The haptic rain sensor on the WeatherFlow Tempest was unique when I reviewed the home weather station for TechHive four years ago. But like everything in tech, other manufacturers quickly went about aping the design. The Ambient Weather WS-4000 reviewed here is just one example, although Ambient Weather didn’t do the aping directly.

That was the work of Fine Offset Electronics, which incorporated a remarkably similar device into the sensor suites for its Ecowitt Wittboy series of weather stations. Ambient Weather’s parent company Neilsen-Kellerman similarly licensed Fine Offset weather station designs to build its Ambient Weather WS-1965, WS-2902, and WS-5000 (and is now co-branding the latter two models with AccuWeather). The WS-4000 itself is identical to the Ecowitt Wittboy Pro.

Over time, it’s been discovered that haptic rain sensors aren’t as accurate as some other types. The WeatherFlow Tempest’s accuracy has improved, but it’s still inaccurate in heavy rain. I don’t think Fine Offset has solved the issue either. A description of the Wittboy-series weather stations on Amazon reads “rain drop size and wind speed can have different impacts on the sensor output…. If you are very demanding on rain data accuracy, we recommend you purchase [the] WH40 [rain gauge].” That Ecowitt accessory costs an additional $50.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

That doesn’t bode well for the WS-4000, and its sensor design doesn’t appear as polished as what you’ll get with the WeatherFlow Tempest. But looks aren’t everything, and the WS-4000 comes bundled with a in-home console, where you’ll need to roll your own with something like a Raspberry Pi—or just use WeatherFlow’s app on your phone—if you buy the Tempest. On the third hand, the WS-4000 costs more. And at the risk of complicating your purchase decision even further, the Ecowitt Wittboy also comes with an in-home console—for less money than either of those weather stations. While we haven’t laid hands on that product, it bears repeating that the WS-4000 is based on its design.

Specifications

The Ambient Weather WS-4000 is an all-in-one sensor suite, with no moving parts. As we’ve already established, it follows the same design as the WeatherFlow Tempest, with temperature and humidity sensors on the bottom and a sonic anemometer on top that looks very similar to the one found on the $450 Ambient WS-5000 I reviewed in early 2021, except it’s taller. This is where the haptic rain, UV, and light sensors are located.

Ambient Weather bundles its WH32B Thermometer-Barometer-Hygrometer with the WS-4000, so you can monitor your indoor climate conditions, which you won’t get with the Tempest, but you won’t get a lightning sensor like you do with WeatherFlow’s product. The Wittboy integrates thermometer, barometer, and hygrometer into its console, but it doesn’t have a lightning sensor.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

Like other Ambient Weather stations, the WS-4000 uses the Ambient Weather Network for network connectivity. The service is free, but if you want up to three years of historical data and additional map layers, you’ll need to sign up for a $50-per-year subscription.

Installation and setup

The WS-4000 is simple to set up, which is good because it doesn’t come with a full user manual, just a quick-start guide. And that’s fine, with one exception: Every recent weather station I’ve reviewed mounts to 1.25-inch antenna mast. I was surprised to discover that this one needs a 1-inch mast.

Since I’m only testing the station for a short period, I grabbed a 1-inch wooden dowel from Home Depot for the job. The need for a 1-inch mast won’t be a pleasant surprise for anyone replacing an existing weather station, and Ambient Weather should disclose this prominently in its product descriptions.

Since the WS-4000 comes with a console and that indoor sensor, setting it up involves a few more steps; you’ll also need to install two AA batteries (included) in the sensor suite for backup power (there’s a solar panel on top of the station).

The Ambient Weather Network app is great

Ambient Weather

The Ambient Weather app and smart home support are why we recommend these home weather stations for the connected home. Ambient Weather Network service is free, and you can use either IFTTT or Amazon Alexa (Google Home is no longer supported because Google changed its API, which would require a wholesale rewrite of the AWN platform to restore compatibility. Ambient Weather has said it does not plan to do that.)

I’ve discussed the Ambient Weather app in detail in other Ambient Weather stations. Not much has changed, so I’ll refer you to my Ambient Weather WS-5000 review if you want to read more about it.

Solid sensor performance (apart from the rain gauge, that is)

The temperature, humidity, and sonic anemometer on the Ambient Weather WS-4000 performed beautifully. Sonic anemometers are much more sensitive, and in my opinion, more accurate than the traditional cup and vane. A sonic anemometer’s accuracy suffers as wind speed increases, but most people will never need to worry about it. That’s because this type of gauge maxes out at a higher speed than most of us will never experience: about 85 mph.

The WS-4000’s small footprint also makes it less conspicuous in your yard. The KestrelMet 6000 in my yard sticks out like a sore thumb, where the WS-4000’s small size allows it to blend in (even better than the slightly larger Tempest).

Ambient Weather’s higher-end console also allows you to add additional sensors, and there are quite a few to choose from. The console should automatically detect any that you add and automatically display their readings data. That was my experience this time arouond, although I’ve had mixed results with my reviews of other Ambient Weather stations.

A haptic rain sensor falls short—again

As for the Ambient Weather WS-4000’s haptic rain gauge: I wish I had better news, but this iteration is no better than any of the previous haptic designs I’ve reviewed. The rain gauge couldn’t measure rainfall correctly unless the top of the sensor suite was perfectly level. And just like the Tempest, the WS-4000 doesn’t perform well in light rain or drizzle, which is what I experienced during my tests.

Using haptic sensors to measure rainfall seems like a great idea in theory; in practice, haptic rain sensors have just proven to be too inaccurate too often. That said, if you can deal with rainfall measurements that aren’t the most accurate, every other aspect of this home weather station is excellent.

Should you buy the Ambient Weather WS-4000?

I will test the Ambient Weather WS-4000 over the long term, just as I have the Tempest; in fact, the station is now headed to the West Coast—just in time for their rainy season. This will be a great opportunity to see if my experience with its haptic rain sensor is what buyers should expect.

For now, I can recommend the WS-4000 most heartily to owners of lesser Ambient Weather stations who are looking to step up to something better without changing platforms (that’s a pain you won’t want to deal with). If you’re looking to buy your first weather station, be sure to also consider the Ecowitt Wittboy Pro. It bears repeating that I haven’t personally tested that product, but it is based on the same design and it costs $70 less.

Whether you’re an aspiring meteorologist, a storm chaser, or the most casual of weather nerds, a DIY home weather station delivers the a great way to track Mother Nature.

Smartphone weather apps often report outdated–or worse, inaccurate–data. And while your local forecaster is a better source, even their report is little more than a best guess, since they’re not in your backyard. Weather can change dramatically over just a few miles, and a home weather station will let you know exactly what’s happening right outside your door–because it is right outside your door.

You can trust our weather station reviews because we’ve been testing and reviewing them since 2016. We’ve covered the gamut of products, from budget devices for casual observers to pro-grade weather stations that deliver scientific-level accuracy. We also evaluate how well each product can be integrated into the broader smart home.

Our top picks are not only accurate weather reporters, they can also do things like turn on your smart lighting when it’s excessively cloudy or when the sun sets. When rain is forecast, integration with your smart irrigation system will ensure your sprinklers aren’t wasting water on your landscaping.

Updated November 12, 2024: We’ve added a link to our Weather Station WS-4000 review, which is our new top recommendation in this category.

Our top picks in home weather stations

Ambient Weather WS-4000 — Best home weather station for most people

Pros

• Accurate temperature, humidity, and wind readings
• Extremely compact design
• Includes discrete thermometer-barometer-hygrometer to monitor indoor conditions

Cons

• Uses a non-standard mast size (1.0-inch vs. typical 1.25 inches)
• Haptic rain gauge is no more accurate than that of the WeatherFlow Tempest
• Not much better overall than the less-expensive Ecowitt Wittboy Pro

Why we like the Ambient Weather WS-4000

This is a great home weather station, and Ambient Weather’s software and weather network are hard to beat, but the Ambient Weather WS-4000 is otherwise identical to the less expensive Ecowitt Wittboy Pro. And both products have problematic haptic rain sensors.

