The 395-USB Sensor Junction Box is a convenient way to connect the serial output of a weather sensor to a USB input on your computer. The j-box includes a 12V power supply to operate the sensor and an earth grounding wire to help protect your system.
The USB converter usually auto-loads the correct driver on most Windows computers, providing a virtual COM port that can be opened by a terminal program or other software. Drivers are available for several other operating systems.
The j-box and AC Adapter are suitable for indoor use, and are typically mounted within a few feet of the computer to which it is to be connected. The AC adapter should be plugged into an outlet that has a surge suppressor and the grounding wire connected to an earth ground.