What are Weather Stations?

Weather stations combine different measuring instruments for meteorological purposes. They are just as popular with amateur meteorologists as they are with commercial users, such as in agriculture. The individual models and versions differ considerably in some cases: digital weather stations are superior to analog weather stations in many functions.

What can Weather Stations do?

Weather stations collect various meteorological data. These are physical measures that have an impact on our daily life.

The temperature, measured with a thermometer, tells what the air temperature is like.
The air humidity is determined with a hygrometer and indicates the water content of the air. Together with the temperature, this influences the (room) climate.
The air pressure, measured with a barometer, makes weather forecasts possible, such as the chance of precipitation.
Weather stations with extended functions also include:

Anemometer as an anemometer
Sensors for air pollution or CO2 levels
What is the difference between analog and digital weather stations?
Digital weather stations are electronic devices with different sensors to determine the weather. Their big advantage lies in the possibilities for data transmission via radio. The data from a radio weather station determined by several sensors and measuring locations can be clearly collected in a display. By integrating external data from official weather services, longer forecast periods are possible.

Analog weather stations are stationary measuring devices with mechanical components. The display is analog on a circular scale. An analog weather station is common as a combination of the thermometer, hygrometer, and barometer, i.e. for determining temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Contrary to the trend towards digitization, analog weather stations are currently experiencing their renaissance as a design object.

Weather Stations: measurement functions and data transfer

Analog weather stations cannot be networked and only collect data at the installation site. The readout also only works stationary because the mechanical display does not allow data to be transferred to another location for evaluation. Here digital weather stations are clearly superior.

In private weather stations for daily use, the temperature and humidity measurement functions are usually most important. A thermo-hygrometer is required as a measuring instrument. This is available both analog and digital. However, indoor-outdoor thermometers as combination devices must be digital, because a wireless outdoor sensor can only be integrated into electronic data transmission.

Depending on the model, digital weather stations offer:

Multiple measurement locations via networked sensors
Processing of weather data, e.g. for weather forecasts
Forwarding of weather data to a base station with a color display or via an app to an external device such as a smartphone or tablet
Integration of external data to increase the reliability of weather analyzes
Meaningful display with information about, for example, the chance of precipitation, sunrise and sunset, moon phases, and other events (via external data)
Alarm function as a warning for weather conditions such as frost and storm
Digital models for advanced users allow interfaces for connecting additional measuring devices. As an additional measuring instrument you can, for example, connect an anemometer or rain gauge.

The following types of transmission of the weather data can be distinguished:

Radio transmission within a closed system by radio weather stations as a set with a base station and any other measuring sensors such as radio thermometers for outdoor use
Satellite-assisted data transmission for inputting external data for weather information, forecasts, and automatic time synchronization
Data transmission over the internet with a WiFi weather station allows a variety of data analysis and processing, for example via a cloud connection or an app for the smart home area.
Combinations of these transmission paths are possible. For example, a radio weather station on-site with multiple measuring equipment can collect data and also receive satellite information for advanced weather forecasting. It is also possible for a WiFi weather station to use satellite data for its local display if there are problems with the internet.

The advantages of a WiFi Weather Station

With WiFi weather stations, the weather station can be integrated into your home network via WiFi. This network provides remote access to your weather data via the app when you are on the go. Also, WiFi weather stations can be integrated into Smart Home controllers and also enable computer-aided evaluation of the measurement data, e.g. for statistics.