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Weather Stations/Forecasters Handheld Wind & Weather Alert Radios Thermometers Other Environmental Measurement Devices |
Which Is Best For You - A Wired or Wireless Weather Station?Weather stations come in two types of configurations, wireless and cabled. Each setup has its own particular strengths and weaknesses and the best choice for you depends on your exact needs as well as your terrain. A wireless weather station transmits the collected data via radio waves. It is much more convenient to install and maintain since you don't have to run cable through walls or worry about cables being accidentally cut. However it can be subject to RFI or RF interference in some isolated cases. Also you pay for the increased convenience since a wireless system is also usually more expensive than a wired one. With a wired or cabled setup you don't have to worry about RF interference but there is a quite a bit more work involved since you have to run the cables from all of the sensors to the console. This generally involves drilling holes in walls, running cabling through your yard, etc. One other strength of a cabled system is that since the transmission runs through the cables you don't have to worry about signal loss due to obstructions such as hills, buildings, trees, etc. A wireless station is subject to signal loss if the wireless signal passes through solid objects. If your line of sight to the sensors is not clear then a cabled setup is most likely the best route to go. One very important issue to be aware of with a cabled weather station is the potential risk from a lightning strike. If you're installing a wired system you absolutely must install lightning arrestors in order to minimize the risk of a lightning strike being transferred to your home or business. You also must make sure to properly ground all of the poles to which you have mounted sensors. To be on the safe side it's a good idea to consult a licensed electrician to ensure that you have a safe installation. As long as you install it properly a wired system is perfectly safe. For most residential users a wireless home weather station is the way to go due to the increased ease of installation. For a business where one's livelihood is dependent on knowing the weather conditions at all times a wired setup is sometimes preferable since there's no chance of RF interference corrupting the signal. In Summary: Wireless Pros:
Wireless Cons:
Cabled Pros:
Cabled Cons:
We hope that this guide proves helpful in choosing which type of setup is best for you. While you're here be sure to also check out our guide to properly installing a weather station. It's filled with lots of good tips to ensure your installation goes smoothly. One weather station that we highly recommend due to its wide array of features, reliability, high quality construction, and versatility due to being available in a variety of wireless and cabled configurations is the U.S. made Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station. It's a well built, professional grade device that is made to suit nearly all installation requirements and individual needs. At Weather Station Supply you'll find the lowest discount prices on weather measurement equipment of all types. We'll help you find the right environmental measurement and weather forecasting equipment for your home, farm or business for the lowest price. | |||
