Best performing Vario?

On Feb 7, 7:40*pm, Tobias Bieniek
wrote:
they might not add much to the vario functionality, but don't underestimate the advantage of having the wind measured 20 times per second too. the butterfly vario measures all environmental influences on the aircraft like lift/sink and horizontal wind, and in theory should be able to filter horizontal gusts better than a traditional vario.

Having hardware the right hardware is just a prerequisite knowing how
to process data from all these sensors to filter out gusts is the real
difficult part. It will probably take years before really good
solutions appear. These algorithms will become closely guarded secrets.

Best performing vario I've used? Peschges VP-4E Nav. Not that it's an amazing vario, just that I haven't had a chance to spend much time with anything much more modern!

As is is I've been following this thread and others with interest as, if the pilots in my club decide to install PowerFLARM in all our gliders I'm pretty much going to have to update my vario to one which has the ability to display Flarm data (limited panel space and the desire to keep my mechanical vario and still have space for a transponder). So far the LX7007C basic combined with a PowerFLARM brick seems like the most likely option though I'm also considering many of the other setups talked about here. I despise using touch screens though so that kind of limits my options.

I'm trying not to think about the fact that by the time all this equipment is installed, wired and signed off I'll have just spent on my avionics a sum roughly equivalent to one quarter the likely market value of my glider!

On Thursday, February 7, 2013 7:07:12 PM UTC+1, son_of_flubber wrote:
Why don't PNA developers emulate the Themi interface? Brighter screens should make that possible nowadays. Being able to get centering help via peripheral vision seems huge... especially if you're not the only one flying in a thermal.

SeeYouMobile has a similar function using a "beep" that you can set to tell you when you are approaching the heading to the strongest part of the thermal. Not sure if SYM includes the drift calculation that a Themi does, but in theory it should be a useful aid to shifting your circle - set it to beep when you should roll out momentarily.

But since I use a Themi, I rarely use my SYM thermal page - I find it takes too much heads down time for the value added. I prefer a climb map page zoomed in to show the climb track with dots, and some dedicated vario navboxes.

YMMV.

Kirk
66

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:13:05 AM UTC+2, s6 wrote:
On Saturday, September 22, 2012 11:58:15 AM UTC-4, Craig R. wrote:

In your opinion, what was the best performing vario you have ever used? Specifically, the one that got you centered in and to the top of the thermal in the least amount of time.







Let's ignore products because they have the latest "bells and whistles" add ons, latest technology, sexy appearances, or best computer processor. Basic performance is the only criteria.







I've heard some say the legacy Cambridge units and some say the Sage mechanical.







Which unit did it for you?



Richard

What about the performance of the vario to show lift-sink with the new technology

Does it deliver?

S6

After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.

On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:45 PM UTC+1, rk wrote:
After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.

So, what is your definition of a quality variometer? A pellet vario will give you raw data, is that what you want? Come on, fess up, what gets you up best?

Kirk
66
Ilec SN10B, Westerboer VW910, Themi. Mechanicals are just so 20th century....

How important is the setup? The electronic varios all offer numerous configuration options. How about sharing thoughts on how best to set them up? For example who uses smart filtering on an LX vario, what setting and why? (Except of course that smart filtering does different things on different versions of LX).

The best vario for you may be the one you know best with the setup you know best.

On Friday, February 8, 2013 4:24:00 PM UTC+2, kirk.stant wrote:
On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:45 PM UTC+1, rk wrote:

After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.



So, what is your definition of a quality variometer? A pellet vario will give you raw data, is that what you want? Come on, fess up, what gets you up best?



Kirk

66

Ilec SN10B, Westerboer VW910, Themi. Mechanicals are just so 20th century....

I've flown Cambridge S-&L-NAV, WV910/920/921, VP-3,4 and 6, Zander SR-940&ZS-1, SDI C3, LX5000, LX7000, LX8000, LX160 (dozens-hundreds hours each) plus probably dozen other variometers for short flights.

So far the best electrical variometer has been good old Zander SR940 (yes better than ZS1), which I've used in 3 different gliders for over 500 hrs. Every other system is a league below SR, including all the new LX varios (both facctories), which is worrying since I believe they have majority of new computer market these days.

