Carefully monitoring the weather is important for so many reasons and in some situations, it could save your life or livelihood. You can’t always count on your local weather forecast to give you the best picture of what you may be facing because their weather prediction tools are miles away. If you live in a rural area, this is especially true of your circumstances.
What do you do, then, if you can’t trust your meteorologist? You get your own weather station. There are several home weather stations on the market that could change your life for the better! These are easier to read than you may think, too. You don’t have to be a specialist to read these meters and use these tools.
If you feel that your situation warrants setting up your own home weather station, take a look at some of these examples and learn why they could be the right fit for your needs.
Most Advanced: Davis Instruments 6152C Vantage Pro2
If you are looking for a home weather station that has it all, the Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 is your best bet. Advanced, serious weather watchers may want to shell out just a little more cash, but the price is worth it for everything that you get.
What it measures
The Vantage Pro2 measures a variety of weather conditions, including:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Heat index
- Wind chill
- Daily rainfall
- Rainfall rate per hour
- Storms
- YTD
Additional Features
There are two versions of this home weather station model – one is wireless, the other uses a cable. The one that you get should depend on your specific needs and desires.
There is nothing that this home weather station can’t tell you when it comes to general conditions. Having these pinpoint accurate readings for the area you live in is far better and more effective than watching your local news station, waiting for a meteorologist to tell you what the weather is like 20 miles away.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- This is one of the most accurate weather stations on the market.
- The Vantage Pro2 is durable, so the high price is worth what you get and how long you will be able to use it for.
Cons
- The price is unattainably high for some who wish to get a weather station; anyone on a tight budget may not be as interested.
- The wireless version may not be as accurate, and the cabled version may be more complicated to set up.
For more pricing information, click on this link.
Easiest to Use: Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue
If the Vantage Pro2 seems a bit too complicated to use whether you are a beginner or just don’t want to fuss with all the different parts, the Vantage Vue Wireless home weather station may be a better fit for what you want.
What it measures
The Vantage Vue gives you plenty of information on weather conditions by monitoring:
- Indoor/outdoor temperatures
- Humidity
- Barometric pressure
- Wind speed/direction
- Dew point
- Rainfall
Additional Features
The Davis Instruments Vantage Vue home weather station has a ton of extra features to aid you in your weather monitoring, including:
- Forecast icons: The icons on the device that receives weather info from the sensor will tell you whether to expect rain, snow, clouds, etc.
- Graphs: The LCD console will display graphs on weather trends in your area over the past few months based on the information that the sensor gathers.
- Alarms: If your sensor picks up any dangerous/hazardous weather conditions, you can set alarms to have the console alert you to the situation
- Moon phases: You can see all moon phases from new to full
- Wireless capability: You don’t have to be tethered to a certain spot; you can check on the weather from up to 1,000 ft. away from the sensor
- Radiation shield: Your sensor will be protected from solar radiation and other sources of radiation
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The LCD console is easy to read for beginners and pros alike.
- You get more information on weather conditions than many other weather stations provide.
- It’s a good median price for what you get, more affordable than the other Davis Instruments stations.
Cons
- The price is too high for some casual users and people on a tighter budget.
- This system may not be as accurate as the Vantage Pro2 weather station.
For more pricing information, click on this link.
Most Affordable: AcuRite 06014 PRO
If you are a weather watching beginner on a budget, the AcuRite weather station is the best product for your needs. It is far more affordable than the Davis Instruments stations and offers many of the same features.
What it measures
The AcuRite PRO weather station receives and sends you different weather conditions like:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Wind speed
- Wind direction
- Rainfall
Additional Features
This weather station’s sensor has a built-in fan to keep it at ambient temperatures to work more accurately. Solar panels charge the fan, so you don’t have to worry about the sensor getting too hot.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- This weather station is far more affordable than other models, so weather watchers on a budget won’t have to save up for long or ‘break the bank’.
- Built-in solar panels and fans give you more accurate readings and heat damage is minimal to the sensor.
Cons
- The biggest complaint about the AcuRite PRO is that it’s not very durable. While it is inexpensive, you may have to replace it more often.
- You have to buy a separate console in order to read the measurements that the sensor puts out.
- The sensor is battery-powered, so you will need to replace them often.
For more pricing information, click on this link.
These three home weather stations offer a variety of options to weather watchers who want a more accurate reading of their surroundings that a meteorologist far away just can’t give.
There’s a station for everyone regardless of income. Everything has pros and cons, but these are still by-and-large the best weather stations you can find for the money that you spend.
