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The Oregon Weather Station - From Basic to Professional SystemsHow do Oregon Weather Stations compare with other brands, and is there an Oregon Weather Station just right for you?First up, the Oregon Weather Station range includes a strong selection of attractively designed display consoles/receivers, most of which can be wall or desk mounted. Almost all of them are excellent time keepers, and reset themselves every day through automatic radio contact with the atomic clock in Colorado. Outdoor sensors are compact and attractive.
Deciding on the best home weather station for you may take a bit of thought in this very competitive market, as there are a number of very good systems around. So let's take a close look at what to expect in an Oregon weather station, and see if we can narrow the field.
Keep in mind that although there is plenty to like in Oregon Weather Stations, there are other strong manufacturers and you may benefit from a wider search.
Like their main competitor, La Crosse Instruments, Oregon have a wide selection to choose from, although, also like La Crosse, it is not easy to find a model with every desirable feature. Don't let this put you off, at least until you have decided which features are necessary in your ideal home weather station.
And once again like La Crosse, prices have tumbled on much of their range in the past year. Home weather stations have never been so well priced.
Oregon is also quite conscious of the potential of home weather stations as gifts, and some models have features, such as a colour display or voice activation, which may not appeal to searchers for no frills weather stations. Such features add to the cost.
Oregon's website is quite strong on information and pictures of their equipment, so you should be able to find out everything you need to know. Just click on this Oregon Weather Station. link.
Bear in mind that the prices you will see there, and those mentioned below, are the manufacturer's suggestions*. Many retail outlets, particularly online, are offering discounts of 33%, or even in excess of 50+% if you're quick.
You might also consider checking for your Oregon Home Weather Station at eBay. There is usually a good range of new current models, but check listed prices first - winning auction bids are not always bargains. Check near the bottom of the page to see what's available on eBay right now.
The Oregon Weather Station range can be divided into three groups, from basic to comprehensive.
1. Basic Temperature StationsLike La Crosse, Oregon produces basic temperature stations, often in the guise of an alarm clock. Some will even project the time and temperature on your bedroom wall.
Indoor and outdoor temperatures are displayed, and some may have the capacity to monitor extra locations, such as a baby's room or outdoor aviary. Prices are well under $50.00, but these often elegant units are not exactly weather stations.
2. Temperature/Humidity Stations
One step up are the temperature/humidity/air pressure recorders, with an external temperature/humidity monitor. These have basic forecasting capacity, usually displayed on screen with appropriate icons. They may include temperature alarms, and some can handle data from up to five locations.
The best value for normal purposes are the units which can link to three locations. An attractive package is the Long Range Weather Forecaster With Clock, Oregon Weather Station BAR898HGA , with 300 foot (91m) transmission range and, like almost every Oregon Weather Station, radio controlled time keeping. This has a current recommended price of $99.95, but is easily obtainable for under $60.00.
A cheaper alternative is the Standard Thermohygrometer - Oregon Weather Station RMR603HGA - which includes an outside temperature-humidity sensor, but because it doesn't record air pressure, has no forecasting function.
Oregon's price is $54.95, but I have seen it for
less than $35.00
Oregon also have a number of temperature stations from outside manufacturers, including Ferrari, Philippe Starck and Aranci. If you are looking for good value in your weather station these may not be ideal - most have features which add to the design and the price, but not to their effectiveness.
Nevertheless, some can handle up to five sensors, and if this is what you need, they are worth considering. Apart from Oregon, the only retailer I've seen with reasonable prices on these models is Amazon.
3. Complete Home Weather Stations
The top of the Oregon Weather Station range is occupied by two genuine weather stations with the full suite of sensors - temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, and rainfall through a self emptying rain gauge. Transmitter range is a useful 300 feet (91m).
These weather stations are the Complete Wireless Weather Station - WMR968 at $349.95, and the Total Weather Monitoring Station - WMR112A at $299.95, but as you'll see from the links, they can be found for considerably less.
Of these, the WMR968 appeals, with its large clear display including touch screen function, solar powered sensors, while it is PC compatible, although a cable and software will cost you a little extra. Two extra remote temperature sensors can be added. This Oregon Weather Station is well worth considering and is certainly comparable with the top of the La Crosse range. Direct comparison is difficult - Oregon's level of technical detail on their web site is not as strong as that provided by La Crosse.
And one very important point is the confusing nature of the manual. I like the WMR968, but if you decide to buy one, download a copy of the manual for RadioShack's WX200. That model is no longer available, but you'll find the manual RadioShack .
