Table of contents: Top 5 KNX weather stations buying guide
A KNX weather station controls the blinds on up to 12 façades and protects against ice, hail and storms. Many things can be automated using day/night functions and logics. We compare the top 5 best KNX weather stations from ABB, Elsner, Gira, MDT and Theben.
Let’s get straight to the point: a KNX weather station is now an essential part of the equipment of a KNX Smart Home of the year 2025, regardless of whether it is a new single-family home, a villa or a larger public building such as a town hall, hotel or shopping center.
This is so important because only a KNX weather station can ensure that the house is permanently and automatically protected against wind, rain, cold spells and solar radiation by measuring and permanently determining the local weather data “on the doorstep”. In addition, there is often automatic irrigation control in the garden, in which the KNX weather station is also integrated. After all, the plants should not be stressed with cold water in bright sunlight.
The theoretical alternative of importing weather data from the Internet via the IP network and using it in some way to control the blinds and shutters in some way – There’s no way that will work. Not even in 2024, when we will be able to control many things via the internet.
As the KNX weather station is usually placed on the roof of a house, it is also the furthest away from the power supply in the control cabinet. Our comparison provides an overview of the best KNX power supply units Top 5 KNX power supply units with 1280 mA (comparison test).
And what can be observed in the market for the best KNX weather stations at the end of 2025? Massive price drops (!), especially for the “parent product” Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V. Here it went down by 200 euros within a few weeks! Certainly This also has to do with the new introduction of the Gira Weather Sensor + Weather Center, which is nothing other than the Theben Meteodata 140 S as an OEM version. And the Gira Weather Sensor + Weather Center is priced in the region of 450 euros, which is also likely to have a major impact on the entry-level product MDT Weather Station Home, whose price has risen.
This article is based on our daily practical experience with the design, electrical planning and KNX programming of upmarket detached houses and smart home villas. So now it’s time for a KNX weather station test! In this test course, we recommend a KNX weather station for every application.
Note: Like our other comparison tests, this article is updated regularly. This top 5 of KNX weather stations is therefore a snapshot that may change in the coming weeks and months. This also applies to the prices.
Purchasing advice on the best KNX weather stations for small detached houses to large villas
So we set off to take a look at the good KNX weather stations that will be available on the market in 2025. From our practical experience, there are KNX weather stations for almost 20 years now. A lot has happened during this time and product quality has been continuously improved by manufacturers.
The equipment also fluctuates with the price, which is taken into account when purchasing in terms of particular longevity should not play the decisive role or be used as a purchase criterion. In principle, the features of a KNX weather station are comparable to those of a KNX push-button:
A high-quality finish with many functions costs significantly more than a reduced range of features and compromises on product quality. And not every weather station from our Experience recommendable. Find out more about why in this article.
The prices for a KNX weather station start at just over 280 euros with the MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 weather station and end at just over 2200 euros with the Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro. The Gira KNX Weather Station Plus and the Theben Meteodata 140 S, which cost just under 900 euros, are in between.
All weather stations have the “Made in Germany” label in common, so if you value good quality in principle, you’ve come to the right place. Included in the ratings are the price increases of the past 2 years, which we have seen in the average of 10 to 15 percent.
290 to 2000 euros: KNX weather stations in comparison
The lowest price segment is served – as so often – by the German company MDT with the simple MDT Home weather station, followed by the Gira weather station + KNX weather sensor, the Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V, the Busch-Jaeger weather station and the Siemens KNX GPS weather station. The Elsner Suntracer KNX pro weather station offers the best price and performance.
This raises the question of what the main difference is between the cheap and expensive models. Before we go into this in detail: The Elsner Suntracer KNX pro weather station can, for example, control blinds/shutters from 12 different facades can be controlled – with the MDT Weather Station Home there are only 3 facades.
Why did we call the Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V the “mother of all weather stations” in the video below? Because it is basically identical in design to five manufacturers: ABB, Busch-Jaeger, Gira, Merten and Siemens. Until Recently there was the Gira KNX Weather Station Plus, which was manufactured by Thies Clima.
