Testing 3 new temperature monitors for our pets (and why Waggle isn't one of them)
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To live safely in an RV, we rely on a lot of equipment. We often talk about the big things, like our axles and our inverter. However, we have many much smaller and less prominent items that help us live a safe and efficient life of travel, some of which skip our minds...that is, until they remind us of their significance when they break.
Last year, a malfunction of a very small piece of equipment led to a very dangerous circumstance. We were boondocking our way through the Midwest during our Harvest Hosts/Boondockers Welcome Challenge and hit an unseasonable heat wave in Illinois. We spent 3 nights at Harvest Hosts in the Walker's Bluff development, which we absolutely loved, but our enjoyment was squashed when we started having heat-related RV problems. Two of our means for monitoring temperature failed. First, our Govee temperature and humidity monitor gave us a low battery alert, which it often falsely did. We replaced the battery and hoped everything would be fine, but we were also aware that our Govee hadn't been working right for a while. Namely, it had trouble connecting to the monitoring app. We dragged our heels on replacing it, though, especially once we got our upgraded power monitor as part of our solar install. This digital panel gives us in-person and remote access to our wattage draw, letting us know when certain devices are running. We know our air conditioner is running when we see the high load.
On our first night at Walker's Bluff, we noticed that our panel wasn't connecting to the cloud. This meant that we wouldn't have remote access to its data. We began the troubleshooting process and contacted our solar contractor for assistance.
The next day, we moved up the street from Walker's Bluff Casino to Walker's Bluff Winery, where we'd spend 2 nights. The winery wouldn't be open until the next day, so we decided to go and explore nearby Crab Orchard Lake. Even though our panel continued acting up, our Govee seemed fine. We also had access to our Blink security cameras, giving us the ability to watch the pets.
What happened next was the perfect storm. The Govee app didn't update properly, we didn't notice, and so the temperature it was telling us was not actually the real-time temperature. Without the backup reading on the panel, we didn't know that our thermostat didn't trigger the AC to turn on, due to an underlying and very complicated issue that has to do with the power draw switching from generator to battery. We returned to an extremely hot RV and a panting dog, and we felt terrible. Then and there, we realized we couldn't trust our Govee anymore, and we had waited far too long to get a replacement device that we could actually rely on.
Nicole Anderson
Considering we shared our dismay of the Govee in our Walker's Bluff post at the end of May last year, you might be surprised to learn that we still have that same Govee temperature monitor. That's right; we spent 2 more summers with it gracing our trailer wall. Before you call us terrible pet parents, here's what happened.
Immediately after our mishap, we got in touch with the company Waggle, who seem to be the temperature monitoring king of the RV community. You can't watch any RV or vanlife content without seeing affiliate links, sponsorships, or ad placements commending their devices' ability for keeping your pets safe and giving you peace of mind. Nicole and I had already discussed our interest in partnering with them in the past, and we saw no better time than during our period of fresh panic.
Our panic unfortunately also kept us from doing diligent research on the device itself, and so after requesting a partnership and getting approved, we were sent a brand new monitoring device worth over $200. Our deal was to test the product and release a few reviews, and our compensation would be the free device and commission on any affiliate purchases. Only, we got the monitor, began setting it up, and realized that it wouldn't suit our needs. The device runs on its own cellular hotspot. Back then, it was only compatible with one network. Now, at least some of their devices come with multi-carrier compatibility. For many RVers, a device with built-in cellular is great. You don't need your own internet, nor do you need to rely on campground WIFI. Now with their multi-carrier capability, you don't need to worry about which network is strongest in your area. If Verizon doesn't work but AT&T does, your device should pick up the AT&T signal, and vice versa. Theoretically, of course, because the description does not guarantee flawless execution, as we saw with our Govee.
Even if the carrier switch works, what about when you're in an area with no service? We've said it many times, but even in this day and age, we've camped in numerous places all across the country where we have no cell service. This means that if we wanted to go out, we wouldn't be able to make sure our rig stayed a safe temperature for our pets. We bought our Govee purposely because it allowed for WIFI monitoring, which meant it would update its data over any internet source, including our cell hotspot, Starlink, or campground WIFI. Of course, eventually this became only theoretical because it didn't update the way it was supposed to.
