The WMS801 Complete Regional Weather Station, By Oregon Scientific uses MSN Direct service to receive and display regional weather information without the need for any outdoor sensors. For the first time, weather watchers can get complete current regional weather conditions plus a three-day forecast from a home weather station. If you're within a specified MSN Direct coverage area, you simply plug the WMS801 into a 120Vac wall socket. In as little as 15 minutes, you'll be receiving regional wind, rainfall, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and ultraviolet index (UVI) data, the three-day weather forecast, and any National Weather Service (NSW) alerts and warnings in effect, all from MSN Direct’s FM radio signals.

Display Areas in LCD Panel

The large (4-1/4 by 5 inch) LCD panel on the WMS801 has six display areas. The station's SELECT button lets you navigate between display areas, and the MODE button lets you select the various display options that are available in most of the areas. The display areas are as follows:

Clock/Alarm/Calendar Area. In this area are displayed the time (in 12-hour or 24-hour format) with either seconds or weekday, or the month, date, and year. The weekday is a two-letter abbreviation in English. You also see a clock radio reception icon, Alarm 1 and 2 icons when you set or view their times, musical note icons when Alarm 1 and 2 are on (set), and a time zone offset value if you are setting the clock manually. If the clock is receiving MSN Direct time signals, Daylight Saving Time changes are automatic unless your location does not observe DST.

UVI/Barometer/Rainfall Area. In this area is displayed an icon for the selected display option along with relevant weather data.

• UVI information includes the numeric UVI reading, the corresponding UVI level (low, medium, high, very high, extremely high), and a 10-hour UVI history bar graph. By pressing the MEMORY button, you can view the UVI value at 1 to 10 hours in the past. The number in the HR (hour) box tells you how many hours ago the UVI reading was taken.
• Barometric pressure information includes the numeric pressure reading in inHg or mb/hPa and a 24-hour pressure history bar graph.  By pressing the MEMORY button, you can view the pressure at 1 to 24 hours in the past. The number in the HR box tells you how many hours ago the pressure reading was taken.
• Rainfall information includes the current rate in inches per hour and a 24-hour rainfall history bar graph. By pressing the MEMORY button, you can view the rainfall  at 1 to 24 hours in the past. The number in the HR box tells you how many hours ago the rainfall reading was taken.

• In the large sub-area above the three smaller ones is displayed a kinetic forecast icon and a temperature reading for the current day. The display actually alternates between today's weather with the daily predicted high temperature and tonight's weather with the predicted daily low temperature.
• The three smaller sub-areas are forecasts for the next three days. These show a non-kinetic forecast icon and alternate between the predicted daily high temperature, low temperature, and percent chance of precipitation.
• The weather icons that can be displayed for both today's weather and the three-day forecasts are as follows: Clear, Partly Cloudy, Cloudy, Rain, Snow, Thunder, Dust, Fog, Haze, Smoke, Windy, and Frigid. The kinetic Clear and Partly Cloudy icons for today's weather have separate day and night versions. The night icons are displayed from 6PM to 6AM.

Temperature/Humidity/Comfort Level Area. In this area, you can press IN/REG to select Indoor or Regional readings.

• For Indoor, pressing MODE toggles between a temperature and humidity display with trend arrows for both and a heat index and dew point display. Temperatures can be displayed in °C or °F, as selected by means of a switch in the battery compartment.
• For Regional, pressing MODE toggles between a temperature and humidity display with trend arrows for both, a heat index and dew point display, and a wind chill factor display.
• By pressing the MEMORY button when temperature and humidity are displayed, you can view recorded minimum and maximum values since the last memory reset.
• By pressing the UP button when temperature or humidity is displayed, you can view today's forecast high and low values.
• A comfort indicator (WET, COM, or DRY) appears below the humidity display.

Wind Direction/Speed Area. In this area are displayed a compass point from which the wind is coming, a wind and gust speed display in miles per hour, and one of five flag icons to indicate the wind level (calm, light, moderate, strong, or storm).

Additional Features

Weather Alert LED. On the SNOOZE/LIGHT bar that makes up the front of the station's base is an LED that lights steadily in green when power is on and weather is normal. When the LED lights steadily in red, a watch or advisory has been received. When the LED flashes red, a warning has been received.

Backlight and Sidelights. Pressing the SNOOZE/LIGHT bar lights the LCD panel's blue electro-luminescent backlight for 8 seconds. Behind the bezel on both sides of the LCD panel are bright blue vertical sidelights that lend a colorful accent to the station, especially at night. You press and hold the SNOOZE/LIGHT bar to turn the sidelights on and off.

Alarm Sound, Volume, and Snooze Function. Along with setting the Alarm 1 and 2 times, you can select either a crescendo beeping pattern or any of five polyphonic melodies for the alarm. You can also select a high or low alarm volume. When an alarm sounds, it does so for 2 minutes unless you press the SNOOZE/LIGHT bar earlier. If you do, this silences the alarm for 8 minutes, after which it sounds again. Pressing any button except SNOOZE/LIGHT silences an alarm and sets it to sound again in 24 hours.

Important Things To Know

First of all, MSN Direct weather service is included with this product through year 2010. Before purchasing the WMS801, you absolutely must verify whether or not MSN Direct service is available in your locale. You can do this by going to www.msndirect.com/coverage. If you're not in a major metropolitan area, MSN Direct service may not be available.

For powering, the WMS801 uses an included adapter that provides 6Vdc output at 600mA from 120Vac, 60Hz input. The female plug is center-positive. The station also uses four AA (1.5V) alkaline batteries for backup. Do not use rechargeable batteries, and please be aware that running the station on battery power only will cause the batteries to wear out quickly.

Features and Benefits:

• No setup required! Station displays complete regional weather data without the use of outdoor sensors.
• MSN Direct weather service is included through year 2010.
• Station displays 3-day regional weather forecast via graphic icons. Forecasts include percent chance of precipitation.
• Displayed regional weather data includes:
  • Current temperature and humidity with trends.
  • Wind speed and direction.
  • Wind chill and dew point.
  • Heat index.
  • UV index and 10-hour history.
  • Barometric pressure and 24-hour history.
  • Rainfall (inches per hour) and 24-hour history.
  • Sunrise and sunset times.
  • Moon phase.
  • Visibility.
  • Air quality.
• Station displays National Weather Service advisories, watches, and warnings.
• Via internal sensors, station displays indoor temperature and humidity with comfort level.
• Station has memory for temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, and UVI.
• Integral clock with calendar and two daily alarms automatically synchronizes to MSN Direct radio time signal. Manual setting is also possible.
• Alarm sound can be a crescendo beep pattern or any of five polyphonic melodies.
• Alarm has adjustable high or low volume level and an available 8-minute snooze function.
• Powered by included ac adapter; uses four AA alkaline batteries (included) for backup.

Specifications: