AndyMan

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Everything posted by AndyMan

  1. AndyMan

    Experiment #1

    AndyMan replied to quade's topic in The Bonfire

    I thought mindless post-whoring was thought of as a bad thing...? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  2. AndyMan
    Those are some great stories, it sounds awesome. I was worried you'd get weather'd out. Great publicity, too! _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  3. AndyMan
    WooHoo! Congrats! I know how long you've been pining for a real job. Heal quickly, spring approaches soon. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  4. AndyMan
    It's great that you don't have a problem, but for many of us it is quite a major issue. In Chicago, my PC120 will regularly shut off on jumprun due to the cold temperatures at altitude causing the moist ground air in the camera unit to condense. It took me quite some time to adequately troubleshoot the problem, but adding a 'Camera Condom' seemed to have solved the problem, at least for now. I don't jump in rain, so there's little benefit to sealing the gaps in the camera. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  5. AndyMan
    When I was visiting Perris a year ago, they wanted to see my log book. I don't have one. Or, at least I don't have a current one, so this was a bit of a problem. I then proceeded into square1, bought a new logbook, logged two jumps that I never did, signed them myself and presented it for evaluation. They knew full well that that was what I'd done, I even told them that. They had no problem with it. They said that since I had my 'd' license, I'm allowed to self-sign my jumps. Perris's enforcement of the logbook thing is silly, and yeah - it's a pain in the ass. It seems like an awefully stupid reason to have someone go to the dropzone down the road... I wonder how many times people haven't been able to get around it like I did, or if magically people always seem to be able to get around it. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  6. AndyMan
    Looking at whats going on locally, I'd say the sport is shriinking. Morris and Kankakee have closed, Ottawa sold a plane, Hinckley used to run 2 otters and a caravan, but now just has one. Jumpers from East Troy continue to migrate to Hinckley and presumably Ottawa. I wonder how long East Troy will be around...? _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  7. AndyMan
    I wear a few different helmets, and is it just me, or am I the only one who checks the tightness of his chin strap on every jump, just after I put it on....? Seems to me that the chin-strap should be included on every jump-run gear check. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  8. AndyMan
    It's amazing what happens when the executives realise their name is about to be tarnished onlin or in the media... I just wish companies would act like this BEFORE all people start posting online or start calling TV stations... _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  9. AndyMan
    The higher price - 999 for the 105 is probably a mistake. That same camera is available on dbuys for $737. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  10. AndyMan
    People do get knocked out in freefall. I witnessed this about a year ago in Perris. My posting about it is here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=340256 Unfortunately ftp.skydivingmovies.com is down, so you can't download the video. It is very compelling "get a cypres" footage. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  11. AndyMan
    It's up to the DZ to decide if they're going to use the short version or the long version, but most DZ's are slowly moving towards the long version. It's a good thing that you're going to have these skills. They were added to the student progresion because most students have a major lacking of canopy skills. Consider yourself lucky that you'll have these skiils. Many people don't. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  12. AndyMan
    My bad. I should've said that I've seen it for under $1300... www.dbuys.com _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  13. AndyMan
    While the people in the pacific can tell you what a camera is like, what they can't do is tell you what the service behind that camera is like when you're calling from America. If you go through Cameras like I do, this is the single biggest problem you'll have. These cameras are usually sold in a "grey market", and while they're cheaper you're often on your own when it comes to service and support. You're literally rolling a dice that everything works fine. Frequently they don't. Have had to send in both my video and digital still camera, and they were both high end. Another really good resource for finding deals in digital cameras is http://www.dpreview.com/. Use that website to find a camera in the pricerange you want. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  14. AndyMan
    The 120 isn't being produced anymore, given time you'll have trouble finding stores that'll sell it. The price on the 330 really isn't bad... It's a lot less then I paid for my 120 when it was new. Just two years ago the MSRP on the 120 was $1999 and I got it for a steal at $1300. Now the MSRP on the 330 is $1300. If I were shopping for a PC camera right now, I'd be lookoing very hard at the 330. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  15. AndyMan
    At one DZ I was offered when I had just about a hundred jumps - TM asked in the plane 5 minutes before exit "you comin with me?" - student was my GF at the time, I declined because it hadn't been planned and I didn't understand the issues,. The TM was actualy the DZ S&TA at a small relaxed club. With 350 jumps I asked and was declined at a large Chicago area DZ when I took a co-worker out. The TM said yes, but the video guy declined. Later the manifest-chick said I should've told her and she would've found me a new video guy. So... it REALLy depends on where you are. That said, with 20 jumps there really isn't any chance of a 'yes', I would politely keep my distance even during the training, and not even suggest coming along. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  16. AndyMan
    I would without a doubt ignore any unknown brands from far off places. There are good places online I can recomend to get well known brands cheaply. Check out www.dbuys.com and www.bhphotovideo.com _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  17. AndyMan
    Sorry Eiley, I haven't put togeather a full gallery yet. Just what I've posted to this thread, plus one here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=799387;#798658 and one here: http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=800253;#800253 Hope to see you soon! _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  18. AndyMan
    I believe I made it clear that its best not to stow only if your rig is not equipped with stowes. It is not smart to be "inventing" new ways of stowing just because they appear convenient - such as looping through the connector links, or the top of the risers. Looping through the risers caused a recent spinning malfunction that ended with a fatality. I would agree that having a rigger install stowes is a good solution to those that don't have them. However, it is not a common solution, and my post was limited to common solutions. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  19. AndyMan
    Yes, it's also the way most jumpers deal with excess brake lines. Most risers do not have a place to stow the brake lines. Some people choose to route through the connector links, or through the top of the riser. If the manufacturer didn't provide a place to stow them, then the best approach is to NOT stow them - assuming you don't jump a camera. Most peopple don't stow their excess lines, and this usually is not a problem. I hope the rest of the manufacturers will start providing stows. Lean to propack so your rig will always be packed the way you want it. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  20. AndyMan
    I've had both tru-lock and Sunpath "velcroless" toggles. I've had premature brake fires, on both. While I prefer the tru-lock, I've currently got Sunpath ones and don't plan on replacing them. The biggest part, is that I don't think a premature brake fire is that big of a deal... It certainly needs attention, but its definately something that you can deal with by getting on your rear risers quickly. I would not be so quick to blame the packer. Toggles do prematurely fire. Be prepared to counter a spinning malfunction every jump. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  21. AndyMan
    the screw on conversion lens... but it took part of the built-in lens with it. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  22. AndyMan
    Clean is of course a relative term... At one point, I was using duct tape because it'd just melt onto the light. ;) I loved that work, I'll have to get back into it someday. Now all my "rigging" is programing websites. Not so much fun. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  23. AndyMan
    I believe this was the camera I borrowed and jumped a few monthes ago. The jump was the first one for this camera. The lens fell off on opening. The video showed an otherwise normal opening, not even a touch of riser-slap. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  24. AndyMan
    Gaffers tape and Duct tape are two very different things. Duct tape is silver and plasticy, and is primarily used for sealing HVAC ductwork. Gaffers tape is black and fabricy, and is primarily used on taping colored filters to extreemely hot lights in a theater. We like Gaffers tape because it comes off clean, compared to duct tape which leaves a residue. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.
  25. AndyMan

    Vigil AAD

    AndyMan replied to John4455's topic in Gear and Rigging

    Did you miss the reference to the FXC Astra? Electronically based, just like the Cypres. It was never accepted because it was never proven. I will not accept the Vigil until it is proven. I will not jump on the bandwagon of the "latest new thing". The Vigil is NOT the first alternative to the Cypres. _Am __ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.