Ambient Weather Falcon WS-8480 Fan Aspirated Smart WiFi Weather Station with Remote Monitoring and Alerts
The Ambient Weather WS-8480 Professional Weather Station allows you to monitor your home and backyard weather conditions with a sizeable high-quality display and a daytime fan aspirated radiation shield. Monitor indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, and more! The enhanced WiFi connectable option enables your station to transmit data wirelessly to the Ambient Weather Network.
If you have always wanted to monitor certain parameters of your property or home and love to keep an eye on the weather, consider the WS-8480 Smart WiFi Weather Station. The aspirated fan makes this station ideal for weather enthusiasts in hot weather climates where temperature accuracy is paramount.
The weather station measures wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, outdoor temperature and humidity, solar radiation, and UV, while the console measures temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. The console also displays Feel Like temperature, moon phase, and a barometric pressure-based forecast.
Add up to 7 thermo-hygrometers, floating pool and spa sensors, soil moisture sensors, and temperature sensors to track and monitor conditions in and around your home.
The Sensor Array
The outdoor sensor array is solar-powered and charges a super capacitor. Back-up batteries provide power at night and extended periods of darkness. The projected battery life is 2-3 years with high-quality lithium or alkaline batteries.
The Indoor/Outdoor Thermo-Hygrometer
The WS-8480 also includes an indoor sensor that monitors temperature and humidity anywhere inside or outside your home. The TX-3110B wireless outdoor thermo-hygrometer passes data through to your WS-8480 console. It will support both imperial and metric units of measure.
Connect to the Ambient Weather Network
Send real-time data to the Ambient Weather Network and monitor your data across different platforms. Our mobile app and desktop version allow you to customize your dashboard, analyze graphs, generate reports, and send an email or text alerts. Visit AmbientWeather.net or download the Ambient Weather app on iOS or Google Play Store to create your account.
Features Email and Text Alerts, IFTTT and API Support
We provide customers with a way to utilize weather instruments and data beyond viewing basic weather measurements. Our products integrate into your existing smart home products and allow you to create a more connected home. You can connect any of our IFTTT- enabled stations and sensors to your favorite products already in your household, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, NEST, Rachio Sprinklers, Hunter Douglas Blinds, and more! In addition, we have a powerful API for programmers.
Our email and text alert feature allows you to set alerts for high and low conditions for every parameter or send multiple alerts for the same parameter. Features a handy timeline for tracking alert history.
Add up to seven sensors to match your measurement needs
Mix and match up to 7 optional thermo-hygrometer sensors, soil moisture-temperature sensors, or pool and spa thermometers. View your sensor data on your personal weather dashboard on AmbientWeather.net
Connectivity
The weather station console includes two levels of wireless connectivity. The sensors connect to the console via RF (915 MHz), up to a 300 ft line of sight (100 ft in most conditions). The console connects to your router via WiFi RF (2.4 GHz) in the open air up to 80 ft.
