Indoor/outdoor temperature displays

[Ign]

Anyone have one they like, actually works and lasts more than a couple years?

We've had two of the wireless ones that are supposed to align w the atomic clock, predict the weather complete w neat little graphics of clouds, etc etc.

They were both gifts (I wouldn't pay retail for them) and they both died. Seems like the outdoor sensor always dies or the batteries die, and then I can't get them to work again.

Endless combinations of removing batteries from one or both units, pushing reset buttons on one or both, waiting, waiting some more.............sometimes gets them to come back to life for a short while.

Life's too short to be playing games with this nonsense. Put batteries in, push reset if so equipped, and it should just work. Repeat when batteries die.

I'll admit I know little about electronics or wireless devices but this is far from new technology; I don't understand why someone can't make a wireless temperature sender that lasts and works.

Failing that I'm entirely open to wired units, plus they're a lot cheaper. I just need suggestions

 

[Herb]

Yeah, I'd be interested in finding a unit that will not have one display or another **** out after a year or two.

 

[usmc_noma]

I have one from radioshack that my wife bought just before I was deployed in 06. It's just a simple one with indoor/outdoor temp readout with the max/min also. It's done great for us and is still going strong. Now it doesn't have all the bells and whistles with humidity, etc but I can't complain and it does what I want it to. Mine is wireless and the outdoor sensor is the about the size of the palm of your hand. It also has a digital readout too.

The highest temps it's seen is over 150* and as low as -5*. When it went over 150 it was for a few weeks at a time.

 

[PassnThru]

I have had one in the house for about 2 years now that has been fine. Don't remember the brand but it shows outside and inside temp and humidity. Just this Christmas I got another one as a gift so I took it out to the detached garage. I was looking around trying to determine where to place the outside sensor when it occurred to me that I didn't really care what the temp was outside - I knew that when I left the house. So the sensor went up in the attic (I have storage space there). Now I know what the temp is in the attic and what the high / low has been over a period of time.

 

[Ign]

I have one from radioshack that my wife bought just before I was deployed in 06. It's just a simple one with indoor/outdoor temp readout with the max/min also. It's done great for us and is still going strong. Now it doesn't have all the bells and whistles with humidity, etc but I can't complain and it does what I want it to.

Exactly. I don't need humidity, I don't need weather predictions, I don't need the time. I just want two temperature zones, one of them remote from the unit itself.

I'm surprised to hear anything from Radio **** lasted more than two weeks, but I appreciate the input and will consider it a strong contender based upon your experience.

 

[Mike662]

This is a timely thread for me, because mine has apparently crapped out, and I am also in the market for a reliable, basic model.

The one I have is made by La Crosse, and is very simialr to this model, but my remote sensor is square rather than rectangular.

BTW, Mine lasted about 5 years, on two different houses. I consider that pretty good for a $30 unit. It definitely saw temps down to about -15 F here in Colorado this winter; not sure if that had anything to do with it's apparent demise.

 

[bochnak]

I' ve had this one for over 3 years and it still works. Sometimes the outdoor transmitter reads the temp 5° higher when temps go from let's say 20 to 40.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0025WEFUC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I wish it had indoor/outdoor humidity though.

 

[TN_GARAGE]

My $20 wireless units have the same issue (batteries, reset, etc)

They still tell me indoor temp, but for outdoor temp, I watch the morning weather report and/or use my blackberry or computer.

One thing I have discovered about outdoor thermometers. You need to mount them in the shade (sunlight beating down and reflecting off a wall can really skew their accuracy).

 

[kartracer23]

Y'know what I want? One that has multiple indoor displays. So I could have one downstairs & one upstairs - but only one outdoor sensor. The ones I've seen that have this feature are the crazy expensive ones.

However...

Finding on that has one indoor readout, and two outdoor units is easy. Which makes no sense to me.

*And before anyone asks why I want two indoor sensors / readouts: I don't have any return duct work in my 2nd floor, so the temp can vary as much as 10 or 12 degrees from 1st to 2nd floor.

 

[tdkkart]

Our last one crapped out, our current one has lasted longer and it came from the clearance rack at Harbor Freight, the wife threw it in the cart, I think we paid $6 or so for it.

 

[Mike662]

Y'know what I want? One that has multiple indoor displays. So I could have one downstairs & one upstairs - but only one outdoor sensor. The ones I've seen that have this feature are the crazy expensive ones.

However...

Finding on that has one indoor readout, and two outdoor units is easy. Which makes no sense to me.

*And before anyone asks why I want two indoor sensors / readouts: I don't have any return duct work in my 2nd floor, so the temp can vary as much as 10 or 12 degrees from 1st to 2nd floor.

