Do any of you have the Garmin G-wind wireless wind transducer? If so, are there any problems with reception of the signal?
G-wind wireless
- Thread starter Hayden Watson
- Start date
I found this reference. How old is the battery?
forums.sailinganarchy.com
Garmin gWind Wireless 2
Any reviews of this system? ANT technology that can go straight to a compatable chart plotter. Lag time? Potentially adding to a sport boat for polars & distance racing. Cheap option give the boat's current setup. Thanks & cheers!
forums.sailinganarchy.com
Got it. Interesting device but wired anything tech is always more robust than wireless imho.
I’ve always wondered a bit about why the wind strength and direction ABOVE the mast was the best place to sample. To me having a measuring device at the bow “ahead” of any sails and in line with the most powerful portion of the sails would be a more informative number about what the boat is “seeing”.
I’ve always wondered a bit about why the wind strength and direction ABOVE the mast was the best place to sample. To me having a measuring device at the bow “ahead” of any sails and in line with the most powerful portion of the sails would be a more informative number about what the boat is “seeing”.
The signal length “max” distance of a 50 ft mast doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. The 2.4 freq has much better range than that. Yes it is also used with WiFi, some older cordless phones etc so it’s subject to interference but that’s not likely to occur on a sailboat when it’s moving and away from a lot of that.
I was wondering about that. I have an after-market tire pressure monitoring system for my 40' motorhome that also uses 2.4 frequency and says that you need a repeater for >50' But I didn't get the repeater. My wife was driving the truck behind the coach one day at a good safe following distance and I never lost the trucks pressure signal. she was probably over 100' behind or 150' minimum between the rear tire pressure sending unit and the receiver in the coach dash.
In the case of the coach, the signal needed to pass through a lot of steel, aluminum and fiberglass. On the boat it is direct line of sight from the sender to receiver at the helm.
It didn't make a lot of sense to me either, but it's way too much expense when it is outside of the company stated parameters.
I’m guessing the 50 ft max is a value that the company can claim reliable.
Too many variables that could affect the wireless transmission.
The other factor might be the available “power supply” for the unit. A small - solar rechargeable battery so they would have to be conservative so it didn’t drain too quickly - affecting signal “strength” compared to something like an AC powered router and laptop where that can be maxed out.
Running wire to top of mast and through the boat to the display isn’t as convenient but likely more robust.
Too many variables that could affect the wireless transmission.
The other factor might be the available “power supply” for the unit. A small - solar rechargeable battery so they would have to be conservative so it didn’t drain too quickly - affecting signal “strength” compared to something like an AC powered router and laptop where that can be maxed out.
Running wire to top of mast and through the boat to the display isn’t as convenient but likely more robust.
the problem is not running the wire, it is running it inside of the wiring conduit. I have 4 internal halyards and do not want the wire mixed up with them. I have a pull wire that runs through the mast conduit for this purpose but I tried pulling it the last time I was up the mast and it is tangled somewhere in the middle. 
We have no way to pull a mast in our town and the closes place would be LaConner which is 4 hours each way.
We have no way to pull a mast in our town and the closes place would be LaConner which is 4 hours each way.
I have installed the g-wind 2 wireless a few years back and have recently replaced the battery. On my H31 with a 47’ height I’m at their outer edge. I lose signal intermittently and have to reset. Mike on HMT2 with his H31 also went wireless initially but he had enough of intermittent signal and went hard wired.
The problem is that the sails influence the wind both in front and behind them. In front of the jib the wind will tend to be bent in what would appear as a lift. The top of the mast isn’t really perfect either, because updrafts from the sails have some effect, although less. About the best that can be done is on a crane forward from the masthead.
The top of the mast is the “logical” place for the sensor, out of the way of damage and not blocked by any sails you might be flying downwind etc and for the reasons you state.
I was just pondering about having a “sensor” far enough in front of the headsail so it also providing data. Maybe a drone
I had a GWind wireless. It worked well for a while then started going out intermittently. I could not relate it to any one thing. I worked with Garmin support and literally replaced every component one at a time. Nothing fixed the issue. I eventually gave up and went to the wired version and have never had a problem. I have a 1983 Hunter 31 with. 47’ mast. That’s my two cents.
Hayden - my boat neighbor installed a B&G WS320:wireless wind speed indicator. He has a Garmin chart plotter and other Garmin equipment. B&G Item is rated for 98’ connectivity. I will monitor his effectiveness as a wireless tool vs my Garmin G wind. Again my Garmin works intermittently because I’m at the outer connectivity range on my 47’ stick. This may be the way to go. Jerry
Thanks for the feedback. I decided to go with the Gwind wired version. Now I just need to figure out how to get the wire into the conduit. When I rebuilt and repainted my about 5 years ago, I ran a pull cord down to the bilge for a future wind instruments but I tried to use it a couple of years ago but it was hung up somewhere between the top and base. I plan to replace my deck/steaming combo light and will see if I can get either the top of bottom to move.
When I ran mine. I replaced the 1983 vhf antennae cable with a new slightly smaller but equally effective cable. That made room for my wind transducer. Otherwise I’m not sure if it would have fit in the conduit.