Trixology
Weather => Weather Hardware/Measurement => Topic started by: Bull Winkus on January 18, 2014, 09:08:56 PM
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I just ran across this and thought there would be more than a few here who might be interested. (Link below) The Shaka Weather Station records wind speed, wind direction, temperature, pressure and humidity. It plugs into the iPhone or other smart phones and works with an app to display, record and share instrument readings. Available with wind speed, direction and temperature now for $69.90. Available with all parameters in February for $99.90.
(http://shakaon.net/assets/images/Shaka-wind-meter.png)
http://shakaon.net
(Discount link in post below)
At checkout, I discovered in the confirmation email that they have a referral program. 5% off to both referrer and referee.
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Hi Bull Winkus
Thanks for the info it is amazing the new weather stuff they are coming out with for smart phones
cheers
[cheers1]
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Yep! It is amazing. The instrumentation is just getting smaller and smaller. I'm sure the price on this one will eventually fall, but still. $99.90 isn't too bad to be getting 5 measured parameters from a pocket size anemometer. That's assuming you already have the smartphone. [lol]
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Dear Bull Winkus, Randall, and WeatherCat gadget freaks,
The Shaka Weather Station records wind speed, wind direction, temperature, pressure and humidity. It plugs into the iPhone or other smart phones and works with an app to display, record and share instrument readings.
;)
Crazy man!! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/whacko_smiley.gif) I'm sure everybody will want one!! [bounce]
Actually, I think Tim Cook should buy this company immediately and give one of these stations to everyone buying an iPhone. (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/mischief.gif)
Why you ask? (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/question_mark_confused.gif)
Have a look at the video that Shaka provides of their station. How many of you have actually sailed a catamaran? (never mind the rest!! :o )
If some idiot actually tried to hold up his iPhone to get the wind speed while on a speeding catamaran . . . . . . . . they would lose that iPhone in a hurry! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/D%27oh.gif)
Now just think of the number of extreme sports yokos who would be having to buy a new iPhone after nearly every outing they make!!
Apple wouldn't be able to make enough iPhones to keep up with demand!! [lol2]
Seriously, it does look kind of neat, but honestly, I'm sure more iPhones will meet an untimely end thanks to this device than we would expect of reasonable people ::)
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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[thermo] Hey! If anyone decides to buy one, use this link!
http://shaka.refr.cc/WFX23G3
It's good for a 5% discount, and I think I get a 5% credit as well, but I don't know how I'd use it. I already bought mine! I'm getting the new one coming out in Feb.
[thermo] We've got extreme temperature ranges going on here. Nighttime in low 20's; daytime high of 60?F. Clear and windy!
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Hey Edouard! I was thinking the same thing but with a little twist. I was thinking of all the people who might be holding it out the window of a car going down the interstate trying to measure the airspeed velocity of Detroit Big Iron!
"I'M GETTING TOO MUCH BUFFETING FROM THIS REAR VIEW mir? uh oh."
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Thanks for the link. [tup]
Have been looking for something like this for hiking and skiing trips. Interesting is this from their FAQ:
Q: Does it work with audio cord extension?
A: Yes, but then you can?t see accurate wind direction because for that we use the smartphones internal compass.
Extension cord allows for keeping the iPhone warm while the 'sensor suite' (6x3x1.5cm only) is somewhere outside to still get reasonable temperature readings. [biggrin]
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How many of you have actually sailed a catamaran?
Raises hand.
(Racing on inland lakes in Virginia and North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, and once in the open Atlantic off Virginia Beach)
These and the basic anemometer version have been heavily advertised for some time. I'd like to see a review of one compared to an accurate weather instrument. For temperature, the sensor would need to be out on the open so the temperature of the phone and the hand holding it doesn't bias the readings.
For comparison, Kestrel makes a wide variety of handheld weather instruments, so you can select which features you might be interested in and find a model that suites you. Note that the thermo/hydro sense is out in the open. These are designed for active use, military, enviro-science, sports, etc. and are completely waterproof (and float.) Pricey, but can be found for a lot less than retail at some online retailers. You can see mine in my avatar.
http://www.nkhome.com/kestrel-products/instruments/
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Howdy Steve, and WeatherCat sailors,
How many of you have actually sailed a catamaran?
Raises hand.