Weather Features
Dew Point
Forecast (Pressure Based)
Heat Index
Humidity
Rainfall
Relative Pressure
Soil Moisture
Soil Temperature
Solar Radiation
Temperature
UV
Wind Direction
Wind Speed
Wind Chill
Weather Services
Ambient Weather Network
Weather Underground
PWS Weather
Amazon Alexa
IFTTT
API
Weather Specifications
Indoor
Temperature Range: -4 to 140 °F (with alkaline batteries), -40 to 140 °F (with Lithium e2 Energizer batteries)
Temperature Accuracy: 131 to 140°F: +/- 0.9°F (55 to 60°C: +/- 0.5°C),
50 to 131°F: +/- 0.7°F (10 to 55°C: +/- 0.4°C),
-4 to 50°F: +/- 2.3°F (-20 to 10°C: +/- 1.3°C),
-40 to - 4°F: +/- 3.4°F (-40 to -20°C: +/- 1.9°C)
Temperature Resolution: 0.1 °F
Humidity Range: 0 to 100%
Humidity Accuracy: 0 to 90% RH +/- 2.5% RH @ 77°F (25°C), 90 to 100% RH +/- 3.5% RH @ 77°F (25°C)
Humidity Resolution: 1 %
Outdoor
Temperature Sensor Range: -4 to 140 °F
Temperature Accuracy: 131 to 140°F: +/- 0.9°F (55 to 60°C: +/- 0.5°C),
50 to 131°F: +/- 0.7°F (10 to 55°C: +/- 0.4°C),
-4 to 50°F: +/- 2.3°F (-20 to 10°C: +/- 1.3°C),
-40 to - 4°F: +/- 3.4°F (-40 to -20°C: +/- 1.9°C)
Temperature Resolution: 0.1 °F
Humidity Range: 0 to 100%
Humidity Accuracy: 0 to 90% RH +/- 2.5% RH @ 77°F (25°C), 90 to 100% RH +/- 3.5% RH @ 77°F (25°C)
Humidity Resolution: 1 %
Barometric Pressure
Barometric Altitude Range: -2288 to 16,416 feet (-697 to 5000 meters), Barometer Range: 15.94 to 32.48 inHg (540hPa to 1100hPa)
Barometric Pressure Accuracy: 20.67 to 32.48 inHg: +/-0.15inHg (700 to 1100hPa: +/- 5hPa), 15.94 to 20.67 inHg: +/- 0.24inHg (540 to 700hPa: +/- 8hPa)
Barometric Pressure Resolution: 1hPa / 0.01inHg / 0.1mmHg
Solar Radiation
Solar Radiation (Light) Range: 0 to 200,000 Lux
Solar Radiation Resolution: 1 Lux
UV
UV Range: 0 to 15
UV Accuracy: 1
UV Resolution: 1
Rain
Rain Range: 0 to 787.3 in (0 to 19999mm)
Rain Accuracy: ± 7%
Rain Resolution: 0.01 in
Wind
Wind Direction Range: 0 - 360°
Wind Direction Accuracy: 1°
Wind Direction Resolution: 1°
Wind Speed Range: 0 to 112mph (50m/s, 180km/h, 97knots)
Wind Speed Accuracy: +/- 10%
Wind Speed Resolution: 0.1mph, 0.1m/s, 0.1km/h, 0.1knots
Other Specifications
Power
Display: 3 x AAA Alkaline Batteries (not included)
Display: DC 5V, 500mA 100-240V 50/60 Hz UL rated Class 5 adaptor
Indoor Thermo-Hygrometer Sensor: 2 x AA Alkaline batteries (not included)
Outdoor Sensor Array: 3 x AA Alkaline batteries recommended, Lithium e2 Energizer for cold weather
Outdoor Sensor Array: Solar Panel
Weight
Console: 1.3 lbs (590 grams) with batteries
Sensor Array: 2.4 lbs (1096 grams) with batteries
Indoor Sensor: 0.32 lbs (144 grams) with batteries
WiFi
WiFi Specifications 802.11b/g/n
WiFi Display Tablet RF Frequency: 2.4 GHz
Misc.
Time synchronize method: Synchronized through internet UTC time server
Console Temperature Limits of Operation: 23 °F to 122 °F (-5°C to 50°C)
Pole Mount diameter: 1.2" minimum, 1.8" maximum (pole not included)
Product Questions
Personal Weather Station Comparison Chart: https://ambientweather.com/weather-station-comparison-chart
The following is a comparison of specifications and features for the Ambient Weather station brands.
- Falcon Series
WS-8480
- Observer Series
WS-1201-IP
- Osprey Series
WS-2902C
WS-1900A
WS-1550-IP
- WS-100 Series:
WS-100
- ColorView Series:
WS-50
Each brand shares the same sensor array (Falcon, Osprey, Observer, ColorView), but have different console and Internet features.
... PermalinkTo report to AmbientWeather.net, you must:
1. own an Ambient Weather branded weather station that directly connects to the Internet (models listed below).
