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AcuRite’s latest home weather station, the Atlas, has finally been released to the market. Fans of the AcuRite brand have been eagerly awaiting the next installment in the AcuRite lineup.
The launch of the Atlas was unfortunately delayed by two years. We first heard about AcuRite’s plans to take on Davis Instruments in the ‘prosumer’ personal weather station segment all the way back in 2016. The company eventually released the Atlas in late 2018, so we were extremely curious to see if it could compete with the and.Even as late as it was to the market, the Atlas still has the same goal that they told us more than two years ago: to give consumers a modern alternative to Davis’ rapidly aging weather stations, with similar top-tier accuracy, modern connectivity, and at an overall better price.But during this delay, other companies have worked hard to build fully featured smart home weather stations at an affordable price point for first-time buyers.
- View a wide range of weather information for your exact location when you have the AcuRite Weather Station with Forecast, Temperature, and Humidity. The display is compact and easy to read with black, bold information. With a table top or wall-mountable design you can place it in a location that is accessible and easy for you to view.
- Placement for Maximum Accuracy AcuRite sensors are sensitive to surrounding environmental conditions. Proper placement of both the display unit and the sensor are critical to the accuracy and performance of this product. Display Unit Placement Place the display unit in a dry area free of dirt and dust.
The standout being. Did AcuRite wait too long to release the Atlas? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents.InstallationInstallation of the Atlas isn’t too difficult as the integrated sensor suite (ISS) is an ‘all-in-one’ unit, but you will, however, need a pole to mount the ISS on to (the mounting hardware is built into the ISS body). The station can be mounted on a pole of a diameter up to 1.25 inches. You just need to remove the back by sliding it off the ISS, place the other section of the sensor suite on the pole, slide the back part back on, and use the tightening knob to secure it.
The integrated tightening knob makes it very easy to set up the Atlas on a pole mount.(There is a wall mount option, but for a variety of reasons we do not recommend this, so we won’t cover it here.)The Atlas can be mounted either at the top of the pole or at some point along the length of the pole. We recommend the latter since you will be able to then place your thermometer sensor at the correct height, which is about six feet off the ground.If you follow our siting recommendations for the most accurate readings, you’ll also want to purchase the optional wind extension kit.
There’s a benefit to doing this as official wind readings are taken at 33 feet. Getting your wind vane as close to 33 feet as you can and clear from any obstructions leads to better readings overall. We were able to get our wind vane up to about 10 feet with and two extension poles (the max the mount supports). My installation of the AcuRite Atlas on an Ambient Weather EZ-48 tripod with two mast extensions.From here you only need to set up the AcuRite Access and the console, both of which were straightforward, but you must set up and power the sensor suite first before doing anything else, or you’ll run into trouble. Just a reminder that the outdoor sensor transmits measurements up to 330 feet away from the console, so remember to mount it within range of the console.We also had the opportunity to test out other optional upgrades, including the lightning detector, remote battery pack, and the sensor AC adapter, which we’ll discuss later. AccuracyBefore we go into a discussion on accuracy, here’s a look at AcuRite’s claimed accuracy and specifications from their manual. We think these are very commendable numbers.
Operating RangeReading FrequencyAccuracyTemperature Range-40 to 158°F (-40 to 70°C)30 seconds± 1°FHumidity Range1-100% RH30 seconds± 2% RHWind Speed0-160 mph (0-257 km/h)10 seconds± 1 mph ≤ 10 mph, ± 10% 10 mphWind Direction360°30 seconds± 3°Rain.01 inch intervals (mm)30 seconds± 5%UV Index0 to 15 index30 seconds± 1Light Intensityto 120,000 Lumens30 secondsn/aLightningUp to 25 miles away (40 km)10 secondsn/aDoes it live up to these claims? We’d argue yes. Using both our local NWS station and our Davis Vantage Vue for comparison, the Atlas sensor suite performed admirably well. Accuracy is a big step up from the AcuRite 5-in-1 systems that preceded this station.Temperature and humidity readings were similar to the Davis Vantage Vue and the NWS, and if you purchase the optional wind extension kit, getting the anemometer up higher in the air does help a lot to obtain accurate wind readings. Rainfall and barometric pressure readings also seemed to be on point, and an improvement over previous AcuRite consoles we’ve tested.The optional lightning detector also works well, as long as you don’t have an early model station. If you do, your integrated sensor suite will need to be returned to AcuRite for warranty/recall repair. A, causing in some cases hundreds of false strikes a day.
