The Quadrant Telemeter

WNDSN GRAPHICAL TELEMETRY COMPUTERS:

LOW TECH, HIGH UTILITY DISTANCE & ALTITUDE NOMOGRAPHS
WNDSN APPLIED SCIENCE L AB
Quadrant Telemeter 7x7x500q90i30

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What does it do?
• The Wndsn Quadrant Telemeter (qTM) is a low tech, naked-eye observational instrument for
measuring angles via various inputs and sighting methods. In addition, the qTM is a graphical,
analog computer providing functions to directly process or convert the acquired values. The
qTM allows to measure angular size and compute distance, height or depth of object, slope,
altitude, or elevation, it provides an inclinometer as well as scales for the computation of sine,
cosine, and tangent for a given angle.
• A tool for makeshift navigation, surveying, and rangefinding, the double-sided qTM enables
the user to do more than merely guessing distances. It works by finding an object of known
size, or distance, or angle, and measure with the appropriate scales and utilize the baked-in
trigonometry to find the desired value by aligning the provided string across the respective
scale.
• Its purpose is to help navigate using known landmarks or astronomical features, to get a
"second opinion" to cross-check values obtained with different means, or in emergency
situations when other methods fail or are unavailable.

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Where does it come from?
• The qTM combines a thousand years of civil engineering, surveying, navigation, and
astronomy in one durable, low tech, high utility instrument that can be brought anywhere, is
self-containing, and independent of external, modern technologies.
• Inspired by the medieval Kamal, a celestial navigation tool that greatly facilitated latitude
sailing, as well as nomography, an almost lost art and science invented in the late 19th century
to provide engineers with fast graphical calculations of complicated formulas, and adding an
important slide rule principle, the qTM combines all three techniques in an easy to use and
handy measuring and calculating device.
• Additional elements on the naked-eye qTM come from the sine quadrant, the main scale of
the quadrant contains a shadow square and a sexagesimal scale which can be used for
performing various trigonometric calculations and taking basic surveying measurements.

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How to start
• To install, knot the string to the device
through the provided hole. Measure a length
of 57.3 cm (22.56 inches) from eye to device.
• Add additional knots at 57.3/2 and 57.3/3
cm.
• Make a small loop at the end to fasten the
plumb line weight.
• For measuring distances, hold onto the string
with your teeth or hold the respective knot
up to eye level.

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And then?
• Measuring angular size on the Telemeter
(front) scale
• Sighting the quadrant alongside the
integrated ridges
• Back-sighting the quadrant for sun
observation
• Sighting along the string for shadow square
operation

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Which function?
QUADRANT SIDE TELEMETER SIDE

• Measure angle from vertical • Measure angular size

• Measure angle from horizontal • Measure angular distance between objects
• Measure slope • Calculate distance or size
• Calculate sine, cos, tan • Calculate values from quadrant
measurements

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Slope, Quadrant, Inclinometer

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What to find out
DISTANCE, ANGLE, SINE AND COSINE, SUN SIGHTING, LATITUDE

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 Distance
1. Keep the string taut, for a distance of
57.3 cm (22.56 inches) from eye to scale
2. Align the instrument's baseline to the base
of the object to be measured
3. On the α scale, read the angular size at the
upper bound of the object
4. Object is 4.8° tall
5. Known height is 4 m
6. D scale distance is 48 m

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Angle
1. Sighting edge
2. Index string with plumb weight
3. Quadrant scale measures the degrees (or
percent) from horizontal
4. Inclinometer scale measures the degrees
from vertical

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Depth of a Well
• Width at the top: 3 ft
• Angular width at the base: 24°
• Using the Telemeter nomograph, we input 6°
(24°/4) on the α scale; and 3 ft on the S scale
for a result of 28/4 ft = 7 ft depth of the well.

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Finding Sine and Cosine
• Method 1: Using the angle scale and
following a vertical or horizontal line
respectively to the sexagesimal scale;
compare the red, dashed line.
• Method 2: Using the sine and cosine arcs,
and rotating the string from the intersection
to the sexagesimal scale; compare the red,
solid arcs.
• Top scale:
◦ cos(36°) ≈ 48/60 = 0.8

• Left-hand scale:
◦ sin(36°) ≈ 35/60 = 0.58

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Local Latitude
• The latitude is the angle between the plumb
line (which extends into the zenith) and the
perpendicular to the sighting line; zero on
the quadrant.
• Polaris, the sighted star, is measured at 30°
from the horizon.

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Sun (Back-)Sighting
1. Roughly align the instrument so that the sun
is in the direction alongside the sighting
edge.
2. Rotate and tilt the instrument in order for
the sunlight to fall through the holes of both
binder clips.
3. Align the shadows of the two clips so that
the shapes are perfectly on top of each
other.
4. Read the altitude of the sun where the string
crosses the degree scale.

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Input and output
UNITLESSNESS, SCALE JUMPS

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Unitlessness
• Wndsn Telemeters are unitless, which means
that you can input your data in the unit you
prefer, and get the output in the same unit.

1. Input as angular size

2. Absolute size in unit of choice
3. Result in that same unit

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Powers of 10 and Scale Jumps
• If the input is off the scale: shift power of 10.
• If the input is too low or high on a scale: shift power of 10.
• If powers of 10 are impractical: divide or multiply by an arbitrary factor to jump scales.
• If powers of 10 are impractical: divide or multiply by an equal factor on both sides.

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Improving accuracy
OF READING OF MEASUREMENT

• Always make an estimation and an • Make sure that the length of the string
approximation, at least of the order of translates to the exact distance of 57.3 cm
magnitude expected. (22.56 inches) from eye to scale.
• Instead of attempting to read the exact • Find as large an object as possible to
value, which may be obscured by the string, measure.
establish the range of values the
measurement is between. By “bracketing” • Ensure good contrast and visibility of the
the measurement in such a way, we can features of the object to be measured.
achieve higher accuracy by exactly • Get a stable rest for the holding hand.
determining what our value is not.

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What to get
QUADRANT TELEMETER THE MANUAL

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What now?
 Buy the Quadrant Telemeter  Visit the Telemeter supersite
 Buy the printed manual  Follow Wndsn on Instagram
 Follow Wndsn on Facebook
 Subscribe to email updates
 Contact Wndsn

All rights reserved

© Copyright Wndsn XPD 2018
www.wndsn.com

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About Wndsn
• Wndsn's Applied Science Lab, based in Berlin, develops and manufactures that which can't be
improvised; measurement, navigation, and surveying instruments informed by the motto "Ex
Mensura, Scientia" - knowledge from measurement.
• Wndsn produces archival quality products that are designed with intent by combining
techniques proven over centuries; arcane science meets cutting edge contemporary methods,
resulting in iconic, timeless, high-utility designs.
• In addition to custom-built instruments and tools, metrology & illumination solutions, Wndsn
creates expedition mementos and morale patches to celebrate cross-disciplinary exploration in
the spirit of the Renaissance. Wndsn morale patches are acutely designed - no line is left to
randomness, no element is mere filler. They serve as infographics, how-tos for the Wndsn
tools, magic sigils, as well as functional markers.

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