The weather is an essential aspect of our everyday lives since knowing the weather helps you plan your day accordingly. Weather reports can sometimes be unreliable, but what if there was an accurate way to predict the weather? Like a home weather station.
A home weather station is a device that collects data using the surrounding environment and factors in weather conditions outside your home to track and estimate future climate.
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5 Tips On How To Choose A Home Weather Station
As you can see, there are many different factors that go into weather predictions and not all home stations may have the sensors you need for your climate. Each home station device is going to have its unique features, which can make it hard to choose one that is right for you. Listed below are 5 tips that can help when choosing a home weather station.
1. Expensive vs. Cheap
Let’s face it, many of us choose to buy cheaper devices because we think that we can save a little money. Well, a weather station is one of the exceptions where you shouldn’t skip out on buying a more expensive model.
This is because the more money you spend on the weather device, the more accurate and reliable it will be. If you choose to purchase a cheaper model, your device will then be less accurate and precise with its data, which defeats the purpose of a home weather station.
2. Choosing Sensors
Most home weather stations have the following sensors already installed, but sometimes brands can vary, which means you should always check to see if the weather station you’re buying has the correct sensors ideal for you and the climate you live in.
- Thermometer – measures the outside temperature
- Barometer – Collects atmospheric pressure
- Rain Gauge – Measures precipitation and rainfall
- Anemometer – Tracks the direction of the wind and what speed
- Humidity Sensor – Measures the relative humidity outdoors
Other types of sensors you may want to consider based on your climate:
- Hygrometer – Measures relative humidity
- Wind Vane – Determines the direction the wind is blowing
- Wire Snowfall – Tracks factors that contribute to snow
3. Desktop vs. Wireless Weather Stations
Most weather devices now have WiFi access, but not all of them have this feature. If you’re similar to most people, the last thing you’d want is to wire your outside device into your computer. Non-wireless weather stations do still exist, so when you’re checking out, make sure that it is WiFi compatible.
4. Semi-complete Wireless vs. Complete Wireless Stations
Semi-complete Wireless Stations can only log data that are within the last 24 hours and can’t be plugged into your computer. These models are becoming less popular, but they can still be of use. If you’re just looking for a casual home weather station to help predict the weather, then a semi-complete system would be ideal for you.
On the other hand, a Complete Wireless Station logs data through either WiFi or by plugging it into your PC/Mac computer. This device is going to be most useful for you if you’re planning on tracking weather patterns or predicting weather more than a day at a time.
5. Extra Features
[pullquote]There are a few different types of extra features you can either add or include in your home weather station to make it more functional and increase the longevity of the device.[/pullquote] Extra features aren’t needed, but they can help your device function better.
A radiation shield can help protect the temperature and humidity sensors from direct sunlight, which can help the device predict more accurate measurements. Another thing to look for is making sure the wind measuring sensor has either spinning cups or a propeller. The reason for this is because weather such as rain and snow can sometimes cause devices to stop functioning, thus hindering the accuracy of your device.
Solar-powered devices can help reduce the amount of electricity needed for the device, which can save you money in the long run. And lastly, consider purchasing an indoor display console. The console can help provide readouts of the variables being collected and will easily display all information on the screen.
Conclusion
Choosing a home weather station may seem complicated, but as long as you’re aware of what type of features you’re going to need for your climate, then it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that fits your needs.
If you are interested in even more technology-related stories and information from us here at Bit Rebels then we have a lot to choose from.
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