I think now I "need" a wind meter. Kestrel seems to be the top of the line, but their entry level 1000 model is like $130. It is available here and ebay for $64 new in box shipped. This model is on ebay as well. Any experience out there to help decide where the smart money goes?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=23017...

230173195071 item # on ebay.

Found this !
http://www.hackersbench.com/Projects/anemometer/

or

http://www.otherpower.com/anemom2.html

you did say cheap!

I don't remember saying cheap. I do remember saying "smart" though. I will add that it should be PORTABLE enough to fit in my kite bag or pocket. Good job on the Magyver search.

Sorry my mistake on the cheap front

YOU MIGHT LOOK INTO THE WIND METERS MADE BY DAVIS INSTRUMENTS.
THEY HAVE AN ULTRASONIC AND A TURBINE MODEL WHICH YOU CAN FIND THROUGH A MARINE DEALER SUCH AS HAMILTONMARINE.COM I OWN THEIR TURBOMETER WHICH WORKS FINE AND HAS A FAIRLY LARGE DISPLAY THAT READS IN MPH, MPS,KNOTS AND FT/MIN. THE ULTRASONIC METER WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF NO MOVING PARTS FOR THE PESKY SAND TO INFILTRATE. ULTRASONIC LIST $129, TURBINE LIST $165 THESE ARE TYPICALLY DISCOUNTED 25-30% STREET PRICE.

This anemometer is nice:

http://www.mistralkites.com/wind_meters/misc/windtronic_2.ht...

This is what I use. It is the least expensive one out there with both digital readout and Beuafort graph. Temp too, FWIW

http://www.ambientweather.com/lacrteeahawi.html

Wow, that unit is new and shipped for under $40. I don't need to hold back on this one.

That's a good company, too, Ambient Weather. they have a lot of cool stuff.

I'm saving up the $2k for the wireless remote weather station and web server to mount on the Jekyll Island Convention Center (right on the beach). No more guessing and no more suprises when you get to the beach!

Angus, I was looking at that model but I read a lot of bad reviews about it. I'm glad to hear your happy with it, I might have to take another look if you're okay with it.

Quote:

Originally posted by wind-dave Angus, I was looking at that model but I read a lot of bad reviews about it. I'm glad to hear your happy with it, I might have to take another look if you're okay with it.

For the money it may not be as accurate as the "certified" calibrated Kestrels, but considering even the smooth coastal winds are always varying up and down 10% or more, how accruate do you need?

Operatonally it is rugged, as I tend to toss it around a lot in bags and pockets and it has held up. The buttons are confusing to change functions, but I only use one: wind, set to read in kts.

Having a 1% accuracy won't help me make a better decision about whether to take out the 3m or 5m kite. Even 15 or 20% accuracy would help me confirm that the Crossfire is about to spank me. I guess once you can associate a wind speed with the way it feels on you, you probably can guess within 2-3 knots anyway. I don't have a reference except sticking my head out the car window. I always get strange looks when I try that though. If I could only keep my tongue from flapping over 55:D

here is another site, http://www.jdc.ch/en/products.html

Ouch, $430. I'd rather have a new kite or 3 day weekend at the beach. Thanks though for showing what's out there. That unit is "Swiss made" so that probably adds at least $200 to the price. This will really be just a "gadget" for me, and I don't expect to be kiting in conditions extreme enough to need a $400 anemometer.

I was looking for one too. Since they all appear to use a small fan on a bearing, I always wondered how long a wind meter would "STAY CALIBRATED" before experiencing Calibration Drift. The higher end manufacturers publish their drift ratings but was it determined in a wind tunnel or in the salty sea air of a beach working its way into the bearing after a solid week use. I read a thread with different peoples experiences and when you put a bunch of wind meters in a the same spot they all read different speeds +/- 1-12mph!

I know Im paranoid but I'm a big believer in Murphy's law here... Since I have nobody else to "Check With", I'll probably buy two. A cheap electronic wind meter, and the old fashion mechanical like a Hall to make sure its not drifting, and calibrate if needed. I don't want to to be that guy that finds out the hard way that small amounts of sand/dust have been slowly working its way into my bearing givinging me Low readings

But anyone that ever flew a kite can tell 12mph from 24. If I learned that one of my kites flew a certain way at a given speed and then it stopped flying as well even at a higher reading, I would suspect the meter. Maybe someday I will decide the more expensive meter is justified but I usually step in lightly and then decide if I need to step up in quality based on performance and utilization.

this place has decent prices, i got the skywatch xplorer from them which was fine.... until i lost it... then i just didn't seem to work the same.

http://moontrail.com/accessrs/data_centers.html

sidenote, i bought it for the same reason.. so i didn't get spanked by my CF 5.0M

I've been very impressed with the Kestrels (not just because I sell them).

I keep one in my bag to check the winds before I fly. It gives you an OK estimate of the wind speed. However, I still look at the tops of trees nearby more than the meter

Yep, nothing beats your eyeballs.... I had mild winds 8-10mph overcast in San Filipi, Mexico a few year ago. A Wind meter would have confirmed this however my eyes saw there was a dark band of a cloud stretched horizontal in the distance. Nothing scary, just a small anomaly really. I Had a choice to get a quick traction in (4.0sqm traction) before the sun set, but I decided to sit it out and watch while my friends hit the water. Within 15 minutes it was on me and that dark band of cloud must have been less than 1/2mile long, maybe 500ft wide, and it was literally rolling right underneath the cloud layer. Looked like a horizontal tube/tornado and when it hit overhead 8-10 turned into 50mph+! Lawn chairs, signs, and dirt started to get sucked up into the sky. Fortunately it was dusk and most people were off the beach. If that band hit an hour earlier it would have snatched up anyone with a kite in an instant.
To this day I havnt seen anything like it but if you ever see a dark band in the distance, pack it in, and tell the other kiters you see to do the same!