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We’ve gotten our ISS back recently, and after the repair, there have been no more false strikes. You’re not likely to have this problem if you purchase a new station, as AcuRite have been shipping Atlas units with the repair for a few months now. UpgradabilityThe Atlas does have some upgrade options. At the time of purchase, you can either choose to buy the weather station with the Access module (AcuRite’s internet connectivity device), the HD touchscreen color console, or both. If you have the money, we’d strongly recommend buying both. One optional upgrade is a lightning detector.There is also an optional lightning detector which is mounted in the sensor suite inside the battery compartment, a wind extension kit to install the anemometer at the optimal height of 33 feet to take wind readings, and a remote battery pack and AC power adapter.The remote battery pack will allow you to place the ISS batteries near ground level to negate the need to remove the ISS unit from the mast to change the batteries, while the AC power adapter will allow you to run the sensor suite off electrical power. Sygic activation code free 2018.
While we found both useful, we’d still recommend installing the Atlas the way we did—the AC adapter really isn’t necessary because the ISS will run on its internal batteries and the solar panels for about 8-12 months at a time.You can add additional sensors via the AcuRite Access, but keep in mind that these additional sensors do not show up on your console, the data will only appear in the My AcuRite app. AcuRite has a variety of sensors compatible with the Access, so we suggest visiting their website to learn more about what you can get.
AcuRite Atlas vs. AcuRite 5-in-1We’ve already noted that the Atlas is a step above the previous AcuRite Pro+ 5-in-1 stations, but we wanted to discuss why briefly. The most significant difference is sensor quality. The Atlas sensors are higher-end, which means you’ll get more accurate measurements.
AcuRite has also rated the Atlas wind vane to work at speeds of up to 160mph and increased reporting frequency to every 10 seconds, making it useful in areas prone to severe weather conditions, including tropical storms and hurricanes.The Atlas ISS also includes a UV index and light intensity sensor, which while not as good as the same optional sensors found with Davis Vantage Pro2, they are indeed an added benefit.The fact that you can mount the wind vane separately is also a big deal, as is the integrated tightening knob mounting mechanism on the ISS itself for pole mounting. Every part of the Atlas is a step up, and worth the added cost.
AcuRite Access for My AcuRite Remote MonitoringThe AcuRite Access really only has one purpose, and that’s connecting your Atlas weather station to the Internet. The Atlas and its console can work without it.
However, you won’t be able to share your data or use AcuRite’s Alexa skill. Connect to My AcuRite with the AcuRite Access.As long as you install the ISS first, you should have no problems with installing the Access. We should note here that it does take a bit of time for the sensor data to start reporting. In our tests, it was about five minutes, but AcuRite warns this could take up to half an hour.Measurements are sent every minute to My AcuRite, although, if you’re using the web app it will only automatically refresh every five minutes.
However, you can manually refresh either the web or mobile app to view the updated readings.If you want even faster updates, set up Weather Underground’s Rapid-Fire feature within My AcuRite. This will pull updates from your ISS every 18-36 seconds, enabling almost real-time Internet monitoring. For most of us, however, this might be overkill. The AcuRite Access also has Alexa connectivity, you just need to enable the My AcuRite skill within the Amazon Alexa app to get connected. We’re a bit disappointed that there is no Google Assistant connectivity nor IFTTT support. We expect that AcuRite will support Google Assistant soon, but the company in the past has told us they don’t think IFTTT works fast enough to make it truly useful in a smart home, so it’s unlikely IFTTT will be supported anytime soon.
Display ConsoleThe Atlas display console is one of the better consoles we’ve seen on the market. It’s an HD full-color 7-inch TFT touchscreen. The display is clear and bright with a wide viewing angle. It not only looks nice, but it works well.
The HD display console is a big step up from many stations, notably the outdated Davis console. The modern HD full-color 7-inch TFT touchscreen Atlas display console.We love the fact that you can view graphical data on various weather conditions over either the past 6 or 48 hours and adjust the brightness of the display. It also includes a sleep mode which dims the brightness to a low level yet shows time/date, outside temperature and humidity and wind speed. Like other consoles, several alarm options are available.The only negative here is that the Atlas console cannot support the display of any additional AcuRite sensors. You’ll need to use the My AcuRite mobile or web app to do that. What We Really LikedWhat we like is that this is honestly the first home weather station that’s been able to hold its own against the Davis lineup in terms of accuracy.
Mainly because of the ability to separate and extend the height of the anemometer for accurate wind readings. We also like how straightforward the installation is thanks to the integrated tightening knob. Plus, the weather station is very affordable, even with every possible upgrade option, you’ll still get a station with more functionality than Davis for a lower price.Finally, the web and mobile app are intuitive and easy to operate. Davis finally updated their app late last year, but it still is far behind what AcuRite has been able to do with the My AcuRite platform. What We Didn’t LikeWe have some concerns about build quality due to the recall to fix the faulty wiring inside the sensor suite that made the lightning detector report false strikes. With that said, AcuRite proactively reached out to affected users and fixed the problem rather quickly. Turnaround time for the repair was about two weeks.
