Kestrel launches a new wind meter

[ar15barrels]

Until it gets over 100 degrees out on BLM land and your phone gives that "too hot to function" screen. Obviously that's not a common issue but when you've driven two and a half hours and hauled all your gear and steel out there, it sucks.

I had that happen when I was a noob.
That only happens when you leave it out in the sun though.
All it takes is to cover it up when you are not using it so it's not in direct sunlight for extended periods and it won't overheat.
The same way you cover up your ammo so it does not bake in the sun and cause a larger ES...

[Discogodfather]

Edited to add: as displayed over and over my writing skills are not great and I mean no disrespect or hostility... Hope that's clear and apologies if it is not.

None taken, I respect your opinion. My problem is my brain gets a "too hot to function" warning way before my phone does.

[diver160651]

Until it gets over 100 degrees out on BLM land and your phone gives that "too hot to function" screen. Obviously that's not a common issue but when you've driven two and a half hours and hauled all your gear and steel out there, it sucks.

[JMP]

Personally, I do not like to use phones since it adds in one more piece of instrumentation to interface with, and I do not interface well with phones. A Kestrel isn't a device that is really a "must have" as you wouldn't want to forego having a good barrel in order to have the device, and if not using it often, many can simply borrow readings from a fellow shooter that has one. Personally, I consider the device a "good deal" when I think about the relative cost of other shooting related gear used. Everyone has a slightly different utility curve so opinions will differ.

The durability on all the models is very good, and the battery life is exceptional.

[NiteQwill]

Or just get the GeoBallistics BallisticsARC App (iphone & soon-to-be android) + the wind meter.

Great usability for way lower price.

Review: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...omment-2305461

[Discogodfather]

Or just get the GeoBallistics BallisticsARC App (iphone & soon-to-be android) + the wind meter.

Great usability for way lower price.

Review: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...omment-2305461

It looks very interesting but my question is always the same: does it work with no cell coverage? Most people wanting to shoot at long ranges and out of the way don't have the luxury of a cell tower in the middle of nowhere.

[NiteQwill]

It looks very interesting but my question is always the same: does it work with no cell coverage? Most people wanting to shoot at long ranges and out of the way don't have the luxury of a cell tower in the middle of nowhere.

Probably using Google's Maps, they allow downloading of their offline maps. Then use GPS for data such as location and altitude.

The developers are very responsive. Email them and they will email back any answers.

Sent from my phone, excuse the errors.

[joefrank64k]

It looks very interesting but my question is always the same: does it work with no cell coverage? Most people wanting to shoot at long ranges and out of the way don't have the luxury of a cell tower in the middle of nowhere.

The developer addressed this in the comments...

So one of the great features that is little known at this point is the ability to temporarily cache (approx 30 days) the map of your range. When in cell/wifi range, zoom around your shooting area at all magnification levels you will be using. Next, do not completely close the app (aka reset the phone or swipe up to close). Next time you go out shooting, open the map and you will be able to access your range without signal. Don’t forget to save your range to make it easier to get back to your range…. Have fun and safe shooting!

This "feature" makes no sense...how can you save map data in a place with no signal?? And you can't swipe to close the app, or reset your phone in the interim?? WTF? Am I missing something?

ETA: I think what he's getting at is that you should (while in wifi/cell range) navigate to your shooting area on the app to force the app to locally cache that data. But then you still worry about having to restart your phone. I also wonder what the battery life penalty will be with the app simmering in the background?

Another point...the app pulls weather data from the closest weather station, not from your actual shooting location (unless of course your position is near the weather station ). To be fair, they said they're coming out with a "mini weather station" (no price listed) to address that shortcoming, but now that's one more thing to buy and to plug in to your iPhone.

[diver160651]

Kestrel launches a new wind meter

+ 1 Same deal - as posted many times.. No cell, thermal overload, no battery for you phone "if" you needed your phone. Replacement value of a fragile device that failed do to falling in a puddle or out of your pocket onto rocks.. non-contract as high as $650.. Now your outing or hunt is toast. So how much did I really save by cheeping out?

I just don't get all the love for a fragile iPhone and inferior device, when scopes are many thousands of $, the cost of barrel life and ammo are high.

There are so many better tools...





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[Discogodfather]

+ 1 Same deal - as posted many times.. No cell, thermal overload, no battery for you phone "if" you needed your phone. Replacement value of a fragile device that failed do to falling in a puddle or out of your pocket onto rocks.. non-contract as high as $650.. Now your outing or hunt is toast.

