I have to admit that I have never owned a weather station, but after playing with one that we received as a gift this year, we got hooked on its uncanny ability to predict the alternating rainy and sunny days of January, that we have had here in Northern California. There are several major players in the weather station business; Oregon Scientific and La Crosse Technology. Their weather stations have a similar core feature-set, which includes indoor temperature, remote temperature from up to three different locations (most come with one remote sensor, additional sensors must be purchased separately), weather prediction for the next 12 to 24 hours (based on barometric pressure), and a clock that synchronizes itself to the NIST atomic clock in Fort Collins, Colorado. Not close to Fort Collins? Don’t worry. Provided you are somewhere on the continent between the equator and the Arctic Circle, you can probably receive the NIST signal.
As happy as we are with the Oregon Scientific weather station in our home, when we went looking for a unit to put in the RV, we ended-up with the model WS-9075U from La Crosse Technology. This unit had several features that separated it from others, not the least of which was that it was a good match to our RV’s interior décor! We also liked the front-mounted function keys, which make it much easier to switch the outdoor temperature display between sensors (more on this later) and the ocean tide display, since we do a lot of camping at the beach. Another important feature for us, and one that is too often overlooked when purchasing camping products was that both the main control panel and the remote temperature sensors use the same AA-size batteries. I try to only use electronics in the RV that can be powered by AA-size batteries, because it simplifies my inventory and they can be found almost anywhere.
One of my criteria for purchasing a “gadget” is that it has to solve a specific problem. Admittedly, we have never let the weather affect a great weekend of camping, but we have always wondered exactly when the refrigerator gets cold enough to stock it with food for a trip, and how well it is performing while we are camping. According to the USDA, refrigerators should maintain a temperature of 40°F or below and foods held at temperatures above 40°F for more than two hours should not be consumed. To monitor the temperature in our refrigerator, we purchased a second sensor for our weather station and stuck it just inside the door. Along with the time, temperature and weather forecast, the weather station now displays the temperature inside our refrigerator, or by simply pressing a button, it can display the outdoor temperature from another sensor mounted in an outside compartment. The weather station will also display the maximum temperature and the time that temperature occurred, so if power goes out, or we run out of propane, we can easily determine if the temperature inside the refrigerator has risen above 40°F for more than two hours. Form and function; now that is a pretty good gadget!
Happy camping!
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Wayne
We keep ours in the hitch of our 5th wheel. This works well as long as its not in the sun, but when that happens I move it to the clip that holds the door on the front compartment and hang it there. I feel the need to keep it in an obvious place, lest I forget it.
Connie
We are thinking of putting it where the propane tanks sit. Sometimes our basement is warm when we open a compartment door after a long trip in the hot weather. Thanks for your help.
Scrib
Hi Connie,
I stuck the sensor inside one of the outer storage compartments. The sensors are not waterproof, so you want to keep them out of direct rain (the sensor on our home system is tucked-up under the eve of the roof). The basement of your Class A sounds like a great place, as long as it is not heated. They work all the time, so you can get accurate outside temperatures even when driving down the road.
Good luck!
Roy
Connie
We did not get a outside temp gauge in our new motor home and have been thinking of adding something…. Not sure what just yet, but if we got one of the weather stations, where do you put the sensor? Does it go into the basement of our class A or someone said to put it in with the propane tanks. Does it only work when you are sitting or can you get the tempature when crusing down the road. Thanks.
Pat
If you forecast the weather, you have to set the feet above sea level every place you are at for the barometer to work properly. Without doing that, it can not forecast the weather properly
Scrib
Mac,
glad you liked the topic, thanks! I don’t have an anemometer, but I wouldn’t mind getting one for the home system. Oregon Scientific also has a UV sensor available for some of their systems – I think that would kind of useful, too.
KC – did you get the whole bundle with your WMR100A? That comes with a UV sensor, I think.
Roy
KC
I have an Oregon Scientific WMR100A with anemometer, love it. I remove it from the top of the 5th-wheel when traveling.
KC
Mac McClellan
Hi Roy,
Very interesting topic, and timely for me because we’re thinking of buying a weather station soon.
Tell me, do you have the anemometer? If so, do you leave it on the RV while traveling or remove it? I suppose I should ask the manufacturer if it will be OK in 60 to 90 MPH winds (into a headwind). It would be convenient if it could stay in place.
Thanks,
Mac