New Version of Tasman Variometer Firmware Available

Hi,

Tasman has released a new version of the firmware that runs in the V1000
variometer. The new version has a different sink tone than previous
versions. The sink tone now gets lower in pitch with lower sink rates. The
climb tone remains the same as it has always been with increasing pitch with
higher climb rates. The previous versions had a sink tone that increased in
pitch with higher sink rates. I found the old sink tone to be less than
intuitive while flying so I requested the change. They made the change
quickly. I was very impressed with the support from Tasman! All the units
in my stock now have the new sink tone. Upgrades to the new version are
also available. You can see details or order the upgrade from my web site.

http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/tasman.htm

I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here -
which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners of Tasman
variometers will be glad that I announced the availability of this new
version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

then why do you continue to do it....
why don't you simply contact your customers directly
tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...

I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here -
which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners of Tasman
variometers will be glad that I announced the availability of this new
version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

Boys:

I am not a customer of Paul's but I appreciate his
announcement. If he limited the announcement to his
customers, I wouldn't the information as quickly or at all.

Announcements like this are not an annoyance, they are
public service. Its a good example of why the free flow of
information on the net is so important.


Pete



Tim Mara wrote:
then why do you continue to do it....
why don't you simply contact your customers directly
tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...


I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here -
which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners of Tasman
variometers will be glad that I announced the availability of this new
version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.




--

Peter D. Brown
http://home.gci.net/~pdb/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/akmtnsoaring/

Yes, except for postings like Paul's on RAS, there really is no way to
learn about new soaring products. Rather than muzzling Paul, I think
other vendors (such as Tim) should feel free to also start posting this
type of information, as long as it is posted once for information,
rather than repeatedly as a commercial.

Also, say that I had been looking for a vario, I had just talked to
Paul, and as a result posted "Hey, guess what, I just talked to Paul,
and the Tasman vario now has a new sink sound." I am guessing that post
would be OK. Why is the same post not OK when Paul is the one to post it?



Pete Brown wrote:
Boys:

I am not a customer of Paul's but I appreciate his announcement. If he
limited the announcement to his customers, I wouldn't the information as
quickly or at all.

Announcements like this are not an annoyance, they are public service.
Its a good example of why the free flow of information on the net is so
important.


Pete



Tim Mara wrote:

then why do you continue to do it....
why don't you simply contact your customers directly
tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...


I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post
here - which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners
of Tasman variometers will be glad that I announced the availability
of this new version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

I always find this type of advertising thread rather amusing. Almost
all businesses in the Soaring Industry respect the charter of the RAS.
How would you like all commercial businesses associated with Soaring to
post on the RAS with the disclaimer that ?

I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here
which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners or users
of My Special Soaring Product or service will be glad that I announced
the availability of this new version of my product or service.

Advertiser in:

Soaring Magazine 36

Soaring Australia 15

Glidding Kiwi 7

Sailplane & Gliding 59

Maybe my count is not exactly correct but that would be approximately
117 posts. Then lets add the

Manufactures 50 maybe more just a guess.

Now let get even more ridiculous!

Real Estate Agents in soaring areas 150 Maybe multilply this by 10
for all new listings and the agents I forgot to count. 1500. We could
have our own RAS multiple listing service just for soaring areas.

Total number ??????? approximately maybe many more!

I am sure that several people that frequent the RAS would find
something that is informative and a service in a post by each of the
above.

Many of us don't.

Now the question. Should I really click the post button?

Richard
www.craggyaero.com

Greg Arnold wrote:
Yes, except for postings like Paul's on RAS, there really is no way to
learn about new soaring products. Rather than muzzling Paul, I think
other vendors (such as Tim) should feel free to also start posting this
type of information, as long as it is posted once for information,
rather than repeatedly as a commercial.

Also, say that I had been looking for a vario, I had just talked to
Paul, and as a result posted "Hey, guess what, I just talked to Paul,
and the Tasman vario now has a new sink sound." I am guessing that post
would be OK. Why is the same post not OK when Paul is the one to post it?



Pete Brown wrote:
Boys:

I am not a customer of Paul's but I appreciate his announcement. If he
limited the announcement to his customers, I wouldn't the information as
quickly or at all.

