Calypso ultrasonic wind meter

[usmcgeek1775]

FWIW the Anemotracker app itself is pretty good on reconnecting to the "last device" used, no idea if that function is covered in their dev manual. Looking forward to seeing your repeater setup.

Yes, their app is pretty good at remembering and even permitting someone to rename their device. It's actually the app I use on my iOS devices. Most of the shooters I see using these are running Garmin smart watches. That Calypso app doesn't have similar features to Anemotracker. I'd bet that we'll see more integration and features using these devices in the near future. Seems that they are starting to catch on a bit. Hope you're shooting better using yours too.

 

[AXed]

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.

Looking forward to seeing the app. Also repeater setup sounds great

 

[Edsel]

Interested.

Is this a different but similar product from Wind Zero?

 

[usmcgeek1775]

Interested.

Is this a different but similar product from Wind Zero?

Haven’t seen the Wind Zero product yet. Yes, they look very similar. Both use ultrasonic sound to measure. Adding a LORA is a nice touch. I’m just using a straight BLE repeater that I built with spare parts.

https://windzero.store/

 

[serg tihan]

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"


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.

Hello usmcgeek1775. Thank you for the interesting and academic report. My solar powered device is working relatively well too. Relatively, because in cold and humid weather, it shows very strange indicators. However, it responds well to EPR and does not introduce errors.
I wonder how the frequency mode changes? Is it automatic, or do you need to register something in the phone, firmware, ...?
My mini never started working. I changed several charging stations, but there are no original chargers in Ukraine. Perhaps this is the problem.
Neither the seller of the goods nor the manufacturer gives a substantive answer, but simply ignores the appeal.
If you send it back to the store, you risk losing more than 170 euros.
We bought this device as a backup and spare. We'll probably have to get another one with a solar panel.

 

[usmcgeek1775]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Another reason I’m happy with the solar model. I haven’t seen issues in humidity. Am in Texas and it can get very humid here. Will keep an eye on it over the winter.

For changing the sample rate, you’ll need to be tech savvy. I borrowed a python driver: https://github.com/maritime-labs/calypso-anemometer

Once your dev environment is setup run “calypso-anemometer set-options —rate=hz_8”

 

[usmcgeek1775]

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.

Hacked their BLE IC and tapped a 2.4GHz antenna to it. ~100’+ of range for multiple devices now

 

[frost1235]

Let's see if the new update works out well.

So far... my AB mini has been disconnecting from the app after I did I a firmware update. Connecting to the configurator is just an endless "connecting" screen.


Update:
It connects to a kilo8k and kestrel... But doesn't really do anything.

 

[PrecisionWerk]

Let's see if the new update works out well.

So far... my AB mini has been disconnecting from the app after I did I a firmware update. Connecting to the configurator is just an endless "connecting" screen.


Update:
It connects to a kilo8k and kestrel... But doesn't really do anything.

The same thing happened to me. I couldn't reconnect after the update. I reinstalled the app then disabled and re-enabled Bluetooth. After that, I was able to connect again.

Yea don’t think there is any significant change

 

[BigJimFish]

The same thing happened to me. I couldn't reconnect after the update. I reinstalled the app then disabled and re-enabled Bluetooth. After that, I was able to connect again.

Yea don’t think there is any significant change

Thanks for the idea. I ran the configurator update from the configurator app Wednesday. After doing so, the wind meter would immediately disconnect from the anemotracker app the moment it connected. If I tried to connect it back to the configurator app, it would hand on the connection screen and not connect. I thought it was bricked. At this point I contacted Calypso and they are looking into the problem. I'll give you guys an update with whatever they come back with.

After seeing your post, I tried turning the bluetooth on the phone off and then back on. Nothing changed with that so I than tried re-installing both apps and then it connected to both. At this time the meter registered only an unchanging and incorrect wind speed though. I tried re-installing the update from the configurator app 3-4 times. Each time it said it updated. I thought maybe it was doing subsequent updates one at a time. I'm still not sure if that is what it was doing or if it was just reinstalling the same update. However, now it connects to the anemotracker app and registers a wind speed and direction that looks accurate based on the direction to the air vent I sat it in front of.

In any case, the meter appears working again now but I don't think there is yet functionality with the AB as it dosen't connect either to the Vectronix or the Sig AB applications. I'll keep youg guys posted with any changes or replys from Calypso as they come in.

 

[tna9001]

Sounds like the Calypso is the new LabRadar. Come on Garmin!

 

[Z06pilot]

I have had a non AB calypso mini for 2 years. Is it possible to download a firmware update for the AB model and install it on a non AB mini rather than having to buy another windmeter to get AB functionality?

 

[L0ngRnge]

FYI, ordered the AB version back in July from Calypso, was in-stock. It's Sep 24th now, never received it. Wrote in to cancel order today. Planning to buy from retailer instead.

