| Completely wireless and simple to install, this home weather station tracks and stores data about more than 20 weather conditions and displays them on a touch-screen LCD monitor that measures only 8 inches wide by 5-1/2 inches high. The instruction booklet accompanying the weather station is easy to comprehend, making the station accessible to children, as well as adult hobbyists, gardeners, campers, and fishing enthusiasts. There are three outdoor sensors, each powered by a solar cell: an anemometer that attaches to a building, fence, or roof to measure wind speed and direction; a thermo-hygrometer to measure temperature and humidity; and a self-emptying rain gauge. (At least six hours of sunshine are needed to operate the solar cells for 24 hours. Each sensor has a backup battery-power unit that requires two AA batteries--not included.) A 4-1/4-by-2-3/4-inch baro-hygrometer measures indoor temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity, and mounts on a wall or stands on a desk. (It requires four AAA batteries--not included.) The touch-screen monitor keeps track of the indoor and outdoor sensors, and also displays local weather/barometric pressure forecasts. Additionally, it has a calendar/clock, an alarm that sounds when sensors detect conditions beyond parameters set by the user, a memory button for retrieving past data, and an AC power adapter. (Its backup battery-power unit requires four AA batteries--not included.) The system can support three additional remote sensors and can interface with a PC. Additional sensors, the PC-link software/cable kit, and a long-term data-memory accessory are all sold separately. --Fred Brack |
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 Station is great, Software is better |
| Review Date: October 22, 2001 |
| Reviewer: Karl Swanson, Phoenix, AZ |
| I purchased this station to learn more about the weather, but I learned that the optional software package from Ambient ... was even better. This turned an interesting toy into serious weather data collection device for the entire family. |
A good weather station
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| Review Date: December 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: RPS, Dundee, MI |
I bought the OS WMR968 system 2 years ago, and have been very happy with it's performance and reliability. Installation was easy, and it worked fine right out of the box. All the sensors are made of plastic parts, so don't expect the highest quality, but they work...and work well for the money. With the right software, you can upload your data to the Weatherunderground, and other public weather data systems.
There are some odds and ends that folks need to be aware of about this system, or any weather system.
-Wind direction and speed are strongly affected by nearby buildings and obstructions. It's best to locate these sensors some distance from other structures. While the "official standard" is 10 meters (about 33 feet) above ground, mine is only about 12 feet, so the accuracy is probably not as good as it could be.
-During freezing rain conditions, the anemometer and wind direction will likely freeze solid. It's a problem with most weather systems, and unless you have power and heat available, it's just something you just have to live with. Normally all it takes is some sunny days, and the ice will melt and it returns to normal.
-The temperature sensor is sensitive to direct sunlight exposure. It is recommended that you find a shady spot to install it, or install a solar radiation shield. Otherwise your daily high temps will spike above what they should be.
-Each solar unit includes a set of rechargeable and AA alkaline batteries. You can expect them to last a couple of years, but they will eventually die and need to be replaced. This is especially true if you have some really cold (sub zero) temps.
-The rain guage is really sensitive to debris...so you need to keep the debris screen cleaned. Also, I had a spider decide to set up shop inside mine, and it prevented the rain bucket from emptying properly. So if your readings look low, you should check the cleanliness of the sensor.
-The advertised range of the wireless transmitters is probably accurate, as long as you don't have walls in the way. If you can, locate the transmitters as close to your base unit as possible. My temp and wind sensors are about 125 feet from my base unit, which is plugged into my PC. The signal has to go through a wall, and I occasionally have trouble getting a good signal. I also have a second remote temp sensor in my barn, about 150 feet away, and through two walls. I've tried just about everything and have been unable to get a good signal from that sensor. If you have aluminum siding, or stucco with metal lathe, forget about getting a signal through them.
While you could spend a lot more for a professional weather station, I've found the WMR968 lives up to my expectations and does a good job. It's one of the most popular weather stations, and you can't go wrong with it. This system is also sold under several other brand names, including Radio Shack and John Deere. In fact, the Radio Shack instruction manual (which you can download) is MUCH better than the one that comes with this unit.
In summary, with weather stations, you get what you pay for. Those that expect this to be as reliable and robust as a professional weather station will likely be disappointed. This is probably the best and most popular low cost weather stations on the market, and I highly recommend it for those starting out. I have found it's accuracy and dependability to be equal to even the best professional systems.
Edit: January, 2009. The advertised low temp of the sensor is -4. Recently, we had temps in the -15 range. My system stopped recording at -9.9, where it flat lined till the temps rose again. It happened several days in a row, so I know it wasn't a fluke. If you buy this weather station, make sure that limitation is something you can tolerate. |
Works as advertised
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| Review Date: March 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Paul H. Bowen, |
| I purchased my Oregon Scientific station 8 years ago. The internal sensor batteries need changed annually, and I've changed the rechargeables outside once ... I live in Georgia and we get lots of sun. Other than needing to reset the unit about every 6 months (gets confused by near lightning strikes, but then what wireless electronics don't?) and perhaps not the high precision Rain Gauge I'd like to have, it's more than adequate for any home weather enthusiast. |
Seems solid
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| Review Date: March 22, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Robert Johnson, |
| Have had it for a few weeks. Easy to set up. Using Virtual Weather Station to feed the computer. Tried to order a remote probe thermometer and there seems to be a big confusion over it. |
Great weather station
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| Review Date: July 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: C. Howe, Golden, CO USA |
| I have had the WMR968 for seven years and have had no problems. Still using all the original probes, only have changed the batteries. |
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