Ambient Weather WS-5000 - Is It Worth The Extra Price?

Ambient Weather WS-5000 is better than previous Ambient Weather Stations models with better accuracy and durability.

Ambient weather stations have always been incredible and worth the money. However, all the models in the past had room for improvement that needed work.

After the acquisition by Neilsen-Kellerman, the new company addressed most of the issues. It launched the new version WS- 5000, and it came out great with no prominent drawback.

This model has been designed to be durable, like a light industrial weather station with an aluminum enclosure and high-quality sensors. You can set up this device in your home or office for peace of mind when it comes to knowing what’s going on outside.

This product is perfect for people who are passionate about environmental science, meteorology, or just want to know more about their surroundings. With its easy installation process and affordable price point, there’s no reason not to buy one today!

Its installation is easy as most parts come pre-assembled, eliminating the professionals’ need and saving extra cost.

The process didn’t take more than an hour to get the things working However, installation may take longer if you get stuck with issues, such as sometimes wireless rain gauge, temperature, wind direction, humidity, and barometer sensors may not automatically connect.

In that case, you may have to consult Ambient Weather support or the installation guide that comes with the weather station to solve.

While setting up the weather station, you can connect it to AmbientWeather.net. In addition, you have the option to share your data publicly by connecting your station to any Weather Network to store data.

Integration to your smart home connectivity via Virtual Assistant, IFTTT, API, or Third Party is also possible.

Things We Like About The WS-5000

The ambient weather WS-5000 has no moving parts.

The lack of moving parts is a key selling point of this weather station. It makes it incredibly durable, able to withstand even the harshest environments.

Plus, with no need to replace or calibrate any parts, you can be sure that this station will provide accurate readings for years to come.

Backlit color TFT Full-Color LCD
It has a weather forecast feature
It has a barometric pressure history feature
Alerts for all parameters
Solar-powered with battery backup
Lightning detector feature OPTIONAL
An extended range of up to 1000 feet is the line of sight in the open air via RF (915 MHz).

That’s just a few of the reasons why the Ambient Weather 5000 is a popular choice among weather enthusiasts and meteorologists alike.

Installation Ambient Weather WS-5000

Ambient Weather Station 5000 came with a lot more than we expected, and the box includes the following tools,

Unboxing

Its installation is easy as most parts come pre-assembled, eliminating the professionals’ need and saving extra cost.

The process didn’t take more than an hour to get the things working. However, installation may take longer if you get stuck with issues, such as sometimes temperature, humidity, and barometer sensors may not automatically connect.

In that case, you may have to consult Ambient Weather support or the installation guide that comes with the weather station to solve.

While setting up the station, you can connect it to AmbientWeather.net so that you can share the data.

Integration to your smart home via Virtual Assistant, IFTTT, API, or Third Party is also possible.

In addition, you have the option to share your data publicly by connecting your station to any Weather Network to store data.

Ambient Weather WS-5000 Connection

As mentioned above, the range of up to 1000 feet is the line of sight in the open air via RF (915 MHz). The quality decreases under certain conditions such as through building, walls, metal. In that case, the range drops to 300ft.

Please check out my blog post Best Place To Put A Rain Gauge – Location is Critical

Furthermore, you can enable the Ambient Weather skill in your favorite voice assistant and smart home connectivity. It will provide all the unit’s weather data.

You can be as specific about the data as temperature, humidity, rain totals, etc. It’s as simple as asking, “Alexa, ask Ambient Weather what’s the temperature.”

Connection of the home weather system is possible with both Ambientweather.net and Wunderground.com. Both will stream in real-time weather data to your phone or desktop. Also, share your weather reports with friends and family.

Display Console Of The Weather Station WS-5000

The weather station’s most significant upgrade is the display console. For instance, it was hard to read the data during bright sunlight in the previous model besides having a limited viewing angle.

Ambient Weather WS-5000 — Display Console

Now the upgraded version features a premium TFT full-color display. The brightness is automatically changed based on the time of day. Furthermore, you can add option sensors seamlessly.

A range of optional outdoor sensor array including lighting detection, leak detection sensors

User Experience With Ambient Weather Stations

The user can access minimum and maximum weather data directly from the LCD screen.

Also, the data includes a time-stamp, and all historical data is available to be exported to SD Card.

The large rain cup ensures accurate rain measurements during a heavy downpour. In addition, the top lid is removable for easy cleaning.

Mounting the sensor array is accessible on a pole with a diameter of 1.25″ and 2.0″.

Upgradability With Optional Sensors

The Ambient WS-5000 can add up to 8 additional thermo-hygrometers;

Air quality sensors (1 indoor and 1 outdoor),
Leak detectors
Soil meters
Lightning detector

Should You Go for the Ambient Weather WS-5000?

If it does fall in your budget, this home weather system is worthy of your consideration—extra-large rain gauge cups for accurate readings. There are tons of additional sensors options while building a wireless home weather system.

The weather station has one advantage over other similar price units is the ultrasonic design. There are no moving parts to measure wind speed and direction. This feature increases the longevity of the Home Weather System.

The setup of outside sensors using the correct pole is not complicated. In addition, consideration as to the location of the LCD for a solid RF and WIFI signal.

Pros

Easy to Use and Easy to Connect via Wi-Fi.
The data is easily readable from different angles and at a fair distance.
Built for longevity, making it last for years.
It provides accurate measurements.
Much upgraded than previous models while resolving many issues.
Improved Rain Gauge for accuracy.

Cons

The LCD requires a touchscreen instead of buttons for further convenience.
The display is relatively small yet easily readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Ambient Weather Stations last?

The Ambient Weather Stations are built to last for many years. The ultrasonic sensor is designed to last without any moving parts. Does Ambient Weather have a strong reputation for its warranty?

All items manufactured by Ambient Weather or branded with the Ambient Weather name are covered by a one-year warranty from the original date of purchase. Only new goods sold through authorized dealers will be guaranteed.

Amazon.com and AmbientWeather.com are the only current sources for Ambient Weather purchases.

How long has ambient weather been in business?

For over 20 years, Ambient Weather has been a market leader in weather stations, environmental monitoring instruments, and intuitive web-based dashboards for viewing and sharing weather data. Since 1998, Ambient Weather has been providing customers with weather goods and services online.

Are ambient weather stations any good?

Yes, the Ambient Weather Stations are high-quality and reliable. They come with a one-year warranty that covers all new goods sold by authorized dealers.

Final Thoughts

The Ambient Weather WS-5000 is a solid choice for severe weather enthusiasts. It’s easy to use and offers accurate measurements. The large rain gauge ensures accuracy during heavy downpours, making it an excellent option for those who live in severe storm zones like the Midwest or Florida. The only downside to this unit is the price tag, which may be out of reach for some severe weather enthusiasts. However, if you can afford it, the WS-5000 is a great investment.

Update 1/17/2022

I installed a new unit at my location and it went very smoothly. Instructions are very straightforward and clearly laid out.

So far the readings like temperature barometric pressure and humidity readings are very close to my Ambient Weather WS-2090 unit.