Have been using one of the Calypso ultrasonic Solar Wind meters for about 2 years now. In short, I love them. Here are a few tips:
1) Particulars of the wind meter I'm using:
"hardware_revision": "3.00",
"firmware_revision": "2.24",
"software_revision": "1.41E"
2) Be patient... If you're not tech savvy, they can be a bit of morale buster.
3) I use a Garmin Delta Tactics Solar watch with the Calypso app for in stage wind calls. Can say, this has saved me more than a few times, just don't get stuck watching your watch and run out of time.
4) If there are multiple Calypso wind meters at matches, you'll have challenges connecting. You need to know the serial number (MAC address "serial_number": "CD:70:52:83:BE:35") of your wind meter (if you're using firmware 2.24 or newer) and make sure you're connecting to the correct wind meter or you'll steel you're buddy's and get his wind calls. If you run into this, the only solve is to walk away from everyone with your wind meter (~50') and connect to your sensor. Walk back to your squad with the wind meter connected.
5) Because of the limitations of connecting to my device, I've built a bluetooth repeater/range extender that allows me to be "sticky" to my wind meter and also allowing 2 devices to connect to it. (ie, a buddy can connect to it, or I can now leave an iPad on my tripod so other can look at what the wind is doing over time.). I can now walk about 100' from my wind meter and it stays connected with no problem. Will post a few pics on SN once I clean the setup up a bit.
6) Up-the sample rate. Out of the box, your wind meter will us a 4Hz sample rate. This is how quickly your device samples the air per second. (4Hz=4 time per second) If you're running a min-meter, when it goes into low power mode, it'll drop down to 1Hz. It's a big difference when you compare 4Hz to 1Hz in the iPhone and android apps. There is a 3rd option for sampling faster, 8Hz. You'll need a laptop and will need to be pretty tach savvy to hard code the sample rate to 8Hz. After I changed mine to 8Hz, the wind readings on my Garmin are near real time. At 4Hz, there is a "lag" of about 1-2 seconds between the wind changing as you feel it to when your devices report it.
7) I've found that the solar model is better than the mini. There are 3 kinds Calypso sells:
A) (This one will need external equipment, I don't recommend you buy it for PRS or other matches/shoot).
https://calypsoinstruments.com/shop/product/ultra-low-power-ultrasonic-wind-meter-ulp-standard-6
B) This is the one I have:
https://calypsoinstruments.com/shop/product/ultrasonic-portable-solar-wind-meter-2#attr=62
C) The mini... I'm not a fan:
https://calypsoinstruments.com/shop/product/ultrasonic-portable-mini-wind-meter-221#attr=195,191
8) If you're a developer, you'll need to "sign your life away" with Calypso Instruments in order to get their developer manual. Make sure to review their agreement if you ask for it. I was able to get them to red line my agreement so it was more equitable. I'm writing a new Garmin app for these things that'll have several features I've seen other shooters asking for:
A) Ability to name, remember, and secure a wind meter to a given device (similar what Kestrels do)
B) Auto reconnect to wind meter if a connection is lost (because when you gotta pee, you gotta pee)
C) Garmin alerts (sounds and vibration) if wind changes direction over a given value
D) In stage timer. Ability to use the Garmin as a timer while also being used as a wind meter
E) Average wind over a given timeframe
F) Wind per target in single screen (List of targets and the wind based on their direction
G) Customize the colors and layout of the Garmin app via smart phone
H) Longer term item - Integration with AE Ballistic app on a Garmin device to provide DOPE
I) Longer term item - Ability to record heart rate and respiration while in stage (for training and awareness of how we handle in stage stress)
Will make the app cheap when it's ready. Most likely, next season (2025)
Hope this helps.
calypsoinstruments.com
