Best Budget Weather Stations Under $200 And They're Accurate

[@tomc101]

I've had the WS2902 for quite a few years. It has been trouble free. A few months ago, the display started to intermittently go blank, apparently losing contact with the sensors. Replacing the sensor's battery fixed the problem and it again is working well. I don't remember if the instructions mentioned a replacement interval for the sensor's battery. I think I will just try to remember to replace it in the summer of even number years. The first one lasted more than 2 years. I would rather replace it preemptively in good summer weather rather than have the battery go dead in the middle of a winter storm. I chose this model because it includes the solar radiation reading.

[@theweatherstationexperts]

That's why I recommend it, although I am thinking more along the lines of smart home use.. (turning lights on/off based on ambient light)

[@spillo0778]

I think that among all the control units you have shown the best is ambient wather. Acurite, I have never considered it as a control unit

[@rogeredrinn4592]

Yes I live solar electric with the inverter on search, hence I need a battery operated base station which implies B&W, not color. Currently have a LaCrosse 328-96087-INT and the wind direction failed after two years, anemometer still works, Since it's on a 20 ft pole, in no rush to replace it. I'm more interested in long life than absolute accuracy. No need or way to use internet connectivity. Do you have a recommendation? Thank you.

[@deltonadoug]

When you mention accuracy, what is your point of reference?

[@theweatherstationexperts]

We use both the Reading Airport (KRDG), about 4 miles to our NE, and our KestrelMet 6000 here, which has proven the most accurate among the stations we've tested in temperature humdity and rainfall readings. We don't typically consider wind speed accuracy in our "cheap" lists because most installations will be near to the ground where wind readings will be inaccurate anyway.

[@deltonadoug]

@@theweatherstationexperts insteresting. Using my car as a reference, the temperature between the grocery store and my home (10 miles my road, much less as the crow flies), the temperature difference the other day was 12 degrees. Our airport is too far away to use as a reference. The cell companies used to report information at the cell site, but no longer. The weather app uses the IP address of my internet provider which is 15 miles from where we are. I was actually hoping you had some kind of a reference machine in your yard that you were using to determine accuracy.

[@glevideo]

I cannot recommend the Acurite units. I had one which worked for a while although the wireless connectivity from the outdoor unit to the color screen indoor receiver unit was very touchy even though they were within the recommended range and line of site through the glass window. After a few months the button pushes on the screen became unresponsive then days later the screen went blank. Acurite sent me a new screen under the warranty but a few months later it also malfunctioned. They would not replace it. I bought another Acurite weather station and in few months the screen went blank and the button pushes were unresponsive. They refused to replace that one too. I’m finished with Acurite and will never buy any of their products again.

[@theweatherstationexperts]

Thank you for this. I am trying to keep track of comments like this because you all have these stations installed for much longer than I do

[@uoobwatcher]

I tried the Acurite and it turned out to be garbage.

[@theweatherstationexperts]

Thanks for this. One of the things I am doing this week is taking all the comments here and on the best weather stations video and organizing them so i can apply them to next years lists (which I am working on now). Save for four stations, the Vue, Tempest, KestrelMet 6000 and the WS-2902, most of these stations aren't up enough for me to get a true read on durability or support. For example, before this channel i wasn't aware of the apparent issues Ambient is having with customer service, or what appears to be a reoccurring issue with the AcuRite Iris and inaccurate wind speed readings. One thing I am learning here is each manufacturer has at least one area where they are far behind everyone else.