parachutist

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Everything posted by parachutist

  1. parachutist
    We had that same issue a couple months ago. According to the manuf, the LCD needed to be replaced. They replaced it fast for free. If you double-tap the button you may be able to run the shutdown sequence.
  2. parachutist
    Got anything for Go-Pro that minimizes the potential for entanglement...say, a fully enclosed box like what we used to see for top and side mount? I've just started to roll out this fully enclosed Hero3 housing. It's mounted to a glove in these pictures, but the receiver cup can be mounted to any flat surface. It was designed with elimination of snag points as a top priority. Some parts like the buttons will pop off if pressure is applied, others have ramps to guide lines off/away. http://www.funjump.com/files/Pivot_Pad_Hero3_housing_assembly.pdf Chris
  3. parachutist
    The reality of the situation here: The guy with the tattoo seems to enjoy stirring the pot. And he likes the attention it brings. So he got the offensive tattoo, which apparently means "One who hides" in Arabic. It's punishable to use that term against Christians and Jews too apparently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infidel#Islamic Suppose a racial or religious slur were on a T-shirt that someone wore to a restaurant or other business? Most would agree it's the business owner's right to politely request that slur be covered. Same deal here. Chris
  4. parachutist
    That's your interpretation. The way I see it: I do everything that's in the Wings manual: "insert toggle into lower pocket". If I choose to dress that pack job in a certain way to improve the chances of a successful reserve deployment, by eliminating loose loops of fabric that could easily snag a small format camera or other object, that's simply my style of packing. I am still following the manual to the letter. Suppose a rigger does his own style of reduction folds... 1 flake up and 2 flakes down. That style of packing is found nowhere in the canopy or container manual, but also it's not disallowed in either. Storing loops of fabric away from snag hazards is similar: just an improved style used by a particular rigger. Chris
  5. parachutist
    What does the manufacturer say about your method? Mark I spoke with a rep this afternoon at PIA... we had a container to use for demonstrating options. Paraphrasing our converation: there are a gew things one can do with the excess. This rep has seen it all and tried some over the years. With all this experience he prefers to leave the extra webbing out, folded and stacked on top of the bottom toggle holding slot, same length as the end of that slot. He likes the excess to be out so that people can get toggles in hands more quickly. Chris
  6. parachutist
    No, folded under wouldn't be good. Folded once and stacked on the toggle is fine IMO.
  7. parachutist
    Once again everybody has an opinion... here's the other side. I don't like loopy toggles flopping around during deployment. There's another option: fold the excess toward bottom of the toggle and slide it into the bottom keeper. Not so tight, but still out of the way. Grab the riser with thumb on toggle, slide thumb sideways and out comes the excess. Chris
  8. parachutist
    Some leg strap webbing is skinny: two layers of webbing sewn directly on top of each other for the entire length. Others start at one end skinny, then the two layers get spread out wider and wider, almost to twice the original width at center, then back to skinny at the end. If you have the first type of leg straps, then I'd recommend upgrading the webbing + the pads instead of just the pads. That would be pretty affordable if you have hip rings. Ask Mirage.. they've done some affordable custom work for me in the past. Well, I just looked up the RTS and it seems they don't come with hip rings standard. Still though, if you have the skinny straps, I'd call Mirage and see if they can widen the existing ones for you (webbing and padding).
  9. parachutist
    My Silvers have been reliable for the last 3 weeks. Before that update 3 weeks ago, both Silvers were having issues, requiring battery removals often. My Black is still unreliable enough that I don't take it on paid jumps. I prefer the Silvers to my Hero2's now because they're finally reliable and the mics are much better.
  10. parachutist
    I like using an external sony mic with my cx100. It cleans the sound right up. (Edit) erm, nevermind.. I just saw there's no hot shoe on the cx110
  11. parachutist
    Ah, Yep, I dropped the ball on that communication several months ago. Sorry... I didn't recognize you from your DZ.com ID. There was a lot going on at the time and that project was pushed to the side for a while, then put into a box as I got sidetracked. Maybe we can work something out for you on a new glove if you're willing to move to Hero3 cameras, since your desire for backpacks way back in June was part of the reason I included that option in the new housing. Chris
  12. parachutist
    I hear you. No matter what, there's always going to be part of the arm in the shot if the camera is mounted on the hand and a very wide angle lens is used. Really it all boils down to risk of snag hazard vs. quality of video angle. I don't like the idea of cameras on stalks because it makes for an easy wrap point. TI technique can do a lot to improve the framing for the shots. Also the new style housing is rotatable, so each TI can adjust it to suit him/her better. Here's a sample single-cam video clip from Saturday. The new Hero3 housing was used. http://youtu.be/88fwiyNtFZw I think it's a suitable trade-off of safety vs shot quality. The local customers have been happy with their videos. Of course to our eyes, outside videos win out. However, a majority of students appear to prefer having the whole experience caught on the handcam, especially when the audio is clear, like these Hero3's. Chris
  13. parachutist
    Thanks DougH and JP. I appreciate the positive replies as much as the critiques :) Chris
  14. parachutist
    I made a couple of those old style gloves to accommodate backpacks, but about the time I was ready to finalize that design, the Hero3 body changes were being hinted at, so I dropped it. The good news: If you have one of my old style dual-cam gloves, you can fit a backpack on the bottom camera pretty easily. Just take a serrated edge bread knife and cut off a slice from the bottom part of the foam insert. Chris
  15. parachutist
    Just call your rigger and let him/her know what you're planning to do. People are people and who knows how they'll react, so talk to the person.
  16. parachutist
    $20 of that is just for the glass lenses included. Other parts in this setup were even more expensive. I think the upgraded functionality is worth the increased price: the double version can house & protect $400 - $700 worth of cameras/accessories. Chris
  17. parachutist
    I make the dual glove that some of these guys are talking about: http://www.funjump.com/products.html#Dual For the last couple years I've been hearing likes/dislikes from customers and I've been taking notes. Many of the desires people expressed have been incorporated into the next generation glove housing, which will be Hero3 specific and should be available around the end of March. You may want to wait and check that one out if you're not in a hurry. New features include: - Hard housing to protect the camera better - rubber buttons that are easy to find with your fingers - rubber side door, protecting the ports from dust/dirt - rotatable 360 degrees - easily removed glass lens cover - takes about 5 seconds - ability to add backpack modules such as battery extension or LCD There are a few pics of the final design here: http://www.chutingstar.com/skydive/pivot-pad-glove The finished version of the dual-cam will be transparent, like the single-cam pics on that page. Chris
  18. parachutist
    Go to a wind tunnel and I think you'll be amazed at how FF has progressed. It's very popular at my local DZ. Myself and a few other local jumpers have been traveling to Odgen, UT to learn in the tunnel. Over there we met folks from Spaceland who were focusing on FF. There was a bigway record set in Perris last year. I think it's alive and well.
  19. parachutist
    Not bad! If you ever set one that you don't like, just take a medium drill bit (3/16"-1/4") and drill out the center crown area. You only need to take off that small circle in the center, and the parts will fall apart.
  20. parachutist
    not likely. its only 6 minutes to 15 and around 9 to 18 It makes a bit of sense. He's chatting and "woop"ing from the time he turns the camera on, til about 1:00... where he's apparently hyperventilating (not good in thin air). Then he's yelling loud enough to hear it in freefall, then talking loud after the canopy opens. Basically he's putting a lot of thin air into his system. Since he has only 30 jumps in 2 years, he's not very acclimated to altitudes (unless he's been travelling and mountain hiking). I'm sure his heart is pumping fast because he's excited/scared. Doesn't look like he's been doing much aerobic exercise. I think Nigel hit it on the head. Chris
  21. parachutist
    We're on the same page :) You're part of the reason I have a Consew SK-6F instead of a 733. I was reading your reviews of similar machines from a couple/three years back before buying. It's cheaper, smaller, easier to operate with precision (for me), and it has few limitations with most harness repair needs.
  22. parachutist
    The kit I posted has a cylindrical slide piece that works to control everything pretty well. It takes some practice, of course, but the outside cylinder slides down to press against the parts, holding them together, while the center rod stays in place on the shank, pressing it down. I've installed about 1,000 snap sets using these. I think the trick is to start with light taps and then slightly harder taps to finish. Chris
  23. parachutist
    This style (die and hammer) works much better than pliers for installing snaps. It's a lot cheaper than buying a press. http://www.farmandfleet.com/products/133872-lord-and-hodge-inc-fabric-to-fabric-snap-fastener-kit.html How thick is your webbing?
  24. parachutist
    It must be a very recent change. I assembled a new V3 yesterday, and there was no washer on the staging loop. So I called UPT's rigging department to ask what I should do. "Tie a double knot and it won't slip through the grommet." So I asked if it should still be routed only through one grommet, or now through both grommets (like Aerodyne's skyhook hesitation loop). "Only one".
  25. parachutist
    I'd suggest having an experienced rigger do it. Tailor shops may not use the right thread, and weak thread on a jumpsuit would probably leave you needing repairs soon. Chris