Certain MQTT sensors from rtl_433 don't maintain any history

Hello all! Been tearing my hair out the last couple days trying to troubleshoot this issue.

Background:

I’ve setup a rasp pi with an SDR separate from my HA machine, using rtl_433 to capture data from Acurite sensors and publish them into my mosquitto broker.

Using MQTT Explorer I can see all the sensors updating and publishing to their own separate topics.

I have two Acurite-Tower (temp and humidity) sensors that I’ve added into HA successfully - data is updated and history is tracked. Both are setup as below (only showing one):

## 4895 - Garage
  - name: garage_temp 
    state_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-Tower/4895"
    json_attributes_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-Tower/4895"
    value_template: "{{ value_json.temperature_C }}"
    device_class: temperature               
    unique_id: 4895_temp
    unit_of_measurement: '°C'
    expire_after: 600

  - name: garage_humidity                             
    state_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-Tower/4895"
    json_attributes_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-Tower/4895"
    value_template: "{{ value_json.humidity }}"
    device_class: humidity
    unique_id: 4895_humidity
    unit_of_measurement: '%'
    expire_after: 600

However for my other two devices, an Acurite-5n1 weather station and an Acurite-6045M lightning detector, there is no history available. The HA sensors show the latest data published into their topics, but no history - almost feels like the sensor is being recreated every time a new message is read. The configs are the exact same though (again truncated, for brevity):

## 1658 - Weather Station
  - name: weather_station_temp                       
    state_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-5n1/1658"          
    json_attributes_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-5n1/1658"
    value_template: "{{ value_json.temperature_F }}" 
    device_class: temperature               
    unique_id: 1658_temp                             
    unit_of_measurement: '°F'                        
    expire_after: 600                                

  - name: weather_station_humidity                             
    state_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-5n1/1658"
    json_attributes_topic: "rtl_433/Acurite-5n1/1658"
    value_template: "{{ value_json.humidity }}"
    device_class: humidity
    unique_id: 1658_humidity
    unit_of_measurement: '%'       
    expire_after: 600

For context, all of the device data is published to its topic as a single JSON object like so:

{
  "time": "2025-07-11 13:33:10",
  "model": "Acurite-Tower",
  "id": 4895,
  "channel": "A",
  "battery_ok": 1,
  "temperature_C": 30,
  "humidity": 68,
  "mic": "CHECKSUM"
}

I’ve tried numerous things to troubleshoot, including trying to demux the messages for the 5n1 per another post on the forum, but nothing seems to work.

Any ideas on what could be the issue?

Both temperature and humidity are received on the same topic.

Correct, they come in as json. Sorry, will edit OP to clarify that.

{
  "time": "2025-07-11 13:33:10",
  "model": "Acurite-Tower",
  "id": 4895,
  "channel": "A",
  "battery_ok": 1,
  "temperature_C": 30,
  "humidity": 68,
  "mic": "CHECKSUM"
}

Seems that restarting HA completely (not just reloading YAML) was needed. I’m seeing history now!

Drat333…I’m very interested in your setup. I’m VERY new to HA but several years ago I developed my own Python interface to my Acurite devices using RTL-433 and a NooElec SDR antenna unit on a Raspberry Pi. All is working fine.

Now, with my new interest in HA, I want to make those reading available to my HA computer. It appears that the MQTT Explorer on your HA computer is getting the data. How does this work? Do I have to add something to my Acurite Pi? As I’m new to the HA and related technologies, please be specific. Thanks…RDK