WH1080/1081 review from MWF

[guyz]

Watson - W1080/ WH8680
There has been lots of discussion taking place about this unit and as I have had it a couple of weeks I thought I would add a review. It comes under several rebadged names/models.

The unit is a cheap and cheerful one, but not so basic as it would seem for the price.

I will not bother repeating its feature list, because the manufacturer list the detail here Fine Offset Eletronics Co.,LTD.

It is a complete kit, all you need included even down to a small mounting pole and tiewraps to tidy the cables - batteries are the exception, 5x AA cells needed. There are no optional extras, or extra sensors - it is not designed to accept any, so make sure it does all you need. Sensors are in plus outdoor temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, plus pressure. From these basics, much more data is derived.

Basic build quality seems variable, mine was 100% but others have reported various problems with the unit as it came of of the box - from touch screens being lose, to bits of wire cuttings left inside the display.

The display unit, even when not connected to the PC (USB) can store a little over two weeks worth of full data, even when set at the maximum of 5 minute data intervals. No data or settings will be lost, even if the batteries are changed, apart from the period with no batteries - though the DCF clock will need to resync. When you connect your PC, it downloads all the latest data, adding it to its existing record seamlessly. This file is a comma delimited file (CSV), so fairly easy to import into various other software.

There is a known problem with the latest version of the software (V2)corrupting the data sometimes as it is read in from the LCD display unit. Finding a copy of the V1 of the software seems to resolve it, other than that the two version appear identical apart from the icon. The outdoor sensor are linked together by wires of adequate length to allow a variety of mounting locations. The outdoor sensors are then linked to the display wirelessly. The later has an extremely good reliable range.

The outdoor bits and pieces seem fairly robust, with all metal fitting and screws made from stainless steel.

Due I think to the touchscreen over the display, the contrast of the display is poor, making it difficult to read - made worse by the digits not being driven hard enough for being used face on or below 90deg. It improves by looking at it from slightly above. Trying to find your way around the display can be a nightmare, due in part to the lack of contrast plus the sheer complexity of the sequences. The user instructions are also needlessly complex to follow and a printed flow chart would help a lot.

Certain of the display units settings can be carried out from the PC, but I am still working out which.

Another possible problem reported is the none existant sealing of the outdoor units battery compartment. I added some duct tape over the compartment to prevent water entry and have since added a DIY 'Stevenson screen' which will help even more. The later to make the temperature sensor even less susceptible to solar heating.

I have found the manufacturers help email address very helpful and quick to reply to any help requests about the unit.


review by
harrym1byt

[TokWW]

Is it a touch screen only unit? Or a combination?

It looks like only touch screen...

I like the bar graph histogram...

[guyz]

yes its touch screen only unfortunately. it seems to go pretty well and the weather display program is able to fine tune the station data.

only real issue i have as most do is the poor contrast. the real unit display doesnt do the picture justice.

[arthurhh]

As I sit here I am testing one of these units, so far impressed, partic the wireless side, having had real **** luck with wireless stations, this one is doing really well right through the house end to end.
Rain seems to be out by a factor of 10, but I havnt done anything with the WD software yet