The WMR112A is a slightly older model without the touchscreen or computer compatibility. While a little more expensive, the WMR968, which can often be found at a little over $200.00, looks better value.
Summing UpThe top of the Oregon Weather Station range would suit most people looking for an economical, reliable and accurate weather station.
However, I do suggest that you hold off on a decision until you have compared the stations available at La Crosse Technology and Davis Instruments. Both Oregon and La Crosse provide very similar ranges from temperature stations right through to fully featured home weather stations. Their flagship, top of the range models are quite similar in capability and price, and it probably comes down to a matter of personal choice.
Both focus on the first time owner, and tend to build their equipment to satisfy a price. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is fair to say that quality improves as the price goes up, and, if you have a higher budget, Davis is certainly worth considering.
Updates on new models and hints on getting the best possible performance will be included in "Watching Weather" , a free monthly newsletter (why not sign up now?).
Would I buy an Oregon Weather Station? My answer is the same as for La Crosse, and it's "Yes". But that is on the understanding that they are neither toys nor robust commercial systems. They are both strong competitors in the market, and include several models which offer very good value, particularly to the first time owner or where funds are limited.
And no matter what home weather station you buy or own, its performance is only as good as the way it is set up.
The article on Setting Up. will help you identify just what your system will need to work around your home. You will also find that a little extra work at the beginning in weatherproofing moving parts, battery compartments and cable connections will pay off big time in minimising or preventing problems in data transmission. The article on Troubleshooting will help.
Whatever your choice, you will have entered the exciting world of weather observation and recording.
And When is a Weather Station not a Weather Station?
Oregon is certainly testing the limits of the concept of the weather station. And I don't just mean the combination of temperature or humidity stations with alarm clocks, including ones which project the information on the bedroom wall.
Neither do I mean hand held weather stations, usually limited to temperature and wind speed, or rain gauges which transmit their data to inside consoles, but don't record anything else. These kinds of instruments either are, or will be, covered elsewhere on this website.
You can find out more about Oregon's innovations, including combination Weather Radios and Weather Stations, and Weather Stations that gather their weather from the net rather than sensors at "Oregon Weather Station - Something New and Different"
As you can see, Oregon is an innovative company, and you may care to check through their complete range at the Oregon Weather Station website. Many of their products are sold through giftshops, but Amazon has a large selection, often at attractive prices. Good Luck
This link will take you back to the Top, or, when you're ready, here's how to return to the Home page.
Oregon Home Weather Stations on eBayEvery one of these Oregon Home Weather Stations is available right now from eBay. These listings are the best and easiest way to find Oregon Home Weather Stations and related articles from eBay. All Weather Stations in the following lists are available right now. See something you like? Then move fast and place your bid. If not, bookmark this page or the Home Weather Station Auction Index, because if what you're after isn't here now, it almost certainly will be later.
When you click on a link below you will be taken straight to an eBay page showing that item. All items will open in a new window, making it super easy for you to check any Oregon Home Weather Station that interests you. I hope you find exactly what you need, at a super price.
This link will take you back to the Home Weather Station Auction Index.
* all articles on auction courtesy of Ebay.
Click Here For Your Free 20 Page Report on Solving
But don't buy from there - in almost all cases much
better prices are available from both shopfront and internet
based retailers. At all times eBay and Amazon are worth
checking out, and you will notice many of the links go to
Amazon. Amazon has built a very sound reputation for customer
service, given the huge amount of business that passes through
their website, and many products are accompanied by clear
descriptions, alternatives, and reviews from customers. These
can be very helpful, and I shop at Amazon myself.
But prices can change very quickly there, so if you have made
up your mind on a product and you see a good price there, grab
it before it goes.
Where possible, I provide links to other retailers where their
prices are competitive. Some may be better than they seem if
the prices include delivery and, where needed, batteries -
check the terms they offer.
Finally, I stand to make small commissions on some of the products
I recommend. A lot of work goes into building and maintaining a
site like this, and I am not ashamed if I recoup some of the costs,
and even make a little money on top.
That being said, I will and do recommend sellers where I will not
make anything for myself. One of these is
Ambient Weather
, a useful retail site with good supporting information. But if
you visit there, don't forget to come back!
Last update 12/31/2006
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There is not much separating a number of examples of these
well priced units, most of which can be found at around $25.00,
less if you're lucky. Provided it includes automatic time
updates and can handle more than one sensor, choose one with
a design that appeals. A good example is the 
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