AcuRite 01036M Pro Color Review

Confidently plan your day with customized weather data and forecasts right from your backyard. The AcuRite 01036M Pro Color is a unique weather station that connects to your tablet or smartphone via an app and uses self-calibrating technology to provide you with the most accurate weather data possible. It comes with an integrated sensor array, a beautiful color console and an app that you can download onto your device of choice.

Purpose

The AcuRite 01036M Pro Color weather station is specifically designed for personal use. It connects with the My AcuRite app for viewing on your wireless device, making it convenient to plan your day. As for installation, its sensor suit is mounted in the backyard, and the console can either be set on a tabletop or mounted on a wall.

Connection and Transmission Distance

The AcuRite 01036M Pro Color is a wireless weather station that has a transmission distance of up to 330 feet or 100 meters. However, obstructions will affect transmission signal and must be avoided when possible. Additionally, the digital display comes with a PC connect feature that enables users to connect via USB.

Power Source

As for powering this device, the wireless sensor array can run on 4 AA lithium or alkaline batteries. The batteries are expected to last for a maximum of two years. However, for areas with the temperature below -29°C, lithium batteries are highly recommended. Additionally, the sensor comes with two solar panels for powering the internal fan, which regulates the thermometer for maximum accuracy. For the console, AcuRite provides a 4.5v power supply, but the console can also run on 6 AA alkaline batteries if needed.

Data Offered

AcuRite 01036M Pro Color weather station has a 5-in-1 sensor unit that includes a thermometer, wind vane, anemometer, hygrometer and a rain collector with self-emptying technology. The illuminated console also has a few integrated indoor sensors. Here is a list of the data that the AcuRite 01036M Pro Color provides;

  • The self-calibrating forecasting pulls the data from the sensor and provides an accurate forecast of 12 to 24 hours.
  • Weather ticker streams real-time data and alerts.
  • Indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity data can be viewed with trend arrow.
  • Rain precipitation and rainfall history are measured in millimeters or inches.
  • Wind speed peak, current, or average is measured in MPH or KPH. Wind direction data is provided with 16 points rose.
  • Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly high and low records. Also, barometric pressure with trend arrow.
  • Date and time, and other weather variables including wind chill heat index, dew point and “feels like” data.
  • The readings can be displayed in either Bilingual English or French.
  • Customizable weather alarms for temperature, humidity, dew point, wind, rain, heat index, and storm warnings.

Specifications

Update Frequency: The AcuRite 01036M Pro Color updates data quite fast, with wind speed in every 18 seconds, wind direction every 30 seconds and temperature and humidity every 36 seconds.

Range & Accuracy: 

  • Transmission range: 330 feet
  • Indoor temperature range: 32°F to 122°F
    • Accuracy
      • +/- 2°F.
  • Outdoor temperature range: -40°F to 158°F
    • Accuracy
      • +/- 2°F.
  • Indoor relative humidity range: 16% to 98%
    • Accuracy
      • +/- 4% from 16% to 20% relative humidity
      • +/- 3% from 20% to 80% relative humidity
      • +/- 4% from 80% to 90% relative humidity
      • +/- 5% from 90% to 98% relative humidity
  • Outdoor relative humidity range: 1% to 99%
    • Accuracy
      • +/- 5% from 1% to 10% relative humidity
      • +/- 4% from 10% to 20% relative humidity
      • +/- 3% from 20% to 80% relative humidity
      • +/- 4% from 80% to 90% relative humidity
      • +/- 5% from 90% to 100% relative humidity
  • Wind speed range is 0 to 99 mph.
    • Accuracy
      • +/-2 mph below 10 mph
      • +/- 3 mph from 10 to 30 mph
      • +/- 4 mph from 30 to 50 mph
      • +/- 5 mph from 50 to 99 mph
  • Rainfall capacity starts at 0.01 inches
    • Accuracy
      • Rainfall accuracy is +/-0.05″ per inch.

Cost and Warranty

In terms of cost, AcuRite 01036M Pro Color is priced fairly low when compared to other weathers stations with similar features. It offers a lot of value because the sensor suit is basically 5 devices in 1: a thermometer, hydrometer, anemometer, wind vane, and rain gauge. Moreover, the AcuRite 01036M is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a budget weather station that will help you plan your day.

As for the warrantry, your investment will be safe with this product as it comes with a 1-year limited warranty. Furthermore, you can return this unit within 90 days if the purchase date for a full refund if, for any reason, you are not 100% satisfied with it.

Pros

  • It’s a wireless unit, so it can be installed smoothly and quickly without professional help. It also includes mounting hardware.
  • It provides the weather forecast. There are only a few other weather stations in this price range with the forecasting feature.
  • Quite affordable and has all advanced features including PC connect, that allows the user to share their data and analysis with other weather enthusiasts.
  • Aesthetically appealing console for home display.

Cons

  • Although the internal fan in the sensor unit keeps the temperature accurate, it may wear out in the long run.
  • Specific data might be lost at times due to interruptions in signal.
  • Not as accurate as higher-end models.

