Test report for the Netatmo weather station NWS01 with rain sensor

The wireless weather station (WLAN) from Netatmo for iPhone and iPad has been on the market for several years. In addition to the actual station, there has also been a rain sensor that can be connected to the station since 2014. So the whole package is slowly getting round. However, the price for the complete package has landed beyond 200 EUR due to the rain sensor. That's how it costs Netatmo weather station without rain sensor approx. 165 EUR, while the "big" package including rain sensor (which you have to order separately) is around 235 EUR. If you already got the Netatmo Urban Weatherstation NWS2012 in 2013 or 01, you can Rain sensor also for about 70 EUR buy again.

Which parts belong to the Netatmo station?

If you open the box of the station, you will find two metal cylinders of different sizes, batteries, cables and fastening material as well as a small information sheet. A rain sensor and an interior module are also available as additional packages. Both are bought separately and retrofitted - which is very easy to do, however.

Assembly of the individual modules

The two metal cylinders represent the measuring stations that are set up or attached inside and outside. The large cylinder is the indoor module, which takes over the communication with the outdoor module and with the WLAN. This is best placed on the desk or in a rule where there is a socket nearby, because the power supply can also be done with batteries, but in order not to have to change the batteries too often, you should do it with the supplied one Supply the USB charging plug with power.

The smaller tube, which is attached outside, can be mounted under the roof of a garden shed or on the house wall, for example. You should make sure that no direct sunlight is possible and that the area where it is installed is not otherwise strongly heated by the sun, otherwise this would falsify the temperature measurement. A rain-protected installation is also useful, because even if the module is waterproof, the measurement of the humidity would suffer if it was in the rain. The outdoor sensor as well as the rain sensor are supplied with AAA batteries, which last for approx. 1 year.

Installation is made easier by the clips supplied. Once this has been screwed to the wall or under the roof, the outdoor module can be plugged in and removed again relatively easily.

Commissioning with the Netatmo app for iPhone and iPad

Once all modules have been installed and supplied with power, the software is ready to go: In order to be able to view the measured values ​​of the Netatmo weather station, the Netatmo app is installed. There are free of charge in the app store. It is a universal app that runs on both the iPad and the iPhone.

In order to have a weather forecast in addition to the current weather data from your own weather station, Netatmo works together with the Meteo Group, which you can perhaps use from the app "WeatherPro" knows. The forecast data flows directly into the Netatmo app and can be viewed there quickly. I've been using the "Weather Pro" app on my iPhone for years and can only confirm the good ratings given by other users.

Once the app has been installed, the connection between the modules, the iOS device and the WiFi must be established. To do this, you first have to create a Netatmo account via the app. The Netatmo server is, so to speak, the collection point (cloud) for all measurement data from the Netatmo weather stations that are in operation worldwide. The main module uploads the measurement data to Netatmo via the WiFi connection and the app fetches it from there with the corresponding account. That may sound a bit cumbersome, but it has the advantage that you can also access your home weather station while you are out and about - even third-party Netatmo stations via the sharing option.

In order for the main module to come into the WLAN, you have to connect the interior module once to the iPhone or iPad using a USB cable. The Netatmo app then recognizes the device and transmits the location and the WLAN access data to it. The station is then registered with Netatmo and data collection begins. The USB connection can of course be removed again afterwards.

You can watch a small product video from Netatmo here. It is, however, without a speaker and only accompanied by music. It gives a quick overview of the functions rather than revealing a lot of details.

Which sensors does the Urban Weatherstation have?

The most important question for the amateur meteorologist is of course which measured values ​​the station can provide. These depend on the sensors installed and accordingly the Netatmo gadget offers the following options:

• Temperature inside and outside (via the indoor sensor and the waterproof outdoor module)
• Humidity inside and outside
• Air pressure
• CO2 content (indoor air quality)
• Volume (inside)
• Precipitation amount (only with additional rain sensor!)

All of these measured values ​​are transmitted to the Internet at 5-minute intervals and are then also updated in the app. In order to get new values ​​spontaneously, the transmission can also be triggered by pressing a button on the base station.

What is not measured

In the small version, the weather station did not include a rain sensor. Accordingly, the amount of rain is not available. However, this sensor can easily be retrofitted. For the wind speed there is unfortunately no sensor from Netatmo, but the app offers this information and gets the data from the Meteo Group fund. The amount of precipitation is also displayed in this way if you do not have a rain sensor.

Likewise, the values ​​visible in the app, such as the UV value, duration of the sun, maximum daytime temperature and minimum temperature at night, as well as the display of the perceived temperature, are not obtained from the own station but from the Internet.

Data collection and data protection at Netatmo

By the way, the sound level measurement got into the negative press some time ago, because the volume data that the station sends to the Netatmo cloud was anonymously evaluated and turned into a World Cup barometer. Some Netatmo users were not very enthusiastic about this because they did not know that this data could be used for something like that - heise.de reported about it. For all those who are worried about this and might not want to buy the weather station for that reason: The provider has made improvements and now there is a switch in the Netatmo app under the “Advanced” area with which you can select “Become a contributor”. can disable.

