HoldPeak 866B Digital Anemometer Handheld Wind Speed Meter for Measuring Wind Speed, Temperature and Wind Chill with Backlight and Max/Min

I needed something to use to balance my HVAC system and picked this velocity meter. It worked fine. I just used an open topped cardboard box with a six inch circular hole to get a consistent reading of the velocity of the air leaving the HVAC registers in each room. This meter gave good, accurate velocities and permitted me to throttle the registers that were over supplying air to specific rooms. My only complaint is that the units font on the meter is a little small, but it was not really a concern.

Use this often because we live in a windy area, and seems pretty accurate. We made a stand for it, so it could stay out for a bit for a better read, and we don't have to hold it.

This review is for the HoldPeak HP-866B_WM. I would give it 5 star review except that it reports a bad windspeed value when in mph. If seller corrects this issue I will update this review. Except for this I am very pleased with my purchase.UPDATE: 10/8/2017. Manufacturer sent me second HP-866B_WM, and it has the same problem with windspeed in MPH. When I told them this, they said they would send the unit back to engineering to fix.In brief:PRO: Lots of good measurements. Light, well constructed, and easy to use.CON: (1) MPH reading is not correct. (2) Difficult to remove battery cover, requires screwdriver. (3) Unit forgets my last selections when powered off.WORK-AROUND: When I want MPH, I use the approximation that 1 meter/second is about 2 miles/hour, so I double the m/s airspeed reading.AppearanceThe unit I received looks exactly as pictured, with 6 buttons, blue rubberized bumper on left and right. Across the top: red power on/off, Wind, Baro. Across the bottom: Mode, T/RH, Alt.On backside is the battery cover and a rubber cover over an open rectangular hole. This is where the USB connector would be if this unit had a USB connector (it doesn't have one). Also the unit serial number (mine starts with 20170223 which looks like a datecode probably for the date of manufacture February 23, 2017.On the bottom is a metal screw spot where you can screw in either a tripod or the supplied hand strap.Size, weightUnit measures: width that varies from approximately 2.5" (6.3cm) where you hold it to approx. 3 3/8" (8.3cm) across the widest spot on top. Length is approx. 6 5/8" (16.7cm) top to bottom not counting the strap and its screw. Depth of unit is approx. 1.5" (3.7cm) at deepest spot (by the fan). Unit weighs approx. 5.56oz (157.5g) with batteries and strap attached.PowerUnit requires 2 AAA batteries, and two come with the unit. Note that the battery cover is screwed in with two Phillips type screws and the cover is difficult to remove. This might be to provide some rain resistance.WindspeedThe unit reports windspeed in meters/second (m/s), Kilometers/hour (Km/h), feet/minute (ft/min), knots, and miles per hour (mph). I know that my unit's windspeed is reported incorrectly in mph because: weather report says winds about 3 mph; outside, I see windspeed of 5 Km/h but when switch to mph I see 0.3 mph.Maybe it's a decimal point issue? I'm not sure, so I'm viewing windspeed in meters/second and multiplying by 2 to get a close approximation to miles/hour.Unit also reports:Barometric pressure in inches mercury in inHg and hpa mbar.Temperature (Centigrade and Fahrenheit), relative humidity, and dew point (Centigrade and Fahrenheit).Altitude in meters and feet. I'm not sure how accurate the altitude is so it might be best to use as a relative measure.The top display in large letters shows either Windspeed or Barometric pressure. The lower display in smaller letters can display temperature, relative humidity, dew point or altitude along with windspeed or barometric pressure.The Mode button only has an effect when you are displaying windspeed, and switches the mode from normal (instantaneous windspeed), Max, Min, and Avg (average). Holding down the Mode button for about 3 seconds turns on or off a very nice screen backlight.When you turn the unit on, it starts with windspeed in m/s and temperature in Centigrade regardless of what display you'd set it to earlier.

This is a straightforward handheld meter that has no downloadable memory however is good for field use for assessing real time wind speed. I have mine mounted on a tripod because it is kind of hard to hold it and move it around and things like that for giving period of time. Of course you have to know the wind direction if that’s what the purpose is I use it for measuring ground speed of wind for drone takeoff. The only thing that would compliment this would be a windsock. It has different units such as miles per hour. Kilometers per hour. Knots, meters per second, feet per minute. It also has minimum maximum and average. And the back screen is nice for the price of what limited use I have for it. It is a great anemometer. It uses two AA alkaline type batteries, which comes with it. The back cover is difficult to get off. Overall, I am happy with this purchase.

Got it to check the air flow of my HVAC system. Wels fine.

Extremely easy to use and I love the multiple options for unit of measurement.

Simple to use, ideal for checking relative difference between measurements. Not sure about accuracy but for the casual user seems to be sufficient, several units available. Button control lumination is helpful. Used twice, all good

For the price it’s a good meter. My issue was that the Bluetooth signal doesn’t transmit very far. The best I could get is the room next to the meter.