A weather station or indoor/outdoor thermometer allows you to monitor weather conditions outside your home and, with the proper equipment, transmit them over the internet if desired. Read on to find out which type is best for you and what features to look for…
INDOOR/OUTDOOR THERMOMETER FEATURES: Indoor/outdoor thermometers, in addition to showing the temperature, may also have the ability to show current humidity (Radio Shack 63-1032) and/or barometric pressure levels. They are available in digital and analog models; digital units are usually slightly more expensive and require batteries. Most indoor/outdoor thermometers use a cable with a sensor on the end of it to detect the outdoor temperature, while some more expensive models are capable of wireless communication between the thermometer and a separate sensor unit. Depending upon the model, it may be possible to add more than one outdoor sensor; the Acu-Rite 00683A2, for example, can accomodate up to three sensors. When buying a thermometer of this type, be aware that some units marked “Indoor/Outdoor” may simply be waterproof (meaning that they can be used indoors or outdoors), not that they have the capability to show the indoor and outdoor temperatures at the same time.
WEATHER STATION FEATURES: If you want to be able to monitor more conditions, such as wind speed or dew point, a home weather station may be preferable, although more expensive. Features available on some home weather stations include a UV index sensor (Oregon Scientific BAR609HGA), solar-powered external sensors (Oregon Scientific WMR968), the ability to indicate rising or falling barometric pressure (La Crosse WS7049U), or the capability to provide short-range forecasts. In addition to the conditions it monitors, the station may be able to calculate measurements such as the wind chill (Discovery FX6000) or heat index.
REPORTING: If you just want to report weather conditions by telephone or manual entry on a website, an indoor/outdoor thermometer should be sufficient. However, if you want to automatically transmit weather data through the internet, you will have to select a home weather station with this capability, and acquire the appropriate software. The popular website Wunderground.com allows users to upload their weather conditions and provides a list of weather reporting software available for Windows, Mac OS, and Unix/Linux, some of it available for free. The National Weather Service may provide you with equipment if you become a member of their Cooperative Observer program. Before purchasing a weather station for reporting purposes, make sure there is affordable software available which your computer meets the system requirements for.
PRICE: Indoor/outdoor thermometers generally cost $10-25. Home weather stations, depending upon their features, can cost several hundreds of dollars, and are usually at least $100 if they can be connected to a computer. Some models in the $25-$75 price range may be referred to as either weather stations or thermometers and have some capabilities of both types, but lack the more sophisticated features of expensive weather stations.
Indoor/outdoor thermometers and home weather stations are available at stores such as Radio Shack and Sears, as well as some online shopping websites and internet auction services. Prices referred to in this article were current as of 04/12/07.
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