On Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:51:52 -0800, son_of_flubber wrote:

On Friday, February 8, 2013 3:35:32 PM UTC-5, rk wrote:

SR is only variometer that can show what is happening when you blaze
trough thermal at 200kph.

I have nothing to dispute. I just want to learn something.

I see that the ability to get an accurate reading at high horizontal
velocity is a feature that distinguishes the best varios from the lesser
varios. At what speed do lesser varios start to degrade? Is the
degradation abrupt or gradual? Specific examples would be helpful.

Is there any other criteria where one modern vario is clearly better
than another?

Pass: confession time. I use relatively old varios and am happy with them.

I have an SDI C4 (running V4.06 firmware), a Borgelt B.40 and LK8000.

The C4 really needs a connection to a GPS that knows at least the next TP
or it loses its final glide and wind calculation abilities. Unfortunately
mine doesn't have a GPS connection at present, but I really like the
noises it makes when climbing and running between thermals and its
configuration is a good match on my glider's polar. Medium term plan is
to add a GPS feed (its wind and final glide calculations are good) but in
the interim LK8000 is handling these details well. I used to use a Garmin
GPS II+ which, when it had a waypoint selected, sent the C4 what it
needed to know to do a really good job on FG and wind. Now I run LK8000
for airspace awareness but the PNA it runs on has no connectivity for
outputting the NMEA sentences the C4 needs so I'm looking at LK8000 for FG
and wind. The C4 has a monochrome LCD display that's always easy to read
and has enough area and configuration options to show all the info you
need when you need it with little or no need to manually change the
display.

The B.40 is the fastest vario I've flown with and I love it! Its my
preferred instrument for locating a thermal but, once established I use
the C4 noises to keep centered. The B.40 is really my backup vario
because it has a 9v battery strapped to its back and so is a good get-me-
home device if/when the 12v batteries fail. Readability is not an issue
since it has a conventional needle and dial.

Other devices I like:

- the Tasman V1000. Several of our club gliders have this fitted.
It works well, makes nice noises and seems to be both fast and
accurate. It has a monochrome LCD display using blocks that move
round the edge to show instant climb rate and a digital average
climb rate displayed in the centre.

- the LX16 as a basic instrument. Has a fast, shockproof monochrome
display and makes very fast responding and informative noises.
Some of out club gliders have them fitted.

--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |