Skywatch® BL 500
The Skywatch BL500 is a true pocket weather station that gives you an instant view of current weather conditions. Measure wind speed, temperature and humidity with your Skywatch® BL500, and quickly determine whether conditions are suitable for your activity. This concentrate of technology connects via Bluetooth to your cell phone and can be taken with you on every adventure.
Measured data can be recorded and published on Weathercloud
Skywatch® is specially designed for all outdoor and professional activities:
Skywatch® BL500 - Technical Data
Instantaneous measurements
Graphic display of measurements with instantaneous, minimum, maximum, average and additional values
Tracking mode with automatic recording of measurements and GPS coordinates
Share measurements on Weathercloud
Measurement history
Display all measurements on a map
Wind measurement
| Measurement units | km/h, mph, m/s, fps, knots and Beaufort |
| Resolution | to the tenth |
| Precision | ± 3% / ± 0.5 km/h |
| Measurement range | from 3 to 150 km/h |
Temperature measurement
| Measurement units | °C and °F |
| Resolution | to the tenth of a degree |
| Precision | ± 0.3°C |
| Measurement range | from -25°C to +60°C |
Humidity measurement
| Measurement units | %rH |
| Resolution | to the tenth |
| Precision | ± 3% (10-90 %rH) |
| Measurement range | from 0 to 100 %rH |
Pressure measurement
| Measurement units | hPa, mbar and inHg |
| Resolution | to the tenth |
| Precision | ± 0.2 hPa |
| Measurement range | from 300 to 1'200 hPa |
UV index measurement
| Measurement units | UV |
| Resolution | per unit |
| Precision | ± 1 |
| Measurement range | from 0 to 15 |
- Dimensions: Ø26 x 116 mm (closed, without clip)
- Weight: 66 g (without clip)
- Materials: anodized aluminum
- Multidirectional propeller
- Low sensor inertia
- Bluetooth connection status and battery indicator
- Powered by micro USB rechargeable battery, with charge indicator
- Autonomy: over a week
- Retractable sensor protection
- Protection class IP67
- Operating temperature: -20 to +50°C
- Official Swiss calibration
Skywatch BL device
Hand strap
Metal clip
Pouch
Optional: Clamp mounting with ball joint
Instructions for use and FAQ are available on our website
iOS app (compatible with iOS 8.4 and higher)
Android app (compatible with Android 4.4 and higher)
Compatible with Bluetooth Smart (BLE) 4.0 and higher. Uses Environmental Sensing Profile (ESP) and Service Environmental Sensing (ESS) standards
Languages: French and English
One of the first things to do is to go to your phone's settings, and forget about the device in the Bluetooth configuration, as shown in the following link. Then try updating again.
Your phone must have Bluetooth 4.0 to work with the Skywatch®BL. You can test your phone's Bluetooth with the BLE Checker application. If your phone doesn't have access to Bluetooth 4.0, that's where the problem lies.
From the website, you can filter data by pseudonym.
Try to forget the device in the phone settings. Sometimes when the phone is paired with many different devices, it struggles to connect properly. See the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXTm_jJxK20&index=8&list=PLKKHa5fz4ERX3vGUu-JJ8xZ2IT_np7-UB
The connection depends on the obstacles in the terrain (open or with houses, etc.). It can extend up to 15 -20m.
Here's how to export your data:
Wind direction is given by the orientation of the smartphone. To get the correct wind direction, you need to orientate your phone in the direction of the wind. To get a representative measurement, you need to have the phone facing into the wind (looking at the screen while facing into the wind).
there are two different measurements for pressure: QFE and QNH. The Skywatch®BL measures QFE pressure, which is the absolute pressure measured by the altitude given by your location. QNH is the pressure at sea level. To calculate pressure, the Skywatch®BL uses your smartphone's GPS altitude.
The Skywatch®BL does not act as a datalogger, so it is not possible to leave the device open and then connect to collect data. It's the Smartphone that records the data, so it's essential to maintain a connection.
