Which Is Best - A Wired or Wireless Weather Station?
Weather stations come in two configurations, wireless and cabled. Each type of setup has its own particular strengths and weaknesses and the best choice for you depends on your terrain and your exact needs.
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:
- Easier to install, no cables to run and no holes to drill in walls
- No worry of accidentally cutting a data cable
- No risk from lightning strike
Wireless Cons:
- Typically more expensive than an equivalent cabled system
- Can be subject to RF interference
Cabled Pros:
- Typically less expensive than an equivalent wireless system
- Not subject to RF interference
Cabled Cons:
- More difficult to install due to necessity of running cables through walls, etc
- Risk of lightning strike entering your home or business if not properly installed and grounded
We hope that this guide proves helpful in choosing which type of setup is best for your home or business. 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.
Here at Weather Station Central our goal is to help you find the lowest discount prices on weather measurement equipment of all types. We'll help you find the right weather forecasting equipment for your home, farm or business at the lowest price.
What you see below is just a small sampling of all the weather stations that are currently available on eBay. If you don't see exactly what you need search here to perform a more exhaustive search.
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US $227.99 |
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US $43.99 |
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US $37.99 |
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US $535.00 |
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US $569.99 |
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US $49.95 |
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US $96.89 |
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US $132.99 |
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US $19.99 |
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US $37.99 |
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US $79.99 |
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US $239.99 |
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US $139.88 |
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US $39.99 |
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US $56.95 |
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US $139.85 |
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US $15.95 |
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US $54.95 |
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US $64.95 |
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US $39.99 |
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