New traffic warning device

Here is my question in a scenario basis that I can think of.

Since the ATD relies solely on your transponder for altitude,

If you took off out of an airport and you didn't reach adequate radar
coverage for 1000 feet or more, how is the ATD unit going to know
what altitude you are?

If another aircraft is in the pattern, how could the ATD possibly
tell you how high above it is?

another scenario,

If you where flying in radar coverage at say 5,000 feet, and another
aircraft is say 5,700 feet headed towards you. The ATD would say
you are 5,000 feet correct? but what happens if you fly out of radar
coverage, and climb or descend?

So if you started climbing, 5,100......5,200.....etc the ATD would
still say you are at 5,000 feet since that was the last altitude it
got from your transponder correct? So you could end up at the same
altitude of the other aircraft, while the ATD still says +700

another scenario,

Suppose you are flying with the ATD at 2,000 feet and ATC gives you a
squawk code that equals 1,400 feet. Another aircraft close by is at an
altitude of 2,900 feet The atd will be confused and bounce between
showing traffic +900......-600.......+900.......-600

let me ask you this. If you flying in the pattern of a busy airport,
how often are other aircraft within 1 NM of you?

another scenario,

If two equal threats come into the scene, what will the ATD show? a
flipping back and forth picture? At what rate? Is it not possible
for 2 or more aircraft to be flying around you near any airport? See
the problem here?


They admit these errors on page 9 of their manual, and talk about
going through steps to try and stop this problem. All of which are
instantly avoided by the competitive units having a backup altimeter.


A device telling you to look outside is great, but not if it is
constantly telling you to look outside because someone is flying 1
mile away from you, or gives you false altitude readings because you
don't stay straight and level, in radar coverage, and don't squawk one
of the hundreds of confusing codes.

Let me ask you this, with other units having most likely a higher
profit margin, more ESSENTIAL features, why are you as a business, so
eager to promote and sell a less superior product line and make less
money? That makes no sense to me if I where a business. I would
think you would want to sell your customers the best products for the
most profit. That is how I run my business anyway. There are many
competitive products I can choose from, but I wouldn't pick out the
least favored and less profitable to run frontage on.


Thomas Borchert wrote in message ...
Loran,

ok, first, in the interest of full disclosure, I am involved in a pilot
shop selling the ATD-300 in Germany.

But I am seriously interested in this. What features exactly are we
talking about? Altitude display? It's there. Multiple targets? It's
there, albeit in alternating display mode. But here's my main point: If
you get an alert, what will you do? Will you keep your head inside the
cockpit and start evaluating all the stuff that some of the display
show, or will you do the smart thing and LOOK OUTSIDE?

So, which feature do you find missing that doesn't just look good on a
spec sheet but that you actually need in practice? Again, I am
seriously interested in your opinion.