La Crosse Technology WS-7038UF Wireless Rain Monitor customer reviews:
Idea is nice, but only works once and a while Nice Toy, but that's because that's what it is. If really want a instrument that accurately measures the actual amount of rainfall and history just outside, you best get a glass tube and a pad and pencil. Le Crosse makes some great products, but this one just isn't one of them. Unfortunately, it stops working just when you're most interested in having it do so. Don't confuse this with a weather station that could cost over $500. See the other reviews about battery change design flaw. Other than this, if the price is right the thing could be a nice gadget gift for those that aren't all that serious about the true amount of rain. Unreliable Bought the rain gauge and within 9 months after working flawlessly it just plain stopped. Sent it back, received another unit and within 6 months totally inaccurate. As an example, yesterdays rainfall was 0.42 inches and this unit registered 0.04. The day before it recorded one half of the actual amount. Great....while it works I've owned this for a couple of years. First problem happened within a few months. The display on the receiver became jibberish. I sent the unit to LaCrosse and got a new one. Again, it worked well for quite a while, but now parts of the LCD numbers are fading out. For example, 10:30 may come out as 17:11. And we had a few hundreds of an inch of rain, and the unit said we had 1.03 inches. This is very frustrating.
From the beginning, range was an issue. It has to be direct line of sight. When I was setting it up, I tried various locations, and the range wasn't very good. I ended up with the receiver on a window sill, and the sender about 50 feet away outdoors. I like the way this setup worked out, but be concerned if you don't have a clearing outdoors (so the collector is not under obstructions such as trees) in direct line of sight within 50 or 60 feet of the receiver.
I really liked this unit...when it worked. The reciever is attractive. I bought this when it was fairly new, for a fair amount more than you can here on Amazon now. I expect this kind of product to work at least for several years...not months. I think it's time to try Oregon Scientific! It works fine, but ... I used the LaCrosse Model WS2010-16 for 5 years until a strong wind blew it off my deck and it then failed to function. The WS2010-16 is an excellent wireless, self-emptying, rainfall sensor, working in a similar vein to the WS7038UF, but the WS2010 has a lithium battery that is recharged by a built-in solar power cell. This power aspect is KEY, in that it makes the WS2010 device all-weather, even in freezing winter conditions. Amazingly, my WS2010 operated problem-free, without replacement of any batteries, for 5 years of service in all kinds of weather! By contrast, this WS7038 device uses conventional alkaline batteries, which LIMITS use of the collector/sensor to temperatures of 30 deg F and above. If you live in areas that do not get too frigid, then you would be OK with the WS7038. Otherwise, beware of this lack of general utility. Also, battery-induced damage to the WS7038 might occur from a lack of attention. Granted the pricing for the WS7038 is much more favorable than the pricing of the WS2010 system, which is no longer listed on the Lacrosse Technologies website (Apr 2007). In my opinion, the WS2010 system, as a whole, is an amazingly functional and highly durable product. If money is not an object, then I would strongly suggest that you go in the direction of the WS2010 system. Should have read the reviews I should have read the reviews before I purchased the WS-7038UF. It does not work and has never worked. IT will establish wireless connectivity, but if the receiver is moved 2" or more connection is lost. Connection is lost if I walk within 4 feet, connection is lost if it rains.
A unit that turns off when rain begins is not much of a rain guage.
G Sadler Bridges
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