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Anemometer -- Wind Meter -- for Smartphone


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#1 MarkBC

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Posted 27 July 2016 - 11:26 PM

Well, they call me "The Weatherman", so I got one of these:

 

WindMeter-1.jpg

WINDmeter, by WeatherFlow

 

It's an anemometer (wind speed measurer) that consists of a mechanical sensor - a turbine - (as found in a typical handheld anemometer) that plugs into the 3.5-mm audio jack found in most smartphones.  It's powered by the phone, through the jack, and feeds the measurement to an app on the smartphone.

 

When I'm in a windy place -- like on the Oregon coast, as I am now -- I like to know "just how windy is it?".  I know I'm not good at estimating wind speed accurately, so I want a measuring device to avoid BS guesses. I've owned a handheld anemometer in the past...but it's gone missing, so I decided I needed a new one.

 

What I like about this device and its approach is that it provides just the mechanical sensor (with probably a little bit of electronics) and uses the big brain and screen of my smartphone -- no need to duplicate that part as is done in a dedicated meter.  I always have my phone with me, so now I just need to remember to bring the wind-sensor and I'm all set for no-guess windspeed fun! :D

 

This is how it looks plugged into the audio jack of my Samsung Galaxy S6.

(You can't see the screen much in this pic due to photo-glare/contrast but it's easily visible "in person".)

WindMeter-2.jpg

 

Here's a screenshot showing the results of a wind speed measurement taken over about a 1-minute period, taken this afternoon on a beach north of Florence on the central Oregon coast.  Small craft advisory!

WindMeter-3.jpg

The direction bearing is taken from the direction I'm holding the phone, using the phone's electronic compass.  Of course, to get the most accurate wind speed reading you need to face it directly into the wind, and that orientation is accomplished "manually". 

 

Another screenshot showing a collection of several "latest readings" taken this afternoon, which I've (optionally) saved to the phone.  The two "mph" values for each reading are Average and Gust.

WindMeter-4.jpg

A couple of the first bearings are a bit bogus -- I hadn't "calibrated" my compass (that procedure where you rotate the phone around each of its 3 axes)....but the speeds are what I care about.


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#2 MarkBC

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Posted 27 July 2016 - 11:53 PM

A couple of more things about this setup:

 

  • The audio jack on my phone -- like a lot of smartphones -- is on the bottom edge of the phone.  But in use I'm sure it's best for the sensor to be pointing up (so that it's not affected by my hand/arm holding it)...so I hold the phone upside down to put the sensor on the top. However, I was surprised to learn that my Galaxy S6 screen doesn't autorotate to "reverse portrait", though it rotates to landscape in either direction. So I found a free app ("Rotation Control") that does this screen rotation, so I don't have to read the screen upside-down.

 

  • One downside to using my phone is that I probably don't want to be holding it up in the air to measure wind speed in a driving rain or in nautical spray on a boat (dang -- the old Galaxy S5 and the new S7 both are water-resistant, but not my S6).  So I guess I could just protect the phone in a lightweight plastic sandwich bag and punch the sensor probe through the bag into the phone jack.

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#3 RicoV

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Posted 28 July 2016 - 10:59 PM

Too cool, Mark.  When I finally give up my Luddite ways and buy a smartphone, this app will be among my first buys.  Got a rain gauge to go with that?


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#4 MarkBC

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Posted 28 July 2016 - 11:20 PM

Rain gauge:  I guess I could stick a fine-tipped funnel in the audio jack... :D


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#5 highz

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Posted 29 July 2016 - 12:29 AM

An impeller for a smartphone is a great idea. If I hadn't already bought a Kestrel, I'd be getting one.


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#6 Vic

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Posted 31 July 2016 - 02:36 PM

That's cool.  I've been trying to figure out a weather station for my camper, but I actually like this solution better.  thx


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#7 MarkBC

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Posted 31 July 2016 - 03:29 PM

That's cool. I've been trying to figure out a weather station for my camper, but I actually like this solution better. thx

For a real 'weather station', I think a semi/temporarily-mounted anemometer on a mast - communicating with a base station in the camper - is better because it can be taking and logging wind readings (to a laptop, say) the whole time you're parked.

But for handheld spot readings while 'out there', yep, this is cool.
:)
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#8 RockCod

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Posted 17 February 2017 - 04:41 PM

Well, they call me "The Weatherman", so I got one of these:
 
attachicon.gifWindMeter-1.jpg
WINDmeter, by WeatherFlow
 
It's an anemometer (wind speed measurer) that consists of a mechanical sensor - a turbine - (as found in a typical handheld anemometer) that plugs into the 3.5-mm audio jack found in most smartphones.  It's powered by the phone, through the jack, and feeds the measurement to an app on the smartphone.
 
