I have flown in borrowed 1-26 for the past few years,
once a year, in a contest against one other 1-26. The
glider i borrow does not have a battery system. I use
a borrowed 'Malletec' portable unit that hangs around
my neck. It is only around 1' square and is loud enough
to hear with all of the noise in a 1-26. It uses a
watch battery and seems to last for ever. It is not
compensated obviously, but in a 1-26 it is easy to
realize what your doing and is a very sensitive vario.
It is advertised in Soaring Magazine for only $169.00
US Dollars! Try it youll like it.

At 17:36 18 May 2004, Waduino wrote:
A few of us low time club renters are considering buying
audio variometers
to help keep our eyes outside the cockpit and our planes
in lift.

One unit we're looking at is from Blue Sky Avionics,
the M12 Cricket
http://www.blueskyavionics.com/M12_Cricket_HG.htm

There's also a fancier M19.

Does anyone have experience with these? Do they make
sense to use?
Thanks.
Wad.