Yachting_Monthly_2016-01

(Nandana) #1
Products tested Eight weather stations, from £20 to £150

GEAR TEST

70 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com JANUARY 2016

Maplin AO1QX Wireless £19.95

Maplin N25FR £49.95

This is a smart-looking desktop unit with a colour display and large numerals and icons that
really stand out – provided
there’s not too much ambient light. It can be powered by three AA batteries, but it also comes
with a mains power supply that

This is one of the easiest to read, especially with the
permanently, so you only need green backlight on. All of the primary data is displayed
to press buttons to set the alarms and preferred units, or to toggle readings such as min/max, gusts, wind chill, etc.
Pressing the Set key repeatedly takes you to different areas

of the readout, and is indicated by that area fl ashing – easier to follow than others that just have
tiny arrows pointing to a fi gure.top, followed by the in/out temps and humidity. There The time and date are at the
are two weather symbols, the second showing the tendency – from cloudy to sunny, for instance.
Next is the current barometric pressure (relative or absolute) with a 24-hour history graph beside it. At the bottom is wind
speed in knots, mph, kph, m/s or Beaufort, which will also show maximum gusts and the chill factor.
The rainfall measure can be scrolled back to a day, week or month ago if required.
Programmable alarms

include maximum wind speed, temperature and rainfall. To view their settings, press the alarm key.

(^7) / (^10) and linked together by cable, but All sensors are weatherproof the temperature/
Supplier Tel Web 0333 400 9500 http://www.maplin.co.ukMaplin Electronics
probably saves a lot of batteries as I suspect the display is quite power-hungry.
Measuring internal and external temperature and humidity, a remote sensor is supplied. This has a small LCD
and is powered by two AAA batteries. Despite the temperature and humidity) screen (showing outside
battery compartment being screwed down with four screws, there is no O-ring or seal and it defi nitely
isn’t waterproof (as we discovered). The screws just make changing the batteries more tedious.
air pressure numerically, as well as providing a small historic bar chart giving the The unit shows the current
previous 12 hours’ readings. It needs to be calibrated initially, which is simple enough using the ‘Baro’
gives maximum and minimum keys on the back. It also
really stand out – provided with a mains power supply that Measuring internal and external temperature and humidity, a remote sensor is supplied. This has a small LCD
and is powered by two AAA batteries. Despite the temperature and humidity) screen (showing outside
battery compartment being screwed down with four screws, there is no O-ring or seal and it defi nitely
isn’t waterproof (as we discovered). The screws just make changing the batteries more tedious.
air pressure numerically, as well as providing a small historic bar chart giving the
previous 12 hours’ readings. It needs to be calibrated initially, which is simple enough using the ‘Baro’
gives maximum and minimum keys on the back. It also
readings for both temperature and humidity, inside and out. Other features include time (12h/24h), date and two
different alarms.looking and very cheap, it is somewhat limited.Although it’s quite good-
5 / 10
Best Budget Buy
humidity sensor then acts as a wireless transmitter for all the data. Although it has similar
transducers to the Maplin N96GY, it doesn’t feature wind direction – only speed.
takes you to different areas pressure (relative or absolute) with a 24-hour history graph beside it. At the bottom is wind
speed in knots, mph, kph, m/s or Beaufort, which will also show maximum gusts and the chill factor.
The rainfall measure can be scrolled back to a day, week or month ago if required.
Programmable alarms Supplier Maplin Electronics
The temperature/humidity sensor acts as a wireless hub for the other sensors Tel Web 0333 400 9500 http://www.maplin.co.uk
The remote sensor has its own small LCD screen
It’s a shame there’s no wind direction reading
PHOTOS: DUNCAN KENT

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