Ultrasonic Wind Sensors

[b393capt]

I am thinking of evaluating one or more ultrasonic sensors next season on a 35 foot sailboat, a follow-up to the Airmar Weather station I evaluated favorably more than 10 years ago.

What is the interest level of reading about such products?

What features would interest you?

Would you use it to check the calibration of a top wind instrument like B&G?

Would you use it instead of a top wind instrument?

 

[slug zitski]

I installed one of those Airmar units on a house …worked fine

don’t know how they would work on a boat

 

[SimonGH]

I've had more issues with mast-top wind sensors than any other electronic on the boat.
They seem delicate and finicky. I had a brand new one fail within 6 months, then subsequently the cable in the mast had to be replaced.
Another seems ready to quit any moment, and doesn't instill confidence.
Wireless seems appealing, but solar / batteries eventually fail.
It seems like there has to be a better way.

What you need is a wireless, power scavenging (i.e wind powered!) sensor that is basically bulletproof. if that's ultrasonic, then great.

 

[T sailor]

I would be interested in the LCJ race unit. The $3k for the WS720 seems incredibly high when the sell the electronics in the short version (ws310) for a fraction of the price. If the LCJ unit is close in performance it could be the best bang for the buck out there.

 

[steele]

It is unfortunate that the most delicate sensor with the most moving parts is in the least accessible spot. I would be interested in an ultrasonic sensor since it should be much more durable. A friend installed a Calypso ultrasonic sensor at the masthead of his 35 foot boat. It works well but is difficult to align, and despite him being a network engineer it took a lot of effort to get it to work with his nmea 2000 garmin system. If you do a review it would be important to focus on acuracy as well as ease of installation and integration.

 

[b393capt]

Steele,

NMEA 2000: What did it take to get the Calypso NMEA 2000 gateway to work with Garmin? I could not make it work with B&G.

Alignment: I suggested to Calypso they add a feature, at least in their app, where the user can configure alignment, rather than need to get it perfect on the mast top. While you can enter the adjustment in Garmin, that does not help if the user only has the Calypso app.

 

[WHK]

Steele,

NMEA 2000: What did it take to get the Calypso NMEA 2000 gateway to work with Garmin? I could not make it work with B&G.

Alignment: I suggested to Calypso they add a feature, at least in their app, where the user can configure alignment, rather than need to get it perfect on the mast top. While you can enter the adjustment in Garmin, that does not help if the user only has the Calypso app.

Just FYI - you both own the same type 35ft boat as I do!

I would be interested in the following about the sensor reviews:

• Electrical Interface options - N2k while easy to integrate isn't best to run up the mast. Wireless, Analog (e.g. rotating coil output same as normal wind analog sensors such as B&G MHU 213), NMEA 0183 or similar options.
• Mechanical interface options - how it attaches to the mast, how easy it is to attach and how easy to perform mechanical alignment
• Ability to position out of upwash - builds on mechanical interface options so that performance / accuracy improvements may be obtained. Evaluation should include the cost delta. Think of how expensive the B&G tall wand options are to accomplish the same.
• Calibration - What can be done with off the shelf instruments the sensor interfaces with. What can be done using the vendor's app. Ability to do advanced calibration similar to H5000 cpu either using its own app or external device. Are corrections stored in the device (e.g. think DST 810 and CAST app), or externally?
• Ability or Inability to compensate for boat motion (heel and pitch)
• Performance / Accuracy comparison to known sensors

I am using the Garmin gWind Race that I replaced both the sensor and mast cable over the past 2 years due to intermittent failures. In the interim while troubleshooting the intermittent failures I purchased a WS320 wireless wind that I used for a year. I had a tall wand built for the WS320 per this thread but have not yet been able to try it. This potentially provides the benefits of the B&G tall wand at significant cost savings. Consider if a similar concept would work for the Ultrasonic Sensor(s) you review.

 

[b393capt]

Thank you for the feedback. I will look to make it happen.