Who should buy the Ambient Weather WS-4000

The Ambient Weather WS-4000 is for more casual weather enthusiasts who don’t mind rainfall measurements that are just a little short of precision. The type of haptic rain sensor built into this weather station have proven to be just a little less than accurate. It is nonetheless a step up from lesser Ambient Weather models, and it comes with a great indoor console–a feature you can’t get with a WeatherFlow tempest unless you build your own with something like a Raspberry Pi. It’s also compatible with Ambient’s full line of optional sensors, so you can expand and customize your setup to your needs, now or in the future. If you’re shopping for your first weather station, you might also want to look at the cheaper Ecowitt Wittboy Pro, which is based on the same design. In fact, Ambient Weather licensed the design from Ecowitt. That said, we haven’t tested the cheaper station ourselves.

Read our full Ambient Weather WS-4000 review

WeatherFlow Tempest — Best home weather station for most people, runner-up

Pros

• Accurate instrumentation (less so for rain)
• Super-quick setup
• Ready for smart home integration
• Outstanding lightning detection

Cons

• Cannot be expanded
• Haptic rain sensor isn’t as accurate as some other solutions

Best Prices Today:

Retailer

Price

WeatherFlow

$339

View Deal

Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide

Product

Price

Price comparison from Backmarket

Why we like the Tempest Weather System

Every sensor in Weatherflow’s Tempest Weather System–temperature, humidity, wind, and rainfall–is integrated in a single housing. That makes it supremely easy to set up, and it costs considerably less than other high-quality systems. It uses IFTTT for smart home connectivity, which opens up a variety of possibilities. If you live in an area subject to lightning, this system has the most accurate lightning detection of any home weather station on the market.

Who should buy the Tempest Weather System

This home weather station packs a lot of value for the price and makes a great entry point for amateur meteorologists. And if you live in an area prone to severe weather, the lightning detection feature is a must-have. All that said, weather enthusiasts looking for greater precision in weather reporting should consider our runner-up pick, the Ambient Weather WS-5000. The KestrelMet 6000 is even better, but it’s also considerably more expensive.

Read our full Tempest Weather System review

KestrelMet 6000 — Best home weather station for enthusiasts

Pros

• Easy to set up
• Top-tier accuracy
• Great app and web portal

Cons

• Expensive for a consumer weather station

Why we like the KestrelMet 6000

The KestrelMet 6000 is loaded with features, it delivers highly accurate readings, and it’s super easy to set up. Weather enthusiasts familiar with Kestrel’s line of environmental meters will get the idea that Kestrel took what was great about those devices and integrated them into a full-fledged weather station. We were so impressed that it is now installed full-time and is used to judge the accuracy of other home weather stations we test.

Who should buy the KestrelMet 6000

The KestrelMet 6000’s high price tag will be a significant deterrent to casual weather observers. But if you’re a hardcore weather enthusiast and/or you just the best consumer-oriented weather-tracking system on the market, the KestreMet’s 6000’s exceptional performance fully justifies its cost.

Read our full KestrelMet 6000, Wi-Fi review

How we test home weather stations

Each weather station is evaluated for a minimum of 30 days. During that time, we observe the station’s performance and accuracy in a variety of weather conditions. Accuracy is judged using a local National Weather Service observation site located 3.7 miles to the northeast of our location, combined with data from tested stations at our observation site to account for local weather variability.

Given TechHive’s focus, we pay special attention to how a home weather station integrates into the smart home. Is it easy to use? Does it provide useful information? And most importantly, does it work as intended?

Other factors that play a big role in our final ratings are how easy it is to install, the quality and usefulness of any provided app, and perceived durability. While 30 days is a short time frame to truly gauge durability, our decade of experience testing home weather stations allows us to take a highly educated guess as to how well one will stand up to the elements over time.

What to look for when shopping for a home weather station 

As with any product, spending more money doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll get a great product, but we’ve yet to find a cheap weather station deliver genuine value. The vast majority of the budget stations available at chain discount and hardware stores are inaccurate. While temperature is generally accurate to within a degree or so, humidity is poorly measured, and overall readings can be 10 to 15 percent off actual values.

