Customer Reviews

La Crosse Technology Weather Channel WS-9005TWC-IT Wireless Rain Center with Self-Emptying Rain Bucket

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

I bought this gauge about 9 months ago. It is mounted about 60 feet from the receiver and it picks up the signal through window glass and around a small obstruction. I've compared the gauge readings with the television weather report and they often match within 0.1", so mine is very accurate.

Pro: The gauge is continuous and doesn't require dumping water. You don't get wet reading the rainfall. It seems to be very accurate and reads in the hundredths of an inch.

Cons: The three year battery life reported by Lacrosse is a joke; it's about 9 months for the transmitter. also, when you replace one set of batteries in the transmitter, you need to remove the batteries in the receiver to reset the signal; I had to do it a couple of times to work.

I bought one of these when they first came out. Liked it so well I bought two more as Christmas presents.

Only problem I had was that at first I tried to mount it on a metal base and it would not work. I made plastic mounts for the two I gave as presents and they also worked fine.

I bought this wireless rain gauge to keep track of the rainfall for my garden. A manual gauge is O.K. if you keep track of totals. When I first set it up (per the instructions), the display had nothing but lines (no zeros). I went through the setup several more times but still no zeros (indicates lack of communication between the gauge and the receiver). I removed the cover on the gauge and checked the battery contacts and found that the AAA batteries are loosely contained in their holders and the cover could be installed without making electrical contact with the contact on the cover. Some folded electricians tape wedged between the second battery and the case ensured contact. Replaced the batteries in the receiver and unit came to life. A test pour of some water showed the unit to be working.

I find this rain guage to be not user friendly. I had trouble getting accurate readings from the time I first started using it. Reaching help by telephone is difficult; often there is no one to answer the phone. When I have found someone on the other end of the phone they have been helpful, but the information they give should be in the instruction manual. The instruction manual needs to be more thorough in order to explain all the possibilities of what can go wrong and how to deal with these situations.

Easy to install and use, this rain center is so much fun you want it to rain just to watch the display move. It was a gift to my husband who always wants to know how much it really rained, you know, not at the airport but at our house. Since it is self-emptying, you always get an accurate record. I would highly recommend this rain gauge.

I have two of these rain gauges and both are splendid items, work as advertised. Strongly recommend their purchase.

I recieved this rain sensor for Christmas. I tried for 2 weeks to set it. Sent several emails to the company for help and did not get a response. They do not have an 800 number. I sent the product back to Amazon. I had to give it one star rating since there is nothing less.

Small wonder that this product has so many one-star ratings and is offered at such a reduced price. It just doesn't work--after twice following directions with fresh batteries. I have successfully set up wireless rain gauges in the past, so cannot attribute this failure to mechanical challenges. I spent at least an hour, and tried calling the contact number--NOT toll-free--put on hold after the laborious menu for seven minutes, and then a robotic voice offered to take my name and number. Very, very poor service, considering LaCrosse Technology's respectable history. If ever the advice "buyer beware" should apply, this is it. Don't waste your time, energy, or money in trying to acquire what should be an attractive gift or personal gadget.

My Oregon Scientific rain guage that I had for several years died. I read reviews on another website praising
La Crosse producs. I ordered this one from Home Depot last week and received it yesterday. After numerous attempts
to follow the limited instructions in the manual and more of the same from their customer "support" agent I am returning it to La crosse and have entered a claim with Paypal for a full refund from Home Depot. I will order the Oregon Scientific unit from Amaxon. A lesson learned. I wish I had seen the reviews here first.

The batteries for the outdoor part of the rain gauge are in a plastic box with a long, somewhat rectangular lid that holds on by two small clips, arranged at the very ends. If only they had used more than two clips or put them on the long edges rather than the small ones, it might have worked. But as it is, the lid bends because the first, positive-side-up battery pushes it out too far to meet the negative-side-up battery right beside it. You can solve this with a bit of tape at the contact or tape to hold the lid down (or both). But it really couldn't have been much more idiotic considering how simple this device is. I kept it because I don't know where I put it's box, but I wouldn't buy it again; a plain old rain gauge works just as well for me really.