altimeter saying 5000 at ground level...

[billvon 2,989]

>It makes sense on the clear and pulls and the short delays, but why not on a 20sec?

Depends on the program. I didn't start waving off until I was on 30sec delays and someone was in the air with me, but other programs do it right after the first C+P.

>I presume the instructor's SOP is to never be in the vertical cone then?

For both SL and AFF, although in SL the emphasis was more on staying away than in staying near but out of the cone.

[hackish 8]

Yes the wave-off starts at the 30 second delay. At this point I am to exit, get stable, perform a 180 degree turn each way checking altitude (with an altimeter that WORKS!) then pull at 4k.

I did ask about the wave-off and he explained how it is done. I've already read up on a lot of the particulars of why and hazards of people above etc. However the instructor said wave off if you are comfortable doing it but otherwise you will start after 2 more levels. If this jump had gone well then perhaps I may have. Extras were not on my priority list.

The instructor tends to stay about 30' or so away from me on the level. Last 2 jumps when I pulled I saw him track away like a rocket as I was opening...

-Michael

[Stevehend15 0]

I have a galaxy that is about 400 feet behind..... Should I contact altimaster to get repaired or let it fly? I guess the real question is am I expecting too much accuracy out of it and is that a "OK" discrepancy.

[DougH 270]

Quote

I have a galaxy that is about 400 feet behind..... Should I contact altimaster to get repaired or let it fly? I guess the real question is am I expecting too much accuracy out of it and is that a "OK" discrepancy.

Behind? You mean it is reading 400 feet high?

I think it matters! How does 400 feet effect your hard deck and disicion altitudes. Do you want to do math while dealing with a malfunction down low?

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I have a galaxy that is about 400 feet behind..... Should I contact altimaster to get repaired or let it fly? I guess the real question is am I expecting too much accuracy out of it and is that a "OK" discrepancy.

you should expect it to land on the ground within 100ft of zero, and that variation should be due to changes in pressure between when you zero'd it before the jump and when you landed.

[LloydDobbler 2]

Quote

Quote

I have a galaxy that is about 400 feet behind..... Should I contact altimaster to get repaired or let it fly? I guess the real question is am I expecting too much accuracy out of it and is that a "OK" discrepancy.

Behind? You mean it is reading 400 feet high?

I think it matters! How does 400 feet effect your hard deck and disicion altitudes. Do you want to do math while dealing with a malfunction down low?

True on the math bit...especially if it reads high...however, if it's reading 400 feet low, then I think it just becomes his judgment call on whether or not he should send it in.

If you're in a mal and it reads 2000' (say that's your hard deck), but your altimeter traditionally reads 400 feet too low...well, then the question is less "do I have enough time" and more "do I trust myself to always go ahead and chop according to the altimeter that I know is low, instead of letting my mind try and get messed up around the math?"

"When in doubt, whip it out" & all that...

(Speaking from experience, though, I got my Galaxy in CO - where it worked fine - and after coming back to Cali found it was reading 700 feet low at 12,500' and 400 feet low around 6000', even having been zeroed on the ground. I had it adjusted, and it fixed the problem. Steve, I didn't see where you jump, but there might be an Alti-2 rep around your DZ area that can do a tune-up on it pretty quickly.)

Signatures are the new black.

[ZigZagMarquis 9]

Quote

Can anyone recommend for or against that new electronic altitrack?

-Michael

My 2 cents... Although I wonder sometimes if its all necessary, I like the fact that is has all the cool features (freefall speed, exit alt, deployment alt, etc. etc.) and a visual analog looking altimeter all in the same package... I kinda dislike that the analog looking altimeter is just that, its not really an analog altimeter, just a dial an needle driven from a digital source made to look like a "classic" altimaster face. Why don't I like that? While I too have had an experience much like what you describe, where an altimaster "stuck" on me... I've never had an altimaster that, in otherwise working order, quit working because the batteries died.

[chuck411 0]

My wife has a damn evil time with alti's... LOL she had worn many different alti's and she seems to more times than not have an issue with whatever Alti she is wearing sticking at around 1000 feet.

so she learned real quick to trust her eyes and not the alti:)

[Stevehend15 0]

Thanks for the posts..... The way the alti is working its gives me a 400 foot buffer zone. The gap gets worse at higher altitudes but around 4 to 5 k its says I am 400 ft higher than I am. I think I am going to get it looked at by a field rep..... just gotta find one!

[LloydDobbler 2]

Quote

Thanks for the posts..... The way the alti is working its gives me a 400 foot buffer zone. The gap gets worse at higher altitudes but around 4 to 5 k its says I am 400 ft higher than I am. I think I am going to get it looked at by a field rep..... just gotta find one!

Here ya go...

Signatures are the new black.

[DougH 270]

Quote

Quote

Can anyone recommend for or against that new electronic altitrack?

-Michael

My 2 cents... Although I wonder sometimes if its all necessary, I like the fact that is has all the cool features (freefall speed, exit alt, deployment alt, etc. etc.) and a visual analog looking altimeter all in the same package... I kinda dislike that the analog looking altimeter is just that, its not really an analog altimeter, just a dial an needle driven from a digital source made to look like a "classic" altimaster face. Why don't I like that? While I too have had an experience much like what you describe, where an altimaster "stuck" on me... I've never had an altimaster that, in otherwise working order, quit working because the batteries died.

Mine has treated me very well for the past 350 jumps. It is still on the original battery with lots of life left. So far it has been way more reliable than any of my friends neptunes.
The use of the gadgets is another story. I only use the backlight which is AWESOME, and the freefall time for jumps. Oh and the average speed when I want to bitch about how slow all the skinny people were going.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Stevehend15 0]

NICE!!! THANKS

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Thanks for the posts..... The way the alti is working its gives me a 400 foot buffer zone. The gap gets worse at higher altitudes but around 4 to 5 k its says I am 400 ft higher than I am. I think I am going to get it looked at by a field rep..... just gotta find one!

What does it do at lower elevations, and at zero?

[reddn 0]

i had a altimaster III that was 'slow' and sticky

for the mechanical altimeters, if any dust, debris, or moisture gets inside of it, it will start to stick,

in freefall if it is 'off', it is usually at an altitude you were previously at,

ie, your climbing to altitude, your actually at 5300ft agl, it might show 4900agl, then if you 'tap' it, it will jump to the correct altitude.

the movement of the needle should be smooth, if you see any 'jerky' movements in it, i would suggest contacting the manufacturer and seeing if it needs to be sent in for a cleaning and a recalibration. our altimeters are very precise machines, we need to treat them as such

stevenheld15,

did you notice this 'buffer' while going to altitude, or in freefall?

-thomas

[hackish 8]

Just a quick update. I got my altimaster and have done 3 jumps with it so far. Very happy I spend the extra coin on it and I love the features - especially the speed and opening altitude.

-Michael

[Stevehend15 0]

I had it checked out in a test chamber..... Its off at higher altis but from 3000 to zero its dead on.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I had it checked out in a test chamber..... Its off at higher altis but from 3000 to zero its dead on.

I think this is where the mechanicals are at a disadvantage to digitals. A computer can map pressure values to altitude with a hash table, but a mechanical device with an symmetric scale may not be able to display accurately across the entire range. Obviously the low range is the most important.

[hackish 8]

I should hope they're not using a hash for pressure lookups!

-Michael