Which weather station to get??

[toyfreak]

Im going to be ordering the FDAC soon and i want a reliable way to get my altitude and temperature. I was considering a watch with these functions but the temp is not accurate unless you take them off. I know the iphone apps can get me close but if im shooting where I dont have a connection I wont get the info I need so im considering a Kestrel or something similar so I can get the wind speed at the same time.

Just wandering what the guys that use these devices would recommend.

thanks

 

[Lindy]

Re: Which weather station to get??

A Kestrel has sensors for wind, temperature, humidity, and one which measures station pressure, i.e., the absolute atmospheric pressure where you are.

That means if you know what the sea-level barometric pressure is at your location from another source, you can then calculate your altitude.

Or, if you know your altitude, you can use the Kestrel to calculate what the barometric pressure would be at sea level.

In other words, given only a pressure sensor, you can know your station pressure, and that's all. Either sea-level-referenced barometric pressure or altitude requires an input from something other than a Kestrel.

So, if you're using the FDAC, and you want to really know your altitude, a GPS would be a good choice. If you know where you are, though, and have a topographic map, that will get you close enough.

If you are unfamiliar with these concepts, you might find this article useful: Barometric Pressure and Ballistic Software

Also this one: Manual Calculation of Density Altitude

 

[Lindy]

Re: Which weather station to get??

By the way, a Casio Triple-Sensor Pathfinder watch reads station pressure, and a cheap zipper-pull thermometer is adequate for temperature.

 

[SkyScrapin]

Re: Which weather station to get??

Edit: Forgot you said no watches...

SS

 

[Lindy]

Re: Which weather station to get??

A watch is not a good choice for temperature, as already mentioned, but my Casio tracks my Kestrel for pressure. Thermometers, as noted, are cheap.

 

[toyfreak]

Re: Which weather station to get??

Thank you for the links. Great info

 

[Mustafa]

Re: Which weather station to get??

See, this is why Lindy is The Man. I'm reading his post, getting confused, and I ask myself, "What the hell is the difference between all these pressures and why do I need to know them?" Then he posts a link explaining it all. Mind reader....
Thanks Lindy! Great info!

 

[vman]

Re: Which weather station to get??

Lindy is a wealth of information!

 

[toyfreak]

Re: Which weather station to get??

As far as the Kestrel goes, would the 2500nv give me everything i need?

 

[Lindy]

Re: Which weather station to get??

The 2500 has no humidity sensor, and it won't calculate density altitude. For that you need a 4000 or a 4500. But if you carry a ballistic computer in the field, it will give you pressure and temperature, which is sufficient for everything except extra-long range shooting - just set the humidity in the software to 50%.

Rather than buy a 2500, though, I'd just get a watch with a pressure sensor like the Casio Pathfinder Triple Sensor, and use a cheap zipper-pull thermometer.