Your device is unfortunately defective. Please consult our return conditions under conditions générales de vente.
It is possible to change your switch yourself should it fall. To do so, send us an e-mail and ask for a replacement switch. Then watch the following video to learn how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsArRXB_22A
Yes, you can configure the application's offsets. See the following video for instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4w-uwBHdjc
There may have been a problem pairing your phone. You should forget about your device in the Bluetooth settings. Here are the steps to follow:
IOS:
To end pairing between a Bluetooth accessory and your device, touch Settings > Bluetooth, locate the accessory, then touch "Forget this device."
Android:
In Settings > Wireless & Network > Bluetooth settings > Long press on the desired device and > Unlink
Then reconnect.
No, your device can display instantaneous measurements without an Internet connection, and track them in airplane mode, for example. You won't be able to share your measurements on the Internet or social networks, but you can save them and share them manually later.
It is IP67-rated, which means it is protected against the effects of immersion up to 1m. However, the humidity sensors will give false readings, and the device should be left to dry out for 24 to 48 hours before re-use. It can, however, be left in the rain without causing any damage. The device has an IP67 protection rating, meaning it can withstand temporary immersion under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The device does not float, however, and should be rinsed with clear water after use in a marine environment.
Try charging your device with another charger to ensure that the problem is not due to a cable fault. If charging still doesn't work, return your device to the place of purchase for repair (see our warranty conditions).
The yellow Skywatch® BL300 measures wind, temperature and humidity, the green Skywatch® BL400 adds a pressure sensor, and the blue Skywatch® BL500 adds a UV index sensor for a complete pocket weather station.
The Skywatch® BL is equipped with a lithium-polymer (LiPo) battery that provides at least one week's autonomy in connected mode (device open).
Simply unscrew the bottom of the device and use a standard micro USB cable. A red light next to the USB socket indicates charging, and goes out when the device is fully charged. (watch the video).
Bluetooth® range is highly dependent on the environment, but can reach up to twenty meters in open terrain.
The rhythm and color of LED flashing give an indication of its operation: the color indicates the battery's charge level (see below), while the rhythm determines its condition:
- Continuous: the device has been switched on for less than 30 seconds and is waiting for a fast connection.
- 2 strokes every second: the device has been switched on for more than 30 seconds and is waiting for a connection.
- 3 beeps every 5 seconds: the device is connecting to a smartphone.
The color of the LED indicates the battery's state of charge:
- Blue light: battery charge exceeds 20%.
- Violet light: the charge is less than 20, so recharge soon.
- Red light: the charge is less than 10% and it is advisable to recharge the device quickly.
- Please note that during a firmware update, the light is continuously lit red, then purple, before flashing blue again.
The battery is probably too low, so you'll need to fully recharge the device via the USB micro plug at the bottom of the device, which can be accessed by unscrewing the bottom of the device.
Yes, in the application, under sensor information, you can check if a new update is available and follow the procedure. Please note that the update can only be performed if the battery has a minimum charge level of 50%.
During an update, the pairing information is lost on the device, and it is necessary to forget the device in your phone's Bluetooth settings.
The Skywatch® BL comes with a black wrist strap and metal clip.
The Skywatch® BL app is available free of charge for iOS on the Play Store and for Android on Google Play.
To be compatible, your device must at least be equipped with Bluetooth® Smart technology (v4.0 or later) and iOS 8.4 or Android 4.4.
No, unfortunately only iOS and Android are supported.
The Skywatch® BL application is currently available in English, French and German. The language changes automatically according to the smartphone language, with English being the default.
Bluetooth® Low Energy technology is used to communicate between the Skywatch® BL device and the smartphone.
It's usually enough to move closer to the device to recover the connection. Inside buildings, for example, Bluetooth® range can be greatly reduced.
The application uses the GPS position of the smartphone to position the measurement. If the current position is not available (out of GPS coverage, indoors, etc.), the last known position is used.
