Tonto 1 #1 October 29, 2003 I used to use a Dytter. Batteries lasted 5 years or 1000 dives. I've been using a Pro Dytter since they were released. I lost my 1st one - using the plastic clip that the dealer said would be fine - and L & B apparently told him they'd never heard of that before - but soon started replacing everyone elses - and supplying rubber bands, cable ties etc, but not mine. I found another - abandoned in an open field, without it's plastic clip.I was happy! I dilligently replaced the batteries every 50 to 80 dives when my low battery warning (Flatline after the beeps at 1000ft on the climb to altitude) went off. This surprised me as the manual says 1 - 2 years or 200 jumps. I tried the "wait 5 min before putting in the new batteries" trick, learned all about econo mode - but no luck. I was warned every 50 to 80 dives that my batteries were flat. Well - this year - I thought, Sod that. Lets see how far they'll go. The warnings began on Sunday 12 January this year, after 54 jumps - and I just kept going - and so did my ProDytter. I've now done over 300 dives in the 10 months since then, with the unit diligently wailing away every time I climb through 1000ft. If it makes it to the end of the year - I'll replace them. Maybe I have "Magic" batteries! Maybe my Pro Dytter is "Magic!" Any one else experience this? Note - My ProDytter is not my primary altitude awareness device. I have eyeballs, and "inner clock", wear an Alti 3 on my Left hand, and a Barigo on my Left legstrap. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #2 October 29, 2003 Maybe the 120 - 0 impact it suffered to end up lying in a field did its internals a bit of damage. Maybe L+B have a deal with the battery manufacturers. Maybe they're affriad of getting sued so put in a big safety margine. Maybe your dytter sparkles slightly at some angles and takes on a faint glow at night as a ghostly mist circulates arround it and a choire of angels sing gently in the background. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #3 October 29, 2003 It’s not just you – my Pro Track will go *at least* 50 jumps after the (really annoying!) low battery warning starts. I am very lazy about getting round to changing the batteries, so I usually wait 50 jumps or until the low battery warning starts to piss me off! Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sundevil777 102 #4 October 29, 2003 I am the second owner of mine, about 250 total jumps on the original batteries over 3 years, still OK.People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greig 0 #5 October 29, 2003 My dytter started giving the battery low warning after about 100 jumps with it. I never got around to changing the batteries and the warnings just stopped. I probably put another 100 jumps on it before I lost it over a big open field in Z-hills. >>I found another - abandoned in an open field, without it's plastic clip. Maybe that was my magic dytter! Anyways, L&B sent me a new one. They've got some kick ass customer service Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BikerBabe 0 #6 October 29, 2003 LOL, I have a protrack. It used to go only about ~100 jumps before the low battery warning, then maybe 40 jumps more. Then I discovered why! See, I live 2000 ft higher than my DZ. So every time I'd drive home, it would continue to recalibrate itself, wasting the batteries. So I RTFM, learned how to actually turn it off manually, and voila! no more short battery life!Never meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chrisky 0 #7 October 30, 2003 Same thing with the cypres and dytter, btw. If you live close and level to the DZ, just let them shut off automatically (after 14 hours). If your way home is long and covers some alti changes, turn everything off manually at the DZ. This will save you batteries an either. The mind is like a parachute - it only works once it's open. From the edge you just see more. ... Not every Swooper hooks & not every Hooker swoops ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #8 October 30, 2003 Hi Tonto I jump with a guy here who has had the low battery waring going since april, he has done over 100 jumps since then and it still going strong. and still telling him the battery is lowYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonto 1 #9 October 30, 2003 Quote Maybe that was my magic dytter! Anyways, L&B sent me a new one. They've got some kick ass customer service Must have been a deep spot to land in Africa from Z-Hills! I've heard great things about L & B service - and everyone agrees. But don't be the 1st person to have something go wrong - because before the stampeding hordes confirm the problem - you may look like a chancer trying to get something for nothing. tIt's the year of the Pig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Plucky 0 #10 October 30, 2003 I had a similar thing happen - I replaced my batteries when it warned me the first time, then after a jump or two it started flatlining after the 1000ft notification! I then took the batteries out again, left them out for more than two minutes (as per maunual), and made sure that when I put them back in again, I didn't fiddle with them...works fine now! My reasoning was that when I replaced them the first time, I probably broke the two minute rule simply by "adjusting" the battery position before closing the cover. This probably made contact, then broke the connection momentarily as I fiddled with it. Not sure if this is just coincidence, but it may be worth a try. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nicrussell 0 #11 October 30, 2003 Quote Maybe the 120 - 0 impact it suffered to end up lying in a field did its internals a bit of damage. After this dytter fell off of its user (we'll asume in freefall or on an opening that was espesially hard) I highly doubt this small light plastic insrument would fall at 120 mph, I could be wrong though. I'll test it later today or tomorrow if I have time. And it COULD have impacted in a nice soft peice of grass that was very cushioning. Or it could of fallen off a helmet when the previous jumper took his helmet off in the field falling just a few feet unnoticed. Happened to me ( I later found mine (the next day) with condensation on the inner screen and now only 2 or 6 lights light up, and it will randomly sound, without moving.). But who knows. nic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
