2-AXIS ULTRASONIC ANEMOMETER
Wind moves. WindSonic doesn’t.
Reliable wind speed and direction measurement without moving parts
When you need dependable wind data but don’t need a specialist instrument built for an extreme application, the challenge is often surprisingly practical: how do you measure the wind accurately without adding another maintenance problem to the system?
360° with no dead band
Full-circle wind direction
No moving parts
Ultrasonic, no cups or vanes
Sealed to IP66
Dust and powerful water jets
Outputs to match your system
Digital and analogue options
- Up to 75 m/sStorm-force headroom with WindSonic 75
- Heated optionWindSonic M in anodised aluminium for cold, exposed sites
- WMO-compliant gustCalculated from a rolling average
- 0.5 kgLight enough to disappear into an OEM product
The measurement problem
Reliable wind data, without another maintenance job
A sensor on a mast, weather station, vessel, industrial installation or remote monitoring system may be exposed for months or years with limited access. Traditional mechanical anemometers introduce moving components that can wear or seize.
WindSonic removes those mechanical parts, using ultrasonic technology to measure wind speed and direction while keeping integration straightforward. With models measuring up to 60 m/s or 75 m/s, flexible outputs and IP66 environmental protection, WindSonic is designed for engineers who need reliable 2-axis wind measurement that can simply become part of the system and get on with the job.
No moving parts
No cups, vanes or bearings to wear, seize, lubricate or replace.
0 to 360°, no dead band
Full-circle wind direction from the same compact head.
WMO-compliant gust
Gust calculated from a rolling average.
Outputs to match your system
Digital and analogue options, set before it ships.
Choose your WindSonic
Three configurations, and the one line that separates them
Every WindSonic measures wind speed and direction the same way. What changes is the top of the range and what the body is made of.
WindSonic 60
The general-purpose choice, where wind stays within 60 m/s.
WindSonic 75
When the site needs headroom above 60 m/s, up to 75 m/s.
WindSonic M
When the installation is marine or otherwise exposed. Heated anodised aluminium body.
No single WindSonic does all of that. Our team can suggest a pairing.
WindSonic is supplied pre-set for the protocol your system speaks: Modbus, RS232, RS422, RS485, SDI-12, NMEA, 0-5 V or 0-20 mA. SDI-12 is an output option rather than a fourth model, but it is ordered as its own build and has its own released datasheet, so it has a page of its own: WindSonic SDI-12.
Choosing between them
Which WindSonic, side by side
All three measure wind speed and direction the same way. The difference is the environment and the top of the range. Every figure is from the released datasheet.
| Specification | General purposeWindSonic 60 | Storm-force headroomWindSonic 75 | Exposed and marineWindSonic M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose it when | Wind stays within 60 m/s | The site needs headroom above 60 m/s | The installation is marine or otherwise exposed |
| Wind speed | 0 to 60 m/s (116 knots) | 0 to 75 m/s (146 knots) | 0 to 60 m/s (116 knots) |
| Direction | 0 to 360°, no dead band | 0 to 360°, no dead band | 0 to 360°, no dead band |
| Construction | ASA/PC (LURAN S KR 2861/1C) | ASA/PC (LURAN S KR 2861/1C) | Aluminium alloy 6061 T6, hard anodised |
| Heating | No | No | Heated |
| Operating temp | -35 °C to +70 °C | -35 °C to +70 °C | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Weight | 0.5 kg | 0.5 kg | 0.9 kg |
| IP rating | IP66 | IP66 | IP66 |
| Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet | Datasheet |
Why ultrasonic
No moving parts. Lower lifetime cost.
A conventional cup-and-vane anemometer measures wind through moving components. The cups rotate, the vane responds to direction and bearings allow those components to move. Over time, mechanical parts can wear, seize or become affected by the environment.
