FreeFlight107 wrote:
Sorry, but this is the sort of esoteric disscusion that actualy turns
me off to soaring.

IMHO either system is just fine, pick one and use it. Contests can do
what ever thay want, I won't participate due to several reasons. Badge
flying & CC is all I'm into.

A system has been chosen, and we are using it. The discussion is about
increasing the choices to lower costs.


From what I'm hearing I must use a Barograph in addition to the
expensive logger that I thought would do away with the 19th century
mechanical stuff of pressure chambers and mechanical camera pointing
that is not easy for a newcommer or non-decated sport flyier to do
correctly 100% of the time.

If you use an "expensive" logger (meaning, I assume, a "secure" IGC
logger good for badges and records), you will NOT need to use a
barograph. Get one of these, and you skip the esoteric discussion going
on here, and enjoy all the benefits of the best (if more expensive)
system. It's what I have, an it's great for badges and records, making
the pilot's job and the observer's job about as easy as possible. I'm
not bothered by the extra $600 it cost me over the COTS units being
discussed, as it continues to deliver it's advantages year after year.

snip

Right now it appears we must use 19th century (or earlier) technology
for FAI altitude gains, expensive secure loggers for distance/time
measurments, and another divice for in-cockpit navigation.

To repeat, get an IGC secure logger, and you can use it for everything,
including altitude gains. The navigation device can may be part of some
loggers, you can use a device that connects to it (e.g., and Ipaq
running See You Mobile, Winpilot, etc), or you can use an entirely
separate device (even a paper map). Navigation is a separate issue from
flight recording.

If I were starting out in this sport, I'd choke on all those
requirements above and not go for badges, CC or contests becaue the
investment in dedicated equipment is too high, (I collected my devices
over the years as my paycheck could afford it).

And this discussion is aimed at reducing these costs you complain about!
I'm surprised it "turns you off".

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
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