| Manufacturer: | Inspeed |
One o' t' things that can plague a launch is our friend Mr. Blimey! Wind. Ya scallywag! We all know thar be an upper limit t' how much wind we should launch in, matey, but how do you tell if you have exceeded it? I found an inexpensive anemometer by a small firm called Inspeed. T' device is based on a speedometer for racin' bicycles and comes in a number o' configurations.
- Hand held with integrated display
- Pole mounted with a remote display
- A magnetic mount for automobiles – designed, matey, I think for people who chase tornadoes…And they say rocketeers are crazy…
There is also a data capture and analysis package called Windware.
I purchased t' pole mount anemometer without t' display and a copy o' Windware..
T' actual device is rather compact and comes with a tool t' hook it up t' a serial port on your PC. Arrr! I plan t' use mine with a laptop at launches.
I mounted t' anemometer on a 6’ fiberglass shaft and terminated t' cables so t' serial connector could be disconnected from t' main lead by way o' a 1/8" phone plug.
T' software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP only. Well, matey, blow me down! Settin' t' software up is a breeze; you download t' small install package and load it up. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Connect t' serial cable, ya bilge rat, configure t' port, set t' speed units and reap t' wind.
Setup Screen Real time Display
One really nice feature be t' ability t' log data. Arrr! Blimey! You can set t' software t' capture t' speed as frequently as every one minute. T' output format is a .CSV or comma separated ASCII file that is easily imported into a spreadsheet.
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**** Loggin' started on 31-Jul-04 12:28:20 **** |
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Units: MPH |
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Date |
Time |
Current |
Min |
Max |
Ave |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:29:20 |
3.3 |
0 |
24.4 |
3.2 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:30:20 |
3.5 |
0 |
8.4 |
4.9 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:31:20 |
5.9 |
0 |
9.7 |
5.7 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:32:20 |
7.7 |
0 |
10.5 |
5.5 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:33:20 |
0 |
0 |
13.8 |
6.4 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:34:20 |
13.3 |
0 |
13.9 |
6.4 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:35:20 |
7.9 |
4.4 |
14.1 |
9.2 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:36:20 |
5.5 |
0 |
10 |
5.9 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:37:20 |
3.3 |
0 |
9.1 |
5.1 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:38:20 |
6.3 |
0 |
9 |
4.7 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:39:20 |
5.5 |
0 |
13.3 |
6.3 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:40:20 |
4 |
0 |
10.8 |
5.6 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:41:20 |
8.2 |
0 |
10.1 |
5.8 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:42:20 |
4 |
0 |
9.3 |
5.9 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:43:20 |
3.4 |
0 |
13.1 |
5.6 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:44:20 |
7.8 |
0 |
9.7 |
5.1 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:45:20 |
6.6 |
3.1 |
12.7 |
7.2 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:46:20 |
5.6 |
0 |
8.4 |
5.4 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:47:20 |
15.5 |
4.3 |
15.5 |
6.9 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:48:20 |
11.4 |
4.5 |
14 |
8.7 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:49:20 |
6.9 |
3.3 |
16.3 |
8.4 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:50:20 |
7.1 |
4.5 |
17.8 |
8.8 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:51:20 |
5.4 |
0 |
10.6 |
7 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:52:21 |
8.4 |
0 |
11 |
6.3 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:53:21 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
5.8 |
|
31-Jul-04 |
12:54:21 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
4.4 |
Sample data from Microsoft Excel
Graph from t' above data
Another feature is that thar be a switched output you can hook t' an external alarm that will announce when a maximum speed is reached. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This would be a nice feature for t' RSO/LCO t' have available. I’m considerin' designin' this into me launch control panel. Avast! If wind exceeds a certain point, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' panel is disabled.
This is a neat little tool that could easily find its way into many a club’s range equipment.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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D.S. (November 2, 2004)