2. own a third party weather station that connects to the WeatherBridge:
more info…
3. own a Davis Instruments weather station and nano Wi-Fi data logger:
more info…
| Model | Image | MAC Label |
|---|---|---|
| ObserverIP (IP series) |
 |
 printed on the bottom of the IP module more info… |
| WS-2902 Series |  |
 printed on the back of the console more info… |
| WS-2000 |  |
Displayed in the ‘Weather Server’ section of the console more info… |
| WS-5000 |  |
Displayed in the ‘Weather Server’ section of the console more info… |
| WS-8478A WS-8480 |
 |
 printed on the back of the console more info… |
| WS-8482 |  |
 printed on the back of the console more info… |
WS-1001-WiFi WS-1002-WiFi |
 |
Displayed in the ‘Weather Server’ section of the console more info… |
| nano |  |
Accessed from the User Interface panel: more info… |
| Weather Bridge |  |
Accessed from the User Interface panel: more info… |
| KestrelMet 6000 Weather Station |  |
|
| WS-1965 |  |
Accessed from the User Interface panel and console: more info... |
- Connect to the Weather Station and load the user interface panel (below).
- Make sure the Upload Wundeground.com checkbox is checked.
- Double check your Station ID and Key are correct.
If AmbientWeather.net is working fine, but Wunderground.com is not updating, this is usually a typo.It is easy to confuse the lower case letter l, upper case I and the number 1, as well as the number 0 and the letter O. Also, DO NOT copy and paste your station key into the app, as it will add a lagging space.
To update the firmware, you must have a USB stick with 32 GBytes of memory or less.
To update the firmware for the Model WS-8478, download the latest version of firmware here to your PC or Mac:
Ambient Weather WS-8478 Falcon Download Center
- Extract or unzip the update zip file.
- Copy the extracted update folder to the USB stick. A typical USB stick is shown below (32 GBytes or less).
- Make sure the update folder is in the USB mass storage driver’s root directory and it should be Fat 32 format, as shown below (most come this way). Right click on the SD Drive to view the Properties. The File System must be FAT32.
- Disconnect the console’s AC power from the power outlet and remove the backup batteries (you will lose all settings). Plug the USB stick into the USB port on the right side of the console. Note that the USB connector pins will be facing towards you.
- Reconnect the console’s AC power to start the update process (In the meantime, do not remove the USB stick)
- During the update process the LCD will show the update status as shown below:
- Once the update completed, the console will restart and return to the normal display screen.
- Remove the USB mass storage driver form the main console.
- Normally, the Wi-fi /server connection and time zone setting is permanently stored in the console. However, if the console is reset to factory default, please re-enter all of the information as described in the User Manual in the “Wi-Fi Setup” section.
To find the MAC address of your console, go to your User Interface Panel and find the MAC address in the ambientweather.net area.
- Make sure your location is correct (longitude and latitude) by typing your address into Bing Maps:https://www.bing.com/maps
- Enter the longitude and latitude into the weather station set up page:
3. Do not enter a negative sign for Longitude or Latitude. For example, -112.0474 is 112.0474 West.
4. Make sure your console’s Time Zone (TZ) and Daylight Savings Time (DST) is set properly, which is done from the console.
The following is an excerpt from the User’s Manual:
5. If the time is incorrect by multiples of an hour, you likely set the incorrect time zone. The most common issue for users in the USA is to set a positive time zone instead of a negative time zone (example, +5 instead of -5).
The following table summarizes time zones around the world.
| Hours from GMT | Time Zone | Cities |
| -12 | IDLW: International Date Line West | — |
| -11 | NT: Nome | Nome, AK |
| -10 | AHST: Alaska-Hawaii Standard CAT: Central Alaska HST: Hawaii Standard |
Honolulu, HI |
| -9 | YST: Yukon Standard | Yukon Territory |
| -8 | PST: Pacific Standard | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| -7 | MST: Mountain Standard | Denver, CO, USA |
| -6 | CST: Central Standard | Chicago, IL, USA |
| -5 | EST: Eastern Standard | New York, NY, USA |
| -4 | AST: Atlantic Standard | Caracas |
| -3 | — | São Paulo, Brazil |
| -2 | AT: Azores | Azores, Cape Verde Islands |
| -1 | WAT: West Africa | — |
| 0 | GMT: Greenwich Mean WET: Western European |
London, England |
| 1 | CET: Central European | Paris, France |
| 2 | EET: Eastern European | Athens, Greece |
| 3 | BT: Baghdad | Moscow, Russia |
| 4 | — | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| 5 | — | Tashkent |
| 6 | — | Astana |
| 7 | — | Bangkok |
| 8 | CCT: China Coast | Bejing |
| 9 | JST: Japan Standard | Tokyo |
| 10 | GST: Guam Standard | Sydney |
| 11 | — | Magadan |
| 12 | IDLE: International Date Line East NZST: New Zealand Standard |
Wellington, New Zealand |
- Press and hold the WI-FI / SENSOR button for six seconds in normal mode, the console green LED will flash to signify that it has entered WAP (wireless access point) mode, and is ready to enter for WIFI settings.
- Use your smart phone, tablet, or computer to connect to the console through WiFi. Note that when the console programming is complete, you will resume your default WiFi connection. Note that you cannot connect two devices at the same time when programming.
3. Once connected, enter the following IP address into any browser’s address bar:
http://192.168.1.1 - The Console User Interface Panel will load:
To update the firmware for the WS-8480, WS-8480A: NONE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME
To update the firmware, From the Setup panel (Figure 47), tap the ADVANCED tab to update the firmware. Browse to the firmware file saved on your computer and tap Upload (Figure 48).
The upload takes approximately 5-10 minutes. While updating, the status will be displayed in the wind direction field(Figure 48)
Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/468/
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws8478.html
To reset the sensor array, press the reset button on the sensor array (#7, Figure below):
To reset the console to factory default, press the RESET button (#19) on the back of the console.
Do not press any buttons for several minutes, until the outdoor sensor is reporting on the console.
... PermalinkTo add new sensors or resync existing sensors to your WS-8478 Falcon weather station:
- If you own a 7 channel remote sensor, set the appropriate channel (make sure each sensor is on a different channel, #3 below) and press the reset button (#4 below):
- Press (do not hold) the Sensor WiFi button (#14 below):
3. Do not touch any buttons for several minutes as the new and existing sensors sync up with the console.
... PermalinkIf the time zone is off by increments of an hour, the time zone or daylight saving time is set incorrectly.
They are the first two clock settings:
The following table provides times zones throughout the world. Locations in the eastern hemisphere are positive, and locations in the western hemisphere are negative.
| Hours from GMT | Time Zone | Cities |
| -12 | IDLW: International Date Line West | — |
| -11 | NT: Nome | Nome, AK |
| -10 | AHST: Alaska-Hawaii Standard CAT: Central Alaska HST: Hawaii Standard |
Honolulu, HI |
| -9 | YST: Yukon Standard | Yukon Territory |
| -8 | PST: Pacific Standard | Los Angeles, CA, USA |
| -7 | MST: Mountain Standard | Denver, CO, USA |
| -6 | CST: Central Standard | Chicago, IL, USA |
| -5 | EST: Eastern Standard | New York, NY, USA |
| -4 | AST: Atlantic Standard | Caracas |
| -3 | — | São Paulo, Brazil |
| -2 | AT: Azores | Azores, Cape Verde Islands |
| -1 | WAT: West Africa | — |
| 0 | GMT: Greenwich Mean WET: Western European |
London, England |
| 1 | CET: Central European | Paris, France |
| 2 | EET: Eastern European | Athens, Greece |
| 3 | BT: Baghdad | Moscow, Russia |
| 4 | — | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| 5 | — | Tashkent |
| 6 | — | Astana |
| 7 | — | Bangkok |
| 8 | CCT: China Coast | Bejing |
| 9 | JST: Japan Standard | Tokyo |
| 10 | GST: Guam Standard | Sydney |
| 11 | — | Magadan |
| 12 | IDLE: International Date Line East NZST: New Zealand Standard |
Wellington, New Zealand |
- Connect to the Weather Station and load the user interface panel (below).
- Make sure the Upload ambientweather.net checkbox is checked.
- Double check your MAC address and make sure the address on your User Interface panel matches the MAC address you registered at AmbientWeather.net. Typos are very common.