A nice idea how to make the collected weather data available for everyone is that Netatmo Weathermap. All the data from the individual private weather stations is displayed on a world map and can be viewed by any Internet user. However, only the data from the outdoor sensor is displayed here: Altitude above zero, place name, temperature (with curve), humidity (with curve), air pressure (with curve). All measurement data from the interior sensor remain "secret". The whole thing is realized with Google Maps and for legal reasons I prefer not to take a screenshot. Also just have a look: www.netatmo.com/de-DE/weathermap

Events and push notifications

The Netatmo app can also display push notifications from the station if necessary. For example, you can be reminded to ventilate when the CO2 content has exceeded a certain value. Other measured values ​​can also be provided with rules in order to trigger events. For example, you can be informed in the event of a sudden drop in pressure, because this usually indicates a change in the weather.

Incidentally, the sound measurement can also be provided with such push messages. In this way, for example, you can monitor the house on vacation. However, it should be considered whether this is suitable as a warning in the event of a break-in, because firstly, in the worst case, the new sound value will only be transmitted again after 5 minutes and, secondly, it could be that a noise outside the house is so loud that it can be heard from the inside sensor is perceived. Here you might have to take a look at the CO2 content, because this would also have to change if people are “busy” in the house for a while. ;)

Archiving and export of the measured values

About the Netatmo website”Access to my weather station” you can log in and view the stored measured values ​​of the weather station. In this way, long time intervals can also be viewed again and, if necessary, exported. CSV and XLS (Excel) are available as output formats. You can of course also use both formats in Apple numbers open and continue to use.

Additional modules: rain sensor and interior sensor

As already mentioned, Netatmo also offers additional modules. This is, on the one hand, the aforementioned rain sensor and, on the other hand, a further interior module. Up to three of the interior modules can be linked to the base station. In this way, additional measured values ​​for temperature, humidity and CO2 content can be determined at several points in the house. However, these additional modules do not measure the sound level.

Advantages and possibilities with the rain sensor

The rain sensor offers some interesting features that make it an alternative to the usual rain gauges for the garden. Although it only works in connection with the Netatmo weather station and not "stand-alone", you have the following options:

• it measures the current amount of precipitation and transmits it to the app in order to record the data over the long term
• the app can send you a push notification with the rain sensor when it starts to rain (useful when you have your laundry hanging outside or when you need to clean the garden furniture upholstery)
• With the app you can use the measured amount of precipitation to calculate how much water the plants outside still need
• the rain sensor is a "flow sensor" and does not need to be emptied (it's technically a "rainfall tipping scale")
• it can measure quantities between 0,2 mm / h up to 900 mm / h and works with an accuracy of 1 mm / h
• One minus point: it cannot measure snow because the technology is not designed for it

I think the added value that the Netatmo rain sensor offers is very good. The price of 70 EUR is of course not exactly small, but when you consider the technology and the possibilities in connection with the Netatmo weather station, then I think the price is justified.

Installation of the Netatmo rain sensor

What is unfortunately missing with the rain sensor is instructions and material for mounting. There are assembly instructions, because it must be ensured that nothing can shield the rain falling at an angle, but the appropriate assembly accessories are missing. The housing has a camera thread, but it is up to the user how he attaches the sensor in the garden or on the house. There are some users who deal with a Wall bracket with camera connection help and others, the one Cullmann ground spike for cameras or Cullmann clamp use. All three options seem to work quite well - you just have to look to yourself which type of attachment is best.

Conclusion and purchase option

I admit that the price of approx. 240 EUR for the Netatmo weather station including rain sensor does not exactly encourage a test purchase. However, you can be sure that you will get solid technology and extremely attractive and user-friendly software for your money. The base station and the outdoor modules are of very high quality and make not only a robust but also a pretty impression in terms of design.

The Netatmo app is now not only available for iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad, but also runs on Android devices (from version 4) and Windows Phone. Since the app came out a few years ago, Netatmo has made a number of improvements and the ability to share weather data via Netatmo access also makes the system more flexible. So you can not only include the weather stations of acquaintances in your list, but also the data in others Apps get displayed. The Mac App”HIGHLIGHTS” can, for example, integrate up to three Netatmo weather stations into its display and thus also offers a good opportunity to visualize Netatmo data on the Mac.

Here you can order the Netatmo station and the additional sensors:

20,00 EUR

Netatmo weather station NWS01

The weather station consists of the basic module, which is placed inside, and the outside sensor. In connection with the Netatmo app you have a very innovative monitoring of the domestic weather.

189,99 EUR −20,00 EUR 169,99 EUR

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 28.11.2023 at 13: 34 clock)

25,00 EUR

Netatmo rain sensor

The precipitation sensor can be integrated into an existing weather station at a later date. It can be installed in the garden, on a butt or on a tree, for example.

79,99 EUR −25,00 EUR 54,99 EUR

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 27.11.2023 at 17: 35 clock)

11,10 EUR

Netatmo additional module for interiors

In order to monitor the CO2 content, temperature and humidity in other interior rooms, you can connect up to three of these interior modules to the weather station.

79,99 EUR −11,10 EUR 68,89 EUR

Buy it at Amazon Price includes VAT, plus shipping costs (updated: 28.11.2023 at 13: 34 clock)

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.

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