Choosing a Weather System

Things to consider when purchasing
an electronic weather station

1. How easy is it to set up the station?

With most of the competing stations, you need to install each sensor separately, which adds complication and takes time and effort. The Vantage Pro2 weather stations are designed to make setup as easy as possible. The Integrated Sensor Suite is factory-assembled. Just complete a few minor assembly steps, insert the battery, and you're ready to mount the sensors. Mount them all together using an optional tripod, or detach the anemometer to mount it separately. Flexible mounting options make it easy, either way.

2. What is the maximum transmission distance?

The wireless transmission range for most of the competing stations is generally quite limited. Although transmission range is highly variable (depending not only on the surrounding physical features of the land and structures but also on the RF interference in the area), the Vantage Pro2 weather stations will almost always out perform the competition, transmitting up to 1000' line of sight. And unlike the competition, they offer wireless repeaters should you wish to extend the range even further.

3. What weather variables are measured and recorded?

Most other stations offer barometric pressure, outside humidity and dew point, daily and yearly rainfall, wind speed and direction, wind chill, and outside temperature. Some also offer inside temperature and humidity, and a few even give you extra outside temperature readings and current rain rate. Only Vantage Pro2 gives you all these, plus:

• Additional Rainfall Information: 15-minute rainfall, hourly and monthly rainfall, and rainfall amounts for each of the last 24 storms.
• Additional Wind Speed Information: 10-minute average wind speed, direction of high speed, and 10-minute dominant wind direction.
• Apparent Temperature: Heat index (the combined effects of temperature and humidity) and, with the addition of a solar radiation sensor, temperature-humidity-sun-wind index.
• Optional Sensors for Solar and UV Radiation, something that's becoming more important as we become increasingly aware of the dangers to health caused by excessive exposure to the sun.
• Additional Information (with optional sensors) for agricultural users: Evapotranspiration, leaf wetness, soil moisture, and soil temperature

4. How many highs and lows are measured and recorded?

Most other stations simply give you the current readings. If highs and lows are available at all, they are usually quite limited. Only Vantage Pro2 gives you the highs and lows (and/or totals or average readings) for just about all-available weather conditions for the last 24 days (with time of day), months (with date), or years. No other weather station on the market even comes close. And not only can you view the data numerically, you'll also see it on Vantage Pro's on-screen graphs, giving you instantaneous visual representations of long-term trends.

5. How often is the information updated?

The Vantage Pro2 transmitter sends a data packet to the console every 2½ seconds. The weather conditions that are the most variable (such as wind speed and direction) are updated with each packet, while most other conditions are updated every 10 seconds. With the competition's stations, the update interval is much longer: 30 seconds, or even 3 minutes or longer. This may not seem like an important distinction. But try watching the wind gust, or the rain suddenly come pouring down. It's very disconcerting to be looking out the window, seeing something happening weather-wise, and not see it reflected on the console for what seems to be an eternity

6. Can you use the station at higher elevations?

The stations can be used up to 12,000 feet in elevation. Many of the competing stations are limited to 6,000 feet or below. If you're lucky enough to live and work or perhaps enjoy a vacation home in the mountains, you'll find that the Vantage Pro2 weather stations work just fine, no matter what elevation you're at.

7. How is the forecast generated?

The competition generally bases their forecasts strictly on whether barometric pressure is rising or falling. This results in none too accurate a prediction. Vantage Pro2 uses a sophisticated forecasting algorithm which takes into account not only barometric pressure, but also wind, rainfall, temperature, humidity, and longitude and latitude. The result? A much more accurate forecast. Not perfect, but even the guys with the satellite pictures don't always get it right!

8. How is the forecast displayed?

The competition gives their forecast by means of an icon. Davis has have similar icons, plus over 100 different forecast messages that scroll across the bottom of the display when you press the FORECAST key. None of the other stations have this scrolling message-it is unique to Vantage Pro2. The ticker tape also gives additional information, depending on which key you press. For example, press the WIND key to display wind speed, and you'll see a message showing you the 10-minute average wind speed. If it's raining, you can press the RAIN YR key to see the last 15 minutes of rain, or RAIN DAY to see the last 24 hours of rain. And these are just a few examples! None of the competition has anything like this.

9. How much data can you graph on the screen?

With Vantage Pro2, you can graph just about every weather variable, with averages and highs and lows for most, and go back in time for minutes, days, months, and years. The competition typically graphs just one variable-barometric pressure-and typically just for the last 24 hours. With all the graphs on Vantage Pro2, you can do tons of analysis, even without purchasing an additional software package (although they offer one of those, too). And you'll find that the more dramatic the weather is, the more fun it is to look at the graphs. Just how windy is it, and how does it compare to the last windstorm? And how much rain did we get this month, as compared to last month?

10. What is the computer interface like?

If you'd like to do even more analysis, you can add a WeatherLink data logger and software package. The data logger stores data at the interval you choose (from one minute to two hours) for up to six months. You can transfer the data whenever you like, or leave your computer on to have it automatically transfer every day. The data logger uses non-volatile memory, so you won't lose the data even if you lose power. For some of the competing stations, no software package is available. And while other stations do offer a software package, they don't include a data logger so your computer must be on and the software running at all times.

11. How many alarms are there?

On Vantage Pro2, alarms can be set for just about every weather variable, imaginable, up to 65 alarms in all. Like the graphs, the alarms found on the competition's stations are generally quite limited.

12. What is the accuracy, resolution, and range?

The Vantage Pro2 weather stations generally beat the competition in accuracy, resolution, and range. It can be difficult to find the specs for competing stations. When Davis does find them, their testing shows that they are a bit, shall we say, optimistic. Davis is very proud of their specs, stand behind them 100%.