Altimeter

[Babi 0]

I am new to free fall. I found that my gear handles differently than when was jumping from 1000m. I had my helmet and goggles pulled up once and I have difficulties reading my altimeter. I have a wrist mounted standard sapphire, black, altimeter. In free fall it shakes so much that most of the time I am only guessing my altitude. Because of this I had one late opening. I tried to tighten the straps and it only helps a little.

I am at the stage when I try to do a salto and I am scared as I don't know how long this will take me and if I will have enough time. I know I do or I would not be asked to do it, but still I hesitate. Twice so far I went up to do the salto and I didn't.



Any ideas??

[BIGUN 1,317]

Can you not borrow/use a different altimeter?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[pincheck 0]

if your altimeter is faulty please do not use it either get it repaired or get a new one.

as Bigun said borrow someone eslses if you can but don't jump with faulty gear as its not worth it

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[bch7773 0]

I'm understanding from your post that the altimeter doesn't fit properly, and so its wiggling on your hand?

one of the jumpers at my DZ always wears a glove on the left hand, so the altimeter fits his hand better. its simple and effective

MB 3528, RB 1182

[pincheck 0]

My apologies Babi I think i misread your meaning
see this thread if it is what i am thinking off ?

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1665432;search_string=sapphire;#1665432

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[Babi 0]

It is exactly like the one on the pictures. I wear a glove and I tightened the elastic so that it is still comfortable (on advice from a more experienced diver). I felt it was better on my next jumps, but the last few I was not sure my readings were correct. I also wear goggles. My eyesight is almost perfect, I see it clearly on the ground and on the plane. But in the air everything is different.

I shall have someone take it up to altitude and see if the same happens to him. It is brand new and should still be under guarantee. Only I didn'b buy it from the shop but from someone who quit jumping. I was told it was never used.

Thanks for the help. Am I to understand that vibrations in the air are not such to obstruct the reading??? And I should be able see it as clearly as on the ground??

[AggieDave 6]

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Thanks for the help. Am I to understand that vibrations in the air are not such to obstruct the reading??? And I should be able see it as clearly as on the ground??

Yes, that is true.

Sounds like you're either getting too excited and getting some tunnel vision still OR your goggles don't fit for a damn/they're too dirty.

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

[pincheck 0]

please keep us up to date on the outcome when you get someone else jump it Babi

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun

[kwmontreal 0]

Looks like your on the right track to getting this solved. As a side bar I thought I would post a link to the alti mount I have used for the last five years. I love this piece of equipment, I have no affiliation with this person/company, I just love the comfort and especially the angle of the alti when worn.

http://cloudflyer.com/


JUMP SAFE!!

Kent

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------JUMP SAFE!

[bch7773 0]

keep in mind that even new altimeters can be malfunctioning though its rare. it happened to a student of mine... brand new altimeter stuck at 9k during freefall.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[mjosparky 4]

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I had my helmet and goggles pulled up once and I have difficulties reading my altimeter.

When you say "pulled up" do you mean shifted by the wind speed in freefall? If so you might want to start here and make sure your helmet and goggles fit well and are not the cause of your problem.

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[Babi 0]

Could be that I get to excited. No cure there, I suppose.

What is a tunnel vision? I had some tunnel time and I don't remember anything being wrong with my vision there. Quite the opposite. After my tunnel time or a free fall my vision actually improves for a day or two. I was wondering if anybody else has experience improved vision after a free fall.

I like the other comments. I did think of those possibilities and I did check. My goggles fit and are reasonably clean. LOL.

[Babi 0]

Mjosparky
That is exactly what happened and I tightened the chin and goggles strap and solved that problem.

My altimeter is being tested this weekend and I'll let you know of the outcome.

Babi

[Babi 0]

Thank you for the info on the cloudflyer strap. It looks good. Definitely a possibility for me.

Babi

[Scoop 0]

I have a brand new Altimaster Galaxy and that appears to be reading lower than what actual height is. I noticed when comparing with other jumpers and the aircraft alti. At full alti it was about 250 feet lower then it should be.

I told myself that if anything, reading lower isn't a problem, I'd rather open sooner then later but its annoying and if something has gone wrong with it I would rather get it checked out.

I am 100% certain it has never been dropped and its always kept in a small cloth bag (for digital camera but liberated for a better use) which then sits inside my helmet in my padded helmet bag so its a bit of a mystery. I shall try and find contact for company and email them

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

What is a tunnel vision? I had some tunnel time and I don't remember anything being wrong with my vision there. Quite the opposite. After my tunnel time or a free fall my vision actually improves for a day or two. I was wondering if anybody else has experience improved vision after a free fall.

Tunnel vision is a slang term for one of the effects of adreline. You get that hormone dump due to our body's natural fight or flight reaction. Your body starts pumping blood hard and fast to what it thinks it will need and not as much blood to what it doesn't think it'll need. So your brain gets a good dump of blood, as do your large muscle groups. Your ears and eyes don't get as much. So your field of vision narrows (sometimes greatly). Hence "tunnel vision."

To combat this, take deep breaths and physically make yourself look around. Not just with your eyes but with your head as well.

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

[laraatalti2 0]

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I shall try and find contact for company and email them

Hi Sam, you found us! You can send in your altimeter any time for a checkup and re-calibration if necessary. details

Just make sure to include your name, mailing address, and contact information INSIDE the package if you decide to send it. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many packages we get with no note, no address, just a happy little orphaned altimeter.

You should also register your new Galaxy: register.

Please call (+1 386 943 9333) or e-mail us if you have any questions.

~Lara

ps - mods, I hope this isn't considered advertising! edit as needed

• Quote

[obelixtim 150]

CAUTION......

Do NOT use the aircraft alti as a benchmark for your skydiving alti.....

The aircraft alti will very rarely agree with a skydivers alti.....unless your DZ is at sea level....

Aircraft altis are set at sea level.....skydivers altis are set at the level of the DZ.....

Both are usually reset on a daily basis, as a result of the natural change in air pressure......this can vary as much as 500 feet or more from day to day....

My computer beat me at chess, It was no match for me at kickboxing....

[Scoop 0]

Hi, thanks for the advice, I wasn't aware of that and by aircraft alti I mean the one we have mounted by the door, not the cockpit instrument. As it goes I think the altimeter might be lairght. We established there is a certain tolearance within manufacture that is accetable. As it was fine on my last couple of jumps I may have been unfortunate to sit next to a jumper at the higher end of the tolerance whilst mine was at the lower end. I'll keep an eye on it though.