The addition of direct console Internet access to the WS-2902 makes it easier to connect to a dual-band router. To connect with your router, the WS-2902 employs AmbientTool, which is a mobile app. This is the biggest change in the ambient weather ws-2902a osprey."

EDIT: It must be lots of people were confused by Ambient's 2902 email message. They have now sent out a more detailed message stating that the issue only affects the original 2902 console (the model without a letter designation). Those with the A, B, C and D consoles will not be affected.

[BoDuke]

I have received two messages from Ambient Weather about this in the last 6 hours.  The second one is much clearer to understand what consoles are affected and what is not:

WHO IS NOT AFFECTED:
Anyone with a WS-2902A, WS-2902B, WS-2902C and WS-2902D Weather Station Console

WHO IS AFFECTED:
Anyone with a WS-2902 (NO LETTER) Station Console sold between December 2016 - May 2018

[alanb]

The price of the 2902D replacement console is $80, then you get a RMA from Ambient and return the old console for a refund of $35. So the net cost of the upgrade is $45 to keep a 5 to 7 year old weather station connected to the Internet. 

I wonder how much discontent this will cause with Ambient Weather customers. I remember the ruckus raised by Acu-Rite customers 5 or 6 years ago when Acu-Rite discontinued their Smart Hub and forced their customers to upgrade to the Access device.