Oregon Scientific, Not for the layman

Overall Rating33333

Not for the layman

Oregon Scientific WMR100N Professional Wireless Weather Station, Silver This product is very likely to frustrate a beginning weather buff. I bought it to replace a similar Oregon Scientific weather station I bought several years ago, and which worked well for me. Like the previous reviewer, I had trouble getting the remote temperature-humudity sensor to communicate with the console. This was partly because the instructions for setup are ambiguous. In one place, the instructions say to put the batteries in the console before putting them in the remote sensor. In another place, the batteries are to be put in the remote sensor first. The latter is the correct procedure. Otherwise, if you have several remote sensors and the batteries die in one, when you replace them you would have to reinstall the batteries in all units to get the system to work right. Even when the batteries are correctly installed, communication between the remote sensors and the console is iffy. Everything works fine if all components are in the same room, but if there is a wall between the remote sensors and the console, the distance between them should be less than 50 feet, rather than the 100 meters advertised. I bought this unit also because the remote temperature/humidity sensor is mounted in a casing on the wind sensor mast, and presumably does not have to be put in the shade. Unfortunately, that is not the case. With this setup, the temperature readings during the day are as much as ten degrees higher than those in the shade in winter. The difference may be much greater summer in Arizona. I am going to try to remedy this by coating the casing with a highly reflective white paint, but I doubt that this will work. Oregon Scientific is known for its quality products, but lately that does not seem to be the case.

Update (2/5/2012): This item is currently on sale here for the lowest price I’ve seen. I also found some auctions for this item here.

The featured review for this product, Oregon Scientific WMR100N Professional Wireless Weather Station, Silver Kitchen, was written by William D. Sellers.

The average rating for this item is 3 out of 5 stars, according to 3 reviews.

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Reviews (3)

Nikwax

February 10th, 2010 at 2:14 pm    


Overall Rating22222

frustrating
I received one of these for a xmas gift, and it has been a solid week of frustration. The temperature/humidity sender will not communicate with the console. I’ve had several conversations with Oregon Scientific tech support (don’t bother to email them, call) and they decided that the sensor was bad. I returned the sensor to Oregon Scientific headquarters (for some reason tech support sent me there) and we got the new sensor to talk to the console, but when I got it home and moved it more than 10 feet away from the console it stopped working again and that’s it.

The idea of having 100% wireless communication throughout the system is very good, but the execution is poor. Looking at the reviews for the similar WMR100 show that this is a common issue with these units. Moreover, navigating the display and and menus of the base unit is not a great experience, and the constant shrill beeping with each keytouch is annoying. Also, the instructions that come with the unit are very basic. On the plus side, USB communications from the base unit to a computer seem to work quite well.

I was hoping to use the weather station to gather data for Weather Underground. As I am running Mac OS, the only option for the WMR100N is Weather Display, which is a Windows port and not satisfactory. Lightsource Weather Center is a much nicer looking software package for Mac OS (for the same cost as Weather Display) but doesn’t support the WMR100/N/NA.

I’m hoping to return this unit and purchase a LaCrosse unit instead. A solid week of pounding my head against the desk is enough.

Update: Oregon Scientific was very good about taking the unit back for a refund, and the tech support people emailed me and apologized for not getting back to me sooner. Thumbs up to Oregon Scientific for that.

In retrospect: this has potential, as it is fully wireless and the external sensors appear to be well made, and the kit includes a mast and other mount options. I’m not keen on the design of the console/base unit, and the downside to wireless only communication is obvious once the sensors stop cooperating with the console. Also, this is not a good choice for those running Mac OS who hope to do computerized weather tracking and reporting. Oregon Scientific did do a good job of standing behind the product.


Dana A. Terre

February 11th, 2010 at 1:03 am    


Overall Rating44444

Problems with the main sensor
The sensor doesnt work at first because you have to remove the little rubber/silicone plug for the anemometer. The screw under that must be removed first and then the anemometer is placed on the metal spindle. the screw is then screwed back into the whole to secure it. when the anemometer “clicks” for each turn, then you know it is on properly. the instructions do not say this.

my only complaint now with the unit is the display, i wish it would show indoor and outdoor temp at the same time, its such a pain to keep switching.

oh yea the other problem is that the pressure is way off. for some reason its always constantly 0.50 inHg above the weather channel. this makes it seem like 30.40 inHg is about to be a hurricane or something.

other than that, the system is a great first station. i may update to davis later in life but it is great for the first timer, just follow my instructions above. the instructions provided are terrible.


William D. Sellers

March 1st, 2010 at 10:19 pm    


Overall Rating33333

Not for the layman
Rated 3 stars.


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