Customer Reviews

La Crosse Technology Weather Direct WD-3105U-BK 4 Day Internet Powered Wireless Forecaster - Black

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I agree with the other reviewers who dislike the form function of this product. It works well enough, but I know if the temperature of the room I'm standing in is comfortable or not -- what I DON'T know is what it will be like outside! Unfortunately, the indoor temperature can be constantly displayed, but the outdoor temperature either scrolls intermittently on the bottom of the screen (stand around a while waiting for it to get to the info you want), or you have to push a button on the back of the machine. UNFORTUNATELY, the button you push to get outdoor temp is right next to the alarm button. My wife and I have accidentally set the alarm when simply trying to view the outdoor temperature -- which we found out when it went off in the middle of the night.

The scrolling info on the bottom of the screen isn't very useful -- except for the outdoor temperature, it simply repeats the information on the rest of the screen (i.e., tomorrow will be cloudy, next day chance of rain, etc.) and is rather distracting.

I gave it 3 stars because it has a lot of information (3 day forcast, and can hit buttons to find out morning, noon and night info for each of those days, as well), and if you're looking for that, it's good, though its forcast highs and lows seem off (note you need an internet connection and a router to get the forcasts, that get sent wirelessly to the unit from the doohickey attached to your router). But if you're looking for something that will give you easy access to real-time outdoor temperature (frankly, as we were -- this was bought for us as a present), then go with something else.

The packaging is indeed the hardest to open I have seen. I expect 20% of users to cut themselves while opening the product. After getting the weather station out of the package, it was easy to setup. Connect the wireless gateway to your router and plug it in. Go to the weather direct website and follow the instruction to get the computer to register the gateway device. It will tell you to then insert 2 C batteries (not includeded) in the weather station. Then the two devices talk to each other and the forecast is sent to the weather station. You do not have to pay for a subscription to use the device. You can buy additional features like weather alerts and being able to get more cities, but I chose not to. It updates the forecast every 6 hours.

I do not like the fact that the outdoor temperature is not displayed all the time. I do not like that I can't wall mount the device. Since I already have an outdoor temperature displayed on another LaCrosse device that I already owned I will be able to live without the outdoor temp shown on this device. One other note is that the temperature sensor does not seem to work with the LaCrosse devices I already own. So I need to have multiple sensors to drive all my devices. I was hoping to avoid replacing batteries in two sensors, but I guess not.

ok weather forecaster with a few flaws
This item works as advertised, but the display could have Bigger (wall mount size). No backlight for nighttime viewing.
UNFRIENDLY PLASTIC PACKAGING. outside temp is not on the main screen. I will keep it but, will not buy another one.

This item works as advertised, but the display could have been better thought out. My biggest complaint is that the outside temperature is part of the scrolling forecast at the bottom of the display. It takes a while for the sunrise/sunset, 4 day forecast and outside temperature to scroll, so you have to wait a long time to see the outside temperature. If an alert is scrolling, you won't see it at all for 6 more hours. This should have been part of the permanent display. I am more interested in the outside temperature than the inside temperature, but the inside temperature can be permanently displayed while the outside temperature cannot. The switches on the back of the display are kind of flaky, but since those are rarely used, that is a minor complaint. You have to subscribe to weather alerts/warnings, which costs extra. All in all this is a nice weather display if a bit over priced.

Great idea, but poor implementation: Wireless transmitter for router made such a loud hiss, I couldn't stand it in my office. Indoor temperature reading didn't work. You have to push a button on the back of the display to get the outdoor temperature - the most important bit of information for us. Closest location to us is about 7 miles away. THE LEAST CUSTOMER FRIENDLY PLASTIC PACKAGING I HAVE EVER SEEN. It took 5 painful minutes to get open. Having to pay expensive subscription fees for weather warnings was a surprise. It is going back and getting replaced by a thermometer and the Weather Channel.

First problem you will have is with the packaging. You should probably buy a chainsaw first so you can cut the damn thing out in a timely manner. After you finally extricate the product from the package, you will follow the "quick start" instructions and connect the device to your router. After discovering that the cheap network cable supplied with the device doesn't function, and acquiring a different one, you will now have to register the device on their painfully slow, non-functional website. Bring a lunch because it will take a long ass time. Once you have registered the device on their website, most of the hair you have pulled out of your head will have already grown back, and it will be time to repeat the entire stupid process with the wireless display. At this point you will want to hang yourself.

Bottom line is even after I sucessfully registered the damn thing and had everything synced up, it never did broadcast anything to the wireless display. I then made the mistake of unplugging the unit, and upon plugging it back in learning that it didn't retain any information, and I would have to repeat the entire registration process again, I promptly ripped the piece of crap off my PC and tossed it in a bag to go back to the store. If you want to know what the weather is going to do, watch the weather channel, get a smartphone app, or frickin go outside, life is too short to be screwing with this Chinese crap.

Easy to set up and install. Good for general weather information. Does not display current outdoor temperature unless you subscribe to one of the expanded services, then it scrolls across the bottom. That is very disappointing. Efforts to get answers to 2 questions were fruitless. Answers were a long time in coming, and did not address the questions asked. Tech support essentially worthless.

I agree with most of the reviewers about the functionality. I can add that it tends to go off line and stop displaying termperature information.
That said, it is accurate on the inside outside temperature. It's not bad, but if I was looking for a forecaster I would not buy this product.

I usually don't like to blast a product for being bad, but this Weather Direct Internet powered weather gizmo is totally junk. To be fair, the Internet weather service WD provides is the bad part. I had an older WD Internet device a couple years ago which worked quite well. I purchased this device thinking it would work just as well as my old one did. Unfortunately right after it arrived and I attempted to register the device with Weather Directs weather service on-line, WD claimed to be moving servers and the service may be unavailable. After trying several times over several days to get the device working, I was successful. The device worked as expected for about three days then stopped. According to the website, WD was still having problems with their servers. I've attempted to call their support number, but nobody returns my calls. I've gone to the website and attempted to re-register/active my devices but no luck. It has been almost a month, and the device just sits in the corner of my desk, displaying the words "Updating". Really it's mocking me and may as well be saying: "You're so stupid for purchasing me, but thanks for the money".

Frankly I'm not sure if Weather Direct is on the financial ropes or what, but this device is a great idea that just doesn't work reliably, mainly because of the dependence on their service and the Internet. Don't waste your money or time on this device.

It didn't take much effort to hook this up with your computer. It's done thru a website where you choose your location. I've had this for a year now, & Just got one for my Dad. For the cash, It's a good deal. Con's are it comes "unhooked" from the computer, but easily fixed with a click of the mouse. This is just a brief glance at the forecast, it doesn't describe exactly when during the day it will rain, just that it will rain that day. Overall, still a great gift for a weather bug!