We ideally needed to find a temperature monitoring device that had both cellular and WIFI connectivity. We reached out to our contact at Waggle and apologized that we were under the impression that the device had WIFI capabilities. We didn't want to write a dishonest review talking about how well the device works for us, but we also didn't want to voice the negatives because they were specific to our situation. We said that, because we would not be using the product, we were happy to return it. The response we got was "Just write a review anyway." This is a hard no for us. We only tout products that we actually use. It's been a rule of ours from day 1.
We're sharing this story now for a couple of reasons. First, we feel that enough time has passed since our severed partnership with Waggle. Second, we have an update on which temperature monitors we've tried since then. But before getting into that, I just want to be clear that we have no issues with the Waggle products or the company. However, as consumers, we need to be careful when we see an influencer that we admire talking about a product. You never truly know if they are using and enjoying it behind the scenes or if it's just a money deal. If a content creator regularly travels to locations with no cell service and says that Waggle is the only product they need, this probably isn't the whole story. We've noticed this with Starlink as well. If an influencer says they are using the latest cellular hotspot in place of Starlink, there are gaps in their story and you should do more research.
Tanner and Lily would have made adorable Waggle models, and we thank them for their appeasement.
After declining our opportunity with Waggle, we needed to go back to the drawing board and find out which products would allow WIFI connectivity, thus working for our travel lifestyle. Since we first purchased the Govee years ago when we still lived in our house, more products have come on the market, and WIFI devices are typically much lower in cost than the cellular ones. However, we struggled to find non-Govee monitors that had both cellular and WIFI capabilities. We are almost always connected by some form of WIFI, so we were fine looking at WIFI-only devices. After reading many buying guides and product reviews, I purchased 3 to test:
We bought all of these monitors on our own from Amazon and have no relationship with any of the brands. However, the links above are our Amazon affiliate links.
If all worked out, we planned to keep either 1 or 2 of the devices after testing. The lack of insulation in our trailer poses an issue; the temperature fluctuates from one area to the next, causing temp monitors to read differently. Having multiple monitors would help us determine the average temperature in the RV and gauge how hot it is where the pets are hanging out. We'd love to just plant a monitor in the middle of the rig where Tanner lays, but there is nowhere to mount it.
Ecowitt WN31
Ecowitt is a well-regarded brand that has been making home weather stations, temperature monitors, air quality sensors, and rain gauges for close to 30 years. This particular device had high customer reviews compared to most competitors. It is battery powered and runs on 2 AA batteries. Reviews say the battery life can be up to a year, far longer than any other model I found. We had high hopes for this monitor, but once again, we weren't diligent enough in reading its description.
I misread and thought this could be used as a standalone device that I could check via mobile app. However, even though the monitor has WIFI, it can’t be configured to send data to the mobile app directly. It can only connect to the app through a separate “gateway” device that costs 3x as much as the sensor itself. That might be great if you have a dozen monitoring devices in and around your home, but it’s not a good fit when what we need is a lightweight, simple solution. We needed to pack this one away as soon as we opened it. Just as well. The device may have been highly rated, but the mobile app was just average.
While I was putting in for a return of the Ecowitt, Nicole was setting up option 2.
Senckit WIFI Temperature Humidity Sensor
This monitor was the lowest rated of the 3, but I got it anyway because it was cheap, very small, and seemed extremely simple to use. It also ran on batteries – 2 AAAs – and it comes with adhesive so we could mount it to a wall or anywhere else we wish. Because of its size, it has no LCD display; you can only check the data by app. We always appreciated being able to walk by and quickly glance at our Govee, but this monitor would be mainly for remote monitoring. That is what we need it most for, anyway.
One big positive was that, unlike the Ecowitt, we could actually set this device up! The sensor connects to the SmartLife mobile app via WIFI, and though it took Nicole's phone a couple of attempts to find the app and configure the device, the process was simple. The SmartLife app has stellar ratings, making up for the fact that the device itself is not rated highly.