- There is a bug in the firmware for Versions 103 and older. The issue is the software would stop reporting to AmbientWeather.net if the NIST time server goes down. It should continue to update the website, regardless if the time server is working or not. In addition, we will change the default time server.
- Firmware updates are listed here:
- https://www.ambientweather.com/amwefawsdoce.html
- You can manually change the Time Server as a work around. The default is time-a.nist.gov. You can switch to an alternate time server (time-b.nist.gov).
5. Referencing the figure above, make sure the Upload ambientweather.net checkbox is checked.
... PermalinkThere was a firmware issue with Versions 1.04 or less. To fix this issue, update to Firmware Version 1.05.
Here is the link to WS-8478 firmware updates: https://www.ambientweather.com/amwefawsdoce.html
... PermalinkIf the rain suddenly jumps to 3936 inches, then the sensor array needs resetting. This is due to a misalignment of rainfall base value between the sensor array and console caused by the reset process. This is possible when rain gauge are reset/interrupted in middle of operation.
- Press the RESET button on the sensor array (#7 below):
- Press (do not hold) the SENSOR (#17 below) button on the back of console to establish link with the sensor array (this is optional – the sensor array should automatically sync up:
- After the sensor array has linked to console, press the RESET button (#19, above) on the back of console. The screen will go blank and the clock date and time will reset, so the rainfall base value reset.
- The console will connect back to his WiFi router automatically (you will see the time and date synchronize correctly).
- The sensor array will link back to console automatically (if not repeat #2 above).
Latest User Manual:
Download the current User Manual for the WS-8478A Falcon Weather Station.
Latest WS-8478A Firmware Update (Note, the WS-8480 firmware can be found here):
Instructions:
- Download the latest firmware linked above.
- Extract the zip file to your computer or laptop. Once extracted,
- Copy the entire update folder to an empty USB stick.
- Power down the console.
- Insert the USB stick
- Power up the console.
- NOTE: Your console will be restored to factory default. You will need to set it up again.
- For more information, please follow the instructions in the WS-8478 Help Guide.
Update History:
Version 110 – February 4, 2019
- Fixed issue with UV resolution at low values.
Version 108 – November 20, 2018
- Fixed daily rain roll over issue at Midnight.
- Fixed bug with rain counter setting rain to 3936 inches.
Version 105 – June 6, 2018
- Fixed issue with barometric pressure calibration for altitudes above about 3000′.
Version 104 – April 23, 2018
- Fixed issue with AmbientWeather.net going offline if time sync was not successful.
Version 103 – March 20, 2018
- Fixed Heat Index bug.
- Fixed issue with AmbientWeather.net DNS changes causing station to go offline.
Version 102 – March 1, 2018
- Fixed issue with rain not resetting at Midnight. Also affected weekly, monthly rain totals.
- Fixed issue with the max gust of the day not resetting at Midnight.
- Fixed Daylight Savings Time bug introduced in Version 101.
Version 101 – February 5, 2018
- Added daily, weekly, monthly and yearly rain.
- Fixed bug if a negative longitude is incorrectly added.
Version 100 – January 30, 2018
- If the temperature was 32 degF, the console would send 0 degF.
- Fixed -158 degF spike.
- Fixed wind speed, direction and rainfall lock up issue.
- Fixed gust vs average wind speed (the wind speed could be larger than gust, which is incorrect).
Version 99 – January 18, 2018
- If the temperature was less than 0 degF, the console was sending 0 degF to AmbientWeather.net and Wunderground.com.
The temperature and humidity sensor fan operates under two conditions:
- When the sun is shining on the sensor array.
- The wind speed averages less than 1 m/sec (2.2 mph) for three minutes.
Product Manual
https://ambientweather.com/mwdownloads/download/link/id/468/
Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws8478.html
How to remove and replace the heat shield for the WS-8478, WS-8478A, WS-8480.
- Remove the 2 screws with a phillips head screw driver:
2. Remove the 5 heat shield discs.
3. Add the new 5 heat shield discs in the order that they were shipped.
4. Add the screws to the new heat shield and tighten them till snug.
