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The WS-2308 has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Please consider the
WS-2315 instead. It measures the same weather data as the WS-2308
but has a slightly shorter maximum wireless range of 80 feet.
La Crosse Technology's high quality WS-2308 Professional Wireless
Weather Center, measures temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and
wind direction.
It collects and analyzers weather data from 3 outdoor
sensors connected to the base station by
wireless radio link, for easy setup, or a cable,
for a more permanent installation. The base station,
which can be free standing or wall mounted, displays key
weather information clearly on a large backlit display.
Large icons prominently display the Weather Center’s forecast
for local weather. Alarms can be set to alert you to special
weather conditions. A PC connection lets you transfer weather
data to your computer where it can be further analyzed or published
to the Internet.
WS-2308 Weather Center in Brief:
The WS-2308 Weather Center Includes:
- Wireless Outdoor Thermo-Hygro Sensor
- Wireless Outdoor Rain Sensor
- Wireless Outdoor Wind Speed and Direction Sensor
- Base station display
- PC Software
- Interface Cables
- AC Power Adapter
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WS-2308 Front Panel, showing main indicators
The WS-2308 features a clear backlit display with separate areas for time, forecast
wind and general weather information. The five buttons beneath the display are:
- SET: Configure weather station options such as temperature and pressure units
- PRESSURE (top): Toggle display of relative and absolute pressure.
WIND (bottom): Toggle display of wind speed, compass direction or digital direction inside the
wind direction compass.
- DISPLAY: Cycle through display of weather data (temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc).
- MIN/ MAX (top): Display minimum and maximum weather values. ALM (bottom): Setup weather alarms.
- +/-: Changing values during configuration.
The base station uses 3 type “AA” batteries or the
included AC adapter. Batteries
will last about 1 year when sensor data is sent wirelessly, or about
6 months when a cable connection is used. The base station supplies
power to the sensors when a cable connection is used.
The base station measures: 8.85" x 6.10" x 1.27" (22.5cm x 15.5cm x 3.2cm).
In Comparison
This WS-2308 Weather Center is very similar to the
WS-2315 Weather Station
using the same weather sensors and offering the same measurements. The main
difference between the two is the styling (the WS-2308 is more contemporary)
and the wireless radio range. The maximum free-air range of this WS-2308 is
330 feet (100m), for the
WS-2315
it is 80 feet (25 meters).
The
Wireless Vantage Pro2
collects a similar set
of weather measurements to this WS-2308, but it can display more than 100 graphs of
these measurements right on the display, uses 10 weather variables when forecasting
the weather and, with optional sensors, can measure several other weather variables
including solar radiation and evapotranspiration. The Vantage Pro2 does not include
a built-in PC connection like the WS-2308, but one can be added with an optional
datalogger. A
wired Vantage Pro2
, which uses cables
instead of a wireless link between the sensor and base station is also available.
You might also consider the
WS-3510.
Although it does not
measure rainfall and wind information, it has a large touch screen to give you a
weather overview in a single glance and a computer interface.
If your main interest is in monitoring rainfall, you could consider the
WS-7038 Wireless Rain Gauge
.
Sensors
All the sensors you need are included with the WS-2308 Weather Center.
Outdoor measurements are made by three separate modules: a rain sensor,
a wind sensor and a temperature/ humidity sensor. The sensors are
separate so you can install them in the best location for each measurement.
The rain and wind sensors connect to the temperature/ humidity sensor
by 32 foot (10m) cables included with the Weather Center. The temperature/
humidity sensor transmits all the measurements to the base station. The
data is sent wirelessly, using radio waves, or through a cable.
The wireless range is about 330 feet (100m) if no obstacles are
in the way. Obstacles such as trees, walls and windows will reduce the
range a little bit.
Batteries in the temperature/ humidity sensor supply power for the radio
transmitter and the rain and wind sensors. If the temperature/ humidity
sensor is connected to the base station with a cable, you don’t need
batteries in the sensor module; all power will be supplied by the base station.
