Quick answer
For wired LAN reliability with Home Assistant, the most commonly recommended path is an Ecowitt GW2000 or GW3000 gateway paired with an Ecowitt sensor array. Home Assistant’s Ecowitt integration documentation explicitly names both models as Ethernet and Wi‑Fi gateways.
Other documented Ethernet-capable hubs:
- Ambient WS-5000 console (verify your exact model — Ethernet is a flagship console feature).
- Davis WeatherLink Live (Wi‑Fi/Ethernet bridge for Davis RF stations).
Wi‑Fi-only consoles (e.g. many WS-2902 bundles) work but are more sensitive to placement and RF congestion.
Who this guide is for
- Your weather hub lives in a garage, utility closet, or detached structure with poor Wi‑Fi.
- You run 24/7 Home Assistant integrations that poll a fixed hub IP — see Home Assistant guide.
- You are choosing between GW2000 and GW3000.
Related: local data guide.
Why Ethernet matters for weather hubs
Weather gateways are always-on infrastructure. Unlike battery sensors, the hub must maintain stable IP connectivity for:
- Ecowitt HTTP API pull integrations
- Ambient Custom Server push targets
- Davis/Tempest UDP listeners on your subnet
Ethernet reduces dropouts from mesh handoffs, neighbor Wi‑Fi interference, and weak signal at the install location.
Ethernet options compared
| Hardware | Ethernet | Wi‑Fi | HA integration notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecowitt GW2000 | Documented | Documented | Built-in + official HACS Ecowitt |
| Ecowitt GW3000 | Documented | Documented | Adds onboard data storage vs GW2000 |
| Ambient WS-5000 | Model-dependent (flagship) | Yes | Cloud API default; local via Custom Server |
| Davis WeatherLink Live | Documented | Documented | UDP broadcast to HA |
| Ambient WS-2902 | Typically Wi‑Fi console only | Yes | Consider WS-5000 or Ecowitt if Ethernet required |
Ecowitt GW2000 and GW3000
Both gateways appear in Home Assistant Ecowitt integration documentation:
- GW2000 — Ethernet and Wi‑Fi Gateway
- GW3000 — Ethernet and Wi‑Fi Gateway with Data Storage
Pair with sensors such as Ecowitt WS90. Detailed differences: GW2000 vs GW3000 guide.
Installation tip: Run Ethernet to the gateway location first; keep 915 MHz / 868 MHz sensor RF paths unobstructed even when the hub is wired.
Ambient Weather consoles
The WS-5000 tier is the Ambient line often selected when buyers want a premium console with wired networking (confirm RJ45 on your SKU before purchase). WS-2902 systems are popular but are often Wi‑Fi-only at the console.
Product: Ambient WS-5000.
For local HA without cloud, see Custom Server notes in local data guide.
Davis WeatherLink Live
WeatherLink Live connects Davis RF stations to your IP network with documented Ethernet and Wi‑Fi. Suitable when you already committed to Davis hardware.
Product: Davis Vantage Vue.
Buyer checklist
- Confirm RJ45 on the exact SKU — model names vary by bundle.
- Place Ethernet near RF-friendly hub location (not inside Faraday-cage metal cabinets if avoidable).
- Reserve static DHCP or DNS name for HA integrations.
- Compare total cost: Ecowitt gateway + array vs Ambient all-in-one — Ecowitt vs Ambient.
- Avoid mandatory cloud for automations — no subscription guide.
FAQs
See metadata FAQs. Hardware revisions change — verify Ethernet port presence on manufacturer spec sheets for your region and bundle.
