zivtsy 0 #1 June 28, 2006 hi everybody i would like to know how is the ALTITRACK altimeter here is the link: http://www.paragear.com/templates/parachutes.asp?group=5&level=1 and how is the digital altimeters in general? are they better than the analog ones? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IanHarrop 42 #2 June 28, 2006 here's more info from the manufacturers site. http://www.l-and-b.dk/altitrack.html The device is pretty new so no many people have had lots of experience with it yet."Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops, that's where you'll find me" Dorothy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #3 June 28, 2006 I love mine got 18 jumps with it so far. My instructor realy likes his he has had one of the Demo ones from L&B since the world record and has done many jumps with it it's given him no problems at all, thats why I decided to get it. I wrote a review on it in the gear section.SO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #4 June 29, 2006 I know that I can't keep them on the shelf. I have no returns or complaints yet. But I have to hear over and over and over again how they LOVE their new toy. So far. They rock. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #5 June 29, 2006 Bonnie - has anyone pulled out the battery in flight to see what the needle does? (preferred would be drops to zero, instead of freezing in place) Having the glow face is brilliant for the night jumps - no worries of added power draw exposing an aging battery like on the neptune. When I'm cleared to jump again, I'll be ordering one from you. The summer jumpers should complete the real world testing nicely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #6 June 29, 2006 I enjoy my Altitrack, but find I enjoy it *much* more since I got the JumpTrack software. It helps me track my jumps in that I can view velocity on the charts, and understand how that relates to my goals on the dive. Bonnie, your customer service is AWESOME! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #7 June 29, 2006 so the altitudes of 0k to 6k take half the face... then the other half is from 6k to 20k ?!?! does the needle move twice as fast on the 6k and higher side or what??? that seems so weird to me. I've always used the standard 0k to 12k ones. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bofh 0 #8 June 29, 2006 They are available with both a "normal" scale and this asymmetrical scale. I prefer the asymmetrical scale a lot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 5 #9 June 29, 2006 QuoteThey are available with both a "normal" scale and this asymmetrical scale. I prefer the asymmetrical scale a lot. I do too. I'm not really looking at my altimeter much until I know I'm in the 6-7k range, and that's where the numbers get more distant. FWIW, I've worn this up with 2 additional altimeters (chest/right wrist), plus my Dytter. It's interesting how the other two require constant tapping to bring them to point, but the Altitrack doesn't at all. It matches my Dytter very closely, but truthfully, I've never paid attention to the chest, and now that I trust my Altitrack completely (I wouldn't jump without at least a second altimeter for several jumps, I guess I'm a little crazy) I no longer wear an altimeter on my right hand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Armour666 0 #10 June 29, 2006 Quoteso the altitudes of 0k to 6k take half the face... then the other half is from 6k to 20k ?!?! does the needle move twice as fast on the 6k and higher side or what??? that seems so weird to me. I've always used the standard 0k to 12k ones. Yes it moves fasster in teh other side but when it gets in the 6K range in slows to more accuratly show your alti with no needle bounce. it's a very smooth sweep with the needleSO this one time at band camp..... "Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #11 June 30, 2006 QuoteBonnie - has anyone pulled out the battery in flight to see what the needle does? (preferred would be drops to zero, instead of freezing in place) Why would someone want to do that? QuoteHaving the glow face is brilliant for the night jumps - no worries of added power draw exposing an aging battery like on the neptune. The ALT III Galaxy has had that feature for several years.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #12 June 30, 2006 QuoteQuoteBonnie - has anyone pulled out the battery in flight to see what the needle does? (preferred would be drops to zero, instead of freezing in place) Why would someone want to do that? duh - to know what the intended behavior is if the power fails. Doesn't guarantee what will happen, but it's a start. Quote The ALT III Galaxy has had that feature for several years. I have one. But it lacks every other feature. And isn't part of the same class - data logging digital altimeters. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #13 June 30, 2006 Quoteduh - to know what the intended behavior is if the power fails. Doesn't guarantee what will happen, but it's a start. Seems much more practical to just ask the manufacture. QuoteI have one. But it lacks every other feature. And isn't part of the same class In your initial responsMy idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #14 July 1, 2006 QuoteBonnie - has anyone pulled out the battery in flight to see what the needle does? (preferred would be drops to zero, instead of freezing in place) Having the glow face is brilliant for the night jumps - no worries of added power draw exposing an aging battery like on the neptune. When I'm cleared to jump again, I'll be ordering one from you. The summer jumpers should complete the real world testing nicely. Unless the manufacturer's page is lying to me, it does use batteries for the backlight....Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #15 July 2, 2006 QuoteQuoteduh - to know what the intended behavior is if the power fails. Doesn't guarantee what will happen, but it's a start. Seems much more practical to just ask the manufacture. Not really. Much more practical to see it for myself. Even better if multiple people try it. Real world testing is always superior to the spoken word. Consider all the reports of odd neptune behavior where batteries are blamed. And the number of firmware upgrades as Alti2 improved their product in response to customer experience and wishes. Going to LnB now to see if they've made the manual available yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #16 July 2, 2006 Quote Unless the manufacturer's page is lying to me, it does use batteries for the backlight.... just read the manual - I guess "Electroluminescent backlight" is quite different from what I thought it was. I guess it's not a high draw - turns off in 2 hours, but why not do the same thing as the Galaxy? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #17 July 2, 2006 QuoteReal world testing is always superior to the spoken word. I was involved in "real" testing of parachutes and parachute related equipment for over 20 years. Your "real world" testing is just that, the spoken word. There is no validity to it. You have no test parameters, test controls or any objectives at all. You have people with no idea what they are doing trying different things, coming up with erroneous conclusions and calling it fact. You see a lot of that in skydiving. Jumper Joe Blow said his friend saw this happen and before you know it becomes the real world for a bunch of morons. If you think the manufacture of any piece of equipment has not done a decent job of testing the gear, don’t use it. But don’t be so arrogant as to think you can do a better job of it.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #18 July 2, 2006 QuoteQuoteReal world testing is always superior to the spoken word. I was involved in "real" testing of parachutes and parachute related equipment for over 20 years. Your "real world" testing is just that, the spoken word. There is no validity to it. You have no test parameters, test controls or any objectives at all. You have people with no idea what they are doing trying different things, coming up with erroneous conclusions and calling it fact. You see a lot of that in skydiving. Jumper Joe Blow said his friend saw this happen and before you know it becomes the real world for a bunch of morons. If you think the manufacture of any piece of equipment has not done a decent job of testing the gear, don’t use it. But don’t be so arrogant as to think you can do a better job of it. There is this really funny dicotomy in the sport. On one hand, whenever we talk about waivers and responsibility and blame, there is literally an avalanche of postings proclaiming that we're each responsible for our life, and no other party comes remotely close. And yet, when someone challenges an unproven assumption or a sacred cow (or person), people like you seem very confused that there is no faith. I asked a simple question - what happens to the altitrack midflight if it loses power. It is an easy test with a very clear objective - does the needle stick, or does it drop to zero. If you ever dived with a cochrane computer, you'd know the reason to be interested. Having read the manual now, I see I was wrong in believing the night mode draws no extra power, and my interest in the test is renewed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjosparky 4 #19 July 3, 2006 QuoteI asked a simple question - what happens to the altitrack midflight if it loses power. It is an easy test with a very clear objective - does the needle stick, or does it drop to zero. This is just a wild ass guess but if it looses power by removing the battery/s I bet it quits working. But since in the real world it would slowly lose power as the battery drained you still don't know what it would do if the the battery went too low to operate the damn thing. Battery Status Full capacity: Symbol shows two black bars inside the battery icon. Half capacity: Symbol shows one black bar inside the battery icon. Low capacity: Symbol shows no black bars, just an “empty” battery icon. Battery should be replaced as soon as possible. The “Low bat” flashes once every 15 sec. Caution: Do not make night jumps at sub zero temperatures when bat. shows low capacity. Empty battery: The battery icon flashes. Replace battery immediately. But if you have your own you should go for it.QuoteAnd yet, when someone challenges an unproven assumption or a sacred cow (or person), people like you seem very confused that there is no faith. The only unproven assumption is that you assume you know enough to do your own testing on something that took engineers years to develop. And the only faith I believe in is faith in yourself when you jump our of an airplane. Electronic toys can fail at any time so why worry about them. Be prepared to take care of things yourself.My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #20 July 4, 2006 Quote But since in the real world it would slowly lose power as the battery drained you still don't know what it would do if the the battery went too low to operate the damn thing. the voltage drop is much more severe with lithium batteries. It's great that they maintain their level for the vast majority of their life, but it makes an accurate power gauge very difficult to achieve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites