What makes a good Altimeter?

[Void425 0]

I have seen many posts that tell a person what a good altimeter to buy is, but I was wondering how can you tell a good altimeter from a bad one? What should you look for when buying an altimeter? Have altimeters advanced as far as they can or are they currently developing better altimeters each year?

[slotperfect 7]

For me, the priorities are as follows:

1) Easy to read
2) Accurate over a long life span
3) Mounted such that it can be accessible but not get in the way.

To test an altimeter, one just has to find a shop that owns a test chamber. Many folks send their altimeters back to the manufacturer for this.

Arrive Safely

John

[Void425 0]

Quote

For me, the priorities are as follows:
1) Easy to read
2) Accurate over a long life span
3) Mounted such that it can be accessible but not get in the way.
To test an altimeter, one just has to find a shop that owns a test chamber. Many folks send their altimeters back to the manufacturer for this.

1) Easy To Read...I assume they make good glow in the dark ones for night jump then?
2) Accurate over a long life span : How long should a good Altimeter last? And after you put a new one in a test chamber many don't work so they are sent back?
3) Mounting location : Where is a good mount location and where is a bad one?

[jumpy 0]

Sorry i don't know much about all of the differnt types of alti's etc. but when you get your new alti cut out a circle of that clear contact stuff and stick it on the screen. Then the screen doesn't get scratched the contact does so when the contacts looking a little worse for wear just put on a new piece and your alti looks as good as new

[slotperfect 7]

Quote

1) Easy To Read...I assume they make good glow in the dark ones for night jump then?

2) Accurate over a long life span : How long should a good Altimeter last? And after you put a new one in a test chamber many don't work so they are sent back?

3) Mounting location : Where is a good mount location and where is a bad one?

1) Eureka makes a glow-in-the-dark FT-50. We have tested them at work and they don't work that well. Alti-2 makes a red light mount for the Altimaster II, but remember you are relying on batteries and electrical connections. The most reliable in my opinion is a mini-chem light (light stick) you can buy at Wal Mart, taped to the altimeter face. Break it before you leave the boarding area to make sure you don;t have a dud.

2) I chamber a lot of altimeters at work, and I have never put a NEW one in the test chamber and have it fail. They will last a long time if well taken care of. I keep mine in a felt crown royal bag, and make sure that they don't get dropped. I don't have a specific time they should last, but they should be used regularly to keep them from getting sticky.

3) This is a matter of practical use and personal preference. For years I used a chest mount pillow, but have not done so in over 10 years. I use a hand or wrist mount now. Each location has its advantages and disadvantages.

>>You can find good used altimeters cheap on eBay. Just search for "skydiving."

Arrive Safely

John

[riggerrob 643]

Test chambers are easy to find, just ask any DZ that still uses FXCs on their student rigs.
As for altimeter location, most of us use wrist mounts these days. A few older jumpers still use chest mounts.
Other practical locations are on the main lift web, just below the chest strap: easier for old guys to focus on. A few competitors still wear altimeters on their upper leg straps.

As for advances in technology, there have not been many in recent years. Old school, clock work analog altimeters are so reliable and easy to read that they are still the most popular. When things are happening fast, it still easiest to read the angle of a needle.
Electronic altimeters that only display numbers have never sold very well.
The most intuitive electronic altimeters are built by Para-Sport Italia. Their displays are in the form of pie-segments that mimic old-school dials and needles.
Most recent advances in electronic altimeters have been in recording (for those to lazy to log) and dragging in other senses. For example, audio altimeters are mandatory for tandem instructors and most freefall photographers use visual altimeters.

[slotperfect 7]

Quote

For example, audio altimeters are mandatory for tandem instructors

I always use one, but where have you seen that this is mandatory??

Arrive Safely

John

[Sonic 0]

It is in the UK

-----------------------------------
It's like something out of that twilighty show about that zone

[PhreeZone 20]

>The most intuitive electronic altimeters are built by Para-Sport Italia. Their displays are in the form of pie-segments that mimic old-school dials and needles

I have one of these and do not like it at all. I've had the thing turn off in freefall many times and a few times on CRW jumps.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[cloud9 0]

Another thing to look at is customer service. For example I recently sent my digitude in and they replaced the case, because the battery cover broke. They also replaced the LED and chamber tested it. Now its good as new again.
Many other manufactors do the same, but there are some out there that you may not be able to get serviced. Also some come with a lifetime warranty while others don't.
I know the atimaster II has been around for many, many years and its still the same altimeter its what I was using when I made my first jump in 1975!

[wmw999 2,445]

I know the atimaster II has been around for many, many years and its still the same altimeter its what I was using when I made my first jump in 1975! ***

I could agree with that. I still have the Altimaster II I bought new in 1975. It lost its face once; I sent it back and got a new face and a checkout for some nominal sum. It still has the Mickey Mouse I painted on the face (I was pretty young when I got it... )
Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[skymick 0]

bastard you pinched my idea!

[grega 0]

I noticed a lot of good advices about how to measure a good altimeter. But you missed one.
Good altimeter is also the one that doesn't change altitudes rapidly.
For example when flying stand, altimeter can jump from 7000 feet to 5000 feet and back. of course it is showing correct altitude, just that at a moment it can jump for 2000 feets up or down. It happened to me once. Me and my friend were flying stans/sit and i looked at my alti and saw 4000 feet, i went to track imediately, and while tracking i thought "that can't be 4000 feet" (according to how far the ground was). at the end of the track (aprox. 6 seconds later) it was 4000 again and slowly, falling to 3000 feet where i deployed. I had Sapphire altimeter if i remember correctly. i tried the same with barigo and it did move, but not more than 300 feet.

"George just lucky i guess!"

[Ron 10]

I pick my altimeter, and alot of my other toys (SCUBA,Skydiving,Mustang parts ect) based of SERVICE from the companies....

I had an ALTI III. It broke. Man did that suck. Well I just threw it in my gear bag and and quit using an altimeter. I have 2 eyes!....Then I bought an Audible.

After a few years I wanted to start having an alti again. I sent my old ALTI III into ALTI 2 (now in DeLand, then somewhere else). It had not been used for several years, and was broken when I stoped using it. Well they fixed it free and sent it back. 10.00 covered shipping. And that was that. I then bought several more. I had one other break...I think a Tandem student dropped it...alot. It was not that old, but it was the Plastic shelled one. They sent me a new one.

So I pick the company that has for me great service. Altimaster.

As to where to put it, I mount mine on the front of my left leg strap. You can see it most of the time, and I can see it when I look at my handles....Not that I have EVER looked at an Altimeter before cutting away....If you can't land the thing, you can't land it. Recognize its crap, cut it away! Why wait?

Ron

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[jumpy 0]

lol! Michelle told me to do it when I got my alti....haven't gotten around to it myself yet but its still a good idea