Which altimeter??

[adventurechick 0]

Hand mount altimeter verses wrist mount... what's the difference.. is one better/worse for RW or freeflying??

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[yamtx73 0]

I use the Altimaster III mainly because of the large face and it's not too expensive...

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[FlyinseivLP2 0]

Everyone likes something different. You have to try them and decide what you like. Most altimeters can be switched to either hand or wrist. If you get one of these you don't have to decide before you buy.

[Mush 0]

I have a hand mount for rw, if I try a sit I just place the ring over my thum, tilts it a little towards me so as to not keep rotating my hand to look at it.

Thats what works for me, ask some rw/ff at you dz what they think.

[bigway 4]

Get the Alti trak, get the alti trak, get the alti trak!!!!!

I think they may be available now, not sure but if not yet will be this week so i have heard. Cant wait.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[Hawkins121 0]

I have a Alti II and a Solo audible but I wish I spent the extra money for a neptune instead of the Alti II

[bigway 4]

40 jumps, you made the right decision, you aint ready for a neptune.
No offense but give it a while. just something else to fuck with your mind, may as well put a camera helmet on.

You go to get familiar with the sky. you learn on an analogue, you are still learning, you have so much to get familiar with before you go and change your toys.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[ifallout 0]

There is no better or worse, but I do agree that simple is the best way to start.

I have an alti 3 and wear it on my leg strap, you can see it free flying and tracking as well as under canopy.

I also am a big fan of audibles as a suppliment to whatever visual you choose.

Bill

have fun, love life, be nice to the humans

[brianfry713 0]

Some people like an analog alti, other's prefer digital. It's all about using whatever you're the most comfortable with. Some people don't trust electronics and prefer a mechanical altimeter, and others like all the extra features of a digital alti.

Myself, I find a digital display like on the Neptune easier and quicker for me to read than an analog one. I don't see anything about a Neptune that makes it unsuitable for someone with 40 jumps if it works for you and you know how to use it.

Whether or not a beginner should use an audible is another question. A lot of people feel more comfortable having one and setting it below their planned pull altitudes but most instructors wouldn't want their students to rely on them at first. If you start freeflying, it's a good idea to have an use an audible.

[AggieDave 6]

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: 40 jumps, you made the right decision, you aint ready for a neptune.

What experience are you basing this opinion on?

For the past 4 years my DZ has used digital altimeters for students, starting with a Digitude then when they came out we switched to Neptunes. The students love them and typically we see a large majority of our students buying some sort of digital alti coming off of student status. Not all of them do, though, obviously since its personal preference, BUT there is nothing unsafe with a digital altimeter with low jump numbers.

I know that I like teaching students with digital altimeters, when I ask "what altitude do you think you deployed at" the student typically responds with something like "5700" instead of "oh, about 6k.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Mush 0]

not aimed at anybody, BUT, a little off track we seem to be going.

[bigway 4]

Quote

What experience are you basing this opinion on?

For the past 4 years my DZ has used digital altimeters for students, starting with a Digitude then when they came out we switched to Neptunes. The students love them and typically we see a large majority of our students buying some sort of digital alti coming off of student status. Not all of them do, though, obviously since its personal preference, BUT there is nothing unsafe with a digital altimeter with low jump numbers.

I know that I like teaching students with digital altimeters, when I ask "what altitude do you think you deployed at" the student typically responds with something like "5700" instead of "oh, about 6k.

Aggiedave as i respect your opinion i am in agreement with what you are saying. I am basing this off my own experience of chopping and changing.

What you are saying is that your students are starting with this and i have no problem with this nor could i imagine any problem with this.
What i was trying to get out there is that i do not think it is safe for a student to spend 25 of their first jumps on a analogue and then cause they have an "a" license going buying all the toys. What i was thinking is that if he was trained on a analogue the last thing that student should be worring about is cause they are not now a student to go and change what they have been trained on and buy the toys they can worry about later on. I feel a student a person on 40 odd jumps should be putting there thoughts on opening height, settting up, landing pattern, falling down the tube, back sliding or not, arching, tracking, opening on headings, fall rate etc.... If you have been trained on analogue you should not worry about a digital alti just cause you can, you should stick to what you know while you lear the things that you need to know to stay safe in the sky while keeping consistent and others safe in the sky around you. Once you have got all of the things you need to know then you can change what you know for something a bit different and give that attention.

I hope you agree on my answer there, cause if you do not i have got it all wrong.

If they are trained on digital, i don not think they should go to analogue, they should stick with the know until they have sussed what they know and then explore. There is no point in worrying about something you do not know about until you are safe in the aspects you know about.

A student who is taught to skydive on an alti 2 knows no different. They should stick to what they know until they are 100% as well as the instructors think they are 100% familiar with their equipment. then they can change gear. Of course there are always special circumstances and i could not answer anything to do with those as i do not know the person. As well of not being an instructor...just common sense.
I am sure you agree with my explanation.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[AggieDave 6]

Something as simple as an altimeter shouldn't cause a big enough problem for jumpers (and I've never seen it cause a real problem), even new jumpers, to cause someone to waste their money on an altimeter they don't want in the long run. Its not like making a dangerous canopy choice. I've seen low time jumpers start with a digital, go with an analog, then back to a digital more then a few times with now problem. I've seen the same thing reversed (analog first) with no problem.

