22 replies to this topic

[stevenbaus73]

Which do you prefer and why?



I will not be buying my altimeter until after the course and after speaking to other jumpers and CI, but just looking for feedback from experienced jumpers.


Cheers

P.S
what is the feedback on the Altitrack model




Being a scuba Diver, i loved it when computers came in as I was sick of using manual charts ,made life some much easier.

[Nigel Brennan]

don't forget - analog = no batteries "ever!"

[stevenbaus73]

that's why i prefer compass instead of gps when hunting

[krkarl]

Hands down has to be digital!

Benefit from swoop alarms (yes you can hear the when under canopy if it is mounted on your wrist), jump tracker, information of aircraft climb rate and approximation of how long till you reach height! If you put it in your helmet it also doubles as a dytter, though it obviously makes life hard to see your alititude in the instance...

Do yourself a favour, get an N3!

[MattyHylander]

I have an alti track and love it. Digital with an analogue face. Face goes to 21k, zeroes itself each jump, logs all my jumps, sits offset on my hand making it easier to see when wingsuiting. I like the fact that I can look at it quickly and see where I am with the big analogue face, but also want the digital functions.

[Luke Oliver]

Analog.

No batteries, ever.
Familiar look and feel of a clock face, which you've become adept at using since you were three years old. A glance and you're done.
No buttons to worry about.
Works with polarised sunglasses.

Anyone here wear a digital watch?

Disclaimer: jumping today, with three Neptunes - wrist, mudflap, audible by ear.
But I don't think that's an appropriate setup for students and novices.

[krkarl]

Luke Oliver, on 03 December 2011 - 02:22 PM, said:

No batteries, ever.

N3 has rechargeable batteries  =)  That being said I have had quite a few instances where I have been away for a couple of weeks and come back to skydive only to realise that my N3 needs recharging. Which is no biggie by the time I land from the load it has more than enough charge to last another couple of weeks!

Luke Oliver, on 03 December 2011 - 02:22 PM, said:

Familiar look and feel of a clock face, which you've become adept at using since you were three years old. A glance and you're done.

I understand what you are getting at here, like you said it all a matter of what you are use to. Though I have never once been unable to read my altitude a glace while in freefall or under canopy.. I never noticed a transition period when it was hard to read my altitude because of my shiny new digital altimeter. If it takes you a long time to adapt to a digital readout then Im afraid there is something wrong..

Personally my main considerations for going digital were the lower profile and the fact that N3 can be worn on the under side my wrist for ease of reading while setting up for a swoop.

Now I love it and going back to analog will never be a consideration for me

[stevenbaus73]

cheers, thanks for all the comments.
Will wait and see what i get

[stevenbaus73]

btw, do what do you use /prefer : feet or metres

[swoopgaz]

never had a problem with my suunto with polarised lenses

[Wingit]

When i bought my altitrack i was advised by the nice people on here and the dz to get feet as the magority of aviation is. Plus its what you learn with too. Very happy with my altitrack. I cannot comment on any other alti though.

[Mongtrix]

Digitals are great but I reckon analog is best for a first alti.

[Phielix]

Mongtrix, on 03 December 2011 - 10:15 PM, said:

Digitals are great but I reckon analog is best for a first alti.

totally agreed here!

[KGB]

Now I'm sounding like a real dinosaur .. but once upon a time, when everyone had analog - often chest mounted - you could glance at other people's altis during a jump instead of having to look at your own. Especially if somebody took a nice strong grip over the top of your wrist alit.

[Luke Oliver]

swoopgaz, on 03 December 2011 - 08:26 PM, said:

never had a problem with my suunto with polarised lenses

Bwahahaha!

[Matt Hill]

If you are a scuba diver then the digital may suit you as that is what you are used to.

My personal preference is analogue for freefall (for reasons mentioned - clock face, quick glance rather than having to "read" it) and digital for under canopy due to the granularity more than anything else.  So I wear both...


We use feet in aviation too, not metres.  European countries use metres for their altitude as far as skydiving is concerned.

[Geoff Munday]

KGB, on 04 December 2011 - 09:04 AM, said:

Now I'm sounding like a real dinosaur .. but once upon a time, when everyone had analog - often chest mounted - you could glance at other people's altis during a jump instead of having to look at your own. Especially if somebody took a nice strong grip over the top of your wrist alit.

We still do Kelly. Looking at other peoples digital altis is no problem. We have them mounted in places other than wrists for that reason. We also "trust" audibles (as long as everyone on the jump has one)

[Winston]

Probably use my eyes more than my alti actually

[Trout]

Quote

Probably use my eyes more than my alti actually

And you're preparing for your AFF rating? Fuck me.

[Bill Bleazard]

Winston, on 04 December 2011 - 09:12 PM, said:

Probably use my eyes more than my alti actually

To do what? read your alti? look at the horizon? some thing else that we don't know about?