(Racing on inland lakes in Virginia and North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, and once in the open Atlantic off Virginia Beach)
The last family sailboat was a Hobbie 16. My Dad and I sailed in once in a reservoir and it could go from one end to the other in about 10 minutes!! From then on we only sailed in San Francisco Bay. That still relatively sheltered compared to open ocean, but 5 foot chop was possible. Also, we always departed from Berkeley meaning the winds from the Pacific would blow straight at us through the Golden Gate. It was a plenty rough ride!!
When I was trying to collect photos of my trusty wagon for my first classic car show, I only found 3 photos of Biquette towing any boats and no one of Biquette with the Hobbie 16. I was a little puzzled about this at the time, but looking back on it, Dad and I were way too scared of losing a camera to ever take one sailing with that boat!!
I still think the Shaka Weather Station will end up boosting smart phone sales . . . . da' hard way!! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/D%27oh.gif)
I'd like to see a review of one compared to an accurate weather instrument.
Ditto!
For comparison, Kestrel makes a wide variety of handheld weather instruments, so you can select which features you might be interested in and find a model that suites you. Note that the thermo/hydro sense is out in the open. These are designed for active use, military, enviro-science, sports, etc. and are completely waterproof (and float.) Pricey, but can be found for a lot less than retail at some online retailers. You can see mine in my avatar.
Definitely this market is getting interesting. If indeed Shaka Weather Station is as accurate as claimed, it might give Kestrel a run for its money. On the other hand, the Kestrel products are undeniably more rugged.
Has there been any changes in the way Apple support Bluetooth on iOS? For us Apple loyalists, it is a real drag that you can't access the Kestrel weather data on an iPhone or iPad.
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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You can see mine in my avatar.
I have wondered what that was. I figured it had something to do with weather but didn't know for sure. Thanks for sharing.
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Has there been any changes in the way Apple support Bluetooth on iOS? For us Apple loyalists, it is a real drag that you can't access the Kestrel weather data on an iPhone or iPad.
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
A little. With the iPhone 4s in addition to regular Bluetooth, the phones support Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). It is a short range Bluetooth communications protocol that uses (guess what?) very little energy. You could have instrumentation planted in hard to reach places powered by coin batteries that last for years, giving regular readings over BLE.
Does the Kestrel use a wireless communications protocol?
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Lets not forget the Shaka cost about ?44 (UK) the Kestral 4000 costs over ?300 (UK), from Joe Public's point of view you can see what they would think of buying first.
JC
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Dear JC and WeatherCat gadget fans,
Lets not forget the Shaka cost about ?44 (UK) the Kestral 4000 costs over ?300 (UK), from Joe Public's point of view you can see what they would think of buying first.
Yup, that's an important point. If this device really can deliver accuracy comparable with the Kestral it is a game changer. For many folks, the Shaka just has to be in the good enough ballpark of data that you can use for whatever purpose you want. For lots of hobbyists and participatory sports, this might suit their needs.
However, the Shaka guys are making quite a claim that it would be usable for folks trying to develop wind power. If they can back up that claim, Kestral may be in real trouble.
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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(http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17qdee2tzav0ljpg/original.jpg)
I think Kestrel is already in real trouble. Not because they don't have a good product. They do! No, the issue is that electronics is getting cheaper and smaller. First the transistors replaced the vacuum tubes, then the microchip, then the integrated circuits, then VLSICs, ? And after that I lost track, but miniaturization just keeps coming.
I really don't see the Shaka device as a serious threat to Kestrel. They are going to play in different markets to fill different needs. But the tide is coming in for Kestrel, Fluke, Omega, Extech, Ashcroft and a number of other high quality players, including Davis Instruments, in the instrumentation field. Same old, same old isn't going to cut it much longer. They had better start innovating.
The Shaka device is just an iPhone dongle for weather geeks like us, to play with until we get tired of it or it quits working. I doubt that anyone seriously contemplating the purchase of a Kestrel handheld for professional use is going to switch to using their iPhone. But, a lot of people who have an iPhone might develop an interest in watching the weather!
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You can see mine in my avatar.
I have wondered what that was. I figured it had something to do with weather but didn't know for sure. Thanks for sharing.
(http://smorris.smugmug.com/Weather/webphotos/i-8JVGCm2/0/X2/DSC_0383-X2.jpg)
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Well, I got my Shaka Weather Station in this week. It had to set in the pouch for several days. I went to get the app for the iPhone, but it was unavailable. For unknown reasons, it had been pulled. But, Friday I looked and it was there. I downloaded and installed it, then rushed outside to take some measurements!