Mid-range and high-end weather stations are typically much better, and in my experience are never more than about 5-percent off most of the time.

Wind and rain measurements are very useful, especially if you have activities affected by that type of weather. High-end stations are nice to have if you can afford them; they’re typically the most accurate, but unless you need specialty measurements—UV, soil moisture, and the like—don’t spend the money.

When shopping for a home weather station you should also consider these factors:

Accuracy: By far the most important factor, accuracy is also the hardest to gauge. Here we’d recommend looking at the spec sheets and choosing stations with low margins of error. Additionally, look through user reviews (or ours) for real-world testing. Not all weather stations are built the same, and a high price doesn’t always mean high quality.

Battery or solar power? Just about all weather stations these days operate wirelessly–communicating with a base station via Wi-Fi or cellular network–so your instruments will run on either battery or solar power. With mid-range and high-end models, you’ll likely never need to change a battery—some stations run entirely on solar power–and adequate sunshine shouldn’t be a problem unless you live near the Arctic Circle.

Durability: The elements can be harsh, and your sensors will be in them 24/7, 365 days of every year. Inexpensive stations are constructed from low-grade plastic that will quickly deteriorate. Look for a well-built station and steer clear of “all-in-one” units that incorporate every sensor inside in a single housing. The sensors represent the bulk of the cost, and if one fails, you’ll need to replace all of them—even if the others are working just fine.

Expandability: Your weather station might suit you fine now, but your needs could change over time. Instead of going for all the bells and whistles up front, save some cash and buy a mid-range product that can be expanded with new and different sensors down the road. That way, you’ll never outgrow it.

Smart home support: Years ago, smart home support in home weather stations was a novelty and required a good deal of tinkering. These days, nearly every station has some type of smart home support, although the level of sophistication varies. For some it’s as simple as an Alexa or Google Assistant skill that reads your weather report to you, others offer connectivity through cloud-to-cloud connectivity or subscription services like IFTTT. We recommend looking for a home weather station with the latter.

A word about weather station sensor placement

Now here’s where my meteorologist side comes out. Please, please, please choose carefully where you place your instruments. The temperature and humidity gauge should be placed in a shaded and grassy area at about eye-level height (National Weather Service specifications say 4- to 6 feet), and out of direct exposure rain or snowfall. Do not place it near or above concrete, macadam, or other potential heat radiators. Don’t place one near your home’s windows, either; warm air escaping from your house will throw off its readings.

Mounting height is less of a concern for a rain gauge, as long as it’s not too close to the ground or any other nearby surface where splash-back can produce abnormally high readings. You should also avoid mounting it near tall obstructions that might block rainfall in windy conditions. The NWS generally recommends you place the rain gauge as far from obstructions as they are high. That’s tough to do, so just put it in as clear of a spot as possible.

The anemometer (the fancy name for the wind gauge) is the toughest instrument to place. Most people are surprised to learn that the wind-speed readings you see on TV are taken at a height of 33 feet above the ground. That’s not practical for most of us but try to get yours at least 10 feet above any nearby obstructions. You’ll also need a compass handy, so you can point its wind vane in the right direction (remember, you want to know the direction the wind blowing from, not toward. If you don’t orient your anemometer correctly, your wind direction readings will be the opposite of reality. The station’s setup instructions will tell you how to align it correctly.

Other home weather stations we’ve reviewed

We’ve reviewed a host of other home weather stations, dating back to 2016. If none of our latest best picks fit your needs, be sure to check out of these other reviews:

• The Acurite Atlas home weather station earned TechHive’s Editors’ Choice award when it came to market in 2018 and remains a good choice among budget-priced systems.
• Acurite’s other entry-level station, the AcuRite 5-in-1 Weather Environment System I reviewed in 2017, is a step down from that, but it’s still a good value.
• Smart home buffs will appreciate the integration they can achieve with the Ambient Weather WS-2902 station. It offers many of the features of more advanced weather stations at a very affordable price point.
• The Davis Weatherlink Console is an attractive device for displaying data readings from Davis weather stations and sensors, but it’s a pricey gadget at $395.
• The Davis Vantage Vue weather station ($695) now includes the Weatherlink Console.
• If you’re shopping for a less expensive system that has extensive hooks into the smart home, check out my Netatmo Weather Station review, along with its add-on components for measuring wind speed and precipitation.

Sunseeker is bringing its excellent onboard intelligence to three new robot mower models now on display at the Equip Exposition landscaping convention in Louisville, KY, including a new top-of-the-line model that’s capable of handling spreads of up to 3 acres.

The brand announced the entry-level X3 ($1,299), the mid-range X5 ($1,799), and the beast with the staggering range described above—thanks in part to being equipped with two 10Ah batteries—the X7 Pro ($3,999). That all-wheel-drive model is the big brother to the Orion X7 TechHive reviewed earlier this summer. The AWD X5 slots in right behind existing X7 and can mow up to half-acre yards; it has the same 5Ah battery as the base model X7 ($2,399). There’s also an X7+ model that sells for $2,999.

The rear-wheel-drive X3, meanwhile, has a 7.87-inch cutting radius—roughly half that of the X7—and carries a 4Ah battery. It can handle up to 0.2-acre yards.

The only features missing from Sunseeker’s lower-end X5 and X3 models are enhanced Wi-Fi, in-app cutting-height adjustment, and dual cutting plates (most robot mowers use a single plate). The best part of the Sunseeker platform, its onboard AI, remains. This is typically one of the first corners a brand cuts when focusing on cost reduction to build a more-affordable product, so we’re very excited to see how these new mowers perform.

Sunseeker

The move to reduce prices without sacrificing features should help Sunseeker gain some market share here in the U.S. Robot mowers have been around for more than a decade, but they’ve only achieved widespread acceptance in Scandinavian countries to date; Americans have largely stuck by their traditional mowers.

While some of this has had to do with home-field advantage (market-leader Husqvarna is based in Sweden), prices have also been a barrier. Just 5 years ago, the average robot mower cost several thousand dollars. Today, you’ll find capable models going for less than $1,000. While Sunseeker didn’t immediately announce prices for these new mowers, filling out its product line with two models below the $2,400 X7 (and just one above it) indicates the company is looking to expand its appeal.

What’s more, the company also announced a new S-series of robot mowers that will be sold at retail (e.g., home improvement stores). The X-series will only be available at authorized dealers.

The growing season is rapidly coming to an end, but we hope to get Sunseeker’s new robot mowers in for testing next year.

We’re not attending the Equip Exposition in person this year, but we’ve reached out to Sunseeker to ask about pricing and will update this story with those details as soon as we hear back.

Updated October 17: We’ve added pricing information for the entire Sunseeker X-series product line.

Ambient Weather’s homer weather stations have always been accurate. The company was the first to embrace smart home technology at a fraction of the price of most weather stations, too.

Enter the Ambient Weather WS-1965, the company’s new base model, which replaces the only weather station in its lineup that doesn’t offer internet connectivity, the Ambient Weather WS-1900.

This is one area where budget weather stations from such brands as Sainlogic, AcuRite, and others have had Ambient Weather beat. They aren’t the most accurate weather stations you’ll find, but some are available at Amazon for for around $100 and some of them include internet and smart home connectivity.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

But Ambient Weather had to make some compromises get the WS-1965’s price down: It comes with a different sensor suite from the WS-2902, as well as a more basic console; nor does it have the UV and light sensors you’ll find on the more upscale WS-2902 and WS-5000.

For the entry-level weather watchers this product is targeting, I don’t think those features will be missed. The bigger question is does the WS-1965 measure up to the quality standards I’ve come to expect from Ambient Weather?

Feature set and installation

The Ambient Weather WS-1965 comes with a sensor suite, mounting hardware, and a small screwdriver to attach the wind gauge and anemometer. The console display is one of the smallest I’ve seen on a home weather station, measuring about 4 x 4 x 1 inches (HxWxD), but it’s bright and readable from a distance.

There’s also a power cable and plug for the console, along with a user manual. You’ll need to provide four AA batteries: two for the console as backup power to prevent data loss, and two for the sensor suite.