Personal weather stations are a great option for individuals looking for hyper-localized meteorological data, and the ThermoPro TP67 is one of the more popular budget options out there. We recently curated a piece on the 7 best weather stations on the market and, in this hands-on review, we take a closer look at our favorite rechargeable option, the ThermoPro TP67. So should you keep your standard weather app or go all-in on the ThermoPro TP67? We will answer this question and many more below.
Design: No-frills
Overall, the ThermoPro TP67 is comprised of two units: a small outdoor sensor and a larger indoor sensor. (The indoor model acts as the base station and readout for both devices.) The indoor unit looks like a slim picture frame with all meteorological displays front and center. The extended, removable base allows the unit to sit upright on an end table or countertop without taking up too much space. There’s also a wall mount for those so inclined, although this positioning will limit access to the command buttons on the back. Overall these six buttons allow users to easily toggle through weather history, access additionally paired sensors, switch meteorological units/scales (Fahrenheit, Celcius, millibar, inHg) and more. The outdoor sensor is a utilitarian white block with a wall mount on the back. A small light on the outdoor model intermittently blinks red to let you know it’s still functioning. This light will continuously glow green once the unit is fully charged.
Setup: Straightforward but a bit tricky
As one could imagine, virtually all personal home weather stations require a bit of a tedious setup process and the ThermoPro TP67 is no different. You’ll first need to slide the batteries into the back of the indoor base station and charge the outdoor unit. The back of the outdoor monitor has a small port protected with a rubberized insert. Simply pull out the plug and attach the monitor to the wall outlet via the included USB charging cable (charging block not included). Next, you’ll need to sync the indoor model with the outdoor monitor and this task is significantly easier to manage if both devices are in close proximity to one another. A signal icon will blink on the LCD indoor screen once the batteries have been inserted, this means the base station is ready to be paired with the outdoor station. There are a total of three channels to choose from and both units will, of course, need to be on the same channel to send and receive data. (The three channels exist so individuals can connect up to three outdoor devices and then switch between these three readouts on the indoor base station.) A small panel on the back of the outdoor monitor gives users access to the channel selector and power button. Select any channel and hold down the power button for two seconds to power on the outside unit. You’ll know the units have properly paired once the outdoor meteorological data appears on the indoor base station. Now, it’s time to find a proper home for the outdoor model. Unfortunately, this will take a healthy mix of logistical wherewithal and a dash of patience. The manufacturer recommends placing the sensor in a dry area that will also avoid direct precipitation or sunlight. It takes a bit of finagling to find a location that checks all of these boxes. The hardest part of the setup was actually finding a location that remains shaded all hours of the day, as a direct glint of sunlight will immediately throw off the data. I eventually settled on a small covered nook on the deck. The outdoor module has a small wall mount on the back to help keep the unit high and dry outdoors. The manufacturer recommends placing the units within 330 feet of one another, although radio interference and other factors can greatly reduce the signal range. I personally had no problems with waning or disrupted signals even when transmitting through a multi-floor home with more than 75 feet between the indoor and outdoor units.
Performance: Unreliable and imprecise
In general, I found it difficult to trust most of the meteorological data. Even in an indoor environment with both units mere inches from one another, the modules registered two different temperatures (68 degrees and 70 degrees respectively). Granted, the manufacturer estimates a temperature tolerance of +/- two degrees, but this is still quite the margin of error considering we are discussing a dedicated meteorological device with limited instrumentation. Additionally, the manufacturer estimates humidity tolerance could vary up to three percent, further adding to the imprecision. With these estimated error margins, I’d rather place a classic analog hygrometer, thermometer, and barometer outside of the house near the window and live with the inconvenience of walking over to look at them. The top portion of the indoor model acts as the forecast tool. According to the manufacturer, this feature forecasts the weather “12-24 hours in advance for an area within a radius of approximately 20-30 miles.” That’s a pretty massive and indeterminate window to display with any sort of accuracy. Having a rough idea of what type of conditions could happen in the next 12 or potentially 24 hour time period isn’t really helpful. As for hour-by-hour meteorological weather predictions, I’m sticking with my standard weather app for the time being. On the positive side, the timeline of hourly barometric data at the bottom of the screen is a nice design touch. This is a much more helpful way of predicting incoming and outgoing pressure systems without the confusion inherent in the broad forecast feature.
The Display: Desperately needs an upgrade
Simply put, the indoor model isn’t going to win any design awards anytime soon and could use an all-around overhaul to enhance the user experience. Again, the indoor monitor functions as the central hub and display for both weather stations. Some of the more sophisticated models come with an app, allowing individuals to conveniently access all of the collected data via smartphone. ThermoPro may have decided to go all-in on the app-less approach, but the design itself ends up falling short. That’s because the indoor module essentially looks like an older model iPhone housed in a white picture frame. In fact, the portion of the readout within the outside bezel is almost the exact same size as an older iPhone. As a result, the station essentially acts as a standalone weather app for the weather station without any of the conveniences or portability of an actual app. Regardless, the display itself cleanly partitions all of the collected data into five straightforward sections. The readout displays all data collected including forecasted weather conditions, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Directional arrows next to the temperature and humidity indicate changing conditions. For example, a recent decrease in temperature will spur a downward arrow next to this data. One of my favorite features is the detailed historical barometric reading at the very bottom of the screen. This section refreshes every few seconds to display the barometric change over the previous six hours, this is a helpful indicator of developing conditions. Additionally, the History button on the back of the unit allows you to easily toggle through the exact barometric readouts for the last 12 hours. Again, to take advantage of this more in-depth feature and others, you’ll need to regularly access the buttons situated along the back of the model. This means users who prefer to mount the device on the wall will need to detach the model to access these buttons. Simply adding these buttons to the front of the device would shore up this peculiar design flaw. A small button at the bottom of the screen activates the appreciatively bright, orange backlit LCD display. Unfortunately, the backlighting only glows for a few seconds before the light dims. This makes it very difficult to see the screen from any distance whatsoever, especially at night. While the large font is super clear within arm’s reach, it’s nearly indecipherable from a few steps away. A basic night setting or constant backlit mode would be very helpful in low-lighting. This constant backlighting capacity will certainly decrease the battery life, but I think most users would be willing to sacrifice a modest dip in efficiency for this major enhancement.
Price: Competitively priced budget buy
At the moment, there’s currently no shortage of personal home weather stations to choose from. Understanding your exact needs will help you pick a unit that is robust or minimal enough to meet your standards. More advanced models include additional instruments (decibel sensor, rain gauge, anemometer, etc.) for in-depth indoor and outdoor data. However, a sophisticated multi-instrument system can cost hundreds of dollars and most people simply aren’t looking to gather this much meteorological information. Do you really need a lightning detector? Probably not. If so, there’s a model for that, but if you’re good with a basic personal weather station you could save $150 and go with a more affordable unit. At just $35 the ThermoPro TP67 is positioned squarely in the middle of the home weather station budget pricing tier. Within this $30 to $50 price range, there are plenty of models with the same instruments, greater functionality, and better displays. Yes, the ThermoPro is closer to the lower end of the spectrum, but I’d personally shell out a couple more bucks for a model with a more vivid, colorful display.
