Topic: Ambient WS-4000 - the WS-2000/5000/4000 console plus the Ambient branded WS90

[Gyvate]

Ambient just published their new WS-4000 station -
now the haptic/piezo 7-in-1 outdoor array is also sold by Ambient as WS-4000

the HP2550 console (WS-2000/WS-5000/WS-4000 console - same Ambient hardware only different product names) plus the WS90 haptic/piezo rain sensor in its latest hardware revision (steeper slope, different sensor arrangement on the top part) - with the usual Ambient firmware restrictions
Ambient consoles only process Ambient branded sensors - Ecowitt consoles can process all sensors independent of their branding.

Ambient call it the
Ambient Weather WS-4000 Solar Powered UltraSonic Wi-Fi Weather Station
https://ambientweather.com/ws-4000-solar-powered-ultrasonic-wi-fi-weather-station

we have registered it in our WiKi at
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#ambient-stations

[Gyvate]

this email I received from Ambient last night
https://marketing.ambientweather.com/cr/AQiQrhQQ54EiGMmUsztjKphPDFvMPEfaC0XzF8SjwaXPsDap64lf7jPv0lQcbg

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

[Platokidd]

Typical Ambient overpricing.

[wd40]

Did I miss read the information?  Is it WiFi only?

[Rover1822]

The console is WiFi only. It is the same console used in the Ambient line, from WS 2000 up.

 

[Gyvate]

Did I miss read the information?  Is it WiFi only?

it (the console) is RF (915 MHz) for sensor reception and 2.4 GHz WLAN ("WiFi") to connect to a local network

[kheller2]

Interesting how they are presenting this device between the WS2000 and WS5000.

[WeatherEnthusiastNZ]

Yea I saw this, just got an email about it, the WS-4000 21 hours ago. Interesting.

[Gyvate]

their current version of the WS90 (WS-4000 ARRAY) is only a US Southern State model  - as it comes without a heater 

There are rumours based on Ambient support messages that an upgraded model with heater would come later (the Northern State version  )
No idea what made them make that choice ....

[Ridge Camper]

Set up the 4000 last night. So far it has recorded no rain while other nearby stations are recording around 0.2" All other readings look good.

[Rover1822]

What I don't know is if the WS-4000 setup, because of the difference in firmware from the Ecowitt versions, is if you can add a WS-5000 rain collector (known as a WH40)  , and give priority to that sensor, or at least be able to compare. In the Ecowitt universe , we can.

I know you can add the sensor and replace a wh65 or tri wing,  think WS-2000 , as I'm doing that now, with the same console. But the question is can you see results from both. If you can then the addition of the the extra rain sensor, will allow you to see any differences
between the two rain gauges.

edit: this is the sensor you would add , if  it will work like it does in Ecowitt universe, and you so desired

https://ambientweather.com/amwewsreraco.html?_gl=1*1tuob1p*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTE3ODMzNzg3My4xNzI0NDI3MDc5*_ga_7GCFY6ETVV*MTcyNDQyNzA3OC4xLjEuMTcyNDQyODE4OS4wLjAuMTEzNDAxMzA2NA

[Gyvate]

Set up the 4000 last night. So far it has recorded no rain while other nearby stations are recording around 0.2" All other readings look good.

Nearby stations can be tricky as rainfall is not homogeneous. Your place can be dry and 100 m/yards away it can pour heavily. The only thing which really helps is a manual rain gauge next (close) to the WS4000-ARRAY (doesn't need to be the same height if the array is high up).

[Gyvate]

What I don't know is if the WS-4000 setup, because of the difference in firmware from the Ecowitt versions, is if you can add a WS-5000 rain collector (known as a WH40)  , and give priority to that sensor, or at least be able to compare. In the Ecowitt universe , we can.

I know you can add the sensor and replace a wh65 or tri wing,  think WS-2000 , as I'm doing that now, with the same console. But the question is can you see results from both. If you can then the addition of the the extra rain sensor, will allow you to see any differences
between the two rain gauges.

edit: this is the sensor you would add , if  it will work like it does in Ecowitt universe, and you so desired

https://ambientweather.com/amwewsreraco.html?_gl=1*1tuob1p*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTE3ODMzNzg3My4xNzI0NDI3MDc5*_ga_7GCFY6ETVV*MTcyNDQyNzA3OC4xLjEuMTcyNDQyODE4OS4wLjAuMTEzNDAxMzA2NA

The WS-4000 console is a WS-2000 console (new WiFi modem and AMBWeatherPro WiFi firmware).
One will have to see if the console with its firmware version (should be 1.9.8 ) allows to change rainfall data priority:
gear wheel --> More  [Setup] (choices should be; None, traditional and Piezo - choices are only shown for the registered sensors) - of course the WH40 (5kRAIN) sensor needs to be registered to the WS-4000 console.

[Ridge Camper]

Good news. My reciever was picking up my data from my old 2000 unit. Got it recieving from the 4000 now. But the rain has stopped so we will wait for the next rain shower to see how it does.

[Rover1822]

All Data? or just rain data?. That is the question

[Gyvate]

All Data? or just rain data?. That is the question

it should only be rain data from the WH65 (WS2000-ARRAY) be displayed* - the other readings should be discarded by the console firmware due to the sensor hierarchy.

*) and this only, if "traditional" rain gauge is selected under rainfall priority (see earlier post).
One will be able to tell from the signal icons in the two top "lines" of the console display above the temperature and wind circles.
see https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#the_main_display_interface_of_the_hp2550_2551_console_and_the_2nd_generation_hp2560_console

[Ridge Camper]

All data is fixed now.   I was able to disable the recieving info from the 2000. More rain on the way today with some heavy showers expected. I will compare to several other stations that are near by.

[Gyvate]

All data is fixed now.   I was able to disable the recieving info from the 2000. More rain on the way today with some heavy showers expected. I will compare to several other stations that are near by.

in your case you don't need to disable anything - the console will show what you want to see depending on your settings in
gear wheel ---> More [Setup] --> rainfall data priority
when the WH65 (WS2000) is disabled, you cannot see the rain data from the WS2000-ARRAY by switching the setup. All other data won't be shown anyway as the WS90 data have priotity over the WS69 data (or the WS-4000 data have priority over the WS-2000 data)

[Gyvate]

All data is fixed now.   I was able to disable the recieving info from the 2000. More rain on the way today with some heavy showers expected. I will compare to several other stations that are near by.

As said earlier, comparing to nearby stations will only be useful if they receive the same amount, strength etc. of rainfall as you do. As rain is not  homogeneously spread over the area where it rains, the neighbor stations may record more or less and will not give an indication if your readings are correct.
Therefore, a second(ary) gauge (a 5kRAIN/WS5000-RAIN or a manual gauge) will be needed.

[Rover1822]

I'm going to take a step back, you say you have a ws-2000, and now have a ws-4000.

Do you have now have two consoles ?  or just the outdoor sensor arrays?

[Ridge Camper]

My console for the 2000 stopped displaying and was giving off a buzzing noise. I guess I could have bought a new console but seen this new 4000 and thought I would give it a try. Any way the new console was recieving some or all of the info from the 2000. I changed from the normal rain gauge to the piezo rain gauge and I got readings. I then started looking in the settings and I was connected to both the 2000 and the 4000. I just disabled the 2000 for now. I guess I could get another console or maybe it can support two units. 

[CatServant]

How reliable are haptic rain sensors? Do vibrations due to strong winds cause false readings? It looks like a nice system, but that's the one reservation I have about it.

[Gyvate]

there are quite some discussions about it and also developments - we have a few long threads about the haptic array - the Ecowitt name is WS90 and it has a heater and can also, if wanted, run completely on the external power supply - Ambient seems to sell a, politically correctly speaking, leight-weight version of it - the sensor functionality is the same though.
Vibrations, which are still an issue with the Weatherflow Tempest, do not have an effect on the reading as the measurements are not purely haptic.
For the gist of it, read https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#ws90_wittboy

[CatServant]

their current version of the WS90 (WS-4000 ARRAY) is only a US Southern State model  - as it comes without a heater 

Even in the southern states (at least in north Texas) it can get pretty cold for a week or two during the winter.

[Gyvate]

that was just a simplistic statement 
even worse if the North comes down that much South