David Ashby - Moderator Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I see there's a wind meter/anometer that you can get for the iPhone. I don't have an iPhone but wondered if anyone has used it? In theory it could be a very cheap way of having such a facility at the flying field assuming its accuracy? The link is here. Cheeky I know but is there any chance a kind someone can buy it ($0.99), use it and report back here? Edited By David Ashby - RCME moderator on 23/03/2009 10:10:01 Edited By David Ashby - RCME moderator on 23/03/2009 10:19:40Edited By David Ashby - RCME moderator on 23/03/2009 10:20:31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 David I would think that this is a fun-only application for the iPhone Measuring wind speed by the noise obviously will work, but the accuracy has got to be a bit suspect. A lot will depend on the orientation of the iPhone to the wind direction. It would be interesting to see how well it works though - I will ask my Missus if she will buy it! Bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Towell Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I know a few guys with Iphone and will ask them. I know one on of the uses the level on his iphone as his wing incadence meter and says its is more acurate then the older ones with the leveling bubble. Edited By Dave Towell on 24/03/2009 18:02:25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Collins Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Our club doesn't allow mobile phones to be switched on at the flying field so not much use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Lloyd Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Sounds like a bonkers idea to me - it's hardly going to be anywhere near accurate. But I'd love to eat my hat if someone could do a test. Signed, an avid Apple user. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Maximum reading 28 MPH eh? - that could be handy for us slopers, if its off the scale it's still too calm ! Edited By Timbo - Moderator on 26/03/2009 14:14:18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David E Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Like Bert, I strongly suspect the accuracy of this is going to be very poor, and is highly dependant on the orientation of the phone relative to the wind, and indeed whether your hand or any other obstruction is anywhere near the microphone. Tim, I suspect the reason for the low maximum is that the signal from the microphone is clipping heavily by 28mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 Yes I am sure you are right - I was merely attempting humour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David E Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 heh sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 We may be very wrong and it might work a treat. So always hopeful I've purchased it, so I'll let you know how I get on. In any event it might be fun to demo to people who dont know how it works. I can tell them I've drilled a small hole in my phone Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David E Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 and you installed a tiny little anemometer inside, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger T Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 For slope work, holding it up to one ear and orientating your head to align the other ear so that the through draught is attenuated might work. You'll still have the issue of calibration, but for two things now. Maybe make a date with the local calibration service early in April to get the work done. RT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Sales Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I've got it on mine and David has seen it working. I don't think its meant to be taken too seriously but it does give a general idea about wind speed. Having said that it does seem to be fairly accurate. Will have to do a test along side a true wind meter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Bouw 2 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I bought a anemometer some months back, and guess what, it stays at home, I can generally feel if its too windy to fly. I assume the slopers among us would find it more useful as they use different airframes depending on the wind (again though, I would imagine after a few sessions you would come to know your plane and not need a reading to tell you if it will fly or not) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 My brother got this app as he Skydives. I was convinced it wouldn't work and would be getting its data from the web. However, it did appear that when he blew into the phone it changed the display accordingly!!! I was quite stunned by this. Not sure if this was a complete coincidence but it was appearing to make it change!! Since discovered that it was the noise making it work. How accurate it is, is debateable and he certainly does not use this for Skydiving anymore. Edited By Ross Clarkson on 07/01/2010 10:11:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ashby - Moderator Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 I just downloaded it for the first time so I'll have a play soon and see what it's like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Clarkson Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 See how fast you can blow in to it David! Be careful you don't faint though, ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 I did have a play with one of these a few weeks back at the slope - doing a direct side by side comparison with my "proper" anemometer showed some considerable in-accuracies. One main issue is the sensitivity to direction of the mic to the actual wind.Bit of fun, but unsurprisingly hardly a serious tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Card Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Somehow the developer of this software got my email address and dropped me a note last week to say it was now compatible with the iPhone 3GS. For 59p I'm more than happy to take the plunge so have now installed it. Other than learning that I can blow at 14mph, it's not done anything for me yet - mind you, I've not been flying since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James40 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 It's never going to be accurate, it's converting a microphone noise level into a wind speed reading. It would depend on the direction of the mic in relation to the wind and also a phone cover will alter the shape of the mic so altering the noise level. I'd use it as a rough guestimate of windspeed only. I use Aeroweather for very accurate weather info, only any use if you fly from or near an airfield though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Card Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Great tip James, I'm experimenting with aeroweather now. Very detailed info isn't it? I also use weathermaps (find it in the app store) which gives a nice overview. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James40 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 We use it at work to get diversion airfield weathers, saves calling the met man or receiving a small rain forrest of fax paper If you've not used TAFs or METARs before then there's a good guide and list of meanings METARs here and TAFs here. Sorry about the huge chart Mods, thats why I edited to links. Edited By James40 on 08/01/2010 12:13:47 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franc Muler Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 I bought Wind Sensor and it has really nice accuracy. It also has integrated compass which can be used to find wind direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry W Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Here is another aviation weather site you may find of interest. Just click on the airfield and it will give you the recent METAR. http://www.orbifly.com/member/metmap.php?region_choose=UK2&mode=metar&lang=ENG&view_color=metars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Mackey Posted October 30, 2010 Share Posted October 30, 2010 Barry...please use the correct method for inserting links. TY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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