Davis Instruments 6250 Vantage Vue Review

Davis Instruments is one of the most reputable names in the industry, and their 6250 Vantage Vue certainly lives up to that name. Like most wireless weather stations, installing the 6250 Vantage Vue is fairly simple. It comes with a single LCD console, a particularly rugged outdoor sensor array, and a hardware mounting kit: everything you need to get up and running in no time. The 6250 Vantage Vue measures temperature (indoor and outdoor), humidity, dew point, wind direction, wind speed, rainfall, and barometric pressure.

Features

To set it apart from other weather stations, the 6250 Vantage Vue offers unique features.

Integrated Sensor Suite

Integrated Sensor Suite cases the 6250 Vantage Vue’s advanced electronics, which measure outdoor weather conditions with the utmost accuracy. This thoughtfully engineered casing is what gives the 6250 Vantage Vue the upper hand when it comes to durability. Here are some highlights about this component:

• Frequency-hopping spread spectrum from 902 to 928 MHz. With the ability to use multiple frequencies on a whim, the transmission of this unit can reach 1000 feet; much further than an entry-level model.
• Runs on solar power by day and its onboard super capacitor by night.
• Includes a lithium battery for backup power.
• A radiation shield that prevents heat buildup, helping to provide more accurate readings.
• Temperature readings range from -40° to 65°C and relative humidity from 0 to 100%.
• A rain gauge with a tipping spoon that empties itself automatically and has a resolution of 0.2 mm.
• An anemometer that measures wind speed from as little as 2 to 150 MPH. The wind direction can be measured in degrees or compass points.
• An onboard bubble level for precise positioning and better readings.

Console

The LCD console favors practicality over aesthetics. While it does not have colorful icons like many other weather stations do, its unique design allows users to view a considerable amount of information at once. The keypad, furthermore, is constructed with glow-in-dark, domed buttons for superior feel and visibility. Additional features are as follows:

• Dimensions: 3 inches by 4.375 inches
• Retransmit feature enables users transmit data further by 1000 feet per each additional console linked.
• Forecast icons for various weather conditions
• Displays date and time along with the sunrise and sunset time.
• Outdoor temperature updates every 10 minutes while indoor temperature updates from moment to moment. Outdoor humidity updates every 50 seconds; indoor humidity every minute. You can also monitor the rise, fall and the stability of the barometric pressure.
• Rain total and rate are updated in every 20 seconds.
• View, compare and analyze graphs of the last 25 hours, 25 days or 25 months.
• Wind speed is updated in every 2.5 seconds providing the average in 2 to 10 minutes intervals. It can be displayed in miles per hour, kilometers per hour, meters per second or knots.
• Moon phase feature displays all eight moon phases, starting from new moon to full moon.
• Other weather variables, like heat index and wind chill, are updated every 10 seconds.
• 22 different alarm tones to set warning alerts for storms, heavy rain, floods, extreme freezing temperatures and much more.

Expansion Capability

An additional feature that sets the 6250 Vantage Vue apart is its radio compatibility with the Vantage Pro2, which is Davis Instrument’s flagship weather station. Having this capability allows users to create a network of weather stations instead of just being limiting to one. Therefore, should you decide to upgrade to the Vantage Pro2 in the future, your 6250 Vantage Vue could combined with it. This makes the Vantage Vue 6250 a sound investment for weather enthusiasts who may decide to expand on their hobby later down the road.

Potential Drawbacks

Although the Vantage Vue 6250 is a solid piece of technology, there are some aspects to consider before deciding if it’s right for you. One consideration is this: the rain gauge bucket might not lose all their water in the tipping process, which means the rain data could be slightly off. Another possible downside is that very strong winds have the potential to blow water out of the rain gauge bucket, which would also result in an inaccurate reading. These issues are not very common, however.

As for reliability, the Vantage Vue 6250 might miss a few transmissions here and there since it is a wireless unit. Although the difference is nominal, wired units do have a tendency to be more accurate. Lastly, while solar power is most definitely a plus, it can be unreliable during times of low light. For this, the unit has a lithium battery as backup. It too, however, can run low at times. Thus, it would be wise to closely monitor the power levels of the Integrated Sensor Suite, especially during the winter months when sunlight is not as abundant.

Conclusion

All in all, the 6250 Vantage Vue Wireless Weather Station is one of the most precise and reliable weather stations available in its price tier. It might not be the cheapest weather station, but it is well worth the investment if its capabilities fit your needs. Besides, when you buy a weather station from a name like Davis Instruments, you can be sure that you’re making a solid investment.