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 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

To perform a factory reset:

1. Remove one battery from the battery compartment. Wait 10 seconds for the console to go completely blank.
2. Press and hold the [SET] and [MIN/MAX] buttons at the same time and reinsert the battery. Continue to hold. The backlight will flash 12 times.
3. When the flashing is complete, let go of the buttons. The console has now been restored to factory default.
4. Wait several minutes before pressing any buttons for the remote sensor to sync to the console.
5. With the remote and console 10 feet away from each other, remove the batteries from the remote sensor and wait 10 seconds. Put the batteries back in.
6. Do not touch any buttons for several minutes.
7. The remote sensor search icon  will appear near where the outdoor temperature and humidity would normally be.  Wait several minutes for this icon to turn off.

The WS-117x series automatically sets the date and time from the radio controlled clock signal. However, you must set the Time Zone (TZ) and Daylight Savings Time (DST).

However, you can manually set the Date and Time.

To set the date and time, you must be in the SET mode.

Press and hold the SET button for 2 seconds to enter the set mode.

Here are the commands as described in the User Manual:

The WS-1171, WS-1171A, WS-1172, WS-1173, and WS-1173A were discontinued.The sensor WH2F is no longer available.

The WH2C is available here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00506KKBI/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_09P21PS81KGR1A0GMG5V

We recommend one of the following models as a replacement:

WS-11:

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-11-Temperature-Barometer/dp/B00LY9E3Z4

WS-110:

https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weather-WS-110-Temperature-Backlighting/dp/B00NESZL22

WS-2801A:

https://ambientweather.com/amws2800.html

WS-2700:

https://ambientweather.com/amws2700.html

1. If you ordered a new sensor, make sure that the sensor is model WH2B or WH2C and not WH2F:https://www.ambientweather.com/amwh3.html
   
   The WH2F includes radio controlled time reception (for the atomic clock), and passes this to the console, whereas the WS-1171 and WS-1171A have the radio controlled time receiver inside the console.The WH2F will not work with the WS-1171 and WS-1171A.
2. If the sensor has stopped communicating to your console,  it may be as simple as placing the remote (powered up) about 10 feet away from the console, power down and up the console by removing one or more batteries, 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.
3. If the problem persists, we have a one year warranty. Please visit:www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

    

4. If out of warranty, a replacement is available here:https://www.ambientweather.com/amwh3.html

To change the temperature Units of measure between degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit, enter the SET mode.

To enter the SET mode, press and hold the SET button for 3 seconds.

See the table below. Press the SET button (do not hold) until the temperature units of measure is flashing. Press the + button to toggle between degC and degF. It is the ninth setting:

The calibration values may be corrupted or the sensor was calibrated out of range.  A factory reset is recommended.

To perform a factory reset:

1. Remove one battery from the battery compartment. Wait 10 seconds for the console to go completely blank.
2. Press and hold the [SET] and [MIN/MAX] buttons at the same time and reinsert the battery. Continue to hold. The backlight will flash 12 times.
3. When the flashing is complete, let go of the buttons. The console has now been restored to factory default.
4. Wait several minutes before pressing any buttons for the remote sensor to sync to the console.
5. With the remote and console 10 feet away from each other, remove the batteries from the display console and wait 10 seconds. Put the batteries back in.
6. Do not touch any buttons for several minutes.
7. The remote sensor search icon  will appear near where the outdoor temperature and humidity would normally be.  Wait several minutes for this icon to turn off.

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.

Make sure your time zone agrees with the time zone programmed into the console SET MODE:

If the indoor sensors show dashes all of the time (–.- or –), we recommend replacing with fresh batteries and performing a factory reset:

Factory Reset, WS-1171 Series

If the problem persists:

1. The item must be replaced.  We have a one year warranty. Please visit: https://www.ambientweather.com/rma.html
2.  If out of warranty, replacement consoles are available here:

WS-1171, WS-1171A: https://www.ambientweather.com/amws1171ac.html

WS-1172: no longer available, but the WS-1171A console will work.

WS-1173: no longer available, but the WS-1171A console will work.

WS-1171B: https://www.ambientweather.com/amws1171bc.html

If the temperature sensor is reading out of specification (+/- 2 degF), the sensor will need replacing.

To replace under warranty, please visit: www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

For out of warranty replacement sensor:

WS-1171, WS-1171A, WS-1172, WS-1173, WS-1173A:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwh3.html

WS-1171B:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwh2f.html

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

1. The console may have been inadvertently switched to DEW POINT (#15). Check to make sure the label displays TEMP and not DEW. To switch from DEW to TEMP:

   Press (do not hold) the SET button.  Press the + button to toggle between DEW and TEMP.

2. It is possible the outdoor sensor was inadvertently  calibrated. We recommend restoring the console to Factory Default.

To perform a factory reset:

Factory Reset, WS-1171 Series

The sensor is water resistant but not water proof. It cannot be submersed into water but can be placed in the rain.

However, it is best to avoid direct rain. It will not last as long, and will give you incorrect humidity readings as well.

If the humidity reads 1% all of the time, replace the batteries.

If the problem persists, the sensor needs replacing. We have a one year warranty:

www.AmbientWeather.com/rma.html

If out of warranty, the sensor can be replaced here:

https://www.ambientweather.com/amwh3.html

If the sensor is showing dashes for temperature and humidity on its own display, the sensor no longer works and beyond repair.

Here are some suggested replacements:

The Model WS-1171B, WS-1172 And WS-1173 Was Discontinued. What Do You Suggest As A Replacement?