Those are two seperate issues, one is the fragile phone, the other is the not working if there is no coverage. #1 dosen't concern me so much, #2 is a real issue. Bryan's program on my Andriod works fine without coverage.

Sounds like this one "kind of works" without cell phone coverage.

[diver160651]

Kestrel launches a new wind meter

Those are two seperate issues, one is the fragile phone, the other is the not working if there is no coverage. #1 dosen't concern me so much, #2 is a real issue. Bryan's program on my Andriod works fine without coverage.



Sounds like this one "kind of works" without cell phone coverage.

Or maybe more accurately doesn't work well even with it. I just downloaded it and paid for the upgrades. Nearest weather came from 8 miles away and I live in a populated area. The range floated the width of my house, about 60' and that is with both cell and strong wifi..

At my normal ELR location, that will add .4mil error just in ranging from the FFP and that assumes I'd somehow be able to perfectly select the target location well over a mile away via the satellite image.. Oh, ya I don't get anything but Iridium out there.. (Unless I hike up a hill and then it is spotty at best).

Anyway, they'll make money from guys like me who just want to see the app and those that don't know any better. At the end of they day it is a cute app that merged the golf stuff with the solvers.


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[Discogodfather]

Or maybe more accurately doesn't work well even with it. I just downloaded it and paid for the upgrades. Nearest weather came from 8 miles away and I live in a populated area. The range floated the width of my house, about 60' and that is with both cell and strong wifi..

At my normal ELR location, that will add .4mil error just in ranging from the FFP and that assumes I'd somehow be able to perfectly select the target location well over a mile away via the satellite image.. Oh, ya I don't get anything but Iridium out there.. (Unless I hike up a hill and then it is spotty at best).

Anyway, they'll make money from guys like me who just want to see the app and those that don't know any better.


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Yikes, thanks for the heads up! Not interested with that level of performance.

[diver160651]

Kestrel launches a new wind meter

Btw the GeoBallistic app does not have any real curve correction mechanism such as stepped BCs and or DSF/DK. Without these important tuning tools, most app/programs I've used seems to be off, the deeper into transonic you shoot. That said, using JBM I am sure the supersonic curves will be good. (Only played with the app against my log book- did not shoot using it)

The ranging especially if used for truing the MV or ELR shooting, is problematic and fundamentally flawed for precision LR shooting.

I am sorry if I made it seem as if the app is not without value, I see a good use for it as another fun scouting or post shoot sharing tool.

However, I find the Trimble and Hunt Maps for IOS to be much better as they have BLM and other governing overlays with a better cache. But still do not use them in the field for reasons posted above but they are handy pre/post shoot reference tools.

For use hunting or long range shooting (off a range) and for BLM and other overlays with Sat Views, I use Hunt Maps on a colored Garmin... (Although my Trimble has maps and a MUCH MORE ACCURATE GPS than my Garmin). Both are far better on battery, and more resistant to water, heat, dust and drops, with a better GPS than my iOS devices. Both can interface with the computer to preload information, and both work fine without cell service.


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[LynnJr]

Whatever happened to a rangefinder and a drop chart?
At our matches we have guys on there little devices most of the day and so far none has done any better because of it.

[diver160651]

Kestrel launches a new wind meter

Whatever happened to a rangefinder and a drop chart?

At our matches we have guys on there little devices most of the day and so far none has done any better because of it.

Good points -- but are you talking about your ELR matches were everything is a predetermined distance (often with shooters having previous walked in drop) and all your dealing with is wind, and mirage (temp would be predictable, station would be relatively stable)? Of course, thats more than enough....LOL

I'd agree, in cases like that there is no real advantage to onsite calculators except having the shooter stay with their regular routine, if they have one. I might go a step further and say maybe there is also no reason for a few to have an accurate drop curve anyway as some of the systems are basically distance built with no PB or intermediate range use intended.

But when traveling and not sure of you ending location to predetermine station and temp, want to be accurate at any range from PB thru Transonic regardless of cosign and azimuth, or packaging a gun were you might have to react fairly quickly before the game animal walks off... The modern tools, things like a Kestrel are valuable in extending range with less waisted ammo and in making ethical shots.

For the record I still use tables and even a Mildot Master on occasion.. Here is my log book. (Kestrel and Trimble under the pages) FWIW-- I almost never use the wind portion to the Kestrel and have the automatic wind updates disabled.







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