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(More customer reviews)This product includes three weather instrument packages: anemometer/wind direction vane, temperature/humidity, and rainfall, all wirelessly linked to a large LCD display. It shows those data on the display roughly in real time (seems to update every five/seven seconds or so) and keeps track not only of maxima and minima on most of those statistics but also when they occurred... very nice. Fairly easy to set up, see my review on the National Geographic weather station on how to get their similar wind and temperature packages set up. That's the good news.
The bad news is that the system is grossly inaccurate. The wind speed data always reports wind speeds thirty to fifty percent below their actual values (when compared to a NOAA instrument package very near my house), and temperatures that vary wildly as the day goes on.
I gathered enough data on wind and temperature readings several times/day for several days to see that while the AVERAGE value of the temperature reported over the day is fairly close to the NOAA data, the standard deviation is about 250 percent that of the NOAA data, despite my locating the thermometer off the ground and in the shade. The wind speed data's always significantly under actual wind speed -- the cheaper National Geographic unit with its anemometer sitting within a few feet of the Lacrosse anemometer tracked with the NOAA data very well -- despite the fact that I actually purchased a replacement anemometer unit from Lacrosse. (Both units showed the same biases -- wind direction was correct, wind speed under-reported.) Atmospheric pressure was, however, dead on... once calibrated. So, I thought, maybe there's a calibration procedure for the wind speed?
The true insult, however, was when I contacted Lacrosse looking for some guidance... could they recommend better infrared shielding for the temperature gauge? Was there a way to calibrate and adjust the package's interpretation of the wind speed information? Their Web site warned that they were very busy this time of year so I thought I'd be a nice guy and use their email. No answer for two weeks, so I politely asked a second time; no answer. It's been four weeks and I'm still waiting.
This unit seems basically well-thought-out, save for the lack of calibration opportunities. Without that calibration, though, it's completely worthless. Save your money.
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La Crosse Technology Ws-1612Al-It Professional Weather Center - Choose FinishWhether you just want accurate weather forecasts for pleasant outings or are in need of precision weather data from all angles Mother Nature strikes, the La Crosse Technology Professional Weather Station does it all with ease. So easy to use that it's fun, the WS-1612AL-IT Professional Weather Station monitors a wide range of weather information. The station monitors, displays and records temperature, humidity, wind-chill direction and speed, receiving data from the system's super-accurate thermo-hygro, rain, and wind sensors, which set up quickly without wires up to 330 feet away.
The weather station monitors, displays and records the basics such as outdoor temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, and rainfall. The unit also studies wind chill and detailed rain data, as well as forecasting the weather ahead. Weather alarms with storm warnings offer plenty of heads up when it's time to man the sails, cover that garden, pack up camp, or head for the slopes. The station also features a handy forecast icon for weather conditions at a glance. A barometric pressure graph and 12-hour history graph let you know where weather is headed. Also, storage of 200 sets of history weather data recorded in 3-hour intervals makes this weather station truly a scientific instrument professional meteorologists can count on.
More great features include a time display, clearly visible on the weather station's large LCD screen along with a full calendar display and alarm. The completely wireless system also monitors outdoor humidity, records minimum and maximum temperature and humidity, and specifies time and date of recording. A humidity alarm indicates when user-set humidity levels have been breached. The station is also equipped with a relative air pressure indicator for easy setting and trend accuracy. Barometric pressure with 12-hour history graph means quick scanning of the day's air pressure and more accurate forecasts.Wind speed is recorded between 0 to 111.8 mph (0 to 207 km/h), with a wind-chill range from -39.8° F to 139.8° F.
With display options, range settings, and warning features galore, the unit is as informative as it is comprehensible. A contrast selectable LCD makes it easy to read in low light. A low battery indicator keeps you powered up. Wind direction is displayed in 16 steps, a great feature for aeronautics, sailing, wind generator installers and more. Wind speed is displayed in mph, km/h or m/s, and Beaufort scale). The weather station also displays maximum wind speed with time and date of recording and features a high-wind alarm function. There's also a manual reset for outdoor temperature/humidity, pressure and wind-chill recording start times.
The purchase includes all mounting hardware for the sensors. The receiver measures 8.9 by 6 by 1.25 inches. The thermo-hygrometer measures 2.25 by 2.44 by 6.18 inches. The rain gauge measures 5.51 by 2.75 by 5.39 inches, and the wind sensor 9.84 by 6.45 by 7.58 inches.
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