Blackdragan

I just received and installed my "How High Altimeteer" on my SAVS. I will let you know how it works.

Sky High

Now that is interesting. Did it come with that plastic box? Let us know how it works with the DF. I just looked at the instructions for use. Here we go again with another device that requires list of special calibration steps. [>:]

www.rcreporter.com/HHinstr.pdf

Blackdragan

Sky,

It did not come with the plastic box. Based on the mounting instructions, it needs to be out of wind stream, so I mounted in a plastic camera battery box. It is actually very straight forward regarding the hook up and use of the altimeter. There really is not any calibration needed. As mentioned in the instructions, you just wave your finger in front of the LED after a flight and count the sequence of flashes. The manufactor is coming out with small LCD reader which you aim at the LED and it will show the altimeter read out on a LCD screen.

Sky High

I wasn't specific but I was referring to the method to retreive the altitude report. You have to point the LED at the sky, then wave your finger over it, etc.. It's very similar to the DF's procedure.

Sky High

Blackdragon, how is that new altitude device working out?

Blackdragan

Sky,

My alt. works great! It is very easy to use and read. The attached picture was taken from 427 feet. It was a little hazy, so the picture quality is not very good. Any thing above 400 feet and SAV starts to become a dot in the sky! If you have really good eyes and are really smooth with the controls you might be able to get it up to 500 feet. At that altitude it would be extremely hard to visually control it and you better hope Ti is keeping it level. I have always loved the challenge of flying high, so I know will keep going higher until I surpass 500 feet. It is great little addition and I hope you or some of the other forum members get one, so we can compare notes and maybe have a highflying contest!

Sky High

Thanks for the update. I see a water tower in the distant background. Can you find out how high that tower is? YvesOttowa and I had this discussion a while back but neither of us had a device for the DF to get an accurate height. I've had my other DF so damn high that I couldn't even see a dot and it scared me to death! [X(] Below is a link to some reference images with OSD readouts that give a reference to what different heights look like. Take a look at them and see what you think. Scroll up to post #6 in that thread to see the argument, I mean discussion that we had. I'm just not so sure of the accuracy of that device you're using and that's why I would like to know how high that water tower is because there doesn't seem to be a steep enough angle to it for you to be much higher than it even though you are far away.

Altitude discussion
www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=3820300

Another interesting altitude discussion
www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=3821430

Blackdragan

Sky,

The picture I posted with the water tower in the background is deceptive. Even though you cannot tell by the picture, the land where the water tower sits is considerable higher then the area I was flying. I do not know how tall the water tower is, but you can see from my previously posted picture the water tower is fairly tall. When I get a chance I will try and measure the height of the tower with my SAVS.

Sky High

I think I've heard what you are referring to as AGL, above ground level, depending on where you are. Measuring the height of the water tower with your device defeats the purpose of determining if it's accurate. You should find out by asking the company and then compare the known height to your device's measurment. I want you to know that I'm not trying to give you a hard time but just trying to see how accurate this device is before I get one.

yvesOttawa

Blackdragan,

That's a cool shot and I'm also interested in this altitude measuring device. I've looked into the typical height of these water towers based on the local municipalities. The modern ones (cement encased) are 150-170 feet high and the older (4 legged) ones are higher. As high as 200 feet.

By the looks of the photo, it appears you are a tad higher than the tower. Do you recall what the altimeter had for height?

Blackdragan

yvesOttawa,

I did not have my Altimeter installed when the picture by the water tower was taken. It is a tall tower, so it probably is around 200'. I am planning taking a altitude measurement of the tower in the near future. I will also try and find out what the actual height of the tower is. I will keep you posted.

Blackdragan

Yves,

According to my altimeter, this picture was taken at 475'. I am flying directly in line with the white water tower, however, it does not show in the picture being I am why over the top of it. I was told the water tower is 153' tall.

yvesOttawa

Wow, cool shot. I was never even close to be that high. DF must have been a dot in the sky So you are happy with that altimeter? I am curious to see if you go the exact same height as the tower, you will read near the 160'. Let me know how it goes. Thanks for the shot too.