After all, Gira has real expertise in other areas of the KNX world. And there is one weather station that building owners should definitely not consider: The Gira Weather Station Standard, which in our experience has broken more frequently in the past and is still on offer today as a remaining stock item.
If you want to delve deeper into the topic of KNX weather stations and automate and set up shading on a more complex building with up to 8 façades, we can recommend our video course “Programming a KNX weather station in 2 hours program” is highly recommended.
Video course SPECIAL KNX weather station
– Quickly set up and program sophisticated shading on buildings with KNX weather station in 2 hours
– Automation of blinds, shutters, awnings on any house with up to 8 facades and 60 windows
-> more info about the video course
– 33-page graphic handout on basics, parameterization & programming
– Ready-to-use ETS5/ETS6 project for download and import
Who offers good KNX weather stations?
- ABB WES weather sensor (identical in construction to Theben Meteodata)
- Elsner Suntracer KNX pro weather station (for 12 facades)
- Merten KNX weather station Basic (identical in construction to Theben Meteodata)
- Theben Meteodata 140 S GPS KNX (for 8 facades)
- MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 Weather station Home (for 3 facades)
- Gira weather sensor + weather center (identical in construction to Theben Meteodata)
- Gira KNX Weather Station Plus (manufactured by Thies Clima)
- Gira weather sensor with KNX weather center (for 3 facades, basis: Theben Meteodata)
Gira KNX weather station standard(not recommended, frequent failures after a short time)Jung KNX weather station Home(identical to Gira weather station Standard, not recommended)- Siemens KNX weather center GPS (identical in construction to Theben Meteodata)
- Busch-Jaeger weather station (identical in construction to Theben Meteodata)
What measured values does a KNX weather station record?
Depending on the configuration, a high-quality KNX weather station is equipped with up to 10 different sensors. The measuring accuracy and durability of these sensors as well as the flexibility in KNX parameterization ultimately make up the difference in price. The table below lists all possible measurement functions for KNX weather stations.
Top 10 measuring functions of a KNX weather station
- Brightness (north, east, south, west) with day/night object for house control
- Position of the sun (exact and by location)
- Wind speed (m/s or km/h, sometimes very precise)
- Wind direction
- Precipitation/rainfall, amount of precipitation
- Temperature
- Air humidity
- Air pressure
- Global radiation (energy input roof, PV system)
- Date and time (GPS, location)
On the roof: years or decades
First of all: All KNX weather stations presented here are suitable for permanent use on the roof or wall of a house. Permanent – that means for many years and, as a rule, decades. They all have an integrated KNX bus coupler. Although this has been standard for many years, we would like to mention it again here.
What does a KNX weather station do?
In most house construction projects, a KNX weather station is connected to a KNX server for visualization on touchscreens. The visualization enables the residents of the house to access the measured weather data and display it in the history / a timeline.
The real benefit of a KNX weather station is when the control of shading devices such as blinds, ZipScreens, Venetian blinds and awnings or the heating system is automatically adjusted according to the weather conditions.
This also means that in the event of impending extreme weather such as storms or hail, the blinds are automatically retracted for protection without the occupants having to do anything. Or if there is a threat of icing (rapid drops in temperature), the external blinds are not retracted as usual for protection.
Without a KNX weather station, the functions mentioned as examples could not be implemented in a house.
Basic control functions of a KNX weather station
- Automatic sun protection, shading control
- Automatic sun position tracking Venetian blind slats (optional)
- Control of blinds/shutters for up to 12 different facades
- Heating and cooling support (winter/summer)
- Safety and weather protection: storm, rain, hail
- Automatic privacy screen in the evening hours
- Automatic garden watering at the right time
- Supply of data/support for photovoltaic system
Extreme weather conditions: 75°C heat to -30°C cold
A KNX weather station must be able to withstand all extreme weather conditions: Extreme summer heat on the roof with up to 75°C and high UV radiation and very cold winter temperatures of up to -30°C depending on the region in Germany or Switzerland. The material from which the KNX weather stations are made is subject to very high demands. It often only becomes apparent after many years where the weak points of a weather station really are.
