news | articles | reviews | software | modules | accessories | discussion | faq | mobile | store
VisorCentral.com >> Discussion >> Visor Related >> Springboard Modules
Module for taking weather?
Post a New Thread | Post A Reply
  Last Thread   Next Thread
Author
Topic: Module for taking weather?    
pfieldho
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

 Module for taking weather?

How about a module that can record weather observations?
1. Wind speed
a. real time display
b. record average over time
c. max gusts
2. Temp - dry and wet for relative humidity
3. Barometer
4. ?

This would be useful in my line of work - wildland firefighting - and could integrate well with a current fire behavior program - FireAway - for Palm OS devices.

I'm sure there would be others who would use such a device.

Maybe in addition, for specifically fire use, it could have the ability to measure fuel moisture, like a protimeter.

__________________
Paul Fieldhouse
pfieldho is offline Old Post 08-15-2001 09:24 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for pfieldho Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
ernieba1
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

Wow! I would get one of those modules! And what a job! Is there any profession that DOESN'T require a visor???

Possible uses for weather module (besides firefighting):
Storm chasing,
Kiteflying,
um, short on ideas, anyone else???

__________________
-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle
ernieba1 is offline Old Post 08-16-2001 03:25 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for ernieba1 Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Jupe
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

quote:
Originally posted by ernieba1
...Possible uses for weather module (besides firefighting):
Storm chasing,
Kiteflying,
um, short on ideas, anyone else???

Sea Kayaking
Canoeing
Backpacking

I just did a fantastic canoe trip in the Boundary Waters where something like this would have been useful.

However, I have doubts about whether such a device could be both small/ light enough and inexpensive enough for me. Also, I don't know if I would trust it enough to give up my trusty weather radio.

Now that I've taken another look at the original post, it looks like you meant mostly for just recording observations. Guess I got carried away. Still with a history of observations over time and a basic knowledge of weather it could be used for prediction as well.

__________________
Mike
I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than rightside up at my desk.
Jupe is offline Old Post 08-16-2001 03:37 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for Jupe Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
pfieldho
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

Jupe,

quote:
Originally posted by Jupe

Sea Kayaking
Canoeing
Backpacking


Also,
Paragliding
Hanggliding
Sailing
X-Country skiing (got to know the temp to use the right wax)
And any number of other sports/outdoor activities where weather is an important element.

quote:


...However, I have doubts about whether such a device could be both small/ light enough and inexpensive enough for me...


Kestral makes a small wind/temp/Rh device. As a smokekjumper (we're the folks who jump out of airplanes to parachute down and fight wildland fires) space is critical for me. I only have on fires what I jump out of the airplane with. That's a big reason I have a Visor -- so that I have GPS and digital camera capability in a modular system. This saves space over each item being a stand-alone one. The Kestral 3000 -- Pocket Weathermeter costs about $150.

quote:


...Now that I've taken another look at the original post, it looks like you meant mostly for just recording observations. ...


So as you see, I actually meant a module that READS as well as records. The technology is already there! I just don't really know what the demand would be.

__________________
Paul Fieldhouse
pfieldho is offline Old Post 08-16-2001 06:46 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for pfieldho Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Jupe
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

Yeah, I found that Kestrel unit after I posted. Seems like size probably wouldn't be a problem even if you included the ability to take barometric pressure (they have those altimeter watches). For me though, it would have to be under $100 but I'm kinda cheap.

__________________
Mike
I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than rightside up at my desk.
Jupe is offline Old Post 08-16-2001 06:56 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for Jupe Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
Jupe
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

Paragliding! Now that's something I'd like to try. That looks like a blast!

__________________
Mike
I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than rightside up at my desk.
Jupe is offline Old Post 08-16-2001 06:59 PM
Click Here to See the Profile for Jupe Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
ernieba1
Member

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Elkins Park, Pa
Posts: 577

quote:
Originally posted by Jupe
However, I have doubts about whether such a device could be both small/ light enough and inexpensive enough for me. Also, I don't know if I would trust it enough to give up my trusty weather radio.


Maybe two pieces? Actually, suddenly, I'm not even thinking module anymore. Some weather station type of thing that BEAMS the info to the visor (or any palm device) for whatever use. Anyone have any thoughts?

__________________
-Bernie

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'.
-Dan Quayle
ernieba1 is offline Old Post 08-17-2001 02:57 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for ernieba1 Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
RadarGreg
Member

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 85

It appears that whatever company develops this all in one Springboard module would sell about two of them. This is definitely a niche' market. We are having enough trouble getting a decent memory expansion module and wireless module out, much less a portable weather station. There was quite a bit of interest in a multimeter module back a few months ago but no one has stepped forward with a design or idea. I'm not saying your ideas and requirements aren't valid for this module, but think about how many a company would have to sell just to turn a profit on it. Find 500 or more of your firefighter buddies that have a Visor and would want to spend a few hundred bucks on a weather module, then maybe it might see the light of day. But don't count on it....

__________________
The following space intentionally left blank...

RadarGreg
RadarGreg is offline Old Post 08-17-2001 08:18 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for RadarGreg Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
enhanceyourlife
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location: Derry NH USA Earth
Posts: 154

quote:
Originally posted by ernieba1


Maybe two pieces? Actually, suddenly, I'm not even thinking module anymore. Some weather station type of thing that BEAMS the info to the visor (or any palm device) for whatever use. Anyone have any thoughts?


How about a module/ software that'll interface to existing waetherstation equipment. Maybe a similar device for pointing a telescope.

__________________
<div align="left"><font size="+2" color="#FF8000">Mike</font>
<hr width="200">
<font color="Red"><i>Programming is the struggle between programmers<br> building bigger and better idiot proof systems<br> and the universe building bigger and better idiots</i></font>
<hr width="200">
<b><a href="http://enhanceyourlife.com">http://enhanceyourlife.com</a><br>
<a href="http://www.furrbrain.com">http://www.furrbrain.com</a></b></div>
enhanceyourlife is offline Old Post 08-17-2001 11:45 AM
Click Here to See the Profile for enhanceyourlife Edit/Delete Message Reply w/Quote
All times are GMT. The time now is 08:37 PM. Post New Thread    Post A Reply
  Last Thread   Next Thread
[ Show a Printable Version | Email This Page to Someone! | Receive updates to this thread ]

Forum Jump:

Powered by: vBulletin Version 2.3.4
Copyright ©2000, 2001, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.