I bought IQAir AirVisual Pro (indoor), because California’s AQMD[0] tested it as fairly accurate (and, let’s be honest, because I have been relying on their app).<p>It cost more than $400, and it lasted less than half a year.<p>The unit is made of flimsy off-white plastic, has an insanely bright blue-white display that cannot be dimmed enough (not fit for the bedroom, at all), slow menu with useless options, and (in 2024!) that weird micro USB connector. That connector is what broke after four months.<p>Turns out, precision is not everything.<p>[0] Apparently, California government has a lab that tests various consumer air quality monitors and publishes results (<a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/aq-spec/evaluations/criteria-pollutants" rel="nofollow">http://www.aqmd.gov/aq-spec/evaluations/criteria-pollutants</a>).<p>Despite having dozens of evaluations, they do not seem to have tested AirGradient or Airthings or their respective sensors. I wonder if they take requests?
I just got my AirGradient Ones a couple weeks ago. It was quite nice that I was able to set them up local-only with absolutely no fuss. Works wonderfully with Home Assistant.<p>Also it was definitely worth saving money going with the DIY version. All that they leave for you is final assembly: plugging in 3 modules and wrenching down 4 self-tapping screws.
What do the two ownerships clauses (quoted below) mean in practice? It's unlikely AirThings will come after me if I download all the data from my sensors and post them online. And is there any evidence that they've gone after people who have created open source interfaces to their APIs? It sounds like their lawyers just wrote aggressive clauses into their contracts to cover their asses in case they are acquired or want to utilize the data in other ways.<p>> In 15.4. of Airthings T&C it writes: “We own and shall retain ownership of all rights to all data and information collected via the Services provided to you…"<p>> Furthermore, in 15.2 Airthings claims all rights for modifications that you might carry out on the Airthings monitor: “You hereby assign to Airthings all right, title, and interest (including Intellectual Property Rights) that you may have in any custom developments, modifications, or derivative works of the Services and Products created or developed by or for you, including but not limited to design, artwork, technology, software, data, functionality, and documentation."
I plan to pick up some AirGradient units and phase out my AirThings devices simply because I want to keep all my data local and open. However, I do wish 1) it could monitor Radon and 2) had a PoE powered sku.
After spending a decent amount on Sensibo equipment and finding its accuracy is laughably bad, I did a heap of research into PurpleAir and the other sensors on the market. I already had a couple of Aranet4 devices and wanted the same high level of accuracy they provided - and so it was really down to PurpleAir or AirGradient given the SenseAir and Planter sensors. I'd say clinched my decision - and I dropped quite a bit of money on 2 outdoors and 4 indoors, split between me and a friend.<p>Why didn't I do with PurpleAir?
- The order above with AirGradient was about USD$800 (for kit form devices, excluding freight). PurpleAir for the same models is USD$1774.
- PurpleAir seemed to require a Google login to put the devices on a map, and I don't like the big-vendor-lock-in.
- Browsing the AirGradient forums, Achim (the founder) is really involved, and the open-source nature of the platform appealed.<p>For a (what appears to me to be, anyway!) small organisation, the quality and deliverable of the AirGradient system is exceptional. The equipment looks professional, joining it to the AirGradient dashboard is surprisingly easy, and the dashboard itself is really slick. It's fast, it works as direct icon on my iPhone, and does it's job (giving me key info) really well.<p>In saying all that, I'd better clarify I'm getting nothing out of this glowing review! I just love it when tech works well, as it should, and when it does it should be recognised and supported.
Am very satisified with <a href="https://en.air-q.com/funktionen/air-q-science-option" rel="nofollow">https://en.air-q.com/funktionen/air-q-science-option</a> that offers a lot of sensors (<a href="https://en.air-q.com/messwerte" rel="nofollow">https://en.air-q.com/messwerte</a>). Good UI, API-accessible and integration in HA works just fine. Rather pricey though, depending how many sensors you choose.
I appreciate that AirGradient has open source products, but the company repeatedly posting its own content here is starting to feel increasingly spammy.<p>Air quality is a hot topic here so the posts often succeed, but why does this product hold so much sway with this community? Genuine question.<p>Most companies self-promoting their own “we’re better than X competitor” content are not so well received. Am I missing some context/history, or are people just really happy with their AirGradient gear?
I've recently realized that one can effectively cross-ventilate studio apartment by adding to their mail slots a PC-fan filtered by small HEPA-filter (to remover outdoor odors) combined with a window-attached ventilator pulling air to outdoors, possibly with a normal fan in the middle of the studio. Feel free to Kickstart this.
I have both the Airthings Wave+ and the AirGradient Pro. I like them both. The Wave+ can connect to Home Assistant just fine with Bluetooth so there’s no worry about “owning” the data etc. I didn’t care for the initial software that came with the AirGradient but it was easy enough to flash once I understood how ESPHome worked.
Airgradient teardowns and reports are like the Backblaze reports, always such a great service to the community.<p>But I really wish Airgradient would get on the national US map for AQI<p>PurpleAir really has a massive headstart and Google even puts Purple on googlemaps so you can't compete with that.<p>I keep saying AirGradient needs to massively discount if not just give for free their monitors to all the WeatherSTEM sites in the USA which ALL do NOT have air-quality monitoring. Now -THAT- would get them on the map.<p>compare<p><a href="https://map.purpleair.com/" rel="nofollow">https://map.purpleair.com/</a><p><a href="https://www.airgradient.com/map/?zoom=4" rel="nofollow">https://www.airgradient.com/map/?zoom=4</a><p><a href="https://www.weatherstem.com/sites" rel="nofollow">https://www.weatherstem.com/sites</a>
I bought this no-name CO2 monitor (can be found on Amazon and AliExpress and probably elsewhere):<p><a href="https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006483766478.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006483766478.html</a><p>It is ~ $50.<p>It actually works really well. I tested it in a number of situations and it appeared to be relatively accurate. It led me to make some ventilation changes in the house.<p>I didn't need it on all the time, I just do spot checks if I think there is an issue now. I like the portability as well.
I have the Airthings Wave+ and one thing that bugs me is the relative humidity threshold. Anything above 60% will give a yellow led warning. If you have many indoor plants, live in a forest, or even just ventilate a lot on rainy days the sensor will show an air quality warning. I would like to take humidity out of the equation as I much rather focus on CO2, VOC and Radon. Otherwise a great sensor that was easy to integrate in my own scripts as you can easily get all sensor readings over bluetooth.
The Awair Element works very well in my experience. If you check the sensors list, the sum of the cost of just the sensors (that are very high quality ones) will match the total cost of the device. And the software and the design are great as well.
I unplugged my AirGradient a couple days ago. It's quite the useless piece.<p>The CO2 sensor does not read CO2 levels, and recalibrates automagically. I have completely wacky readings from it, from 200ppm to 2000ppm.<p>The VOC sensor also apparently does not read VOC levels, see discussion here: <a href="https://forum.airgradient.com/t/measurement-values-for-the-airgradient-one-tvoc-readings/1027/12" rel="nofollow">https://forum.airgradient.com/t/measurement-values-for-the-a...</a>.<p>All in all, I'm frustrated I fell for the regular free advertising they get on HN.