Ever since the initial setup, this device has been working just as it should. It refreshes quickly and consistently, delivering accurate real-time stats whenever we go into the app. So then why the low reviews? Some people state that it isn't compatible with other devices they are trying to use it with, which is not applicable to us. Others complain about the battery life, which is definitely an issue. The AAA batteries only last a few weeks, and when they're running low, the push notifications from the app are incessant. We appreciate the warning, but we do not need to be warned every hour once we see and dismiss the first notification! We could toggle the notification off completely, but then the device might die without us knowing. Unfortunately, our problem seems to be the exact opposite with our notifications of temperature and humidity alerts. They haven't been reliable, usually not triggering at all. We knew that if we were to keep this product, it would be for proactive monitoring, where we would need to go into the app to get our updates. At least when we do go into the app, we get a clear indication of the last time an alert triggered, right on the app's home screen.
Lots of customizable settings, including choosing Fahrenheit vs Celsius and the range of acceptable temp and humidity
We hoped the 3rd device would be the charm. I began setting it up while Nicole fiddled with the Senckit.
Walfront TH06 WIFI Smart Thermometer
This was the best-rated monitor we tried, at a 5.0, but it had only a couple of reviews. It has an LCD display, so when we're in the rig, we can check the temp and humidity at a glance. Unlike the other 2 monitors, the TH06 doesn’t have a battery at all, but instead plugs in via USB. This means we can't mount it unless near an outlet, but on the plus side, we don't need to worry about battery life. (Ironic that the "Walfront" is the only device that can't go on the front of a wall!) As long as we keep it plugged into USB and our RV has its 12V power, it will continue to work. Our RV usually has power.
I went to install the compatible app and make an account, but the app kept telling me I already had an account. How could this be? I had never used it before and the app definitely wasn't on my phone! I was thoroughly confused until we realized that Nicole had just made an account for the same app. Both this monitor and the Senckit use the SmartLife app. This complicated things a bit because once in the app, I didn't know if I had successfully configured my device or if I was seeing Nicole's. It took some trial-and-error before we could define both devices, which we renamed as the "large" and "small" temperature and humidity sensors. Evidently, the brand names are for Amazon listings only. Both devices are generic monitors made by the same company and shipped in very similar, nondescript packaging with no branding at all. It's a bit deceptive, but that's what we get for choosing monitors from unknown companies. This device began working efficiently and accurately as soon as we plugged it in. For that reason, and the fact that the price was right and the app works well, we ultimately decided to keep both the Senckit and the Walfront.
We hoped that keeping 2 devices would mean one would serve as a backup for the other, but because they use the same app, if the app goes down, we will have no way of monitoring either. This also means we take the bad with the good. The app doesn't deliver alerts well, and so we do not get alerts for either device. We do not always keep the Walfront plugged in because we need to unplug it for travel and then sometimes do not bother with it afterwards, and this means our only device is the Senckit, which we need to check stats on via app only and it could run out of battery at any moment. Perhaps this is why we still have the Govee for quick glances as we walk by. On the app, however, that stinkin' device hasn't been updated since early May.
Having our 2 SmartLife devices does help us gauge temperature fluctuations in different parts of the trailer, just as we hoped it would. Not only is the data accurate and timely, but the app shows a clear representation of the current status (including a verbal description) and the history. Below are screenshots of the readings taken at the same time. The large sensor may be closer to a dehumidifier.
The app's avatar is also a little Lily cat!
The way we see it, any accessible way to monitor the temperature for our pets is good, and for us, WIFI devices work better than cellular. Our electrical display is back to functioning, so we now have that as a 3rd device that we can watch to ensure our AC is running as it should on hot days. Now that we have 3 pets in our RV, 1 monitoring device each seems to be the way to go. Plus that stinkin' Govee, if the app ever ends up miraculously becoming compatible with our device again. At least now we don't need to sweat it if it doesn't.