In our experience, animals such as martens, birds, squirrels or insects, bees/wasps in particular jeopardize the service life of a weather station. Exposed (KNX) cables become porous within a few years due to UV radiation from the sun and can be nibbled on by birds or bitten off by martens. The result: the KNX weather station stops working.
What can a KNX weather station control?
- Classic roller shutters on windows and doors, even with floor-to-ceiling glazing
- Classic external blinds, even with floor-to-ceiling glazing
- Modern external venetian blinds
- Modern external zipscreens
- Roof windows with integrated shading, for example Velux and Roto
- Pool cover for private outdoor swimming pools
- Water valves for garden irrigation
Positioning of KNX weather station manufacturers
The graphic below provides an overview of the positioning of the individual brands/manufacturers on the market for KNX weather stations. It is based on our practical experience and our own assessment.
The development and construction of a KNX weather station requires certain knowledge and cannot be implemented as quickly as is the case with certain KNX actuators, for example. It takes many years of experience and the right development tools to produce a good and durable KNX weather station.
The benchmark for all KNX weather stations is, on the one hand, the technical equipment, which is expressed in the range of functions offered and the increasingly high level of integrated sensors (GPS for date, time and geodata, outdoor temperature, wind speed, light and brightness as well as rain gauge).
On the other hand, high material quality is at least as important for many building owners. After all, the weather station should provide many years of service on the roof and blend in with the building’s surroundings (façades, roofs) in terms of color and appearance.
While Elsner Elektronik (with the Suntracer KNX pro weather station) and Theben (with the Meteodata 140 S GPS KNX) in particular tend to position themselves in the high-end segment, MDT and Busch-Jaeger, for example, are targeting the broader market of new KNX smart homes. Note: The graphic above shows a section of the market for KNX weather stations in German-speaking countries.
1st place: Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V KNX
The Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V KNX weather station is the starting point for a whole range of manufacturers who do without expensive in-house development and therefore rely on the expertise of the traditional Swabian manufacturer Theben.
Theben also uses the Meteodata 140 S KNX in its own “Luxor Living” system, which can be regarded as a kind of “KNX Lite” and can also be upgraded to native KNX. The matching product database is then available for insertion into the ETS5/6 software.
The top model is the Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V KNX, a KNX weather station that takes over the automatic shading of 8 different facades. This makes it ideal for larger and public buildings as well as villas (smart home villas) in the high-end and luxury segment.
Theben Meteodata 140 S 24V KNX rating
Overall ranking: 1st place
2nd place: Gira KNX weather station Plus
In addition to the Gira Weather Station Standard, which we do not recommend, there is also the Gira Weather Station Plus (both KNX weather stations), which has a significantly extended range of functions. Like the Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro, the Gira Weather Station Plus can also determine the wind direction.
It provides further measured values in the form of humidity, global radiation (watts per square meter, which can be interesting in connection with PV systems) and wind speed. The latter is determined electronically, as the KNX weather station does not have a mechanical anemometer/wind turbine. In combination with the determined humidity, the Gira Weather Station Plus can also output the“perceived temperature” on the KNX bus.
The Gira Weather Station Plus was developed by Thies Clima, a specialist in climatological measurement tasks and sensors. In terms of price, the KNX weather station is positioned in the upper segment, which is not surprising considering the features and functions on offer.
In our experience, the Gira KNX Standard weather station is no longer recommended. The reason: it often breaks after just 3 years and therefore has to be replaced. And what often breaks? The integrated temperature sensor for measuring the outside temperature has broken down in many house construction projects. Experience with builders and from our community shows a similar trend.
So it’s better to go for the larger Gira version or another weather station! The Gira Weather Station Plus is manufactured by Thies Clima and therefore does not come from Gira itself.
Gira KNX weather station Plus rating
Overall ranking: 2nd place
3rd place: MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 Home weather station
The MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 Home weather station is somewhat smaller and significantly lighter than most of the other candidates. It comes in a transparent plastic housing and therefore blends into any (roof or façade) background just as unobtrusively as the Theben. It has a mechanical wind wheel placed at the top to accurately measure the wind speed.