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:59:25 PM UTC-5, rk wrote:
On Friday, February 8, 2013 4:24:00 PM UTC+2, kirk.stant wrote:

On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:45 PM UTC+1, rk wrote:



After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.







So, what is your definition of a quality variometer? A pellet vario will give you raw data, is that what you want? Come on, fess up, what gets you up best?







Kirk



66



Ilec SN10B, Westerboer VW910, Themi. Mechanicals are just so 20th century...



I've flown Cambridge S-&L-NAV, WV910/920/921, VP-3,4 and 6, Zander SR-940&ZS-1, SDI C3, LX5000, LX7000, LX8000, LX160 (dozens-hundreds hours each) plus probably dozen other variometers for short flights.



So far the best electrical variometer has been good old Zander SR940 (yes better than ZS1), which I've used in 3 different gliders for over 500 hrs. Every other system is a league below SR, including all the new LX varios (both facctories), which is worrying since I believe they have majority of new computer market these days.

Hi
That's an opinion not a fact.
What makes the SR 940 the best?
S6

On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:15:06 PM UTC-6, s6 wrote:
On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:59:25 PM UTC-5, rk wrote:

On Friday, February 8, 2013 4:24:00 PM UTC+2, kirk.stant wrote:



On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:45 PM UTC+1, rk wrote:







After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.















So, what is your definition of a quality variometer? A pellet vario will give you raw data, is that what you want? Come on, fess up, what gets you up best?















Kirk







66







Ilec SN10B, Westerboer VW910, Themi. Mechanicals are just so 20th century...







I've flown Cambridge S-&L-NAV, WV910/920/921, VP-3,4 and 6, Zander SR-940&ZS-1, SDI C3, LX5000, LX7000, LX8000, LX160 (dozens-hundreds hours each) plus probably dozen other variometers for short flights.







So far the best electrical variometer has been good old Zander SR940 (yes better than ZS1), which I've used in 3 different gliders for over 500 hrs. Every other system is a league below SR, including all the new LX varios (both facctories), which is worrying since I believe they have majority of new computer market these days.



Hi

That's an opinion not a fact.

What makes the SR 940 the best?

S6

This thread reminds me of one of Jim Foreman's best stories...

http://www.jimforeman.com/Stories/varios.htm

Maybe I need to ditch that fancy Tasman and find me a pellet vario for the Ka-6.

Any recommendations for a good audio pellet vario out there? :-)

Pete

On Friday, February 8, 2013 9:15:06 PM UTC+2, s6 wrote:
On Friday, February 8, 2013 1:59:25 PM UTC-5, rk wrote:

On Friday, February 8, 2013 4:24:00 PM UTC+2, kirk.stant wrote:



On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:45 PM UTC+1, rk wrote:







After reading this thread one can conclude that quality of variometer signal is of secondary importance to most glider pilots. There doesn't seem to be many posters who really can comment on variometer quality. Colour displays, flashing lights and dozens of useless features rule... It's a shame really.















So, what is your definition of a quality variometer? A pellet vario will give you raw data, is that what you want? Come on, fess up, what gets you up best?















Kirk







66







Ilec SN10B, Westerboer VW910, Themi. Mechanicals are just so 20th century...







I've flown Cambridge S-&L-NAV, WV910/920/921, VP-3,4 and 6, Zander SR-940&ZS-1, SDI C3, LX5000, LX7000, LX8000, LX160 (dozens-hundreds hours each) plus probably dozen other variometers for short flights.







So far the best electrical variometer has been good old Zander SR940 (yes better than ZS1), which I've used in 3 different gliders for over 500 hrs. Every other system is a league below SR, including all the new LX varios (both facctories), which is worrying since I believe they have majority of new computer market these days.



Hi

That's an opinion not a fact.

What makes the SR 940 the best?

S6

Yes of course it is my opinion. And dozens of other european top pilots'. Go to worlds and look at their cockpits.

SR is only variometer that can show what is happening when you blaze trough thermal at 200kph. Others are usually all around place.

I'm not into old technology, I just wan't to point out that new technology isn't always better, as it should. I hope that Butterfly and Clearnav get the vario part right. Probably they need to mature few more years as nowadays nothing seems to work as advertised right out of the product line.