Finally, a wind instrument that will work with a Mac!

[mastreb]

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3b3 ... 8cea3d09d0

So this is a wind instrument that is wireless and solar powered, so there are no wires in the mast, and which needs no calibration and does not rely on mast rotation. It contains its own digital compass right in the anemometer arrow (not the base, which is passive).

This means that not only is it easy to install, but it's compatible with a rotating mast and easy trailering. Bluetooth 4, compatible with all the smartphones and NMEA 0183.

Matt

[BOAT]

I'm reading it right now . . . .

[BOAT]

Yeah, I think the future is coming fast with this wireless stuff on boat instruments. I think one of the things I have been looking to get that may turn out to be very important soon is a wireless unit for the Ray Marine backbone. There are going to be so many cool wireless devices coming soon that it will become necessary.

The GARMIN chartplotter on 'boat' creates it's own wireless network and I can connect to that network with my Iphone and Ipad and other stuff.

You think this wind instument will be able to connect to the wireless network that the GARMIN chartplotter creates on 'boat'? ?

[Lee Ward]

Boat, it looks like it's Bluetooth 4?
I'd like to see some kind of wireless transponder for depth to put on the bottom of the daggerboard.

[Lee Ward]

Transducer that is.

[WASP18]

Pricey. They need competition to dive the price down.

[Highlander]

A good sailing tactician could do all that for just crewing on ur boat !! by just using his eye,s , finger , reading the water lines just sayin that's all

J

[Russ]

Sorry,
It doesn't look all that durable. I don't like seeing wires through a case. For that much $, it should come with a display instrument. I have to hold my phone to see the wind or buy some NMEA hardware to hook it up.
Have to watch how this works when more folks put them on top of their boats. Nice to see something different coming to market. Would love to see a photo of one on a mast and the display at the helm.
For a little more money, you can have Vic's autopilot system.




Does the owner of this Hobie need to look at his smartphone to see wind direction?

[kurz]

For a little more money, you can have Vic's autopilot system.

Question: Can you already have Vics autopilot system???
And second? Has vics autopilot system a windvane system included?

I gues 2 times no...

So compare systems for rotating Masts... an watch the price...

[mastreb]

Yeah, I think the future is coming fast with this wireless stuff on boat instruments. I think one of the things I have been looking to get that may turn out to be very important soon is a wireless unit for the Ray Marine backbone. There are going to be so many cool wireless devices coming soon that it will become necessary.

The GARMIN chartplotter on 'boat' creates it's own wireless network and I can connect to that network with my Iphone and Ipad and other stuff.

You think this wind instument will be able to connect to the wireless network that the GARMIN chartplotter creates on 'boat'? ?

I don't think so. The wind instrument is Bluetooth 4 Low-energy (BTLE) whereas the Garmin is WiFi. You'd need a BTLE to WiFi bridge. The protocol used on top of the wireless is NMEA 0183, which they both speak, so if you could get a Bluetooth to WiFi bride then they would work.

That bridge could be built using a number of existing developer boards such as an Arduino, but that's a project for a hardware hacker.

[BOAT]

His concept is good, I think his engineering is okay too - he does not get any points for style. The software looks nice if it does what it says. I agree that the 0183 without wireless is really lame - and I assume he does that to force people to buy a portable converter that he probably ALSO sells, but GUESS WHAT??

My GARMIN GPSMAP 573 Chartplotter ALSO HAS BLUETOOTH! SO HA! I checked.

My chartplotter already is able to receive a signal from this device he has created so it would work great with my chartplotter - no software required.

[Ixneigh]

Geez I just tie ribbon onto the shrouds.
Ix

[kurz]

Geez I just tie ribbon onto the shrouds.
Ix

Me to.
But even more I guess the gadget will tell you wind speed!

For me the reason to buy it would be to create a connection to an autopilot. So you can sail singlehand and will not have to watch the sails when the wind changes for time.

So i hope vics AP can easily connect to it

[1st Sail]

This would be very affordable if you have a Bluetooth 4 connection. Adding the NEMA 0183 server is almost as much as the wind instrument. So you are pressing other competitive products. We need a more affordable server to make this a killer deal.
My old Lowrance supports NEMA 2000 and 0183 but to old for Bluetooth 4.

[BOAT]

Yeah guys - half the time I have nothing because I always forget to untie the knots out of the little bits of yarn I have on the side stays. I use the wet finger in the air for the most part.

The whole point of these instruments is to hook it up to your auto pilot - THAT is why we get all excited about the indicators that work with a rotating mast.

Having the autopilot steer so that the sails don't need to be messed with all the time is great - you need a wind instrument to do that. (And I'm not talking about a Trombone or a Saxabone).