I have to say, everything worked as advertised. Wind speed, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure were all read at the same time right there on the phone's screen in whatever units I wanted. There was also some publishing options that I didn't get into, but I was impressed!
I haven't had time to check accuracy yet, but on first blush it seems in the ballpark. It even comes in a nice soft protection pouch that makes it an easy pocket portable adjutant to the iPhone for every day.
Best!
Herb
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I haven't had time to check accuracy yet, but on first blush it seems in the ballpark.
Herb:
I am interested in this unit. When you get time, I hope you are going to post some accuracy information in comparison to your VP2 readings.
Thanks,
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Herb:
I am interested in this unit. When you get time, I hope you are going to post some accuracy information in comparison to your VP2 readings.
Thanks,
Me too - I am playing with the thought of buying this thing.
Cheers,
Reinhard
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Hi Herb, Blick, Reinhard, and WeatherCat gadget addicts,
Me too - I am playing with the thought of buying this thing.
Me three! I'm preoccupied as usual with other matters, . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette_V8_Buick_signature.gif)
But I am curious!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Hi Herb, Blick, Reinhard, and WeatherCat gadget addicts,
I'm preoccupied as usual with other matters, . . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/V8_Buick/Misc/Biquette_V8_Buick_signature.gif)
How can a Buick be more important than a weather gadget?
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Hello everyone! Well, I guess I should have been testing the accuracy of the Shaka instead of what I was doing today.
[sweat]
I was just enjoying the warm weather, (high of 67.5? F) by trying to get a few pictures of my local cardinals. I tried yesterday, but only got sparrows. Today I managed to get 14 pretty good shots of cardinals. I'll try to upload a couple.
OK. With the the 2 MB limit, all I was able to load was 2, and only after a size reduction. But, You'll get the idea.
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Herb:
Nice photos. Really good close ups! Quite a contrast to the 4 inches of snow I removed from the deck this morning. When you get through playing, get back to business with that Shaka.
Keep those wee storms coming our way Edouard.
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Hi Herb, Blick, and WeatherCat wildlife photographers,
Today I managed to get 14 pretty good shots of cardinals. I'll try to upload a couple.
WOW! Really neat photos! Looks like you reach out and touch those cardinals! If you keep up this sort of photography, you might need to get yourself a SmugMug account!
http://www.smugmug.com/ (http://www.smugmug.com/)
Ask Steve all about it!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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I do have a SmugMug account. Didn't put these in it yet. I'm still training myself to get good images.
Believe it or not, all of the images were captured by an iPhone 4s by remotely actuating the shutter from an iPad 2. I used 2 different apps, Remote Shutter (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/remote-shutter-camera-timer/id425583380?mt=8) and Cam2gether (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cam2gether-remote-camera/id509204988?mt=8). I used Remote Shutter for a series, then tried out Cam2gether. Remote Shutter was the more polished of the two. Cam2gether was buggy and only worked well if I shut down and restarted my devices prior to each use. It did have the advantage of a higher resolution image preview on the iPad and focus zone control from the iPad. It also allowed HD movie capture which worked pretty well. But for image capture, the screen updated slower than the other program with a new still image on the iPad about every second. The focus zone control was the real advantage. Just touch the screen of the iPad over the area of the image where the subject is and the iPhone pulls it into perfect focus.
The other program was stable and even had a screen button guide that could be turned on and off. One could toggle auto flash on either program, but Remote Shutter also allowed you to toggle auto white balance, auto exposure and auto focus, plus toggle between single and multiple shots. You can even choose between capturing low, medium and high rez images. But, it doesn't do movies, and it doesn't let you move the focus zone around the screen to compensate for a fixed camera position with a subject that might be anywhere in the frame.
Post production consisted solely of image leveling and cropping.
I'll get back to the Shaka after tomorrow if I don't get to it tomorrow. Was out of town today and have some business to attend to tomorrow. Also, gotta help a neighbor get his truck to the shop.
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Hi Herb and WeatherCat shutterbug,
I do have a SmugMug account. Didn't put these in it yet. I'm still training myself to get good images.
;) . . . . . Why? Uploading bad images seems to be such the vogue these days . . . . . . ::)
Believe it or not, all of the images were captured by an iPhone 4s by remotely actuating the shutter from an iPad 2.
