Does anyone here use an anenometer?

[milehigh]

I am looking to add such a device to my range gear. Any suggestions? Horizontal cup configuration vs. Vertical vane unit?
I've seen both available on Amazon for reasonable prices.

 

[rharshberger]

The club I am a member of uses a portable weather station with the horizontal cup type and a vane for wind diection, works great.

 

[caveduck]

The serious competition crowd likes Kestrel meters, e.g. https://kestrelmeters.com/products/kestrel-5500-weather-meter which has a vane mount to get wind direction and a Bluetooth interface for readout at some distance. In the hands of an experienced user you can detect thermals with it, as well as log all the usual weather conditions. Goes in a range box.

 

[goose_in_co]

I'm Old School. I use one of these, no batteries needed.

https://www.dwyer-inst.com/Product/AirVelocity/Windmeters/PortableWindMeter

 

[cerving]

I got a LaCrosse weather station but I haven't had a chance to use it yet... I'm looking for an old-style TV antenna roof mount tripod to mount it on. It's really only going to help tell which way the wind direction is and what the ground winds are... upper level winds may be completely different. I had a flight last weekend that ended up 1/2 mile away from where I "thought" it was going... good thing I got a GPS tracker.

 

[jqavins]

https://www.dwyer-inst.com/Product/AirVelocity/Windmeters/PortableWindMeter

Neat device. Since its back has to be to the wind, one could mount it on a weather vane to it's always properly oriented.

 

[tightwad]

I purchased a hand held HoldPeak HP-866B-WM anemometer from Amazon. I works great and I use it for bow hunting, flying my rockets and drone and fire department incidents. The cost was $43 and it has thread holes on the bottom and threads on a camera tripod. It has built in barometer, retaliative humidity, dew point, wind chill and altitude. It does take the guess work out of trying to figure out wind speed.

 

[BEC]

Neat device. Since its back has to be to the wind, one could mount it on a weather vane to it's always properly oriented.

As long as the wind stays within the low range, yes. If it goes higher the little foam ball that is the indicator will be drawn out of the top and lost (you put your finger over the top of the main tube to get it to read on the high scale). I've had one of these for many years. It's simple and easy to use.

I currently have one of the inexpensive electronic vane units (from Amazon) in my field bag. It's much bigger and bulkier than the Dwyer unit, but it can be put on a tripod and left to itself. I haven't thought about mounting it on a weather vane arrangement, but that would be a nice enhancement.

 

[OzHybrid]

Use this. No batteries required. Clear visual indication of direction and wind speed.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbyking-scale-airport-windsock-rip-stop.html

 

[John Taylor]

Anybody know a resource for getting wind speeds above ground level at altitudes under 5-10K?
I know there in information available regarding wind speeds at higher levels for pilots.

 

[manixFan]

Kestrel makes many models in addition to the one listed above:

https://www.midwayusa.com/kestrel/b?bid=2523

I own one of the under $100 ones and it works very well.


Tony

 

[RocketT.Coyote]

I picked up a milsurp anemometer at a gun/knife show some years ago for ten bucks.

 

[James Harechmak]

We used these for air readings when I was a coal miner. Very accurate, pretty expensive if buying a new one. They turn up at flea markets for $25-50 on occasion.

https://www.csecorporation.com/Product-Davis-Anemometers

 

[GalantVR41062]

I use a chunk of streamer on a 3/16" launch rod on the mid sized pad. I plan to mount a weather vane/ wind sock to the top of the rail pad this summer.

~John

 

[Nytrunner]

Anybody know a resource for getting wind speeds above ground level at altitudes under 5-10K?
I know there in information available regarding wind speeds at higher levels for pilots.

windy.com