Yes, with tracking mode. By activating tracking, the application will automatically acquire measurements and GPS position according to the defined measurement interval. However, the device is not autonomous and requires a Bluetooth® connection with the smartphone.
No, unfortunately this feature is not yet available.
Simply go to the application settings, where you can change the units for wind speed, temperature, pressure and altitude.
The connection to the sensor has been lost. Check that the device is switched on, that the light flashes continuously or twice every second, and that it is not too far from the smartphone.
If the Skywatch BL application freezes or closes, you need to close it completely, not just quit it. Then relaunch the application.
To start tracking mode, GPS location must be activated on the phone.
Measurements are updated every second
The propeller can measure speeds of up to 150 km/h.
Point your smartphone into the wind (display against you) and the application will tell you which way the wind is blowing.
For reasons of interference with the smartphone, the wind speed is filtered and prevents the display of high values when there are too many variations in wind speed.
When the propeller is not rotating, the Skywatch® BL may pick up a stray magnetic field (from the smartphone, for example) and display totally incorrect values. As soon as the propeller turns, the values displayed are correct again.
Felt temperature, or wind chill, is an index of how cold the average person feels. It is established by combining temperature and wind speed values, and gives an indication of how much heat the body will lose if the temperature falls below 10°C. The new formula was developed in 2001 by scientists and medical experts from Canada and the USA, and has since been widely used. Example: an ambient temperature of 0°C and a 30 km/h wind act on your body as a temperature of -6.4°C!
The air's dew point is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with water vapour, while remaining unchanged by current barometric conditions. It is the phenomenon of condensation, which occurs when the dew point is reached, that creates clouds, mist and dew.
The Heat Index is an index developed in the USA that combines ambient air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the body's perception of temperature.
Temperature and humidity are physical parameters that vary very slowly under natural conditions. For a correct measurement, the temperature must stabilize. When you change environment (for example, when you leave a building and the difference is 10 to 20°C), the adaptation time may take a few minutes.
to Yes, you can correct each measurement by defining an offset. This is done from the sensor information page.
The altitude displayed is that of the GPS and not of the pressure sensor. In the application, there is no relationship between pressure and altitude.
QNH is the barometric pressure at sea level. To calculate it, the application uses the altitude provided by the smartphone's GPS. When GPS is not activated or GPS data cannot be retrieved, the QNH value is not displayed.
The UV index is a scale for measuring the intensity of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun, and the health risk it represents (sunburn, cataracts and skin cancer). UV index values are grouped into five ranges, each defining a level of physiological risk:
Values of 11 or more are very rare, but can occur in certain regions of the world where holes in the ozone layer are particularly pronounced, such as the Southern Hemisphere.
Take every precaution. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn within minutes. Avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and apply sunscreen.
Don't forget that white sand and other shiny surfaces reflect UV rays and increase exposure to them.
The UV index is measured at the top of the device, through the tiny window. For a good measurement, the device must therefore be held vertically.
For best results, we recommend holding the sensor vertically above your head, so that your body doesn't interfere with the wind measurement. In addition, temperature and humidity sensors will be better ventilated and their measurements stabilized more quickly.
Yes, you can correct each measurement by defining an offset. This is done from the sensor information page.
Yes, of course, all you have to do is disable sharing with the Skywatch community in the application settings.
In the measurement history, in the list of measurements, each measurement that has been published is accompanied by a cloud icon. If sharing could not be carried out immediately due to loss of Internet connection, a cloud icon with an arrow is visible to the right of the measurement. The measurement will then be shared automatically as soon as the Internet connection is re-established.
Simply select the measurement and click on the share icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
If the Internet connection is not available at the time of measurement, the measurement is put on share hold (cloud with arrow) and will be shared automatically when Internet access is restored.
It is not possible to share all the measurements of a tracking system globally, so each measurement must be shared individually.
If you forget your password, please write to us using the contact form, giving us your username/and or your email address, and we will then give you instructions on how to change it.
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