Frequently Asked Questions

Simply moving your display console (or receiver) to a different location may easily fix the communication issue.

We recommend the following best practices for trouble free wireless communication.

1. Fresh Batteries. If applicable, make sure there are fresh batteries in both the console and remote. Remember to power up the console last when changing batteries. Do not use rechargeable batteries. They have a lower voltage and lower range than non-rechargeable batteries.
2. Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI). Keep the console several feet away from computers, TVs and electronic cables.
3. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). If you have other 433/915 MHz devices and communication is intermittent, try turning off these other devices for troubleshooting purposes. You may need to relocate the transmitters or receivers to avoid intermittent communication.
4. Cold Weather. If the temperature is below < 10 degF, use e2 energizer batteries (Lithium), available in most stores batteries are sold (blue in color). Alkaline and NMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries do not operate below 10 degF.
5. Sensor orientation.  To insure proper communication, mount the remote sensor on a vertical surface, such as a wall.  Do not lay the sensor flat if this is a small remote sensor.
6. Line of Sight Rating. This device is rated at 300 feet line of sight (no interference, barriers or walls) but typically you will get 100 feet maximum under most real-world installations, which include passing through barriers or walls.
7. Metal Barriers. Radio frequency will not pass through metal barriers such as aluminum siding. If you have metal siding, align the remote and console through a window to get a clear line of sight.
8. Defective Sensor. It is possible the remote sensor is defective. If you have not done so already, to replace under one year warranty, please visit AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

The following is a table of reception loss vs. the transmission medium. Each “wall” or obstruction decreases the transmission range by the factor shown below.

If you receive the message:

There’s no real-time data yet. Give us a sec…

Waiting for data to load…

and the AmbientWeather.net never updates, it usually means you incorrectly entered the MAC address on AmbientWeather.net.

You can locate the MAC address on your device using this guide:  How Do I Find My MAC Address?

Check the MAC address on your device vs. the MAC address you entered on AmbientWeather.net to make sure there is not a typo.

Also, you must own an Ambient Weather weather station or appliance to work with AmbientWeather.net.

Temperature can read too low (or inaccurate) at night when placed close to a radiant heat source, like a house, building or structure.  It can also read lower then other stations in your area due to irrigation or sprinklers.

1. Place the sensor inside next to the indoor console sensor. Wait about 1 hour for stabilization. The sensors should agree within the accuracy specifications. Most RTD (resistive thermal device) sensors are accurate within +/- 2 degF. Thus, the sensors should agree within 4 degF.
2. Mercury or red spirit thermometers are very accurate. Inside your house, place a red spirit thermometer next to the digital thermometer. The thermometers should agree within 2 degF.
3. For colder temperature verification, place the sensor with the red spirit thermometer in the regrigerator or freezer.
4. If the sensor is separate, place the sensor in a shaded area on the north side of the structure to avoid direct and radiant heat.
5. Temperature sensors that do not have radiation shields will absorb solar energy and read higher than the ambient temperature. To prevent this problem, purchase a solar radiation shield from Ambient Weather.
6. We have a one year warranty and a 30 day return policy. For details, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
7. While at the website, enter the part number of the transmitter in the Search by Keyword to locate the product.

If AmbientWeather.net is working fine, but Wunderground.com is not updating, this is usually a typo.

Make sure that you did not enter a space on the end of your station ID or station key. It is easy to do, especially if you Copy and Paste from the Wunderground.com website.

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.

1. Launch the AmbientTool on your mobile device, select your device from the list, and select Next to view your Wunderground.com settings.
   

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2. Make sure your station ID and password match exactly.
3. If you continue to have issues, email the following to support@ambientweather.com
   1. Your Wunderground sign in email address.
   2. Your Wunderground sign is password.
   3. Your Wunderground Station ID.
   4. Your Wunderground Station Key.
   5. The type of weather station.and will check for any typos.
4. It is possible Wunderground.com is temporarily down.
   In June 2018, Wunderground.com relaunched the back end of their website (the previous version was old and not maintained), and many of the stations went offline. They are less forgiving now with the Station ID and Station Key. Check again for any typos or spaces at the end. You can contact Wunderground.com here:

1. Make sure your weather station console is connected to WiFi. Look for the WiFi icon in the time field on your display console.
2. Make sure there is not a typo in your MAC address. Launch the AmbientTool on your mobile device or tablet, and click on the device in the device list. Make sure the auto upload is on, and the MAC address matches what you entered on the AmbientWeather.net device panel: https://ambientweather.net/devices
   The example below shows three different connected devices. Click on the Device Field:

    

   

3. Make sure the schedule is turned on and the uploads are active. Also, confirm the MAC address matches the MAC you registered online:

1. Place the sensor inside next to the indoor console sensor. Wait about 24 hours for stabilization. The sensors should agree within the accuracy specifications. Most digital capacitive hygrometer sensors are accurate within +/- 5%. Thus, the sensors should agree within 10% when considering full tolerance stack up.Note that humidity accuracy, like most other measurement parameters, are a percentage of full scale, and not a percentage of point.
2. Sling psychrometers are very accurate. Perform a formal calibration. The humidity should agree within 5% of the  rating. You can also make your own calibration kit. For details, visit:

Testing The Accuracy Of A Hygrometer - Saturated Salt Test?

3.   Place the sensor in a shaded area on the north side of the structure to avoid direct and radiant heat.

4.  Humidity is significantly impacted by external factors like location and water (grass, lakes, rivers, etc). Insure proper installation. You cannot use a source like the National Weather Service. There are several reasons:

• The NWS may update once per hour.
• The NWS has strict installation guidelines (no unnatural structures, bodies of water, or unnatural vegetation nearby).

5.  If the problem persists, we have a one year warranty. Visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

The 2.4 GHz band transmits farther than the 5 GHz band.

A general rule of thumb in home networking says that WiFi routers operating on the traditional 2.4 GHz band reach up to 150 feet (46 m) indoors and 300 feet (92 m) outdoors. Routers that ran on 5 GHz bands reached approximately one-third of these distances.

1. Make sure the WiFi icon is flashing on the display console.
2. With your phone, walk as far away from your router while still being connected to the WiFi router.
3. Turn off and on the WiFi from your phone, and you are likely now connected to the 2.4 GHz band.
4. Proceed with the AmbientTool to configure the WiFi settings in the console by adding a Device.

None of the Ambient Weather Stations support repeaters or boosters at this point in time.

The blue light is integral to the WiFi chip and cannot be turned off. The back includes cooling slots, so your temperature sensor reads more accurately.

1. Look for the WiFi icon  in the time field of the display console.
   If it is on, you already connected to WiFi.
2. If you have not done so already, download the AmbientTool console configuration application for your Android mobile device:

   Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dtston.ambienttool

   A common mistake is to download the wrong application from Ambient Weather (examples, awnet or Ambient Weather Dashboard).

3. Press and hold the SET and ALARM buttons at the same time for four seconds on your console. The WiFi icon will begin flashing rapidly, indicating the console is searching for your WiFi network.
4. Make sure your mobile device is connected to your WiFi router. If you own a dual band router, make sure the phone is temporarily connected to the 2.4 GHz band on your router.
5. Launch the AmbientTool app on your mobile device or tablet.
6. The AmbientTool includes a wizard. This wizard is also shown Step by Step in the User Manual.
7. Select Add Device to add a device.
8. Enter your WiFi password and tap Add. If configured properly, the WiFi icon will now be on.
   
9. Once the WiFi icon is on, you should see your station listed in the Device List (the example below shows three different devices at the same location). It includes the MAC address, IP address and firmware version:

   

10. Click on the Device Field to program your device to upload to AmbientWeather.net and Wunderground.com:

Product Manual
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/Manuals/WS-0262A.pdf

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws0262.html

If the WS-2062A WiFi is intermittent, and the console WiFi icon is flashing slowly:

1. Power down and up the WS-2062A by removing batteries and AC adapter, then reconnecting.
2. Move the console away from any RF or EMI devices, like routers and other computer equipment. Do not place the console too close to your router.
3.  The console cannot be too far away from the router either.
4. To avoid complication, connect directly into the router’s WiFi and not a repeater.
5. If you have a mesh network, connect directly to the primary router.
6. For troubleshooting, turn the orientation of the console 90 degrees and see if this resolves the issue.
7. Perform a factory reset and set up the unit again per the User’s Manual.
8. We have a one year warranty. Contact support@ambientweather.com for options.

Product Manual
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/Manuals/WS-0262A.pdf

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws0262.html

If your station is not listed, just select a similar model number. An example would be Ambient Weather WS-1400-IP.

Weather Underground has not been keeping up with changes recently.

Product Manual
https://p10.secure.hostingprod.com/@site.ambientweatherstore.com/ssl/Manuals/WS-0262A.pdf

Product Page
https://www.ambientweather.com/amws0262.html