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.

Your weather station may only display some of the following increments of rain. Please refer to your User Manual for details. Here are how increments of rain are defined:

• Rain Rate is defined as the rainfall in the last 10 minutes, multiplied by 6  (10 minutes x 6 = 1 hour). This is also referred to as instantaneous rain per hour.
• Hourly Rain is defined as the rainfall in the last hour.
• Rain event is defined as continuous rain, and resets to zero if accumulated rainfall is less than 1 mm (0.039 in) in a 24 hour period.  Some weather stations may calculate this slightly differently and the customer should reference the User Manual.
• Daily Rain is defined as the rainfall since midnight (00:00).
• 24 Hour Rain is defined as the rainfall in the last 24 hours. For example, if it is currently 5:00 pm, 24 hour rain would be the amount of rain that has fallen since 5:00 pm yesterday.
• Weekly Rain is defined as the calendar week total, and resets on Sunday morning at midnight (Sunday thru Saturday).
• Monthly Rain is defined as the calendar month total, and resets on the first day of the Month.
• Yearly Rain is defined as the calendar year total, and resets on the first day of the Year. The WS-1000 series weather stations allow you to change the month rain is reset to 0.00 (referred to as Rainfall Season).
• Total Rain is defined as the running total since station was powered up.

Our weather stations base forecast on rate of change of pressure. This does not display what is happening right now, but rather, if the weather will change in the next 24 to 48 hours due to changes in barometric pressure.

In general, if the rate of change of pressure increases, the weather is improving (sunny). If the rate of change of pressure decreases, the weather is degrading (cloudy or rainy). If the rate of change is relatively steady, it will read partly cloudy or partly sunny (depending on the type of weather station).

The reason the current conditions do not match the forecast icon is because it is a prediction 24-48 hours in advance. In most locations, this prediction is only 70% accurate and it is a good idea to consult the National Weather Service for more accurate weather forecasts. In some locations, this prediction may be less or more accurate.

The National Weather Service (and other weather services such as Accuweather and The Weather Channel) have many tools at their disposal to predict weather conditions, including weather radar, weather models, and detailed mapping of ground conditions.  Thus, these forecasts are significantly more accurate then forecasts based on rate of change of pressure.

You will need to give the weather station enough time to predict changes in weather. This can take up to 30 days, depending on where you live.

FAQs:

1. The icons on my weather station have not changed in the short time I have owned it. You will need to give the weather station enough time to predict changes in weather. This can take up to 30 days, depending on where you live.
2.  Can I change the set points that trigger changes in the forecast icon?  With some Ambient Weather Stations (not most), there is the option “Pressure Threshold Setting”. The pressure threshold (the negative or positive rate of change of pressure signifying a change in the weather) can be adjusted by the user from level 2 to level 4 (default level 2 mbar/hour). Check your User’s Manual for this feature.  The lower the level pressure threshold setting, the higher sensitivity for weather forecast changes. Locations that experience frequent changes in air pressure require a higher setting compared to locations where the air pressure is typically stagnant.

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.

Your relative pressure likely does not match the official source because you have not calibrated it properly. You will need to reference your User Manual for correcting relative pressure.

You can locate an official source for your area to cailbrate by visiting https://ambientweather.net/baro

Discussion:

To compare pressure conditions from one location to another, meteorologists correct pressure to sea-level conditions. Because the air pressure decreases as you rise in altitude, the sea-level corrected pressure (the pressure your location would be at if located at sea-level) is generally higher than your measured pressure.

Thus, your pressure may read 28.62 inHg (969 mb) at an altitude of 1000 feet (305 m), but the corrected pressure is 30.00 inHg (1016 mb).

The standard sea-level pressure is 29.92 in Hg (1013 mb). Pressure conditions greater than 29.92 inHg (1013 mb) are considered high pressure and less than are considered low pressure.

Most weather stations instruct you to find a reporting station near your location to identify the corrected pressure.

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 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.