Conclusion

The AcuRite 01036m Pro Color is a perfect choice for those looking for an affordable weather station that will look great at home and provide you with personalized forecasting information to help plan your day.

11 thoughts on “AcuRite 01036M Pro Color Review”

  1. I bought this weather station. Worked great about 9 months. Then slowly began to have problems. After a little over 1 year it quit working completely. As long as technicians could talk me through some resets, they will not warranty the machine. But, it quit completely after warranty ran out.

    Reply
  2. I have had real difficulty with the weather vane on this model. Others too if you frequent their forum. I am dissatisfied with the station because of it.

    Reply
  3. Question: I see on Amazon that people are commenting on needing a bridge to make this work unless you have a PC open and running all of the time. Is this correct? Is the Smart Hub the bridge? We’d want to have access through tablets and phones.

    Reply
    • Yes and no. There is a USB port on the side of the display unit. This is what you would use to connect to the internet. You can connect to either weather underground or the Acurite website. All the smart hub is for is if you don’t have a USB connection. Most if not all of the 5 in 1 sensor models DO NOT connect directly to a wireless devise, and you HAVE to go thru one of these two external websites.

      Reply
  4. I bought this through Amazon. It is a piece of shit. I live on a salt water bay. It was mounted on a pole on my roof, about 40 feet higher than the water. Within 6 months the weather vane corroded and froze. Who needs a weather station not built for outdoor weather?

    Reply
    • This – and all other consumer-grade weather sensors – are designed for the mythical “average” consumer. The average consumer does NOT live near salt water, therefore these are not designed to withstand the salt air environment.

      You will need to get a corrosion-resistant Professional-grade system (such as what professional meteorologists use) suitable for your local environment. Try checking with a local National Weather Service station, a local airport, or a local Coast Guard or Navy base. Find out what they use, and then see if you can afford to buy the same things (and have them professionally calibrated every year.) Note that “local” is the key here. The places you check with should be roughly the same distance from the surf line (or closer) as your location is.

      Reply
    • Weather station may be good. Don’t know yet just purchased, but customer service is not in this company’s vocabulary. Tried to get them by “Chat”. What a joke. Spent 20 minutes waiting for someone to respond to my request for help. Finally had to give up. Tried calling. All you can get is a recorded message telling you to try “Chat” for help. I’ve read several frustrated customer comments and even when a “so called” company representative replies to someone, notice they never leave a name or direct line to call back. Their response is always to ‘call the number of the customer care line’, which is only the (one and only) company number that give you a recorded message to use the (worthless) “Chat” feature or go to the “Support” tab on the website that tells you to use “Chat”.
      Such a crappy company!!!

      Reply
  5. My Acurite Pro worked fine for 1.8 years (and of course out of warranty). Then problems steadily developed such as:
    Not recording rainfall (checked housing and nothing impeding the paddles). Synchronized units and started working for 3 days and then stopped. Synchronized 4 more times and stops. Outside temperature stuck on 51 degrees even after synchronization. Bubble level lost the seal and now no bubble available to level the unit. The Acurite calibration method is flawed due to the meniscus effect around the pinhole in a paper cup when the water level in the cup gets around 1/4 full. Calibration is very very time consuming and not reliable. Our daughter and son both have similar problems. A manual rain gage and thermometer would be more reliable.

    Tech support was helpful to a point. Probably the internal fan failed. And……? Buy another one every 1.5 years…..hmmmmm.

    Wish Acurite management would contact me.

    Reply
  6. There is absolutely NO reason to be cursing, Lawrence. Apparently some people have now way of expressing their dissatisfaction without doing so.

    Reply
  7. AcuRite 01036 Pro Color Review purchased years go. Good features. Set it to work with the Weather Underground where it posted my weather data FOR YEARS. Then a few years after purchase, it would no longer work with the Weather Underground. But that was no big deal (I thought). I assumed that the Weather Underground was flaky. BOY WAS I WRONG, IT WAS CHANEY INSTRUMENT that removed the utility to send the data. OK I just thought it was nice t be able to see my weather and other weather stations. I also downloaded the Chaney Acurite cell phone utility. And that worked fine. I could see my weather data on my cell phone any where in the USA. Then, a few weeks ago (JULY 1019), the cell phone utility from Chaney refused to work. So I contacted Chaney Support. They said they could fix the problem with a $500 software fix. I told them where they you put their utility (where the sun does not shine).

    Reply
  8. When I received this unit, the UV sensor read very low readings. Accurite sent me a replacement sensor. That UV sensor still only read 1-2 in direct Sunlight in Florida. I again contacted Accurite and they sent another UV sensor. Same very low readings.
    After replacing 3 sensors (located on my roof) I requested a return the unit for a refund, Accrite told me that my unit could not be returned because it was used. The tipping bucket rain gauge had erratic readings. The display does not have a battery back-up. I purchased a La Cross weather station and it performes very well. Do not waste your time and money on Accurite!

    Reply

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