WindSonic determines wind speed and direction from changes in the travel time of ultrasonic signals between transducers. With no mechanical wind-speed components to rotate, lubricate or replace, it reduces failure points and maintenance, and lowers the lifetime cost of ownership.
Wind speed and direction
The measurement your system actually needs
WindSonic provides continuous 2-axis wind speed and direction measurement, giving systems a direct view of the horizontal airflow around the sensor.
WindSonic 60 measures from 0 to 60 m/s and WindSonic 75 extends the range to 75 m/s. Both give 0 to 360° direction, so engineers choose the range without changing the sensing technology. The wider installation, including siting and mounting, still needs assessing against the applicable WMO guidance.
How ultrasonic wind measurement worksAccuracy across the full range
Integration
Your system already speaks a language. WindSonic probably speaks it too.
A wind sensor rarely operates alone. It normally feeds a data logger, weather station, control system or monitoring platform that already has defined communication requirements.
That flexibility makes WindSonic suitable for both standalone wind measurement and integration into wider environmental monitoring, industrial control and weather measurement systems.
- Modbus, RS232, RS422, RS485, SDI-12 and NMEA
- 0-5 V, 0-20 mA or 4-20 mA analogue
- Status code on every output
Outputs to match your system
Supplied pre-set for the protocol your logger or PLC speaks. Name it on your enquiry and the sensor is configured before it ships.
See output protocols →Configuration software
Gill provides software for configuration and data viewing, alongside technical documentation and engineering support.
View wind software →Built for exposure
IP66 across the range. WindSonic M adds a heated, hard-anodised aluminium body for cold and marine sites.
View specifications →Applications
Where WindSonic fits
Compact size, low maintenance, environmental protection and flexible outputs make WindSonic suitable wherever reliable wind speed and direction need to become part of a wider measurement or control system.
Weather measurementWindSonic forms part of a broader meteorological system, providing 2-axis wind data alongside temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation and other measurements from the same site.Research and environment →
Renewable energyContinuous 2-axis wind data for asset monitoring, protection and environmental assessment around renewable energy infrastructure.Renewable energy →
Environmental monitoringThe wind component for atmospheric, pollution-movement and air-quality monitoring.Environmental monitoring →
MarineVessels, coastal installations and marine monitoring that need dependable wind data without mechanical parts. WindSonic M adds a heated anodised body.Marine and offshore →
Smart infrastructureLocal wind speed and direction for monitoring, IoT and smart-infrastructure systems that need a compact digital sensor.Cities and buildings →
Transport and infrastructureWind warning for bridges, roads and other assets where wind changes how they are operated.Transport and infrastructure →WindSonic vs other Gill sensors
Not every wind problem needs the same sensor
WindSonic sits at the general-purpose end of the Gill 2-axis ultrasonic range. It is an excellent starting point, but not automatically the right answer for every installation.
When size, weight and survivability come first
- Weight, footprint and power consumption are major constraints
- Extreme ingress protection, up to submersion
- Mobile and autonomous platforms such as drones and uncrewed vessels
When the application moves into specialist territory
- Higher wind speeds, with models up to 90 m/s
- Stainless-steel construction, heating, marine or aviation acceptance
- WindObserver IS, certified for ATEX, IECEx and UKEX hazardous areas
Not sure which fits? Make an enquiry
See it work
WindSonic, where it actually runs
Four short films on where a two-axis ultrasonic anemometer earns its place, and what it replaces. Each one runs for about a minute.
