Choosing a weather station shouldn’t require a meteorology degree. This guide walks through the decisions that actually affect your project’s success and budget.
1. Ultrasonic vs. mechanical wind sensing
Mechanical (cup & vane) sensors are cheaper and fine for casual use, but bearings wear out — especially with dust, sand or freezing rain. Ultrasonic sensors have no moving parts, respond faster to gusts, and typically last 2–3× longer in the field. For unattended sites, ultrasonic almost always wins on total cost of ownership.
2. Which parameters do you actually need?
- Agriculture: air T/RH, rainfall, solar radiation, soil moisture at depth
- Wind energy / construction: wind speed + direction at 2 heights
- Hydrology / flood warning: rainfall intensity + water level
- Smart city: compact all-in-one units, many sites, PM2.5/10 add-on
3. Connectivity: RS485 today, IoT tomorrow
Insist on RS485 with Modbus-RTU — it works with every logger and gateway ever made, and lets you add LoRaWAN/NB-IoT uplinks later without touching the sensor.
4. Don’t forget power and mounting
Budget for a solar panel + battery if no mains is nearby, a sturdy pole, and lightning protection for exposed sites.
5. Questions to ask any supplier
- Are calibration certificates included?
- What is the IP rating and operating temperature range?
- What is the warranty and typical maintenance interval?
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