DSE

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Everything posted by DSE

  1. DSE
    I tried various systems before ultimately building my own. However, I've seen the motorcycle systems built by Cardo http://www.cardosystems.com/us/motorcycles/scala-rider-g9x-powerset in the air. Some wind tunnel people are using them as well. I tried neck mikes, found them useless. Perhaps some of the military applications work, I only tried a couple models before building my own system based around an Audio Technica UHF system built directly into a Bonehead Mamba helmet, using marshmallow/foamie earplugs for the receiver. It's a uni system; one broadcast multiple listen. It won't work for air-to-air if you need multiple people communicating. The Scala system will work for wingsuiting; I've used it. It might work for freefall too, but I've not tried it in that environment.
  2. DSE
    I'm not sure what you're saying by "DVD takes advantage of better footage." DVD is merely a delivery mechanism that doesn't make video look better nor worse. It just "is." The benefit of HD isn't at all lost in translation/downconvert to SD, HD-sourced video will always look better played back in SD than SD-sourced video. To any eye, untrained or trained, watching HD (whether it's Blu-ray or not) vs SD is readily apparent. Now that HD is on its last legs, it's a surprise to see much discussion about SD at all. The GoPro has a phenomenal image for what it is. It can be tuned (the 3+) to where it is superior to any out of the box palm-corder such as the CX with a poor lens on it (which is what we frequently see in skydiving). Were it me, I'd continue with the GoPro for casual videography, and even then, I'd tune a GoPro 3+ or a Sony AS100 for team work, tandem work, or 'fancier' skydiving video (and that's exactly what my camera rig will be in 2014, an AS100V).
  3. DSE
    That's a good "lean."
  4. DSE
    This is unfortunate, and a bit of a concern as well, if the "main guys make a big deal about the RSL being disconnected." A few thoughts; -If there _is_ a snag and a *potentially* challenged subsequent reserve deployment because the RSL is connected, does it affect the "main jumpers?" Or does it only affect you? -Which is greater? The risk of a malfunction, or the risk of a malfunction with a camera/main entanglement? -Which is more important, a helmet cutaway or an RSL (assuming you need to choose one or the other)? -Please never think of the GoPro as a "low profile" camera. Of all the action cameras out there, it has a significantly higher snag potential than the majority of the small-format cameras. Even if you can't educate the "main jumpers" as to what is a more risk-aware approach to jumping with a small camera, kudos to you for seeking more/better information.
  5. DSE
    I upsized from a 135 to a 210 after an accident, then back to the 135 following a fairly rapid series of re-downsizing. Then I upsized again to a 150, which is what I'm jumping now. I'm not quite as old as you, but close. The biggest physically demanding difference comes at the front riser, but it's not significant.
  6. DSE
    Good for you.
  7. DSE
    Tandem video and FF video are different things, flown very differently overall, and you said it best; That's not the same scenario. Sure it _can_ work. There are faster ways to an acceptable product, however.
  8. DSE
    Pretty much the same. Loving my Storms, and have jumped all the larger sizes.
  9. DSE
    It's very unlikely a full-face helmet would meet most video concession standards for filming tandems, simply because of shake. I've yet to see one worth paying for.
  10. DSE
    No. Vegas won't care which version of Win7 you're running.
  11. DSE
    Movie Studio is now on version 13; it's win 7 or win8 compatible. My favorite version is 12. Either way, ll works great with Win7, it's plenty powerful for tandem videos. Unfortunately, it cannot take advantage of scripts like VMS 12/13 can. That one feature alone is worth buying at least VMS12
  12. DSE
    Which reminds me of a jumper who can draw a good duck cartoon. I thought in her case it was a 2 way exit, broken arm, and then a broken femur when the one handed landing didn't work out. [Ref.: http://tailotherat.blogspot.ca/2012/09/how-i-broke-my-arm-and-leg-part-i-dont.html ] In any case, trying to figure out how to land one handed, when you just broke something, isn't necessarily easy, especially if you haven't thought it through before. Yeah, I was there for Jen's incident too. Forgot about that.
  13. DSE
    I observed a woman break her tib exiting a caravan, driving towards the tail and being pulled by a threeway. She then broke her femur and wrist on landing due to the pain and fear of the tib.