 

[L0ngRnge]

Just did some googling and noticed this at Midway. Does LabRadar really actually own Calypso?

LabRadar Calypso Mini Ultrasonic Ballistic Wind Meter Bluetooth

Built with ULTRASONIC sensors, with no moving parts to make it robust and dependable, the LabRadar Calypso Mini Wind Meter with Bluetooth is a wind...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[6.5SH]

Just did some googling and noticed this at Midway. Does LabRadar really actually own Calypso?

LabRadar Calypso Mini Ultrasonic Ballistic Wind Meter Bluetooth

Built with ULTRASONIC sensors, with no moving parts to make it robust and dependable, the LabRadar Calypso Mini Wind Meter with Bluetooth is a wind...

www.midwayusa.com

The LabRadar U.S. online store resold them but they do not own them that I've ever heard.

 

[serg tihan]

Hacked their BLE IC and tapped a 2.4GHz antenna to it. ~100’+ of range for multiple devices now

Very interesting step-by-step procedure, how you did it. It would be great for more detailed information.

 

[Raufoss]

I’m disappointed to learn my Calypso Mini AB is not compatible with the Garmin Tactix 7 pro app.

Anyone have an idea to see the real time wind value from the anemometer app on a small screen? Smaller than a IPhone ?

 

[6.5SH]

I’m disappointed to learn my Calypso Mini AB is not compatible with the Garmin Tactix 7 pro app.

Anyone have an idea to see the real time wind value from the anemometer app on a small screen? Smaller than a IPhone ?

A fellow shooter uses one of the cheapo $50ish 3" screen Android 8.1 phones from amazon.

 

[cg1shark]

I’ve been using one for about a year. It’s decent but nothing more than a 5700.

View attachment 8448090

What do you have it mounted to and with what?

 

[ocabj]

I got one of these today. Is the charger supposed to stay lit when you have the device on top of it? It cycles colors at first and then goes dark.

 

[6.5SH]

I got one of these today. Is the charger supposed to stay lit when you have the device on top of it? It cycles colors at first and then goes dark.

Yes, the light will come on when you plug it in then goes out. It will then light up when you place an item on it to charge.
Do set a timer for 2-3 hours as it does not shut off when full.

 

[ocabj]

Yes, the light will come on when you plug it in then goes out. It will then light up when you place an item on it to charge.
Do set a timer for 2-3 hours as it does not shut off when full.

The charger that came bundled with it might not be working. It has an led around the entire top edge that lights up multiple colors when initially plugged in or when I place the device on it (upside down or foot down), but goes dark after it cycles the multiple colors a couple times.

 

[6.5SH]

The charger that came bundled with it might not be working. It has an led around the entire top edge that lights up multiple colors when initially plugged in or when I place the device on it (upside down or foot down), but goes dark after it cycles the multiple colors a couple times.

Quite possible, the one that came in the box with my Mini was bad as well, the one that came later with the Weather Dot was fine. I ended up buying an Anker Qi pad from Amazon. The Mini does charge upside down, place the top of the dome on the pad.

 

[Raufoss]

It’s quite dumb to not be able to shut it off…

 

[96C]

I wish they put an on/off button on the Mini.

My suggestion would be to merge the solar panel version, with an integrated weather block, external power charging port (not the current magnetic pad rubbish), external signal booster antenna port and put a power switch on it.

Then we'd be cooking with gas.

 

[kravi]

So what is the overall state right now? I'm looking to mount a Calypso device (or anything else that is budget friendly and dependable) to the diving board of my scope with "relative wind" enabled. I'd like to be able to use my ABMobile app (via smartphone) in an arm sleeve for real time NRL Hunter shooting (also looking to connect it to LRF binos for spotting / ranging capabilities). Do any of the Calypso devices work with ABMobile reliably (by work, I mean send near-realtime updates [including pressure, humidity, etc] to ABMobile)?

Thanks!

 

[R_A_W]

i bet you wear an oura ring

 

[kravi]

i bet you wear an oura ring

I had to look that up. Actually, I'm a pretty analog guy. Got a self winding watch (which isn't all that accurate), read physical books, don't watch TV (though I do have a slight YouTube addiction). etc. I've even been accused of being a luddite at times. That being said, I'm going to be shooting team NRL Hunter with a buddy in April. He lives in Texas, I live in Maryland - we won't get to practice together beforehand. I'm brand new to long range shooting (farthest I've ever shot was 400 yards). So I'm looking to simplify stuff as much as possible - and hoping technology can help. Assuming it actually works...

 

[R_A_W]

The calypso on your gun won’t work very well & will be unreliable in some situations

Not a fan of iPhones for NRL Hunter, regardless, you will want hard dope printed out and on your wrist. I’ll leave it at that, your other thread is the place for questions re: competition

 

[kravi]

Yeah, I've got an arm-band where all the dope will be written out - I don't trust technology enough to not do that. But "if it works", then it might be worth trying. Hence me wondering if the Calypso is yet in a state where it is "somewhat" trustworthy

Cheers!

 

[DM1975]

Yeah, I've got an arm-band where all the dope will be written out - I don't trust technology enough to not do that. But "if it works", then it might be worth trying. Hence me wondering if the Calypso is yet in a state where it is "somewhat" trustworthy

Cheers!

I have considered getting one of these to mount high up on my spotting scope setup. The more I think about it however the more I think it might just be a waste of money. Not that it wouldn’t be accurate so much as that you really need to be reading the wind throughout the path of the bullets flight. Relying on what you’re getting at your location is not always giving you the information you need to know. Not just in velocity and direction but also what is your location like? Are you around trees? Brush? Your head being in the way? Is there structure around you causing turbulence? How high above the ground are you measuring the wind and is it affected by the terrain? What about the gradient effect of wind at different heights through the path of the bullet to max ord?

If I do end up getting one of these it will be mainly for helping to establish a baseline of what the wind is doing that I can use to help me better judge the effects of the wind I’m actually seeing down range. For that I would want the best reading I can get and this would be high and out of the way of anything that would cause turbulence at the sensor.

Now I might be completely wrong in this thinking, but I don’t think I am. You will probably be better served to actually look at the effects of the wind on vegetation and mirage and things like that then you will having your head buried in a phone or other device reading data that might not fully correlate to what the wind around you is actually doing.

Just my thoughts.

 

[kravi]

I have considered getting one of these to mount high up on my spotting scope setup. The more I think about it however the more I think it might just be a waste of money. Not that it wouldn’t be accurate so much as that you really need to be reading the wind throughout the path of the bullets flight. Relying on what you’re getting at your location is not always giving you the information you need to know. Not just in velocity and direction but also what is your location like? Are you around trees? Brush? Your head being in the way? Is there structure around you causing turbulence? How high above the ground are you measuring the wind and is it affected by the terrain? What about the gradient effect of wind at different heights through the path of the bullet to max ord?

If I do end up getting one of these it will be mainly for helping to establish a baseline of what the wind is doing that I can use to help me better judge the effects of the wind I’m actually seeing down range. For that I would want the best reading I can get and this would be high and out of the way of anything that would cause turbulence at the sensor.

Now I might be completely wrong in this thinking, but I don’t think I am. You will probably be better served to actually look at the effects of the wind on vegetation and mirage and things like that then you will having your head buried in a phone or other device reading data that might not fully correlate to what the wind around you is actually doing.

Just my thoughts.

Actually, I agree with your sentiments 100%. Lazing for distance is reliable, wind calls are much more intuitive and based on experience. For me, using a Calypso (or Kestrel) is to get a rough baseline. They are useful as long as they aren't a crutch. But the idea of having all of the 'baseline' dope together quickly will save a lot of time. Then it is a judgement call on how much to trust the wind and adapt based on conditions. But the ability to have everything done automatically, and then to have a few more moments to judge wind, rather than spending all of the time to put stuff together has an appeal for a a new team who hasn't shot together. I mean, even with dope cards, you're going to be estimating wind as well. Where we are shooting in April is in Amarillo TX. Apparently the winds tend to run 20 - 40mph pretty regularly over there in April. Gonna be tricky, and just trying to save some time to be able to focus on wind calls and finding/lazing targets.

 

[DM1975]

Actually, I agree with your sentiments 100%. Lazing for distance is reliable, wind calls are much more intuitive and based on experience. For me, using a Calypso (or Kestrel) is to get a rough baseline. They are useful as long as they aren't a crutch. But the idea of having all of the 'baseline' dope together quickly will save a lot of time. Then it is a judgement call on how much to trust the wind and adapt based on conditions. But the ability to have everything done automatically, and then to have a few more moments to judge wind, rather than spending all of the time to put stuff together has an appeal for a a new team who hasn't shot together. I mean, even with dope cards, you're going to be estimating wind as well. Where we are shooting in April is in Amarillo TX. Apparently the winds tend to run 20 - 40mph pretty regularly over there in April. Gonna be tricky, and just trying to save some time to be able to focus on wind calls and finding/lazing targets.

I guess what I was mostly meaning to convey is the placement of the sensor on the rifle would likely not be optimal for getting you an accurate baseline to work with due to the factors I stated. You’re likely going to end up reading dirty wind most of the time.

 

[kravi]

That's fair. I'll certainly be mounting it on the LRF binos instead. Same difference when you have a spotter (team event). Even then it is a baseline for "where the wind is here", not "what the wind is doing out there".