nate_1979 9 #26 January 5, 2005 QuoteYeah, but that is half the problem of getting one. It will start to replace being heads up if you aren't carefull. If you aren't heads up already the ditter becomes your version of heads up, till it fails and you die. Not in specific response to this persons situation but rather in general I don't think people should use them till they are very good at altitude awareness on their own. Someone else once told me that, and after thinking about it I agreed, however I still have them.. What I have done though is set them to go off BELOW altitudes that I should be taking action, i.e. if jumping with a group I set them 500 feet after our planned break off, the only way it alerts me of anything is if I have not been paying attention and already gone to far,. .. If solo, it beeps about 500 feet after my pull altitude, once again I should never hear it but it's there if for some reason I get stupid. If I ever hear it go off and it's a surprise to hear it, that's when I know I need to sit one out and think about what my priorities are in the air.. So far only been surprised twice, the two times my alti froze at about 6k before I got another one FGF #??? I miss the sky... There are 10 types of people in the world... those who understand binary and those who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #27 January 5, 2005 I "use" one as well. It has only ONE setting... Flatline (at 1,200). EVERYTHING above that is 100% absolutely up to (unilaterally and exclusivelyt) me. I've never heard it (in freefall) ...although one time I "expected" to. I hope I never do. Or better stated, IF I ever do, I hope I then do the right thing (which I have tried to train as pull silver -DIRECTLY). I've seen way too many people become "Pavlovian" otherwise about these DEVICES. For example: tracking off at 7k, only later to say "their ditter went off", so they also went! These devices are indeed a double-edged sword. I've been reading a lot lately it seems, many suggestions and recommendations for them, which is fine I guess. Except to the point you "set yourself up" with them! If it actually "scares" you to jump without one, please THINK about that. That is a sign. That fear can also be GOOD, so long as "faced". If you do not (face it -meaning make yourself jump completely WITHOUT it in intervals), then you are heading towards RELIANCE, which would be a critical MISTAKE. That "fear" or even hesitancy also by it's nature heightens awareness (again: only when FACED), which should never be ALLOWED to become lax in the 1st place! It's a trap that's way too easy unfortunately (human nature?) to fall into. Getting a bit off original thread topic, but worth (re)-mentioning IMHO. -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #28 January 5, 2005 I think I am going to get an audible, but believe me, this incident has kicked my butt as far as re-thinking about altitude awareness - AND paying attention to rule #1 - PULL. Heading to Lake Wales in a week to jump and hopefully finish up skills for my "A" If I had landed on the green, would it have been a birdie or an eagle?? Ed in Spokane"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slurp56 0 #29 January 14, 2005 When I was learning to jump (AFF #6 actually, I wont forget it) I did half a barrel roll and stayed on my back for 10+ seconds. I knew I wasnt too far off from pull time and it scared me good (I looked like a dork on the video, and its completely obvious why I couldnt flip over). I learned quite a bit from that video and havent made the mistake again. Anyways, by the time I got off my back I looked over to see the pull sign in my face from my instructor. Under a good canopy at about 2,500 - 3,000ft. That instructor sold me some of his old gear, one of the things included was a 1st gen dytter. I make it a point to set it to 4,500ft when I plan to pull at 3,500ft. I also make it a point to stop manuevers and watch my alti before the dytter goes off. If the day comes where my dytter beats me to my alti, I will have a sit down and seriously re-evaluate my priorities. I think its a great tool, as long as you dont put your life in its hands.________________________________________ I have proof-read this post 500 times, but I guarantee you'll still manage to find a flaw. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #30 January 14, 2005 QuoteI think I am going to get an audible, but believe me, this incident has kicked my butt as far as re-thinking about altitude awareness I think you miss the point ENTIRELY of "Fast's" post, which you are replying to. If you do indeed need to work on your "altitude awareness", getting an audible at this juncture just may very well instead turn out to be COUNTER to this goal. What I would suggest, is either some coaching/coached jumps with your VISUAL alt. and debriefing/working on understanding and recognizing your visual cues, and then PRACTICING them until you become FULLY COMFORTABLE with them FIRST. Otherwise, I fear, you run the risk of setting yourself up for just that type of "Pavlovian" risk behavior(s) senario(s), that again, I think, in actuality will be COUNTER to what I know is your intent. Blue Skies, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #31 January 21, 2005 <<<<-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think I am going to get an audible, but believe me, this incident has kicked my butt as far as re-thinking about altitude awareness -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think you miss the point ENTIRELY of "Fast's" post, which you are replying to. If you do indeed need to work on your "altitude awareness", getting an audible at this juncture just may very well instead turn out to be COUNTER to this goal. What I would suggest, is either some coaching/coached jumps with your VISUAL alt. and debriefing/working on understanding and recognizing your visual cues, and then PRACTICING them until you become FULLY COMFORTABLE with them FIRST. Otherwise, I fear, you run the risk of setting yourself up for just that type of "Pavlovian" risk behavior(s) senario(s), that again, I think, in actuality will be COUNTER to what I know is your intent. Blue Skies, -Grant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Grant, I appreciate your comments. I AM working on my altitude awareness - have done 16 jumps since the incident, and have been extremely altitude aware. I haven't gotten an audible yet, don't actually plan to for a while, but eventually feel an audible would be another safety factor. Blue skies, Ed"We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #32 January 21, 2005 Quote Grant, I appreciate your comments. I AM working on my altitude awareness - have done 16 jumps since the incident, and have been extremely altitude aware. I haven't gotten an audible yet, don't actually plan to for a while, but eventually feel an audible would be another safety factor. Blue skies, Ed This is very true. They are added saftey factors and can wake you up from the concentration of trying to perform. I think the best thing in your statement (bolded part) is that you said eventually. In the long run I think that they are great tools. I didn't use one till I had around 100 jumps. Since then I have both not remembered to turn it on sunday morning before the first jump, had it run out of batteries, and jumped w/o a helmet. Its noticable when you don't have it. I don't know if thats a good thing or not. Its nice to know your not device dependant before you go ahead and get one anyways. Need to develop a sense of things first.~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fab 0 #33 January 24, 2005 Congratulations...I made my first off airport landing too yesterday....I even made a downwind landing because I trusted the visual reference points more then my actual groundspeed...Realised my error untill it was too late to turn back safely into the winds. Made a downwind/crosswind landing instead in a muddy field...I was so glad I was wearing a jumpsuit (which was black but now kinda brown :) ). Bottomline..I got confused...I was dropped 2 km away from the airport Upwind...noticed I had almost 0 forward speed while tryign to get back..but saw the hangar and runway so I figured that's the direction I had to land in because I landed my previous two jumps also that way (first day at this DZ). Turned out what I was looking at was a second row of hangars which I hadn't seen before because they were so far away. I won't make that mistake again...you won't either..thats the way you will learn :).. Although I must admit...pulling at two is a bit more dangerous then a downwind landing... Had to walk a long way back to the DZ _______________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