  14. DSE
    It uses an older imager, which are available cheap since all the new generation imagers are in all the newer cameras. It's slightly larger than the Sony, buttons more exposed than anyone's, I found it weak overall. It's VBR, so that's a plus, battery life isn't impressive. If snag/height are an issue, I'd look at JVC ReplayXD Sony (laid flat) Polaroid (not a great image, but super cheap) Midland laid flat (terrific image, but no user-adjustable options, it's like a Contour).
  15. DSE
    T'is pretty sweet that GoPro users can have a true indicator, vs merely an on/off switch. No more "Is my camera on?" Well done, Trunk! Hoping you sell a billion of em'!
  16. DSE
    Stay on your belly. Learn air-awareness. Learn to track on-heading. When you're bored with all of that, stay on your belly some more. Jump RW jumps with other people. When you're bored of that, find better people to do RW with. Stay away from falling on your ass, back, or on your head in these first 200 jumps. Unless you have a bunch of tunnel time, you'll likely be weak at any of those skills in addition to the life-saving, necessary skills on your belly. THEN you'll likely be ready to get into a WS. It might take more than 200 jumps and that's OK. Being aware, stable, calm, competent on your belly matters more than the number of jumps.
  17. DSE
    While you're entirely right, bringing safety issues to the fore frequently results in ostracism no matter how one goes about it (quietly or loudly). It really blows when a safety issue is brought up, ignored, and people die in spite of the warning(s).
  18. DSE
    for me it's been: Rigging Innovations (9 rigs from them out of owning 14 rigs in my career) PD (Between the school and personal, 19 canopies out of 26 total owned) Larsen and Brusgaard (Several products) Tonfly (Jumpsuits and helmets) Phoenix-Fly (42 wingsuits in the school, in addition to another 2 dozen from other manufacturers) ChutingStar Mike simply looks for the great products that he thinks skydivers need, and he makes them accessible at a good price. His rigging services are terrific. I've had horrible customer service from a few skydiving companies, but there is no point in naming names. Like any other industry, there are perfect and poor.
  19. DSE
    http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4631451#4631451 GoPro's are just as capable of bridle snag as anything else on your head. https://vimeo.com/64251059 Kudos for taking the harder path.
  20. DSE
    you really don't need the switch. You'll end up with a boatload of additional images that you likely won't want, but that's what the |DELETE| button is for.
  21. DSE
    I've never seen Al Frisbey's book, but have started one of my own. Even that wasn't enough to persuade a couple of guys from their path that are now dead. "A Bridge to Nowhere" is exactly what I'm thinking of in terms of showing the aftermath. And you're right, even then there are those that will still chase their own way down but at least you'd know you'd tried to help them slow down.
  22. DSE
    IMO, the side visual/aesthetic is better if the stack leans forward similar to a CRW stack. Yes, if _no one_ is moving, and everything is aligned the top view doesn't see _every_ thing under him. But he surely sees enough to stay aligned. That same argument applies if he's DIRECTLY over someone else too. And flying behind simply isn't possible. So all things considered, a forward leaning stack is prettier to look at, and provides as much ability to see what's below as any other position. However, one can also fly half a body length back if he stays aggressive. https://vimeo.com/21494763
  23. DSE
    The Storm is definitely faster, and has more flare power than a Spectre. It's sportier overall. It does not have the long snivel, but it does open softly. For jumping big rigs like the one pictured here, or other large cameras, I wouldn't consider anything else for how soft and consistent it is. Give one a demo-ride. PD has demos in most sizes. If you're in the SoCal area, I have a 150, 170, and 190 in my school fleet. You're welcome to any one of them.
  24. DSE
    "http://www.amazon.com/Wingsuit-Formations-Douglas-Spotted-Eagle-ebook/dp/B00BNHQ9U4"The Book of Wingsuit Formations discusses this at length. 3' is pretty far forward. Kallend lays out the thought well, but I don't think 3' is necessary. Keeping people out of burbles is the goal, and if two bodies are directly aligned, it's easy for one or the other to out/under pace the other and the upper falls into the burble of the lower. Keeping a buffer by upper being slightly forward allows for greater safety, visual, and makes for pretty pictures.
  25. DSE
    I'm more of a mind that posting video of said incidents would be a better learning tool. I like NickDG's approach of a bounce book as well. Since some think YouTube is a training tool, we might as well post the aftermath on YouTube too.