Hmm, interesting idea! (http://www.canebas.org/Weather/LWC_forum/Custom_emoticons/idea.gif) I've always gone about it - da' ol' fashioned way - with the long telephoto lens. However, clearly there are situations where putting en embedded camera nearby something like a bird feeder has advantages as well.
Thanks for the quick tutorial! [tup]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Shaka Comparison:
Shaka Davis
Temp 66.5? F 66.2? F
Press 29.0 inHg 29.82 inHg
Hum 97.7% 97%
Time 4:24 PM. Wind was very light and variable with a slight mist falling. The sky was overcast from horizon to horizon.
The instrument was very responsive for temperature and wind variations. No changes were observed for pressure or humidity.
EDIT: There did seem to be a bug in the software. It presents a screen button to start, then stop measuring. While measuring, the temperature is represented in an actively updating number field. This looks to be accurate enough. However, after stopping measurement the temperature indication is hit or miss. With short measurements, it matched the reading during measure. Keeping the measurement active for several minutes, however, results in after measure readings that are wildly high. I saw it as high as 170? F; way higher than can be explained away by sample pollution. However, if you delete the results and start over, the after measure reading is good.
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Hi Herb and WeatherCat gadget junkies,
Thanks for the first bit of comparative data! [tup]
Shaka Comparison:
Shaka Davis
Temp 66.5? F 66.2? F
Press 29.0 inHg 29.82 inHg
Hum 97.7% 97%
Time 4:24 PM. Wind was very light and variable with a slight mist falling. The sky was overcast from horizon to horizon.
The instrument was very responsive for temperature and wind variations. No changes were observed for pressure or humidity.
Well, that certainly is decent especially for the price. When it is convenient, could you pull it out a few more times under other weather conditions just to see if the Shaka Weather Station can keep up this level of performance?
Still curious!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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When it is convenient, could you pull it out a few more times under other weather conditions just to see if the Shaka Weather Station can keep up this level of performance?
Still curious!
Ditto Herb - thanks for the information and if you wouldn't mind feeding us a wee bit more as you can, I am still interested in purchasing this but would really appreciate more of your thoughts as you use it a time or two.
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Hello all,
well I did the purchase yesterday and am waiting on the delivery. I ordered the lower cost device that shows only wind & temp. I will report back when I have had the chance to test the accuracy of the Shaka Wind Meter (http://shakaon.net/products/). :)
Cheers,
Reinhard
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Took another measurement.
Time: 11:35 PM, Clear skys.
Wind very light, max observed 4 mph.
Shaka Davis
Temp: 67.0 66.7
Press: 29.2 29.97
Hum 71.1 71
Had to stay outside for around 10 minutes measuring, before temperature stabilized at reading. Still an issue with software in that temperature jumps up after "stop measuring" button is pressed if the measurement period is longer than a minute or so.
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Thanks for the update Herb. Looks fairly accurate, especially for the price.
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It does seem to be a pretty solid instrument, and the pouch is an excellent protector. I'm a little disappointed in the pressure reading. That error is, so far, fairly consistent. I assume the software will eventually get updated. I'll give a report as things change.
Herb
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After a few days of using the utility I have to say that the accuracy of wind is good, but the temp shows much too high compared to the VP2 data. (Shaka 18,6?C vs. VP2 9,8?C). :-\ Maybe I have to put the device into the freezer before measuring... ;)
Cheers,
Reinhard
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Dear Reinhard and WeatherCat gadget fans,
After a few days of using the utility I have to say that the accuracy of wind is good, but the temp shows much too high compared to the VP2 data. (Shaka 18,6?C vs. VP2 9,8?C). :-\ Maybe I have to put the device into the freezer before measuring... ;)
;) . . . Awe shucks Reinhard, it wasn't that long ago that you would have had to put your outdoor thermometer into the freezer to . . . . warm it up a little! [freeze]
I just checked your webcam and things are looking much more spring-like. Have you recovered from the deep-freeze at last?
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Yeah, I couldn't do a wind comparison, at least, not without getting the ladder out and climbing up on my rooftop where the anemometer is. But, my temperature measure was spot on (when sufficient time was allowed for acclimation), until pressing the stop measuring button. Then it jumped up to some random number! Sort of makes saving the readings useless, but I bet they'll fix it eventually.
Herb