My old La Crosse unit actually has exactly what you describe...two separate indoor stations and one remote outdoor sensor. I just assumed the current version came this way, but I rechecked the link I posted and it appears that it only has one. Humph.

One possible solution would be to get an extra remote sensor and put it upstairs. Not exactly what you want, but you could at least see the temp difference between upstairs and down.

 

[LEVE]

Mine cost $7000, it came with an Heat Pump attached. Perhaps a little expensive, but I like it!

 

[Ign]

I' ve had this one for over 3 years and it still works. Sometimes the outdoor transmitter reads the temp 5° higher when temps go from let's say 20 to 40.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0025WEFUC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Yeah, I had something like this in my shop. It was same layout and same script/font on the frame, but different trim = brown frame.

It died in about 18 mos. This is the one I finally got to read again by messing w it ad nauseum, worked for about 2 days and then I looked up and the outdoor reading was gone again.

I repeated everything I had done before, moved the sensor closer/further/right next to/on top of the display but nothing.

In the time I spent messing with it I could have bent up a whole tube bumper for my truck.

 

[Toolmaann]

We"ve had an Accu Rite unit that I got at Lowes a few years back. Been working great all that time...

 

[HookWorse]

This is a little different twist to your requirements for a thermometer. Entertaining, and it has worked great for over 2 yrs now.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86956

 

[Ign]

I have one from radioshack that my wife bought just before I was deployed in 06. It's just a simple one with indoor/outdoor temp readout with the max/min also.

I purchased this one the other day. So far it's working great but only been on for a day. I like the compact size but large display of only two numbers: indoor and outdoor temp.

I really like the retail price of under $26. At that rate if it died every 2-3 years I wouldn't mind so much.

I was surprised to see they still sell the wired ones too. If I had an easy way to run the sensor out my N wall and a good place to mount the display inside the N wall I'd just do that. Unfortunately for me wireless is better.

 

[larry_g]

Well I'm either old school or cheap but I have a regular old bimetal/pointer temperature indicating device on the window frame outside the window over the kitchen sink. Its worked for more years than I can remember.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gsport]

i bought a cheap one (less than $15.00) and it works just fine... where did you mount your outdoor transmitter?? i keep mine out of the weather, high on the outside wall, up under a eave... it reads a little high, but i think that's because i have so much black top around here

 

[babzog]

Anyone have one they like, actually works and lasts more than a couple years?

I've got that as part of my Honeywell VisionPro IAQ thermostat. Bought the temp sensor for it and wired it up when I had some renos underway. Nice to see at a glance, what the outdoor temp is.

 

[Falcon67]

I have an Accurite model and from what people are saying here, the problems are common. The outside unit eats the high buck batteries (4 AAs) about every 3 months. You can tell when the outside temp stops changing. The easiest way to get the indoor and outdoor units synced again is to switch one off the wireless frequency for a while, then move it back. Or change the settings every time you feed it batteries. I didn't expect much for $32.95 anyway, but it does have everything except wind direction.

 

[e-tek]

I have 2 - one really basic wired one is going on 10 years!!

The other, wireless with time, etc is going on 4 years - lucky I guess!! I have changed the bat's in each about 1X/year.

I always wanted one of them full Weather-Station types...but not for $100!

Maybe you just need a Mercury thermometer mounted outside your window?!

 

[bushpilot]

I've got a Davis Weather Station (vantage pro, now the vantage pro2)...we love it
the station is can be battery operated or powered by a power supply/mouse.

the station (mounted on a pole) is self contained (solar charged).

we have the MAIN display / station in the kitchen and added a 2nd (smaller) display in the master bedroom.

it works, its accurate (considered pro-sumer type) and we've had it more than 10 years with no issue.....its not cheap but everyone i know has bought 2 or 3 of the cheap stuff and they still dont have the information that a Davis provides.

 

[nonhog]

My kid and I just tossed one of those Atomic ones. Never worked. POC.
Might have to try the RS unit.

 

[Vettman]

We have 3 of the "Sky Scan Automic Clock/Temp" ( I think from Sam's or Costco) Never had any problems other than batteries every couple years. The outside temp. always seems high, but the sending units are mounted under the eaves, against the house. It's probably warmer than out in the yard away from the building.

 

[Bryan Burns]

Y'know what I want? One that has multiple indoor displays. So I could have one downstairs & one upstairs - but only one outdoor sensor. The ones I've seen that have this feature are the crazy expensive ones.

However...

Finding on that has one indoor readout, and two outdoor units is easy. Which makes no sense to me.

*And before anyone asks why I want two indoor sensors / readouts: I don't have any return duct work in my 2nd floor, so the temp can vary as much as 10 or 12 degrees from 1st to 2nd floor.

