NaWiFi in Hajómagazin, 2015, Part II

So far, we have been looking into the features of available apps. Now, it is hightime we talk about hardware!After switching it on our device will continuously measure apparent wind, provided that our vessel is moving it will defer from true wind. When standing stillthe t wo values are draw. NaWiFi will also measure relative wind speed.Analogue data will be digitalized into a standard format and broadcasted via WiFi (hashed). True wind speed and direction will be computed from gps data by the app. Users should provide only an Android or iOS based mobile device (smart phone, tablet or notebook) and all the data could be visualized with the help of a mobile device. Sail Tracker Polar NMEA Pro or iRegatta will process wind data and will add our vessel’s speed and course coming from our mobile’s gps. All the data required for a vessels’s navigation is provided then. The wind metering parts of  NaWiFi are based on a meteorology instrument, one can buy separately. By default this insturment is delivered with a robust ball-bearing and an UV stabil housing. Then NaWiFi adds its electronics and a WiFi to it in a waterproof housing.Its far most dangerous enemies are spiders, like in case of all such instruments without exception.Its power consumption is 120 mA, which means that given an average size accumulator and NaWFi will operates 800 hours, or more than a month from it.Our smart phone is the weakest point of the system. It has a small display. It is not waterproof. It is fragile. There are concurrent activities we would like to use it when sailing like e.g. conducting call.Better to opt for a tablet. Even the smaller ones has a big enough screen. And usually no calls coming through them. Though we have to protect them from scratches, damages or a break. Although waterproof devices are also available a waterproof case will do. A 7” No Name tablet costs Ft13.500, a Galaxy Tab Ft33.000,- and and an iPad should not be much more than Ft60.000,-. Resilient, industrial or military editions do exist though on an extreme price and honestly no need for them.We saved the best for last. NaWiFi2 costs €289. For this price customers will receive everything required for installation too. If we add a cheap tablet’s price to it, our total  will still be around €329. (If one invests in a better tablet it will be used for other purposes too hence take it on whole price into account would be impolite)A middle-class manufacturer’s casual wired instrument (anemometer plus vessel speed meter) would cost a bit more than €1.000,-. A combo like this will know less and upgrades are difficult if at all. NaWiFi’s manufacturer produces ordinary ‘wired’ systems too which cost half or two third of known branded products. For instance, a package of Windwiser 120 with an anemometer, a gps based speed meter and connecting system costs €730. This system could further be developed with a mast display or a depth meter.