[TowerTalk] Wired Anemometer for Tower?

[David Gilbert]

Yes, I have the InSpeed Vortex cup-type (i.e., non-directional) 
anemometer mounted on the tip of my mast at the top of my tower.  It 
uses a simple magnet to close a reed relay switch once per revolution 
(the calibration factor is 2.5 mph per revolution) and requires a pair 
of wires to get that pulse train to your shack.  You can make use of 
those pulses in one of two ways (I have successfully done both):

1.  Feed the pulses into an RS-232 connector that comes with the 
WindWare computer application that InSpeed also sells.  The application 
can be set to log wind speed as an average value over various 
programmable intervals, as well as record peak values, etc. The logged 
data can be saved as a file in a format that is easily imported into 
EXCEL if you want to further analyze or plot it.  The supplied RS-232 
connector includes a wire pigtail that can be programmed by WindWare to 
trigger anytime the wind  speed exceeds the value you choose.  You can 
use that signal to control a relay that lowers your tower, or to set off 
an audible alarm for you to check the orientation of your antennas (or 
alert you to watch them thrash about).

2.  Or you can feed the pulses to a common bicycle computer.  With the 
appropriate fudge factor for "wheel diameter" you can get the bicycle 
computer to display current wind speed, and even the simplest bicycle 
computers will also record average speed, maximum speed, etc until you 
decide to manually clear the data.

Although I have no way to verify the claim, InSpeed says that the 
accuracy is +/- 4% of the reading from less than 5 mph to 150 mph.

I've had my Vortex anemometer for about eight years and it is still 
sending pulses just fine in spite of some truly heavy abuse that my 
windy QTH has given it. The basic Vortex anemometer runs about $55, the 
WindWare app runs $30, and a bicycle computer probably costs less than 
$40 (I haven't checked prices lately).  It's a pretty inexpensive and 
robust way to go.

73,
Dave   AB7E




On 4/27/2014 12:15 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*
>
> 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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