#ACURITE SOFTWARE PRO#
#ACURITE SOFTWARE FREE#

Sounds like there's a bit of a branding problem there. On the company's website, the service is called AcuLink. The company calls it Acu-Link in the App Store, but then calls it the 'My Backyard Weather' app in the description. To be honest with you, I was a bit confused about what to call the app.

#ACURITE SOFTWARE FREE#

The free AcuLink app displays the same information, but in an iPhone-friendly manner. Each widget contains a button for setting up an alarm, so if you wish to be notified via text or email message whenever measurable rain occurs or a temperature limit (high or low) is reached, that's quite easy to accomplish. First, by logging into and calling up your account, you see a dashboard displaying widgets for the various instruments on your station. There are a number of ways you can read your weather data remotely. I have some additional weather gear installed and was able to verify that the readings were almost identical in all cases. If you're wondering if a $200 weather station can be accurate, the answer is 'yes'. I ended up covering them with electrical tape. I did have one issue with the Internet bridge device - when it's working properly, the twin blue lights blink like mad constantly. At this point, you can set up a free account on the AcuRite website for the AcuLink service, which is the heart of the iPhone app.

If readings for temperature, humidity, and wind direction and velocity are starting to show up, things are working fine.

#ACURITE SOFTWARE PRO#

Once all the parts are in place, you can tell if the Pro Weather Center is working by checking the LCD panel. The sensor must be aligned so that it points due south, both for wind direction accuracy and to receive the maximum sunlight on the photovoltaic panel. For about $20, I purchased galvanized metal pipe pieces that worked perfectly to form a sturdy mount placing the sensor about 7 feet above ground level. The Pro Weather Center does require some setup work, as the sensor must be mounted in a location that's not blocked from free exposure to wind and rain. The final piece is really the icing on the cake if you're using the iPhone app for monitoring - it is the 'tabletop display console,' an attractive battery-powered, Wi-Fi connected backlit LCD panel that displays all the various weather readings. The bridge is set to one of three channels (A, B, or C) selected on the sensor as well, and literally requires no setup other than being plugged into power and Ethernet, and then pushing a 'Register' button for three seconds. Inside the house and up to 300 feet away is the Internet bridge, a small Wi-Fi radio device operating on the 433 MHz spectrum that is plugged into your router. The station is powered by four AA batteries augmented by a small photovoltaic panel during daylight hours. It's constructed of a solid polycarbonate and should last for years. The sensor features many of the things you'd associate with a weather station - a cup anemometer, a rainfall sensor, a thermometer, a wind direction vane, and a hygrometer for measuring humidity. The device is actually made up of three major components: a 5-in-1 sensor that is mounted outside, an Internet bridge, and an LCD display that provides a constant readout of conditions and forecasts. I have to admit that this is about the most unique item I've ever written a review about for TUAW, but the Pro Weather Center is truly an Apple-compatible accessory. This review is aimed more at the app and connectivity features of this device, but you'll learn a bit about the actual weather station as well. The AcuRite Pro Weather Center with AcuLink Remote Monitoring and App (US$199.99) is an Internet-connected weather station that just so happens to have its own iPhone app for keeping an eye on your home weather conditions even when you're away. The world of connected things keeps growing.

Acurite software