On Sunday, 23 September 2012 07:01:13 UTC+10, Tim Taylor wrote:
Not sure what happened that they didn't make the transition over the last few years to the modern systems. B50 is still one of the best values for a low cost panel, about $500 to $600 and a PDA/PNA and it will work nearly as we'll as the new systems.

Nothing "happened" Tim. We replaced the B50 with the B500 in late 2005 and the B40 (over 1000 sold) with the B400. The B500 and now the B600 and B800 even incorporate GPS navigation, wind and a glide computer. Otherwise they perform the same vario functions but with some extras like the little green light and subtle audio change to tell you when the climb is better than the 20 second average.

The B500 has recently been replaced by the B600(linear vario scale) and B800 (log scale expanded in the +/- 2 knot range) but otherwise similar except for some new features like the visual and audio comparison of the running average climb rate to the whole of thermal so far average, to tell you when to think about leaving, a real Performance Index to tell you how each glide from the top of the last thermal to current position compares to the clean glider at the same weight(helps with "bugs" setting) and the B800 and B600 have
bi-directional comms with color moving map glide computers like XCSoar which means you can make changes on the glide program and have them go straight to the vario and also the other way round.
A Vertica V2 (basically like new Oudie with new bright screen but HALF the price)plus a B600 or B800 main unit makes a very low cost complete X country vario and moving map glide computer system when running XCsoar.

If you want just a vario(no speed to fly) as a standby(mechanical replacement) or for the club single or two seater have a look at our B300 Club vario, B400 vario with standby battery pack, the B700(like B400 but with log scale and both 20 sec and whole of climb average and comparator), the ultimate standby vario which you'll leave running all the time and soon the B900(B700 with linear scale). We've also bench tested the B200 audio add on for mechanical varios as I know some of you won't let go of your favorite mechanical vario until it is pried out of your cold, dead hands :-)

We're also working on some advanced concepts which will make all existing varios totally obsolete but they will be able to be added to our B600 and B800.