When I'm in a windy place -- like on the Oregon coast, as I am now -- I like to know "just how windy is it?".  I know I'm not good at estimating wind speed accurately, so I want a measuring device to avoid BS guesses. I've owned a handheld anemometer in the past...but it's gone missing, so I decided I needed a new one.
 
What I like about this device and its approach is that it provides just the mechanical sensor (with probably a little bit of electronics) and uses the big brain and screen of my smartphone -- no need to duplicate that part as is done in a dedicated meter.  I always have my phone with me, so now I just need to remember to bring the wind-sensor and I'm all set for no-guess windspeed fun! :D
 
This is how it looks plugged into the audio jack of my Samsung Galaxy S6.
(You can't see the screen much in this pic due to photo-glare/contrast but it's easily visible "in person".)
attachicon.gifWindMeter-2.jpg
 
Here's a screenshot showing the results of a wind speed measurement taken over about a 1-minute period, taken this afternoon on a beach north of Florence on the central Oregon coast.  Small craft advisory!
attachicon.gifWindMeter-3.jpg
The direction bearing is taken from the direction I'm holding the phone, using the phone's electronic compass.  Of course, to get the most accurate wind speed reading you need to face it directly into the wind, and that orientation is accomplished "manually". 
 
Another screenshot showing a collection of several "latest readings" taken this afternoon, which I've (optionally) saved to the phone.  The two "mph" values for each reading are Average and Gust.
attachicon.gifWindMeter-4.jpg
A couple of the first bearings are a bit bogus -- I hadn't "calibrated" my compass (that procedure where you rotate the phone around each of its 3 axes)....but the speeds are what I care about.


I thought I never missed a post, but I was wrong. Years of bay sailing has me hooked for life on wind speed and direction.
This is very cool, how has it held up ? Does it seem consistent ? Thanks for any longer term report. :)
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#9 Tuff Guy 62

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Posted 17 February 2017 - 05:39 PM

I wish I had one in my backyard today. We're getting gusts over 60mph today! Backyard fence is down on three sides. Trees down, wires down, no power at work and a big rig blown over on its side on Highway 1 in Marina just north of Monterey.

 

It's just plain nuts out there today.

 

High Wind Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
424 AM PST Fri Feb 17 2017

...Strong and gusty southeast winds expected through Friday
afternoon and evening...

.A potent storm system will result in strong and gusty southerly
winds across much of the San Francisco Bay Area and Monterey Bay
Area today. The strongest winds are expected along the Big Sur
Coast, in the Santa Lucia Mountains and in the northern Salinas
Valley. Winds will gradually decrease late this afternoon as the
system pushes inland.


Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest-
Northern Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley and Carmel Valley-
Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast-
Including the cities of...Salinas...Seaside...Monterey...Marina
424 AM PST Fri Feb 17 2017

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 PM PST THIS
AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...Through early Friday afternoon.

* WINDS...Southeast winds 30 to 40 MPH with gusts greater than 60
MPH.

* IMPACTS...Strong winds may cause property damage and will make
driving difficult especially for high profile vehicles. Since
the soils are saturated, there is a heightened potential for
downed trees and power outages.

A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected
or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts
of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.


 

 

Flood Watch

Flood Watch
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
426 AM PST Fri Feb 17 2017

...Minor flooding possible along and near the Salinas River from
Friday through this weekend...

.A strong storm system will spread widespread moderate to heavy
rain across the southern half of California today. This rainfall
may result in minor flooding across low lying or poorly drained
areas in the valleys of Monterey and San Benito counties. Runoff
across the Salinas River basin will then result in significant
rises on the Salinas River through the weekend. Minor flooding is
possible along the upper Salinas River on Saturday and along the
lower Salinas River by Sunday.


Southern Salinas Valley/Arroyo Seco and Lake San Antonio-
Northern Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley and Carmel Valley-
Including the cities of...Greenfield...King City...Salinas
426 AM PST Fri Feb 17 2017

...FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM PST THIS MORNING
THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...

The Flood Watch continues for

* A portion of western California...including the following
areas...Northern Salinas Valley/Hollister Valley and Carmel
Valley and Southern Salinas Valley/Arroyo Seco and Lake San
Antonio.

* From 8 AM PST this morning through late Sunday night

* Widespread moderate to heavy rain is forecast to occur across
the region on Friday. Initially, this rainfall will result in
rapid rises on creeks and streams across Monterey and San Benito
Counties. Some smaller creeks and streams may reach or exceed
bankfull. Runoff across the Salinas River basin will result in
significant rises on the Salinas River from late Friday through
Sunday. Minor flooding may occur along the upper Salinas River
around midday Saturday and along the lower Salinas River by
midday Sunday.

* The primary impacts will be localized ponding of water on low
lying roadways with poor drainage, rapid rises on streams and
creeks with some possibly exceeding bankfull, minor flooding
along the Salinas River and potential rock and mud slides in
areas of steep terrain.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current forecasts.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible
Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be
prepared to take action should flooding develop.


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