MDT has dispensed with a temperature sensor and a rain sensor including heating. The mechanical design is perhaps not quite as robust as the other weather stations. The target group for this KNX weather station is therefore clearly defined: Private and smaller single-family homes, where the control/automation of a maximum of 3 facades (blinds or shutters) is important.
The MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 Weather station Home and available at the lowest price within the 300 euro mark in this comparison.
MDT benefits from its reputation in the KNX market – being one of the cheapest providers of all – and sells the small weather station especially to EFH builders who already rely on the manufacturer for KNX push-buttons and KNX actuators.
MDT SCN-WS3HW.01 Weather station Home rating
Overall ranking: 3rd place
4th place: Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro weather station
With the Suntracer KNX Pro weather station, Elsner is positioning itself very specifically in the market for KNX weather stations – at the absolute top in terms of functionality and price segment. For example: Compared to the other candidates, the Suntracer Pro can control and automate 12 different facades of a building in terms of shading.
The Suntracer KNX Pro determines the wind speed via ultrasonic sensors, which can also measure the wind direction. The plastic housing, the workmanship and the material quality appear to be of very high quality, but we lack many years of practical experience with the Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro. As the wind speed is measured “acoustically”, there are no moving parts as with most other KNX weather stations in the form of a wind wheel.
And where is the Suntracer KNX Pro used? These are the larger buildings and especially smart home villas with many facades – see also our article “What is a smart home luxury villa?”. In the latter case, the Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro can control 12 façades simultaneously and independently of each other. No other weather station in this comparison can do this. This high-end weather station currently costs just under 2200 euros.
Elsner Suntracer KNX Pro weather station rating
Overall ranking: 4th place
Where to install the KNX weather station?
A KNX weather station should be installed in a location where it can accurately record the current weather conditions to ensure effective control of the house or villa.
However, the ideal position for mounting depends on various factors, such as the type of building, the environment and the specific requirements of the system. We recommend mounting the KNX weather station in a free location on the roof of the house to enable accurate recording of the ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure and wind speed.
In addition, the KNX weather station should be installed in an area of the roof that is easily accessible and maintainable.
If you are aesthetically minded (like us) and want to do without a mast construction on the roof, you can mount the weather station so that it is integrated into the roof. roof construction or the façade. Only very short (green) cables are visible, if at all.
KNX weather station - where not to install?
As we know of many examples in practice where a KNX weather station has been installed completely incorrectly, we have shown one of the main errors in the two photos below. The installation situation shows a wall installation of the MDT Weather Station Home in this case. This is a new building in 2023 in the south of Munich. Although a KNX weather station for automatic control of the Zipscreens was planned, the cable outlet on the roof was omitted.
To correct the error retrospectively, a cable outlet was made on the upper façade on site and the weather station was installed at this point. As a result, the measured values for wind speed, temperature and brightness are determined in the “slipstream of the façade” and are therefore distorted. Automatic control of the Zipscreens is therefore no longer a pleasure!
When to program the KNX weather station? Attention scaffolding necessary!
And here comes a very important topic that is often neglected in practice in many building projects: Programming the KNX weather station. It’s all about the right time. Why are we addressing this here? If the building has been properly planned, the KNX weather station is located at the highest point of the building, i.e. on the roof.
And the roof is usually accessible as long as the scaffolding is still up. Later, when the scaffolding has been removed and it’s time to program the KNX shortly before moving in, many building owners suddenly notice that the weather station is no longer accessible.
It may be properly connected electrically to the KNX bus, but the physical address of the KNX weather station has not been specified. And this is only possible by pressing a small button or push-button on the weather station itself or by holding a magnet to it. If this action has not been carried out at the time of the scaffolding, the weather station cannot be operated or a “fire department” ladder must be used to program the physical address.
Frank Völkel & Smartest Home Team
Since 2007, we have been testing KNX components for functionality and practical suitability in order to use only the best products in our customers' homes and villas
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