Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I’ve wanted to get a web-connected weather station for a long time. And wanted an Alexa compatible one. I hesitated on this particular one because it had fewer reviews, but then I realized that’s because it’s a brand-new model—it hasn’t had time to collect hundreds of reviews yet. This is my first weather station and I really like it. It worked quickly right out of the box, showing data on its console. And I immediately hooked it up to the Ambient internet-based data site which provides a very clear web-based portrayal of your current weather data and great historical data graphs. Really well done. Later I also hooked the 2901 up to weatherunderground.com, but I think the Ambient site is better for viewing your weather data. Ambient has a large number of weather station models (the company has apparently been around a long time) and a few of those models are on Amazon. But I am convinced the 2902 is the best model to get for most people, even though it’s fairly low in price. Here’s why. Pros: • Comes with a good-sized desktop console. The less expensive 0900 and more expensive 1401 do not, rather with those you must use the Internet to see even your current full set of weather info. That means getting out your computer or tablet, and a bit of a delay, and less time resolution. • Provides all the weather readings you’ll find on more expensive units. • It connects to Alexa and works quite well with Alexa via Echo. That was a high priority for me. I first looked at the Netatmo because it’s the most-mentioned Alexa compatible weather station in web searches, but this Ambient 2902 has so many more features (and sounds much more reliable). It’s a real weather station and a much better value. • It is actually solar powered (something not clear in the Amazon description). When I first saw it on Amazon I checked out the more expensive Ambient 1401 and saw it was solar powered and almost bought the 1401 for that reason. But actually, this 2902 is also solar powered. • The 2902 physical weather station itself is kind of cool looking. It seems to be a newer design than Ambient’s earlier products, and I think newer than the other weather station brands on Amazon. • Very easy to set up, had it running in a few minutes. • Console has a good layout, it’s colorful, it shows lots of data, and has easy Min/Max controls. • I like the fact that the kit uses radio frequency (RF) to connect between the station on my roof and the console (the Amazon listing title is confusing). RF is much more reliable and simpler than WiFi, which many other stations use. I’ve never had it disconnect. • The console optionally uses WiFi to connect the console to your router to send data to the various web based sites (up to four different ones). Easy to hook up. • Support emails were answered within minutes, each with good info. Cons • As another reviewer stated, the viewing angles are limited on the console, but that’s a nit really, it works for me. And at this price point, it’s pretty fantastic to even get a full-featured console in the package. • It comes with a built-in bubble level to level the weather station unit on first install (important for accurate readings of wind and rain), which is good. But the built-in mounting bracket doesn’t lend itself to adjusting the angle of the unit, rather, you have to level (plum) the pole itself. Not a big deal but keep it in mind. Couple things that were not clear to me at first (in case this helps you). • An iPhone/Android app is available (called AmbientTool), but the app is only used to hook up the console to the internet data; once hooked up you don’t view your data on that app. Rather, you use your phone’s web browser to view your weather data (go to ambientweather.net). And no problem, that website works really well both on a computer monitor and on phone-sized screens—when opened on a phone it resizes the display and looks and acts like an app. • The station only mounts on the very top of a pole. (Use a 1 to 2-inch in diameter pole, not included). If you want to side mount on an existing pole or building, you’ll need to get some adapters or different mounts, not included. • A printed manual comes in the box, but I recommend you go to the ambient website and download their PDF version, lots of updates constantly being added in that one. Again, I am really happy with this unit. I got the impression that the Ambient company is incredibly dedicated to weather station design and excellence. If you read the full manual, you’ll see in the back that there is lots of attention to weather station detail, things like how to calibrate it for special situations (I didn’t need that, but good to know), what the data means, and so on. This is a really nice unit, very well designed at a really good price point.