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Re: [TowerTalk] Wired Anemometer for Tower?

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Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Wired Anemometer for Tower?
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 21:07:52 -0400
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On 4/27/2014 4:09 PM, EZ Rhino wrote:
I should mention one other thing about the "cheap" weather station anemometers 
that drive me crazy.  The first WX station I had only updated the wind speed about every 
minute.  The LaCrosse updates about every 12 seconds.  This is almost worthless...I want 
to know the wind speed NOW!  The stuff from Inspeed is real time, very nice.

Chris
KF7P

I don't know of any wireless battery/solar powered powered that are real time. They have to have enough battery power to run a couple of days and all night. To do that the calculate haw long the thing can run on backup power.

As the earliest "real time RADAR" Gives is 5 minutes and updating every 5 minutes means RADAR that screen can be as much as 10 minutes old. Something to keep in mind when flying, or storm chasing. Looks like my storm chasing is done until I get my left hand and arm working again. My cheap unit gives me the peak reading for every 30 seconds.

For a wired unit, you are talking a few hours without power, or however you think you might be without power. With good batteries they could probably run 5 or 6 hours continuous with no power from the mains.

Of course, you are now talking about induced voltage from nearby lightning strikes. Looks like Arkansas is getting hit with some really nasty tornadoes this evening.

73

Roger (K8RI)









On Apr 27, 2014, at 14:03 , Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:

On 4/27/2014 3:15 PM, EZ Rhino wrote:
I have tried a few different weather stations, so I can unequivocally tell you 
what NOT to get.

DON'T buy anything under $300.  *sigh*
Mine cost 40 something, works fine, is made of cheap plastic. Uses plain old 
Duracell non rechargeable. Last 2 years or more outside. The ones indoors only 
last 6 mo to a year.  Probably cost twice that much now...if available

Mounted on the tower where I can just reach it with an 8' stepladder.

Does nothing except report wind speed, direction,temp, humidity, and relative 
temp.

73

Roger(K8RI)

Unfortunately the cheap ones are total garbage.  The recent one I got is a 
LaCrosse station, purchased from Costco.  Junk!  Junky cheap plastic, the 
rechargeable batteries in the solar powered wireless anenmometer/wind vane unit 
went bad in the first year, and the rain bucket stopped working in the first 
few months after purchase.

The Davis units are good, have a buddy with one and it is quality stuff.  And 
about $300.  You pay for what you get.  I agree, I think the wired units are 
more reliable and last longer.

Ok now take a look here:  www.inspeed.com  These guys make anemometers that are 
decent quality and not expensive.  They also have a cool computer hookup 
version that allows your PC to track all the data and put it in a spreadsheet.  
AND it has the wind switch option, where you can program the system to turn an 
appliance on or off (read:  lower your tower!) if the wind goes above a 
preprogrammed speed.  Pretty neat.  I don't have this option yet.  I think AB7E 
has one of the inspeed units too, maybe he can provide some feedback.

Chris
KF7P







On Apr 27, 2014, at 11:01 , Steve Jones wrote:

Can any of you recommend a wired anemometer or weather station unit?

I want to install an anemometer to monitor the wind speed at the top of my
tower.  All I can find online are wireless units.  On this reflector I have
seen a number of bad reviews of wireless weather sensors, because their
little wifi transceivers get damaged by the RF from a ham antenna.  I have a
spare CAT5 cable at the base of the tower available.

73,

Steve
N6SJ


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