Cities never stop moving
Built for the real world
Some technology gets the encore
British engineering, trusted worldwide
Prefer to watch them together? Watch them all on the Gill Group channel
Technical specification
WindSonic technical specifications
| Specification | WindSonic 60 | WindSonic 75 | WindSonic M |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed | 0 to 60 m/s | 0 to 75 m/s | 0 to 60 m/s |
| Wind direction | 0 to 360° | 0 to 360° | 0 to 360° |
| Construction | ASA/PC polycarbonate blend | ASA/PC polycarbonate blend | Hard-anodised aluminium 6061 T6 |
| Heating | No | No | Heated |
| Operating temperature | -35 °C to +70 °C | -35 °C to +70 °C | -40 °C to +70 °C |
| Weight | 0.5 kg | 0.5 kg | 0.9 kg |
| Ingress protection | IP66 | IP66 | IP66 |
| Datasheet | 1405-027 Iss 12 | 1405-0035 Iss 9 | 1405-0029 Iss 16 |
The exact electrical, accuracy, power, mounting and communication specifications should be taken from the relevant model datasheet rather than inferred from family-level information.
Accessories
WindSonic accessories
Cables, connectors, mounts, displays and spares for the WindSonic range. Pick a model to see only the parts that fit it.
In the box. Every WindSonic ships with its mating connector, so most installations only need cable and a mount.
Showing all 13 parts
Cables
- Cable, 3 pair, cut to lengthNot for WindSonic SDI-12
- Cable, 4 pair, cut to length
- Cable, 4 pair, 15 m, pins fitted
- Cable, 9 pair, cut to length, for the heated WindSonic MFits WindSonic M
Connectors
- Spare connectorNot for WindSonic M
- Spare connector, output option 2Fits WindSonic M
- Spare connector, output option 3Fits WindSonic M
Mounting
- Bracket for pole or wall mounting
- Support tube, 0.5 m
Spares
- Reflector assembly, blackNot for WindSonic M
- Reflector assembly, whiteNot for WindSonic M
Order accessories with your sensor or on their own. Quote the part number when you get in touch.
Technical resources
Everything you need to specify, install and configure WindSonic
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does a WindSonic ultrasonic anemometer work?
WindSonic uses ultrasonic signals travelling between transducers. Changes in their travel time caused by moving air are used to calculate wind speed and direction.
What is the difference between an ultrasonic anemometer and a cup-and-vane anemometer?
A cup-and-vane anemometer relies on mechanical components that move in response to the wind. WindSonic uses ultrasonic measurement instead, eliminating rotating cups, vanes and bearings from the wind measurement process.
Does WindSonic measure wind gusts?
Yes. WindSonic provides integrated WMO-compliant gust wind speed and direction calculations based on a rolling average.
Is WindSonic suitable for marine applications?
Yes. WindSonic can be integrated into vessels, coastal installations and marine monitoring systems, and WindSonic M adds a heated anodised aluminium body for exposed positions.
Is WindSonic suitable for remote installations?
Yes. The ultrasonic design removes rotating wind-sensing components, reducing mechanical wear and maintenance requirements. This can be particularly useful where the sensor is difficult or expensive to access.
Does WindSonic need calibration?
Calibration requirements should be assessed according to the application and relevant measurement requirements. The appropriate Gill documentation should be consulted for the specific model and installation.
What is the difference between WindSonic 60 and WindSonic 75?
The principal difference is wind-speed range. WindSonic 60 measures up to 60 m/s, while WindSonic 75 extends measurement to 75 m/s. Both use the same compact ASA/PC blend construction and provide 0–360° wind direction measurement.
What is the difference between WindSonic and WindUltra?
WindSonic is the general-purpose 2-axis option. WindUltra is designed for applications where very low weight, compact size, power consumption and environmental survivability are more significant constraints.
What is the difference between WindSonic and WindObserver?
WindSonic is designed for general-purpose 2-axis wind measurement. WindObserver is intended for more demanding applications requiring features such as higher wind-speed capability, stainless-steel construction, marine or aviation acceptance, heating or hazardous-area certification.
Have an application to discuss?
Speak to our team
Tell us what you need to measure, where and under what conditions. We’ll help you work out the appropriate approach.
Enquiring about WindSonic
- Our team replies. Not an account manager, and not a queue.
- We aim to respond in one working day. Monday to Friday.
- No obligation. Plenty of these end with us saying it is not our product.