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Wireless Outdoor Thermo-Hygro Sensor
The Thermo-Hygro sensor measures temperature and humidity. It also is the
hub for the other outdoor sensors transmitting measurements from them
to the base station. Normally installed out of
direct sunlight; under the eaves of your house, for example.
- Temperature range: -21.8°F to 157.8°F (-30°C to 70°C)
- Humidity range: 1% to 99%
- Dimensions: 5.5" x 2.75" x 2.5" (14cm x 7cm x 6.5cm)
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Wind Sensor
The wind sensor measures wind speed and wind direction. A 32 foot (10m)
cable (which can be extended by a standard telephone cable) connects it
to the Thermo-Hygro sensor. Normally installed high up away from
shelter by trees or buildings; on the roof of your house, for example.
- Wind-speed range: 0 to 111.8 mph (0 to 180 km/h)
- Dimensions: 8" x 10" x 2.5" (20.3 cm x 25.4cm x 6.5cm)
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Rain Sensor
The rain sensor measures rainfall using
a tipping bucket mechanism that automatically empties itself as it measures
each drop of rain. A 32 foot (10m) cable (which can be
extended by a standard telephone cable) connects it to the Thermo-Hygro.
It is normally installed away from shelter by trees or
buildings; on the roof of your house, for example.
- Dimensions: 5.5" x 5.75" x 2.5" (14cm x 14.6cm x 6.5cm)
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Temperature, Humidity, Dew Point and Wind Chill
The WS-2308 Weather Center accurately
measures both indoor and outdoor ambient temperature and relative humidity. It
also calculates the wind chill temperature (from the outdoor temperature and
wind-speed) and the dew point temperature (from the outdoor temperature and the
relative humidity). The highest and lowest temperatures and humidity, along
with the date and time, are stored too. You can also have the WS-2308 Weather
Center sound an alarm if any temperature or humidity passes a value you’ve set:
an excellent way to warn you if sensitive plants or crops are in danger.
Temperature is the main factor for comfort,
but humidity (the moisture content in the atmosphere) and wind speed play an
important role too. When humidity is high, perspiration doesn’t evaporate to
cool you, leading to that uncomfortable sticky feeling you get in a rain forest. The
WS-2308 reports relative humidity: the ratio of moisture in the atmosphere to
the maximum moisture the atmosphere can hold. You’ll feel most comfortable with
relative humidity between 30% and 60%.
In a similar way, the dew point is the
temperature when dew, rain, frost or fog will start to form. It is the
temperature when the humidity will be 100% (if the moisture content in the air
doesn’t change). If the dew-point is close to the temperature, you’ll get that
sticky unpleasant feeling. If the dew-point reaches the air temperature, it is
likely to be raining or foggy.
When it is really cold and windy, you’ll
often feel colder than the temperature alone would suggest.
This is because when the wind is blowing your
skin cools much more quickly than when there is no wind. The wind chill
temperature is an indication of how cold it will seem outside in the wind.
- Indoor temperature range: 14.2°F to 139.8°F (-9.9 to 59.9°C).
- Outdoor temperature range: -21.8°F to 157.8°F (-29.9 to 69.9°C)
- Temperature resolution: 0.2°F (0.1°F)
- Humidity range (indoor & outdoor): 1 to 99%
- Humidity resolution: 1%
Wind
Your WS-2308 Weather Center will measure wind
speed and wind direction. You can select the units for displaying wind speed
from: meters per second (m/s), knots, Beaufort wind force scale, kilometers per
hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph). The wind direction is displayed
graphically as a compass indicating where the wind is coming from. The WS-2308
Weather Center can be set to sound an alarm if the wind speed reaches preset
minimum or maximum values or when the wind is coming from a selected direction:
handy to warn of bad weather, hurricanes or tornadoes.