Obviously this is just what I've observed over the past 6 years, your experience may be diffeent.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[adventurechick 0]

I was looking into buying an analog... I was trying to figure if I should get the hand mount or the wrist mount and if there was a difference between the two when it came to flying. Personally, I don't want a digital... I don't even like digital watches.

PMS #449 TPM #80 Muff Brother #3860
SCR #14705 Dirty Sanchez #233

[377 22]

Get an Alti 2 Altimaster 2 large analog altimeter with a wrist mount. I own just about one of every altimeter ever made for jumping. If I could only jump one it would be this one. BIG, easy to read, thin, no batteries, easy to adjust and hard to knock out of adjustment in the plane. There are lots of the early SSE versions of this altimeter still going strong after more than 4o years. It is a rugged accurate unit. The SSE version will read to higher altitudes than the Alti 2 version, but has a more fragile shaft, so there are tradeoffs. Both are fine up to 18K.

2018 marks half a century as a skydiver. Trained by the late Perry Stevens D-51 in 1968.

[bigway 4]

That is fair enough from your experiences Dave, I have seen a student just graduate AFF and then buy himself a digital alti, cool, he is playing with it around the dropzone learning all the cool features on it and then it is kit on call, he is kit on still playing with it and then late for the load. Instructor stops him for his gear check as he is running off to the plane. Cypres is not turned on, chest strap is twisted.
Sure, it is the instructors job to notice this stuff but he does not need gear checks anymore as he is 'A' licensed now. My point is that students have far to much more to worry about than a new toy that reads climb rates, freefall speeds etc....
In the UK, or maybe it is just the drozpzone i jump at, there is a minimum requirement to jump a digi.

Dave, i think if they start off on a digi, that is cool, i dont know about safe, but i am just use to analogue where it is even color coded come pull time.
I think students should not change gear from what they have learnt on so early. It may not be as important as some gear issues but it is a distraction. This bloke was so excited over jumping his new neptune that he did not turn his cypres on or sort out his chest strap, he should be excited that he is jumping from a plane and has turned his cypres on and taken all safety precautions, not fixated on a new toy so early on.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[bigway 4]

people saying the alti2 and everything. Man the mickey mouse shit has just been realesed. Check out Alti trak.
I want one more than i want a new rig.

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
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[kelpdiver 2]

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That is fair enough from your experiences Dave, I have seen a student just graduate AFF and then buy himself a digital alti, cool, he is playing with it around the dropzone learning all the cool features on it and then it is kit on call, he is kit on still playing with it and then late for the load. Instructor stops him for his gear check as he is running off to the plane. Cypres is not turned on, chest strap is twisted.

The failure here has nothing to do with digital versus analog. He allowed himself to get distracted by a toy and not do his job. Same thing would have happened if he still had an alti2 but was screwing around with a dytter before takeoff. (and those are much harder to use without a manual than the Neptune)

I demoed a Neptune last year to see if I wanted a digital. I concluded that I preferred analog, though I think one gets used to either quickly enough. I certainly had no problems reading the display, except in a tracking position where I think the dials work a bit better. I think you're overstating the potential trouble here. Our minds are well trained at reading both types of displays.

[Mush 0]

Quote

Hand mount altimeter verses wrist mount... what's the difference.. is one better/worse for RW or freeflying??

Question hasen't been answered here, experienced guy's just haven't got it,

[kelpdiver 2]

I like a wrist mount. I'm used to it there in many sports, and I like full flexibility in the fingers. But the wrist is easier to bend than the forearm, so hand mount has its advantages.

It's pretty easy to switch between them, but you'd probably have to spend $10 on the second strap.

[Avion 0]

I have a used FT40 with a hand mount. I think the hand mount makes it easier to see. I'm planning on getting a new FT50. I'm partial to the Eurika's because the bold numbers and hashes are easier for me to read at a quick glance than the analog Altis. I also have a Protrack, but that's in my helmet mostly to record jump data, although I do set it to remind me that it's pull time, if I get distracted. I've only had it surprise me once or twice. Neptunes are neat, easier to read than a Protrack on your hand.

Anyway, that's my setup: Analog on my hand, and digital in my helmet. I may eventually put a ditter in my helmet and the protrack on my leg, because they're suppose to work better there for recording jump speeds.

Cheers,

BW

[Stumpy 284]

As an aside, i have seen a load of RW suits recently with a clear digital alti pocket high up on the forearm. I kind of like this idea because it looks like it would keep the alti out of the way for grips while still being easy to see. Think i will get one on my next rw suit.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Hand mount altimeter verses wrist mount... what's the difference.. is one better/worse for RW or freeflying??

Question hasen't been answered here, experienced guy's just haven't got it,

Whats the difference? One is on the back of your hand just above your thumb, one is on your wrist. Which one is better or worst for different styles? It doesn't matter. It really doesn't. Figure out you want, which one you like and go with it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[jurgencamps 0]

I put mine on my arm, almost against my elbow.
When doing tandems or FS (RW) it is very easy to look at it.
I prefer not to put it at my hand, you always have to turn your hand to look at it.
But it's a personal preference.

Jurgen

[mattyblast 0]

I have an altimaster Galaxy, and although it's supposed to be a wrist mount, I move the dial down toward my thumb/forefinger pocket and strap it on that way. It's very comfortable, easy to see, and I've never had a problem with the needle sticking or anything like that.

In other words, I've kind of split the difference between hand mount & wrist mount.

"DOOR!!!"