I bought two $15 Lacrosse systems. Been about 5 years and I love them.
I have one transmitter on the porch (facing North). But I have one receiver in the bathroom and one receiver in the kitchen.

The extra transmitter is in storage.

Don't see why this approach won't work for you.

 

[kartracer23]

I bought two $15 Lacrosse systems. Been about 5 years and I love them.
I have one transmitter on the porch (facing North). But I have one receiver in the bathroom and one receiver in the kitchen.

The extra transmitter is in storage.

Don't see why this approach won't work for you.

I thunk about doin' that. Wasn't sure if they were all on the same frequency or not.

We've got this fancy-nancy one from Weather Direct right now that is hooked up to our router to pull the forecast from on-line. It's about as accurate as the TV Weatherman. Love it when the forecast is for a high of 50 and the outside reading is 65...

 

[Ign]

So the basic Radio Shack unit I got crapped out. I've been playing the game of replacing batteries, resetting, forcing it to "search" for the signal as it has a button to do so, and switching channels as it has 3 options.

It was intermittent for awhile, then wouldn't work until I moved it closer to the sending unit. It WAS only about 20' from the sending unit where it happily worked until recently. Now it's about 4.5' from the sending unit where it sorta worked for a couple weeks. It DOES work if I have them side by side on the kitchen table.

I just don't understand why it's so hard to make these last more than a year - the technology is not cutting edge.

I looked at Radio Shack today and they no longer sell this basic unit which I liked. The newer units incorporate a more crowded display with humidity display (like I care about humidity).

I see True Value has a unit on sale for $17. Guess I'll try that and just budget about ~$20/yr for a new POS unit

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

I'm sorry Herb, what did you say?

 

[5lima30]

I've got a Taylor that is 4+ years old and still works fine. I change the batteries every year though.

 

[Herb]

Are you on the CLF, Air Cooled Nut?

 

[2manytoyz]

I've been using one made by Oregon Scientific for years. You can buy them online, or in stores like Target. Mine measures indoor/outdoor temp, and displays date/time, and records max high & low temps. Comes with a wireless sensor I put on the patio. Range is up to 100'. Battery lasts a couple of years. Had it now about 6 years. I keep the sensor out of the rain and direct sunlight, but lives in FL humidity all year. Cost was ~$25.

It's the doo-dad in the middle...

 

[volvo]

..
I also have as accurite no thrills unit, $15. Works great and replace the batteries once a year.
Tip...... Keep your instructions handy to properly change batteries. The units will need to be re synced to each other in the proper sequence or the screen may stay blank . I thought the out door sensor had died, but operator error was to be blamed for an inoperative unit. I just about through it out. So be aware.

 

[dirttracker18]

I had a Lacross unit and died as well and am on the hunt for something better.

However I want pressure and humidity as I feel I can better predict weather than my local weatherman. As well I like to know what is happening outside and am a meteorology buff. I spent some time taking some climatology while getting my degree.

I want a good unit that will last but have yet to find that

I would be willing to spend a little more money if I knew it would not be wasted.

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

No batteries needed!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A2N7K8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Kny21]

Y'know what I want? One that has multiple indoor displays. So I could have one downstairs & one upstairs - but only one outdoor sensor. The ones I've seen that have this feature are the crazy expensive ones.

http://www.partshelf.com/ci00990.html

http://www.partshelf.com/ws-7013twc.html

 

[Ign]

No batteries needed!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A2N7K8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not kidding, the wife wants to go back to one of those, she's so sick of the digital units dying.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I've been using various Lacrosse ones for years and they've been pretty reliable. I've had to replace batteries every year to 18 months and have had to replace one sensor (available on Amazon.com). Other than that, set it and forget it.

-Brian

 

[trbomax]

I have 2 of the radioshack onesthat I put in the house here when I built it,which was '96. Changed the batterys in one of them,not the other and they work ok. I have one that looks the same from HF in my enclosed sled trailer thats a 05,it still works fine. Maybe cheap and simple is good in this case.

 

[JCQuick]

This is what I have I got it at home depot about 6 years ago around $25 like tomaytoys my sensor is on the patio under cover. mine seems to work fine

 

[bd8134]

I have had a similar model to the Oregon that 2manytoyz posted, for about 8 years. One outside sensor packed up, but each receiver can read any of the outdoor sensors. Range is less than 50ft though. In direct sun it does read high.
I have used a similar model to this for my house and garage thermostat.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carrier-Thermostat-Model-TC-NAC01-/260906971101?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cbf446fdd#ht_500wt_1156
It shows the outside temp on the display at all times.
Not batteries to run out, hard wired temp probe.