Rainfall
The WS-2308 Weather Center reports total
rainfall for three different periods: the last hour, the last 24 hours, and the
total amount of rain since the counter was last reset. You can
reset the total counter at any time. Recording rainfall can be very helpful to
make sure your garden or water storage tank is getting enough water.
Your Weather Station will also record the
time and date for the 1 hour and 24 hour period that saw the most rain. The
Weather Center can also warn of flood danger by sounding an alarm if rainfall
exceeds some value you’ve set. You can have different alarm thresholds for rain
falling in the 1 hour and 24 hour periods. Set to a very low value, the 1 hour alarm
can be a useful warning to bring outdoor furniture or drying washing out of the rain.
Pressure and Forecasting
The WS-2308 Weather Center can display
relative (to sea level) and absolute atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is a measure
of the weight of the atmosphere above you and is the basis for predicting weather.
Atmospheric pressure can be displayed in hecto-Pascals (hPa) or inches of mercury (inHg).
The highest and lowest pressure, along with the date and time, are recorded.
Also, as for other measurements, the Weather Center can sound an alarm if the
pressure reaches a preset minimum or maximum value.
Changes in atmospheric pressure are the
most important factor in predicting the weather. The WS-2308 Weather Center
displays an arrow prominently on the display indicating increasing or decreasing
pressure trends. Generally, when pressure is increasing, good weather is on its
way while decreasing pressure heralds poorer weather. So, a large icon on the
display shows the forecast local weather trend: toward sunny, cloudy or rainy weather.
Weather Alarms and Storm Warning
The WS-2308 Weather Center can be set to
sound an alarm when a weather observation, such as temperature for example,
reaches an extreme value. For each of 11 weather observations you can set high
and low triggers for the alarm. In addition, the Weather Center recognizes the
sudden air pressure drop that usually accompanies a storm and can sound an
alarm if this happens. The alarm triggers you can customize are:
- Indoor temperature; high and low alarms
- Indoor humidity; high and low alarms
- Outdoor temperature; high and low alarms
- Outdoor humidity; high and low alarms
- Wind chill; high and low alarm
- Dew point; high and low alarm
- Rainfall for previous 24 hours; high alarm
- Rainfall for previous hour; high alarm
- Atmospheric pressure; high and low alarms
- Wind speed; high and low alarms
- Wind direction alarm
Time and Date
The WS-2308 Weather Center will display
the time and date, automatically set
by a radio broadcast from near Fort Collins in Colorado. Controlled by very
precise clocks, the WS-2308 Weather Center will always show the correct time,
adjusting automatically for daylight savings time. The time can be displayed in
12 or 24 hour format and you can set
the time and date manually if you are unable to receive the radio broadcast.
The WS-2308 Weather Center can be used as an alarm clock, sounding an
alarm each day at a time you select.
PC Connection
Weather information from the WS-2308
Weather Center can be displayed and analyzed on your Personal Computer. The
base station connects to your computer’s serial port using the cable supplied.
You’ll use the “Heavy Weather” program to
communicate with the Weather Center. Using this software, you will be able to
view all the weather information from the Weather Center on your computer,
change the Weather Center’s settings (such as alarms and measurement units) and
download weather information the Weather Center has recorded in its internal
memory. You can also export information from the Heavy Weather software and
analyze it with other programs, such as Microsoft Excel.
The Weather Center can be set to record weather information in
its internal memory at fixed intervals, even when it is
not connected to your computer. The recording interval can be set from 1 minute
to 60 hours. When the Weather Center is not connected to a computer, it will
record the last 175 measurements. This is slightly more than 7 days worth of
measurements when the recording interval is 1 hour.
Additional software for your WS-2308
Weather Center can be downloaded from the Internet. Weather Review will let you
analyze and visualize weather data you have downloaded from the Weather Center.
Heavy Weather Publisher will let you automatically e-mail and upload to a
website, the latest weather information from your Weather Center.
More information on software and connecting the weather station to your computer
can be found here.