Wireless Weather Data: Get Connected Your Way with Bluetooth

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

Wireless weather data + your preferred software.

Get connected your way.

The all new Kestrel with Bluetooth® data transfer series is capable of running on various software platforms. That means now there are more ways to use Kestrel weather data to fit your needs. Storm tracking, shooting applications, Haz Mat plume modeling and fire behavior models, much more!

If you are a software developer and would like to find out more about software integration with the Kestrel Bluetooth® data transfer series, please find more information in the Bluetooth Connection guide.

http://nkhome.com/wp/kestrel-interface-protocol/

You may also contact Tech Support for additional assistance.

610-447-1555

info@nkhome.com

Post your questions and comments in our NK Knowledge center and we’ll respond within 2 business days. Here you’ll also find answers to many FAQs.

Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters Software Partners

Below is a list of our fully-integrated software partners. This is just a very preliminary list…we’re currently working with many partners. More to come soon! Join the wireless weather data wave!

Shooter

Shooter is a highly accurate ballistics calculator for the Android mobile platform (v1.6 and higher). Shooter’s primary goal is to provide accurate shot solutions quickly and easily when in the field. This is done by utilizing a proven-accurate and fast ballistics solver coupled with an advanced, intuitive user interface supporting features like firearm and ammunition profiles (so you never have to enter the same data twice) and options to use your device’s hardware (GPS, Accelerometer, Compass) to help you input shot-data both quickly and accurately.

http://sean.kndy.net/shooter/

Contact:

Sean Kennedy

sean@kndy.net

Lex Talus Corporation

The Field Firing Solutions software (FFS Delta series)  has become the standard for real-time, long range ballistic solutions and support, computed on rugged hand-held devices for field use.  The Delta IV-K software interfaces with the Kestrel 4000 BT series weather meters for on demand or continuous atmospheric and wind serial data which the software uses to automatically update its firing solutions.

http://www.precisionworkbench.com/

Contact:

Blaine Fields
blaine@lextalus.com

HuntingLife.Com

HuntingLife.com has launched an innovative iPhone application optimized for the nation’s hunting communities that displays up-to-date radar images on an interactive Google map.  The HuntingLife application, developed by weather leader Weather Decision Technologies, Inc., detects your location and uses an advanced algorithm technology for data processing to display the best quality radar data available in the United States, as well as current conditions, humidity, wind direction and dew-point data, as well as severe weather information.

http://www.huntinglife.com/

Contact:

Kevin Paulson

Kevin@HuntingLife.com

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Kestrel in a car

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Written by Kestrel intern Joe Moore, senior meteorology student at Millersville University.

This summer has proven to be one of the hottest on record, and we’re only now in mid-July! Even when the weather is mild, temperatures in cars can soar to dangerous levels within minutes.

We decided to do an experiment with the Kestrel 4500 Bluetooth unit to see just how hot the inside of a car could get during one of the hottest day of the summer. Check out the latest episode of KestrelTV where Kestrel Weather girl Monica Devlin shows you how your car becomes an oven under the hot sun.

It should be noted that we did place the Kestrel in direct sunlight. In meteorology, temperature sensors are always placed in the shade with good airflow. We did this because we were measuring the temperature on the dashboard. Temperature measurements in other parts of the vehicle were likely less than measured on the dashboard, but still significant. The dashboard surface is said to be similar to the hard parts of a child’s car seat in terms of how it much it can heat up.

Graph of Kestrel in a car data

Graph of Temp (F) and Relative Humidity (%) of our Kestrel in a Car experiment. The data before the temperature begins to rise is from using the Kestrel on a tripod and vane mount to monitor conditions during the early afternoon.

Notice how there is hardly any humidity in the vehicle. Since the low humidity would encourage efficient sweating, any person or animal placed in the car would be dehydrated very fast. Also notice not just how hot it gets but how fast the temperate rises just within the first ten minutes.

Jan Null, Adjunct Professor of Meteorology at SFSU has done extensive research on this topic and provides an up-to-date page on the current statistics and research. His experiments covered a large range of temperatures and he says that “‘cracking the windows had little effect.”

You can download the data from our experiment below. The file is split into four sheets: an introduction, the raw data, the raw data with explanations and finally, a graph. You can investigate the data yourself and make graphs of different things. (Note, we took out data like wind speed that didn’t make any sense to include.) Download the data here (.xls file)

You can find more details for Jan Null’s website here: http://ggweather.com/heat/

Have questions or comments? Share them below, on Facebook or tweet at us!

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Built-in Ballistics Boosts Targeting Power of Hand-Held Weather Meter

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

The upcoming release of the all new Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker with Horus Ballistics (yep, I can say that all in one breath) has triggered a decent amount of questions, comments and cyber high-fives from you. I wanted to share the latest information on the arrival of this highly anticipated Kestrel meter and answer some of your most common questions.

So, when can I get it?

The official release date is scheduled for this fall.

We make all of our own products right here at the Kestrel headquarters so we’re on top of the entire production process. We’re also perfectionists. We refuse to let you have products that aren’t up to extremely high standards. We put our Kestrel meters up against stringent NIST standards, rigid military drop-test specs, and IP-67 & MIL-STD-810 protection from dust and water damage. If you don’t know what those codes stand for, it’s basically a fancy, super official way of saying a product is darn TOUGH. Let’s just say the Kestrel is the Clint Eastwood of hand-held weather meters, or Chuck Norris even. What that means for you, is that we conduct robust rounds of beta testing and updates to ensure the product that reaches your hand is top notch. Check back for schedule updates or changes.

Which Kestrel meters will be available with Horus Atrag Ballistics software?

The Kestrel 4500 NV series will be available with Horus Vision ballistics. The Kestrel 4500 is the only model to give wind direction, which is important for long-range shooting and a perfect complement to an integrated targeting solutions system. The Night Vision (NV) series is the preferred model for the military because of its dim red back light that does not obscure or bleach out your natural vision in low light situations. Nocturnal or early AM hunters like this one too for the same reason.

You will also have the option to choose a model with Bluetooth data transfer or without the wireless technology. With the Bluetooth technology, you would be able to wirelessly transmit all of the Kestrel weather data to a laptop for analysis or long-term documentation. For example, tracking and comparing shooting competition performance against range conditions or for training purposes.

The available colors will be in Olive Drab and Desert Tan.

See what they look like here.

How much do they cost?

We will have more info on this going forward so be sure to check back at our site and this blog. You could also follow me on Twitter @KestrelChick. Fan us on Facebook and of course shoot me an e-mail: mdevlin@nkhome.com.

The Kestrel with Horus Ballistics will certainly cost less than the price of a ruggedized PDA and Kestrel meter combo. This new Kestrel meter eliminates the need for a PDA- all the critical data you need is right in the unit!

For more info on the new Kestrel with Horus Vision ballistics, please click here.

Know Your conditions.

Your Kestrel Weather Girl,
Monica Devlin

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Kestrel Weather Meters get a Boost with Bluetooth Technology

Monday, October 19th, 2009

Imagine getting all the instant environmental data you could hope for and just as instantly and easily,  sending it straight to your laptop or PDA. No interface, no connector cable… no problem!  Your wish is our command.  The Great Kestrel Genie has granted this must-requested customer demand. Ok, actually our awesome team of engineers made it happen. Either way, the all new line of Kestrel Weather Meters with Bluetooth Technology is as cool as magic.

The entire Kestrel 4000 model line of Pocket Weather Instruments will have wireless capabilities for the ultimate in portable and accurate environmental data immediately available to every application. This exciting line will be introduced just in time for the holidays. So be sure to put this on your gear wish list…as small as a cell phone- it’s the perfect fit for a stocking stuffer…and with a 5-year warranty, longer lasting than a fruit cake!

A few key features to look forward to with the release of Kestrel Weather Meters with Bluetooth Technology:

Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters have specifically customized our Bluetooth integration to answer the unique needs of our customers:

  • Streamline your work and reduce your equipment in the field – wireless data transmission eliminates the need for a separate interface and cabling.
  • Every bluetooth Kestrel will include custom communication software designed to quickly and easily configure your data transmission frequency, download logged data, graph data, and transfer data to other applications.
  • Data transmission range adjustment allows you to maximize power to communicate with your Kestrel at up to a 30 feet range, or reduce power for closer, more secure operation.
  • Individual unit ID’s ensure you pair with the Kestrel you want, even when more than one system is operating in the same area.
  • Permanently coded unique 4-digit Pin numbers provide extra security when pairing and transmitting data.
  • Power efficient Bluetooth module and software based power management maximize battery life – transmit a full set of every weather parameter once every 30 minutes with only a slight reduction in the Kestrel’s battery life.

If you’d like to receive the latest e-mail updates and news on this new product please shoot me an e-mail at mdevlin@nkhome.com to get added to the Kestrel Bluetooth pre-release list.

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