Only one device can connect to the OpenWind instrument at a time, which will be able to send data back and calibrate the sensors. However, multiple devices can read broadcast signal simultaneously.

With the OpenWind broadcast signal you and your crew will be able to read the wind data on a smartphone, tablet, smartwatch and NMEAkit™ simultaneously.

Depending on the device, Broadcast reading may not be possible. We recommend recent models of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

OpenWind uses Bluetooth 4.2 and the estimated range is about 50 meters considering obstruction. The Bluetooth sensor is oriented downwards from the device, meaning it will give better range if mounted higher in comparison to a horizontal line. We have tested it on a drone and achieved a successful communication within up to 150m high, and on a smartphone within up to 90m on a horizontal field with no obstruction.

Many sailing applications offer a way to communicate with wind instruments. Via UDP you can read the data of OpenWind as NMEA0183 wind sentences in third party applications such as iSailor, iRegatta, NKE and OpenCPN.

Any application that can read NMEA 0183 wind sentences data via UDP is compatible with OpenWind.

The NMEAkit™ is a device that will read the data from OpenWind and give you NMEA compatible communication.

Adding a in-built compass gives the NMEAkit™ the means to compensate mast rotation. An application is available to calibrate the mast 0° position. After calibration, the NMEAkit™ will deliver compensated wind data via NMEA compatible communication.

The NMEAkit™ application also displays the data measured by OpenWind, working as a “repeater” for the OpenWind device.