Announcements like this are not an annoyance, they are public service.
Its a good example of why the free flow of information on the net is so
important.


Pete



Tim Mara wrote:

then why do you continue to do it....
why don't you simply contact your customers directly
tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...


I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post
here - which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners
of Tasman variometers will be glad that I announced the availability
of this new version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 11:15:53 -0400, Tim Mara wrote:

I for one am pleased to know this. I'm thinking about fitting either a B40
or a Tasmin as secondary vario and this is useful input for me.

then why do you continue to do it.... why don't you simply contact your
customers directly tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...

I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here
- which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners of
Tasman variometers will be glad that I announced the availability of
this new version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

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

Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Wed, 12 Oct 2005 11:15:53 -0400, Tim Mara wrote:

I for one am pleased to know this. I'm thinking about fitting either a B40
or a Tasmin as secondary vario and this is useful input for me.


then why do you continue to do it.... why don't you simply contact your
customers directly tim

Wings & Wheels
www.wingsandwheels.com

"Paul Remde" wrote in message
news:9A83f.479895$xm3.290374@attbi_s21...


I'm sure that someone will feel that I'm posting a commercial post here
- which I've been told is a no no. I believe that most owners of
Tasman variometers will be glad that I announced the availability of
this new version.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.


Hi Martin

We looked at the B40 vs Tasman recently for our club ships. In the end we
decided on the Tasman because it has no moving parts, and has the built in
averager.

So far we are extremely happy with the Tasmans, and I can recommend them and
their service. They contacted us directly about the firmware upgrades, and
shipped the chips to us at their cost to upgrade the varios we have.

The Borgelts are also outstanding instruments, and I may consider moving up to a
B50 in my single seater. For now the V1000M gives me such good information I
doubt I would benefit from the B50. If I ever get my PDA installed this might
change.
For now my setup is a winter mechanical vario - no power needed to soar. +
V1000M set to rapid response + 20s average. It is worth having just for the
average. No problems with legibility on the LCD screen, in bright sunlight, and
with/without polarising glasses.

By the way - the firmware upgrades are one of the things that decided us on the
Tasman rather than the B40. You get an instrument with virtually unlimited
development capability. No mechanical stuff you can't change.

--
Bruce Greeff
Std Cirrus #57
I'm no-T at the address above.

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:54:22 +0200, Bruce wrote:

......

We looked at the B40 vs Tasman recently for our club ships. In the end we
decided on the Tasman because it has no moving parts, and has the built in
averager.

I've flown with a Tasmin once and liked it: the new vario down noise
sounds like an improvement.

The major advantage of the B.40 is its backup 9v battery: I think its
really important that a backup vario can operate with a dead main battery.
The Tasman literature mentions the possibility of using a backup battery
too, but its either well-hidden or absent from the installation and user
manual. I couldn't find a clear reference in the price list either despite
it being quoted as an option.

Do you use backup batteries with your Tasmans?

BTW, I have an SDI C4 that I intend to retain as my main vario.

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

Hi Martin,

The use of a 9 V battery for backup power for the Tasman is shown in the
installation manual he
http://www.tasmaninstruments.com/doc...allation_b.PDF

I have recently asked the manufacturer to verify as what voltage the audio
stops functioning. That point is a little unclear in the manuals.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Martin Gregorie" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:54:22 +0200, Bruce wrote:

.....

We looked at the B40 vs Tasman recently for our club ships. In the end we
decided on the Tasman because it has no moving parts, and has the built
in
averager.

I've flown with a Tasmin once and liked it: the new vario down noise
sounds like an improvement.

The major advantage of the B.40 is its backup 9v battery: I think its
really important that a backup vario can operate with a dead main battery.
The Tasman literature mentions the possibility of using a backup battery
too, but its either well-hidden or absent from the installation and user
manual. I couldn't find a clear reference in the price list either despite
it being quoted as an option.

Do you use backup batteries with your Tasmans?

BTW, I have an SDI C4 that I intend to retain as my main vario.

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

On Thu, 13 Oct 2005 11:54:22 +0200, Bruce wrote:


Hi Martin

We looked at the B40 vs Tasman recently for our club ships. In the end we
decided on the Tasman because it has no moving parts, and has the built in
averager.

