portable weather stations for campers

Introduction

when you are remote camping for more than a few days off grid, a small portable weather station can be useful to keep an eye on the weather systems and also can be fun to help you document your experience and what works in various conditions
your smartphone will probably have a barometer built in and GPS altimeter, so you probably don't need these

UNI-T UT363 LCD Digital Anemometer Wind Speed Meter Temperature Air Flow Tester
- wind “0-30m/s”; Beaufort scale; wind chill; temp;
- $AU31
Sunroad FR500 / FR510 Multifunction Outdoor Temperature, Barometer, RH, altimeter, compass
- USB chargeable lithium battery
- temperature, RH and barometer measurements only occur every 30min on the hour and the half hour

HOLDPEAK 866B-APP
- Wind Speed Range from 0.3~30m/s (1-100kph) and Temperature
- Bluetooth but no USB
- takes about 1 hour for temp to equilibrate going from 36degC to 22degC environment
- $AU30
Testo 410i Smart Vane Anemometer - IC-0560-1410
- although not really designed for campers but rather for industrial uses, the anemometer has the advantage over weather stations of being able to record lower air speeds down to 1.5kph which may be useful if you are assessing air flows inside your tent but max. wind speed is 108kph.
- $AU172
- https://www.instrumentchoice.com.au/testo-410i-smart-vane-anemometer-ic-0560-1410
Skywatch BL300 Bluetooth Weather Station
- awesome little device which measures wind speed, wind direction, temperature - wind chill/heat index and Humidity - dewpoint
- IP67; micro-USB rechargeable lithium battery which lasts 1wk; tripod mount on base;
- anemometer range 3-150kph
- only 26 x 116 mm (closed, without clip)
- $AU349
- https://www.instrumentchoice.com.au/bl-300-anemo-thermometer-and-hygrometer-for-smartphone-with-bluetooth-ic-bl-300
Skywatch BL500 Bluetooth Weather Station
- as for BL300 but adds air pressure - altitude (QNH) and UV Index (0 to 15)
- $AU435
- https://www.instrumentchoice.com.au/bl-500-anemo-thermometer-hygrometer-pressure-and-uv-index-for-smartphone-ic-bl-500

these are small devices which have sensors, an internal battery and data logging system which can be later attached to a computer's USB port to upload the data
USB Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, Dew Point Data Logger, LCD Screen
- https://www.instrumentdevices.com.au/product/usb-air-temperature-relative-humidity-dew-point-data-logger/
- main temp sensor can take 45min or so to equilibrate to a new ambient temperature while the probe takes about 13 minutes (original temp 22deg indoor, taken to outdoor 11deg)
- ext. probe takes around 60secs to equilibrate after immersion into hot water and then around 8 min to return to ambient temperature
- battery lasts 2-4yrs depending upon logging frequency 1min vs 4min
- $AU138
HoldPeak HP-866A
- windspeed 0.8-40m/s (1.4-144kph)
- RH, dewpoint, temp, wet bulb temp
- takes about 1 hour for temp to equilibrate going from 36degC to 22degC environment
- USB
- $AU45

Digital Anemometer Data Logger with WiFi Mobile APP – wind speed, temperature, wind chill
- https://www.instrumentdevices.com.au/product/digital-anemometer-data-logger-with-wifi-mobile-app-wind-speed-temperature-wind-chill/
- $AU132