You shouldn’t have a problem here as only early models had the wiring issue—it has since been fixed.There is also no IFTTT support which means you won’t be able to use your weather data to control smart home devices like your sprinklers. That’s a shame. Also for developers, no API exists to support connectivity with third-party programs to the platform. If that’s important to you, then take a look at the Ambient Weather WS-2902. Provides this, the platform allows you to write your own programs and scripts to use and display your station’s weather data.
Are There Better Alternatives?Perhaps, but it depends on your needs. If smart home compatibility is your primary requirement, then it would be better to either buy the or better yet, the with the HD console.If accuracy is what you’re looking for, then either the Atlas or are good bets. However, the top of the line model is still the, and we're yet to find a home weather station that beats it for accuracy. Problem is, the console is so outdated now that many newer stations are just an overall better deal despite their marginally worse accuracy.We’re also still waiting for the. We’re not sure when it's coming out, but that might be a better buy overall when it finally arrives. It has been reported that the main differences with the Elite are a 2-second wind speed and direction reporting interval and new radio system with 1000 feet extended range. The anemometer is separate as standard, and there might also be higher quality sensors.We’ll be sure to review the Atlas Elite if and when it comes out.
Should You Buy It?We think you should. The price is right, it’s accurate, the build quality is decent, and AcuRite has really stepped it up with the integrated mounting system, HD console, and extensive upgrade options. We particularly love the ability to separate and extend the anemometer to official reporting heights with the wind extension kit.
It’s an option that you just don’t normally see on weather stations in this price bracket.We’re hoping however that the early problems are just a hiccup, and from what we’ve been able to gather it was. So, definitely consider the Atlas if you’re in the market for an affordable, yet high-quality personal weather station. SummaryThe AcuRite Atlas bridges the gap between affordability and high-level accuracy making it a top contender in the prosumer category. The upgrade options are what sets the Atlas apart from other stations in this price range. The most notable upgrade being the wind extension kit to separate and extend the height of the anemometer for more accurate readings.
We’re also impressed with the remote monitoring through the My AcuRite app. However, smart home integration is lacking, and an early recall for false lightning detection worried us (it has since been taken care of).
If you’re looking for a durable and accurate home weather station with straightforward installation and user-friendly internet connectivity, then the Atlas is an excellent option. Published: February 24, 2019.
About The AuthorHi, thanks for stopping. I'm the lead contributor here at Weather Station Advisor. I've had a lifelong interest in the weather spanning more than 30 years, culminating with the pursuit of a Meteorology degree from Millersville University in Pennsylvania. My interests lie in severe weather and climate change.I also have a degree in Journalism from Temple University, and have spent nearly my entire journalism career covering consumer gadgets.
You might have seen my work on Digital Trends, PC World, VentureBeat, or even the New York Times website. I've written quite a bit!At Weather Station Advisor, I joined the team to provide you with the best reviews, recommendations and advice to get the most out of your investment. As I've found out on my own, weather stations aren't cheap, and it's easy to make a costly mistake.
Show MoreEveryone has their own morning routine. Some of us go for a run, others get the kids ready for school, some just want to know if it will be smooth sailing during their rush-hour commute. The weather can throw a monkey wrench into any of those plans.Owning a personal weather station is one way to stay on top of mother nature.
Yes, you can open an app, but the information there is from a remote station miles away and up to an hour old. With a home weather station, you get up-to-minute information on what she’s up to doing right outside your door.We’ve performed extensive evaluations on a number of home weather stations and picked our favorites. We’ll also discuss the features you should look for when shopping for one of these systems. Best home weather station platform.
Ambient Weather hit a home run with the WS-2902 Osprey weather station. It’s an impressive value, and its smart home connectivity is icing on the cake.Just about any of the home weather stations we’ve evaluated will meet the needs of the casual weather observer, but Ambient Weather’s WS-2902 Osprey delivers more sensors than what you’ll get with most other packages, and it offers great hooks into smart home infrastructure such as IFTTT, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant. Highly recommended to anyone interested in monitoring the weather around their home, and especially for enthusiasts who want their smart home to respond to atmospheric conditions.
The AcuRite Atlas is a great value in personal weather stations with near prosumer-level accuracy. It still needs more smart home capabilities, however, and hopefully the lightning detection isn’t as glitchy as some claim.AcuRite’s Atlas packs a ton of features into its home weather station, which reports highly accurate results when installed according to best practices. You’ll need to pair its 5-in-1 sensor kit with either AcuRite’s touchscreen display (for local readouts) or the AcuRite Access (for remote access via the internet), but you can get all three devices bundled with a lightning detector for around $260 on Amazon. If AcuRite supported more smart home systems, it just might knock Ambient Weather off its perch as our top pick in this category.
How we testedWe test weather stations over a period of at least one month to ensure we get the widest possible array of weather conditions to see how the station performs. We paid special attention to ease of use and installation, and also used nearby National Weather Service stations to judge accuracy.Weather conditions can vary dramatically in just a few miles, so with temperature we judged readings of within plus-or-minus two degrees, and all other measurements within a five percent tolerance of the NWS station as accurate.We also evaluated each system’s ability to connect to and influence smart home systems. Which platforms are supported?
Can you use voice commands? Did it work as expected?Finally, we examined durability. With instruments being out in the elements 24/7, this is a very important factor to consider. What to look for when shoppingAt a minimum, a basic weather station should report temperature and humidity, inside and outside your home, and barometric pressure outside your home. A mid-priced station will measure wind speed and direction, as well as rainfall. A high-end model should deliver all of the above, plus other specialized measurements such as UV index, soil moisture, and water temperature (think your pool or a koi pond, for example).
NetatmoNetatmo Weather Station comes with the base station and one indoor/outdoor temperature/humidity sensor, but you also need the rain and wind gauges to really enjoy this station’s capabilities.As with any product, spending more money doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll get a great product, but we’ve yet to find a cheap weather station deliver genuine value. The vast majority of the budget stations available at chain discount and hardware stores are inaccurate. While temperature is generally accurate to within a degree or so, humidity is poorly measured, and readings can be 10 to 15 percent off actual values.Mid-range and high-end weather stations are typically much better, and in my experience never more than about five-percent off most of the time.Wind and rain measurements are very useful, especially if you have activities affected by that type of weather. High-end stations are nice to have if you can afford them; they’re typically the most accurate, but unless you need specialty measurements—UV, soil moisture, and the like—don’t spend the money.Here are some other features you might want to look for in a weather station:Accuracy: By far the most important, accuracy is also the hardest to gauge. Here we’d recommend looking at the spec sheets and choosing stations with low margins of error.
Additionally, look through user reviews (or ours) for real-world testing. Not all weather stations are built the same, and a high price doesn’t always mean high quality.Battery or solar power? Just about all weather stations these days operate wirelessly, so your instruments will run on either battery or solar power. Avoid stations that rely mostly or solely on solar power, as a few dreary days can prevent the instruments from have energy stored to do their job. Battery-operated or solar-assisted units are the best choice—you might need to change the batteries once a year.Internet connectivity: If your weather station can connect to the Internet, you’ll not only be able access it while you’re away, typically through an app or a special website, but you’ll also be able to share your data with the world via services such as. Meteorologists might need your data, especially if you’re in a place where their weather stations aren’t!Smart home support: Personal weather stations can make your smart home even smarter. If you already own a connected-home system, look for a weather station that’s compatible with your setup.
Some stations now support automation services like IFTTT, so you can turn on your heater when the temperature gets too cold, or your A/C if it gets too hot. Others are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to ask for highly localized weather reports.Expandability: Your weather station might suit you fine now, but your needs could change later. Instead of going for all the bells and whistles up front, save some cash and buy mid-range product that can be expanded with new and different sensors down the road. That way, you’ll never outgrow it.Durability: The elements can be harsh, and your sensors will be in it 24/7. Inexpensive stations are constructed from low-grade plastic that will quickly deteriorate. Look for a well-built station, and stay from “all-in-one” units where all the sensors are in a single housing. The sensors represent the bulk of the cost, and if one fails, you’ll need to replace all of them—even if the others are working just fine.
Oregon ScientificOregon Scientific’s WMR89A comes with all the sensors you need right out of the box, with no need to buy anything additional for basic local weather reports. A word about sensor placementNow here’s where my meteorologist side comes out. Please, please, please choose carefully where you place your instruments. The temperature and humidity gauge should be placed in an shaded and grassy area about eye-level height off the ground (National Weather Service specifications say five feet), and out of direct rain or snowfall. Do not place it near or above concrete, macadam, or other potential heat radiators. This means your bedroom window, too: warm air escaping from your house will throw off its readings.For the rain gauge, the level you place it at isn’t as important.
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What is important is that it’s not placed too low, so that splash-back from the ground causes abnormally high readings, or near tall obstructions that might block rainfall in windy conditions. The NWS generally recommends you place the rain gauge as far from obstructions as they are high. That’s tough to do, so just put it in as clear of a spot as possible.The anemometer (the fancy name for the wind gauge) is the toughest instrument to place. Most people are surprised to find out that the wind speed readings you see on TV are taken at a height of 33 feet above the ground. That’s not practical for most of us, but try to get it 10 feet above any nearby obstructions if you can.
You’ll also need a compass nearby: you’ll need it to point the wind vane in the right direction. The station’s setup instructions will tell you how to align it correctly. Our home weather station reviewsLook below for hands-on reviews of the weather stations we’ve tested. We will expand our coverage over the coming months, and we’ll add new features to look for as they come up.