Skytronic Pro

I had to get my Skytronic serviced, and then replaced about 3 years ago. Since then, it has performed reliably on audible warnings always, although I always check the warnings on the way up. Incidentally, I have also seen it go dark on the way to altitude when the batteries became too pooped to participate. It fits in a helmet pocket and has easy controls.

All this having been said, I have recently bought a Pro-Track to get the history of jumps and more detailed fall-rate info, which also happens to be able to be set to miles/hr.

If any of the above seems inaccurate, I am jumping a 3-year-old Sytronic Pro.

Harry

I bought a skytronics as my first audible. When it works, it works good. I have a lot of problems ending up with the same numbers (time, speed, exit, opening) as with other jumpers on the same dive even though we all open at the same alt. It never seems to give me the same pull warning twice, shuts off all on its own, and is causing me to buy a pro-track. Don't waste money on this product.

I loved my Skytronic right up 'till the time it bounced. I always heard it go off, even goggles mounted in head-down. None of my mates with other brands can say the same. The timer is great for doing rel training jumps (set for 35 seconds and it tells you when your working time is finished). It logs jumps and gives you your opening altitude and all the rest but to be honest, after the first few jumps I never bother checking it anymore.

3 irritating things about it, their 'low battery' warning is useless. It came on while I was waiting to board the plane and the unit shut down on the climb to height... (expect 300 jumps per set). The shape is difficult to mount to anything but the goggles pouch works well. The 30ft increments for setting the warning tones are too small and call for a lot of button pressing (33 pushes per 1000 ft)

Those aside though, it's the same price as a Pro-dytter but has heaps more features many of which I never used anyway. It's half the price of the Pro-Track and most importantly (for an audible altimiter) it's the most audible on the market. I lost mine last weekend in funneled exit. I have no hesitation in buying the same again and have a new one on order already.

The Skytronic Pro has some great features. I like not having to calculate freefall time, being able to see freefall speed and opening altitude. I also like being able to set warning altitudes in increments other than 500ft. One down side I've encountered is battery problems. If the battery is low, it may still give you alt. warning alerts on the ride to alt., but then fail in freefall. I like my skytronic, but I never rely on it. Buy one if you want the features, but don't rely it, and don't expect it to give you a low battery warning.

Seeing as there is no option to review the Skytronic Pro by Parasport Italia, I'll do my comparison/review here... The Skytronic Pro has a digital display that reads out in 30ft increments so you can set it to the nearest 30ft - nice. It also displays your current altitude on the way up which is useful if you don't wear a visual alti. The alarms signal at the set altitudes on the way up - I prefer this because it's more reasurring to know that's it's gone off at the right altitude on the way up and therefore should do so on the way down.

My batteries lasted around 300 jumps over a year and a bit. The time warning is nice for filming skysurf and freestyle routines to give you a cue for your ending. The Skytronic is simple and good value for money. All I really need is a warning or two on the way down. Number of jumps, exit and opening altitudes and freefall speed and time are nice to knows but I don't need to pay twice the price for even more interesting yet useless extra info.

The only draw back in my book is that you need to tape it up or put it into a pouch to attach it to anything. (eg. Your goggles or the outside of your Gath.) Fortunately I can just pop it into my sidewinder and I'm away.