There's lots of weather stations on the market, if you know where to look, but Netatmo's Smart Weather Station does it differently. It takes out the complications, makes everything really simple and easy to understand, and it's just so elegant and robust.

Sure enough, it has. Today’s home weather stations are cheaper, more powerful, and do more than ever. Also, the old guard in this category have stepped up their mobile app game to compete with the newcomers on the market. You’ll find weather stations located across the UK, often in wide open space so observations can be accurately recorded. For example, official weather stations are often located at airports as they have plenty of open space making them a good place for observations to take place. However, the observation equipment is set an internationally-agreed distance from the runway to ensure no external factors can influence readings in any way. On the whole, we were generally impressed with the accuracy of the Netatmo Weather Station. Its outside temperature, humidity and rainfall readings never strayed too far from other local and official weather stations, and were typically a good representation of the local conditions. If you'd like some increased functionality, the web app has a few extra features, including the ability to export your data to Excel - this is only possible for the outdoor sensors, though. Netatmo has the largest network of Weather Stations in the world, which monitors the environment in more than 175 countries, available on the Netatmo Weathermap.Where Netatmo fails primarily is in installation. The setup process is convoluted and buggy, and it seems to have gotten worse over the years instead of better. Netatmo’s piecemeal approach also means you have to install each component individually, a complex process that involves strategically pressing buttons and removing/reinstalling batteries at just the right time. This process was even more complex because the sensors Netatmo sent me came with preinstalled batteries, all of which were dead on arrival, and the batteries in the wind meter were actually corroded. The system also has a tendency to randomly lose its Wi-Fi connection without warning, only to recover it a few hours later. You'll be prompted to register a free Netatmo account before getting started. From there, it's a case of plugging the indoor unit into the mains and following the app's on-screen instructions to get it connected to the wi-fi. The indoor unit acts as the 'base' station and communicates wirelessly with the outdoor sensor, which is battery-powered.

Whether you have a suitable place to position the wind sensor is probably the most important thing to consider before purchasing that additional module. The set-up process is pretty straightforward and it shouldn't take you more than around 15 minutes to have the two main units connected and up and running. We set it up using the mobile app, but you can use your computer if you'd prefer. The smartness doesn't stop there though. The Netatmo's battery is stated to last around 10 years - that's pretty standard, but an additional feature this little device boasts is a self-testing facility. If there's a problem, it'll let you know.This extra data will be extremely useful in forecasting and monitoring localised extreme weather events such as heavy snow and rain. WOW has been developed by the Met Office in partnership with the Royal Meteorological Society and the Department for Education. By protecting the Weather Station’s Outdoor Module from bad weather, the shield can improve the accuracy of its readings. It’s easy to install along a wall or post with the accessories provided and protects the Outdoor Module from direct sunlight, rain and snow while allowing air to circulate around it. Tempest provides quite a bit of information, including temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, lighting strike info, and UV data. The system also measures rain activity, but it does so without a traditional rain-catching funnel. Instead, Tempest uses a haptic rain sensor, essentially measuring when and how forcefully water droplets hit the top of the device. It’s surprisingly accurate and a lot less messy than the typical rain sensor—and it doesn’t have to be cleaned periodically. Consistency of measurements is vital across the network, both for informing our forecasts and for the long-term weather and climate records of the UK.

The indoor air quality readings allow the user to take action and improve their well-being with simple steps, such as opening the windows when the CO2 levels are too high. The temperature, humidity and noise levels in the home are also provided in real-time.You can monitor all your current and historical data in real-time on your smartphone or computer using the free Netatmo web or mobile app.