The B40 has always had a built in averager. Just push the button on
the front. The button even has a remote circuit you can use to to
mount it on the stick etc. Digital averager also available and you can
put that up close to your line of sight or just above the ASI.

So far we are extremely happy with the Tasmans, and I can recommend them and
their service. They contacted us directly about the firmware upgrades, and
shipped the chips to us at their cost to upgrade the varios we have.

The Borgelts are also outstanding instruments, and I may consider moving up to a
B50 in my single seater. For now the V1000M gives me such good information I
doubt I would benefit from the B50. If I ever get my PDA installed this might
change.


Just to clear up any confusion , the B50 and Tasman are not
comparable. The B40 and Tasman are somewhat comparable as neither has
an airspeed sensor, unlike the B50 which does.

Having an airspeed sensor lets you compute the expected sink rate at
any given airspeed for display of netto(airmass) vario or relative
netto (see our website for article on Basic Sailplane Instruments
which explains these terms for anyone not familiar with them and tells
you why they are advantageous) as well as Macready speed to fly
information in simplified "fly faster/fly slower" format and also
provides True Air Speed(TAS) information to glide computers which
gives useful information like real time wind component when used with
the GPS groundspeed.

I am surprised that the Tasman audio was the way it was for so long.
We had that in the B10 vario in 1978 and changed it at customer
request within a few months to the present system and have kept that
ever since for climb/sink mode.


For now my setup is a winter mechanical vario - no power needed to soar.

Given the proliferation of electronic equipment in sailplane
cockpits(computers/GPS/loggers, electronic varios) you really want an
assured 12 volt power supply anyway. This is easy to achieve with two
batteries used intelligently and for the paranoid a back up supply for
the standby vario. (it isn't bad to be paranoid about this)

Putting capacity flasks and mechanical vane type varios in the TE
system is a bad idea for many reasons particularly the effect on
responses of any electronic pressure sensor based instruments. These
effects can be mitigated by splitting the TE line back at the back of
the seat pan or further aft and running two TE lines to the instrument
panel. I still see installations where this has not been done. The
only time you can do without this is with two pressure sensor type
instruments. Getting rid of mechanical instruments makes installation
easier. I haven't had a mechanical vario since 1979 or a capacity
flask since 1983. I've never run out of vario (except when I've had to
pull mine out of the panel to sell to someone in a hurry - one B40
lasted exactly 30 minutes after installation).


+
V1000M set to rapid response + 20s average. It is worth having just for the
average. No problems with legibility on the LCD screen, in bright sunlight, and
with/without polarising glasses.

We looked at this for the planned B30 system in 1986. That never got
beyond the planning stage. as I considered a display resolution for
the vario pointer of 0.4 knots was just too terrible. The Tasman has 1
knot I believe.

LCD's do make for a cheap display though.

The automotive industry has come to our aid with the stepper motor
driven pointer. These are used in all the BMW's, Rolls Royce etc cars.
Interesting that the auto industry hasn't embraced LCD pointers.

By the way - the firmware upgrades are one of the things that decided us on the
Tasman rather than the B40. You get an instrument with virtually unlimited
development capability. No mechanical stuff you can't change.

You are very restricted by the crude resolution of the display and the
lack of airspeed sensor. The Tasman, like the B40, is just a simple
TE vario with audio and averager. There isn't really much you can do
with that which is why we have continued that in to the new B400 which
is shorter than the B40 it replaces, uses a stepper driven pointer
with extremely high resolution, has the same kind of averager as the
B40 with remote push button and optional remotely mounted full time
digital averager display now available in two sizes and a new optional
"competition " climb audio (you can still select classic B40 style)
and a green LED to tell you when you are climbing faster than the
current running average i.e. "things are getting better" which is also
given by the audio in "competition" mode.
We expect to ship the first B400's next week.

The B50 has been replaced by the B500 which is now shipping in small
quantities (and many thanks to our beta testers for your faith and
patience) and we're ramping up the production rate.

The B500 is an advanced vario system with airspeed sensor and has
plenty of room for later expansion as it was designed that way.
Software upgrades will be by download from our website and
customisation is by hooking it to a PC.

Check it out (and the Basic Instruments article and others) on the
website.
www.borgeltinstruments.com

Mike Borgelt