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.

The saturated salt solution test is an easy method for testing the accuracy of your humidity sensor. Most electronic sensors are accurate from +/- 3 to 5% humidity, and some weather stations or weather centers can be calibrated from the display console by applying a bias.

1. Mix common table salt with tap water until you have a completely saturated solution with no standing water.
2. Place about 1 inch of the saturated salt solution in an open container or bowl that is approximately 4 inches high. The 3 inches above the solution will contain air with a predictable humidity value. You can use a cut away container as shown in the figure below. One edge of the container is cut slightly lower to rest the sensor on the lip.
3. Place this container and the sensors in a waterproof zip lock plastic bag, as shown in the figure below. Leave one of the corners open and remove all of the remaining air with a straw. Close the air tight bag.
4. Leave the sensor in the bag for four days or 96 hours to completely stabilize.
5. The sensor should read 75% plus or minus the sensors rated margin of error. For example, if the sensor is rated at +/- 5%, the display should read between 70 and 80% relative humidity.
6. If the sensor is adjustable or calibrateable, set the humidity on the display to 75%.
7. Repeat this procedure once per year to account for electronic drift (sensor contamination).

   
   The images above show a table salt slurry of 1″ height mixed in a container about 3″ tall. This solution is then placed in a plastic bag with the sensor.

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

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

Temperature reads too high (or inaccurate) when placed in the sun or close to a radiant heat source, like a house, building or structure.

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. 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.
4. 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.
5. We have a one year warranty and a 30 day return policy. For details, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
6. While at the website, enter the part number of the transmitter in the Search by Keyword to locate the product.

To set the dip switches in an 8 channel sensor, there are three dip switches with 8 different combinations.

After you set the dip switches, you must always power down and up the remote sensor by removing and reinserting the batteries for the change to take effect.

Why do we do it this way instead of an 8 position switch? The reason is 8 position switches are much more difficult to implement, less reliable and takes up more space.

If the temperature or humidity does not match between what is displayed on the remote sensor and what is displayed on the console:

1. If you own more than one remote sensor:
   The sensor has a channel number displayed on it, next to the temperature. Make sure that that Channel Number displayed on sensor matches the channel number shown on the display. If they do not match, refer to your User Manual on how to switch the channel display.
2. It is possible the temperature or humidity were adjusted or calibrated unintentionally. Refer to your individual User Manual on how to remove or correct the adjustment from the console.

   Here is an example:

• Remote sensor reads 70.0
• Console for the same sensor channel reads 71.2
• Adjust the console down 1.2 degrees to match 70.0.

If the Radio Controlled Clock does not set on your clock or weather station:

• Make sure Daylight Savings Time (DST) is set properly. All states except Hawaii and Arizona observe Daylight Savings Time. If you observe DST, make sure this setting is turned ON. The default is OFF (except for the RC-8427)
• Be patient. Wait at least one week. The RCC is a shortwave signal originating near Fort Collins, Colorado, and travels thousands of miles by bouncing off the ionosphere. The signal is better at night due to solar interference during the daytime. The farther you are from Colorado, the weaker the signal. Urban environments can also effect the signal strength.
• Locate the console or clock at night near a window or outer wall, and away from other radiating sources, like wireless routers or TVs. This will insure the best reception possible.
• Test and replace the batteries in the console, if required. Low batteries are often the cause for weak reception.
• Check your Time Zone Setting. Make sure your time zone is set properly in the display console settings. All times zones in the USA are negative. It is very common for the customer to enter 6 instead of -6 for example.Here is a list of Time Zones:
  

  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

If the sensor(s) have stopped communicating to your console,  it may be as simple as placing the remote(s) (powered up) about 10 feet away from the console, power down and up the console by removing one or more batteries, disconnecting from AC power (if applicable), wait 30 seconds, and put the batteries back in, then wait several minutes to resync.

DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS and look for the search icon. Wait until the search icon turns off before pressing any buttons.

If you have more than one sensor, make sure they are programmed to transmit on different channels.

If the problem persists, we have a one year warranty. To replace under warranty, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

1. Replace the batteries. We recommend the following batteries:
   My Rechargeable Batteries No Longer Work. Which Batteries Are Recommended For My Weather Station?
2. Clean any corrosion around and on the battery terminals.
3. If the problem persists, the sensor array must be replaced. We have a one year warranty. To replace under warranty, please visit:www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html
4. If out of warranty, a replacement array can be purchased at AmbientWeather.com

If the sensor displays “OF” and the console displays “LL”or “HH.H”, the senor must be replaced.

We have a one year warranty. For details, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

Out of warranty replacements are available here:

F007PF:  https://www.ambientweather.com/amf007pf.html

F007T: https://www.ambientweather.com/amf007t.html

F007TH: https://www.ambientweather.com/amf007th.html

F007TP: https://www.ambientweather.com/amf007tp.html

The low voltage icon or indicator will be present on the console next to the sensor reading if the voltage falls below 2.4 Volts.

Floating Pool & Spa Thermometer loses reception

1. Sensor placement is important, since the wireless signal cannot pass through Earth or ground.  Tethering the sensor to the side of the pool that is line of sight to the sensor is recommended:
   
2. Keep the console away from any electronic radiating sources, like phones, TVs and computers.
3. If the sensor(s) have stopped communicating to your console,  it may be as simple as placing the remote(s) (powered up) about 10 feet away from the console, power down and up the console by removing one or more batteries, disconnecting from AC power (if applicable), wait 30 seconds, and put the batteries back in, then wait several minutes to resync. DO NOT TOUCH ANY BUTTONS and look for the search icon. Wait until the search icon turns off before pressing any buttons.If you have more than one sensor, make sure they are programmed to transmit on different channels.
4.  Here are some general guides on interferance:
   wireless-signal-is-intermittant-or-not-working
   
5. Still no communication press the reset button on the inside of the lid:
6. If the problem persists, we have a one year warranty:
   www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html To replace out of warranty:F007PF:  https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-F007PF-8-Channel-Wireless/dp/B00EYGJ1KQ/ref=sr_1_1?

The Models WS-1171B, WS-1172,  and WS-1173 were discontinued. Replacement sensors are no longer available.

We recommend the following similar replacements:

WS-2801A (requires an AC adapter):

https://www.ambientweather.com/amws2800.html

WS-2700 (optional AC adapter):

https://ambientweather.com/amws2700.html

While in Normal Mode, press (do not hold) the SET key once to enter the Quick Display Mode and press the SET key a second time to change the absolute and relative pressure display.

Press the CHANNEL/+ key to toggle between absolute and relative pressure.