Onset unveils wireless HOBO weather station

Onset has unveiled the HOBO Remote Monitoring System, its research-grade weather station that provides growers, researchers and others with instant access to measured data anywhere, anytime via the internet. According to the company, the new system is priced at a fraction of the cost of competitive solutions. The system combines research-grade weather station hardware with built-in GSM cellular communications and HOBOlink, its new Web-enabled software platform. HOBOlink allows users to access current and historical data on their Macs, set alarm notifications and relay activations, and manage and control HOBO Remote Monitoring systems without having to go into the field.

The HOBO Remote Monitoring System provides fully integrated data logging and cellular communications in a single unit, eliminating the need for users to integrate components separately. It also allows for multiple power options, including solar or A/C.

In addition, the system features an innovative, double weatherproof enclosure for dependable operation in harsh environmental conditions as well as a wide selection of optional plug-and-play Smart Sensors for measuring a range of parameters including temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, soil moisture, wind speed and direction, leaf wetness, barometric pressure, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and solar radiation. An optional analog input port enables the use of various third-party sensors for additional measurements.

The HOBO Remote Monitoring System's alarm capabilities enable users to set up alarm conditions for any connected sensors and receive automatic notification via email or cell phone text messages when monitored conditions exceed user-defined limits. The system also includes a relay that can be activated by alarm conditions for automatically turning equipment on and off, such as irrigation controllers.

The HOBO Remote Monitoring System is currently available from Onset for $800 (with services and sensors priced separately).