|
Weather Station Comparison Guide
Use this guide to compare wired vs. wireless designs, sensor accuracy, paging support, and price before you buy. All four weather station lines below are compatible with DragStat run-prediction software to provide up-to-the minute weather data and live predictions.
|
lowest cost / wireless
Ecowitt Wireless
Fully wireless, solar-powered, and a phone app — the simplest install of the four, requires a wifi signal or travel router.
|
Best for WIRELESS w/ Internet
Tempest Wireless
Fully wireless, solar-powered, accurate, and a phone app — the simple install, requires a wifi signal or travel router. Internet is not required but requires an Internet time sync.
|
Best value / proven standard
Ultimeter Weather System
Wired console with a special absolute-barometer and data logging version built specifically to stream data to DragStat.
|
Most accurate / easy setup
PerformAIRE PRO
Altronics' fan-cooled sensor housing connects to your PC with a single cable. Most accurate weather station. Requires USB to serial driver.
|
| Spec |
Ecowitt
Wireless Weather System |
Tempest
Wireless Weather System |
Ultimeter
Wired Weather System |
PerformAIRE PRO
Wired Weather System |
| Starting price |
$310
w/ Paging: $750 |
$359
w/ Paging: $809 |
$759
w/ Paging: $1,199 |
$1,249
w/ Paging: $2,249 |
| Indoor console included |
Yes (model WS3900) |
None |
Yes |
Available sold separately |
| Connection type |
Wireless (Wi-Fi hub + mini router or hotspot, 2.4GHz) |
Wireless (Wi-Fi hub + mini router or hotspot, 2.4GHz) |
Wired, separate cable for sensors and wind data. Serial to USB adapter cable from console to PC. |
Wired, single cable to computer for sensor data, paging messages and power. |
| Moving parts |
None — sonic wind sensor, haptic rain sensor |
None — sonic wind sensor, haptic rain sensor |
Digital wind anemometer |
Digital Wind anemometer |
| Power source |
Super capacitor + 2 AA batteries + solar panel. Console: 3 AA batteries + USB power adapter |
Integrated rechargeable battery + solar panel |
12V power adapter with 9V battery backup |
12V power cable (120V adapter sold separately) |
| Temperature range / accuracy |
−40° to 140°F, ±1.8°F, 0.2°F resolution |
−40° to 140°F, ±0.4°F, 0.1° resolution |
−55° to 150°F, ±1°F, 0.1° resolution |
±0.2°F |
| Humidity range / accuracy |
1 to 99%, ±5%, 1% resolution |
1 to 100%, ±2%, 1% resolution |
1 to 100%, ±4% |
1 to 100%, ±3% |
| Barometric pressure range / accuracy |
8.85 to 32.5 inHg, ±0.04 inHg, 0.01 inHg resolution |
8.8 to 32.48 inHg, ±0.03 inHg, 0.01 inHg resolution |
27.5 to 31.5 inHg, ±0.05 inHg |
±0.02 inHg |
| Wind speed range / accuracy |
0 to 90 mph, <22 mph ±2.2 mph, > 22 mph ±10%, 0.2 mph resolution |
0 to 100 mph, ±0.5mph or 2% whichever is greater, 0.1 mph resolution |
0 to 160 mph, ±2 mph or 5% whichever is greater |
0 to 25 mph, ±2 mph |
| Wind direction range / accuracy |
0° to 359°, ±15°, 1° resolution |
0° to 359°, ±5°, 1° resolution |
0° to 359°, ±5°, 1° resolution |
0° to 359°, ±5°, 1° resolution |
| Mobile app |
Yes — iOS & Android, weather graphs, configuration |
Yes — iOS & Android, weather graphs, configuration |
None |
None |
| Paging option |
Separate transmitter — up to 2 mi. line of sight |
Separate transmitter — up to 2 mi. line of sight |
Separate transmitter — up to 2 mi. line of sight |
Built-in option |
| Typical mount |
1.0″ diameter pole |
1.25″ diameter pole, threaded adpater available |
U-bolt pole mount. |
Threaded pole mount |
| Warranty |
2-year |
2-year |
1-year |
1-year |
| Best suited for |
Racers wanting the fastest, lowest-maintenance setup with a phone app |
Racers wanting the fastest, lowest-maintenance setup with a phone app |
Racers who want a proven, budget-friendly console with a bright display and reliable wired connection |
Racers wanting the most accurate and easiest wired weather station with built-in paging option. |
All four stations require DragStat Advanced Edition for live weather station support, logging and live predictions. DragStat e-mail messaging/texting can be used with any of the above weather
stations (Internet required).
Kit Contents & Details
Ecowitt Wireless System
$310 · w/ Paging $750
- 5-minute install, no moving parts
- Sonic wind sensor
- Includes multi-colored console
- Radiation-shielded temp/humidity sensor
- Solar-charged integrated super capacitor
Kit includes: Sensor suite, console, phone app, power adapters
Requires: Wi-Fi travel router or hotspot (2.4GHz) — internet not required
Optional: Paging transmitter kit
|
Tempest Wireless System
$359 · w/ Paging $799
- 5-minute install, no moving parts
- Sonic wind sensor: 1–100 mph, hurricane rated
- Wind data refreshes every 3 seconds
- Radiation-shielded temp/humidity/barometric sensor
- Solar-charged integrated battery
Kit includes: Sensor suite, sensor hub, phone app, power adapters
Requires: Wi-Fi travel router or hotspot (2.4GHz) — internet not required
Optional: Paging transmitter kit
|
Ultimeter Weather System
$759 · w/ Paging $1,199
- Platinum-tone console, blue backlit display
- Illuminated keypad for night visibility
- All-digital wind sensor, 1.5 mph start threshold
- Special absolute-barometer version w/ data logging
- 12V power adapter with 9V battery backup
Kit includes: Sensor suite w/ radiation shield, backlit console, power adapter, wind anemometer, junction box, USB serial adapter, 20′ sensor cabling, hardware manual
Optional: Paging transmitter kit
|
PerformAIRE PRO
$1,249 · w/ Paging $2,249
- Rainproof enclosure
- Fan-controlled sensor housing for accuracy in sunlight
- Single-cable connection to your PC
- All-digital wind sensor
- 12V power
Kit includes: Remote sensor housing, wind anemometer, 20′ USB cable, 12V power cable, hardware manual (paging version adds transmitter, pager, antenna)
Optional: Paging version, 120V power adapter (sold separately)
|
Accessories: A standalone $450 Paging Transmitter Kit and a $59 WeatherFlow handheld WINDmeter are also available and can be added to any of the stations above — see Weather Station Accessories.
|