Useful information about wireless weather stations
- Function and setup of wireless weather stations
- These values can be displayed by a wireless weather station
- Our practical tip: Alarm in weather extremes
- Common interferences at radio weather stations
Function and setup of wireless weather stations
A wireless weather station consists of at least two components:
- A station for recording the weather data including transmitter in one Robust housing for year-round outdoor use and
- A base station for displaying the determined data.
The data is recorded at the outdoor sensors and transmitted wirelessly via radio signal to the base station. A big advantage of this device combination is that the actual measurement can take place at a point outside, where the weather data can be recorded without any interference. On the other hand, the display module, the radio receiver, is located in a position that is easily accessible for the user.
The signals are sent in one of the so-called ISM bands (Industrial, Scientific and Medical Band). Wireless weather stations in Europe work almost exclusively with 433 megahertz. This is a largely license-free and license-free frequency range.
These values can be displayed by a wireless weather station
The measuring module of the weather station contains various sensors that register information about the weather. Which of these are specific varies depending on the functional scope of the devices. The measurement of outdoor temperature and humidity is one of the basic functions. A display of wind speed and wind direction offers weather stations with high equipment. Such designs may also indicate the amount of rainfall. A weather forecast is determined from the changes in the barometric pressure on site. For this to be possible, the external complement of the weather station must have an outdoor sensor that determines the air pressure.
In most cases, the display and reading module has an internal sensor to measure the indoor temperature and humidity of a room. The temperatures are usually displayed in the known scales degrees Celsius or optionally in degrees Fahrenheit. The radio technology used is also often used to receive the signal of the DCF-77 transmitter for operating a radio clock. This makes it possible to display the time on the weather station and to use it as an alarm clock, if necessary. If a wireless weather station offers a wind speed measurement, the so-called felt temperature can be calculated from this. For most of the displayed weather values, there is a minimum/maximum display of the past 24 hours. Better equipped weather stations sometimes store longer weather trends.
The weather data is displayed on the base station in graphically processed form on a display. Some stations can be expanded with additional outdoor modules. Due to the power-saving LC or LED displays and very small radio power, the weather stations usually only require AA batteries. Some devices are also equipped with power supplies on the reception side.
Many newer weather stations work with outdoor sensors that transfer the weather data to a smartphone, tablet or home PC with an app. For this purpose, the device is integrated into the existing WLAN network and can be reached from (almost) any location. As newer features of weather stations have been added, the display of values for the CO2 content of the air and for the noise level on site has also been added.
Our practical tip: Alarm in weather extremes
Some radio-based weather stations can be programd in such a way that they emit alarm signals in certain conditions or changes in the weather. This can be helpful, for example, in heavy wind. If objects are located outdoors and need to be protected from frost, an alarm is also useful to alert you to the corresponding low temperatures.
Common interferences at radio weather stations
If the radio signal from the outstation is not received at the base station, the first step should be to restart both device components. You can check the condition of the batteries at the same time. During the restart, the devices should be close to each other (approx. 1 meter distance).
In order to find a suitable installation location for the transmitter of the weather station, not only the weather technical considerations but also possible interference factors for the transmission of the radio signal also play a role. These can be alarm systems, electromagnetic fields, metal parts and the like. Please note: The range specifications in the operating instructions are based on free field conditions.
(This text is machine translated.)