mahonie10 0 #1 May 12, 2012 I'm looking to get my first digital alti. but can't decide between the N3 or the Viso II. Any comments? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trigger 0 #2 May 12, 2012 I personally use a N3 just because the display is slightly larger than the L&B Viso. Also like the fact that N3 is rechargable via usb so no battery woes. On a minus note the logbook data is suspect at best so if you're a bit geeky about freefall speeds etc take the logbook info with a generous pinch of salt ( wrist mount mine so opinions on my last point may differ ). Plus points: Great visual alti Useful for canopy control Loud audible beeps ( If required ) Can be used has a helmet audible. Have many friends that use the L&B Viso without complaint So if you can live with a slightly smaller display and the need for the occasional battery change i'm sure you'll be happy..CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LouDiamond 1 #3 May 12, 2012 They are both good pieces of kit, however, the Viso has to have one of the most complicated button sequence menus I've ever seen. Where the N3 screen menus are straight forward the Viso requires you to have the manual handy to reference how to change the settings. If I handed you a N3 without any instructions you could figure it out in a few seconds, the Viso, not so much."It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required" Some people dream about flying, I live my dream SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #4 May 12, 2012 N3....battery life blows. I quit using it for that reason alone. The Viso will give a year + of battery life. N3, a weekend of active jumping. N3 allows you to put your own audio in, and it acts as an audible, which the Viso cannot do. I disagree with Scott about the menus being difficult; they're quite intuitive and not terribly different from the Optima or Altitrack. Having both, I prefer the VisoII. If nothing else, look at the threads (there are dozens) about customer service from L&B found here on DZ.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #5 May 12, 2012 QuoteI'm looking to get my first digital alti. but can't decide between the N3 or the Viso II. Any comments? Thanks For what purpose? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hcsvader 1 #6 May 13, 2012 QuoteQuoteI'm looking to get my first digital alti. but can't decide between the N3 or the Viso II. Any comments? Thanks For what purpose? To determine altitude.Have you seen my pants? it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream >:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milehigheric 0 #7 May 13, 2012 Haha that answer was always coming... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWPoul 1 #8 May 13, 2012 QuoteI disagree with Scott about the menus being difficult; they're quite intuitive and not terribly different from the Optima or Altitrack.I use Viso2 & optima2 and can change settings without looking into the manual but can't say that it's intuitive or userfrendly espetially in compare with Neptune QuoteHaving both, I prefer the VisoII. If nothing else, look at the threads (there are dozens) about customer service from L&B found here on DZ.comThat's true, service & support from L&B just greatWhy drink and drive, if you can smoke and fly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
degeneration 5 #9 May 14, 2012 I'd be happy using either. They both show the altitude and that is what I want. All the geek features, I'm not personally bothered about, that is what my protrack is for. What would make me want to choose a Viso from the 2 options is L&B's customer service. It is quite simply the best in the world. They'll fix any problem pretty much in a way well beyond what you were expecting. The awesomeness of their customer service has made me decide to only use L&B for these sort of things.Sky Switches - Affordable stills camera tongue switches and conversion adaptors, supporting various brands of camera (Canon, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #10 May 14, 2012 I have owned both, and they are both good at the things they do - but they do different things. The Viso2 is an expensive but excellent digital visual alti. I still own one and use it on every jump. The N3 is much more than that... if you don't care about all that other stuff, get a Viso. Otherwise, the Neptune wins. (I'd consider getting one just to double as a spare audible, but that could just be me and my bad luck with audibles ) -- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyMarko 1 #11 May 15, 2012 I love my Viso II but yea, the menus are confusing as fook. The backlight is also pretty dull. And that damn beeping you can't turn off . But I do love it and the L&B custy service is tits Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lifesatrip 0 #12 May 16, 2012 I would go with the Viso just for customer service reasons. I have dealt with both companies and L&B is fantastic. I have 2 OptimaII and the batteries last a year. I do about 170 jumps on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougH 270 #13 May 17, 2012 Viso all the way for me. I don't use the canopy audibles so all of the other Neptune functions are unneeded. I have Optimas for my audibles. Battery life on the Viso is much better. Rechargeable isn't a huge seller to me if the time between recharges is relatively short. Customer service at L&B is top notch."The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall" =P Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bushwarp4 0 #14 May 23, 2012 My Viso II has bad habit of recording very inaccurate freefall info. If I were to go by the numbers my fastest freefall speed was almost mach 1 and almost 30 minutes of freefall time in one jump... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trigger 0 #15 May 24, 2012 My N3 sufers with similar issues so i take all the speed stuff with a generous pinch of salt. However as an altimeter/cp tool i couldn't be happier. I,m sure the op would be pleased with either..CHOP WOOD COLLECT WATER. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rstanley0312 0 #16 May 24, 2012 QuoteI'm looking to get my first digital alti. but can't decide between the N3 or the Viso II. Any comments? Thanks I have an Altitron which I love. Big numbers and it works great. http://www.chutingstar.com/newgear_en/altitron-digital-altimeter.htmlLife is all about ass....either you're kicking it, kissing it, working it off, or trying to get a piece of it. Muff Brother #4382 Dudeist Skydiver #000 www.fundraiseadventure.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DSE 3 #17 May 25, 2012 QuoteMy Viso II has bad habit of recording very inaccurate freefall info. If I were to go by the numbers my fastest freefall speed was almost mach 1 and almost 30 minutes of freefall time in one jump... Care to post a screenshot of that? Perchance is it displaying feet and you're reading meters? Otherwise, could be a defective unit. L&B will replace it at any authorized gear store. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pchapman 261 #18 May 26, 2012 Quote If I were to go by the numbers my fastest freefall speed was almost mach 1 Don't know about your unit specifically but: Weird "maximum" numbers do show up on different devices. I trust average speeds much more than maxima. Even with some internal averaging, changes in airflow can cause weird effects. (Eg, the trace from my Protrack, mounted outside a helmet, shows say 160 mph maximum every time I track off from an RW jump -- something that clearly isn't true or I would have been kicked off bigways long ago.) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 143 #19 May 26, 2012 QuoteQuoteMy Viso II has bad habit of recording very inaccurate freefall info. If I were to go by the numbers my fastest freefall speed was almost mach 1 and almost 30 minutes of freefall time in one jump... Care to post a screenshot of that? Perchance is it displaying feet and you're reading meters? Otherwise, could be a defective unit. L&B will replace it at any authorized gear store. My Viso 2 records weird max speeds that I don't really believe - 180Mph on a normal belly jump and 80Mph max canopy speed on a Sabre 170. I don't think I would recommend a Viso for a sub A license jumper though. I like mine under canopy, but I find the Galaxy a whole bunch easier to glance at in freefall. I honestly think that as the OP lists 10 jumps this is something that should be fully discussed with his instructor prior to jumping with a different alti than the original training.Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
strife 0 #20 May 26, 2012 after I got my A, ive been jumping with an altitrack and a viso2 on the forearm mainly for bit more accurate readings under canopy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites