Hellis

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Posts posted by Hellis

  1. obelixtim

    Need to be careful with that.

    In NZ, an off landing now has to be recorded and an incident report filed (yes its ridiculous), so data could be used by CAA/FAA/CQS or any anti skydiving movement as a stick to beat skydiving with.

    Dead skydivers being left to rot is pretty rare.

    Good spotting and a good check in system works OK.



    Why am I not surprised?


    To OP.
    If you do make this app, make it smart and it's probably easier to get people to like it.
    For example, tracking people all the time will drain people's batteries and feel quite awkward.
    So my advice is set up a perimeter around the DZ. If you are outside this line below 1000 ft then it should show up on manifest computer.
    Also make the manifest app alarm when it happens.

    And then to make sure you don't get false alarms (because too many of them, then nobody will care) do not track if the phone has been on ground more than 10 minutes or so.
    That way people can leave the DZ for lunch without closing the app and not creating an alarm.

    An automatic on function of the app would also be good but that is probably harder to get working.

  2. Anachronist

    I assume all of these are broadcasting on FRS frequencies.

    I have a Scena 20S and it does work for wingsuiting. The sound from free fall is pretty loud though, you have to shout and one to two word communication is best. The biggest let down is the range, it is touted at over a mile, but in the air is maybe only good out to 300 meters, standing on the road in front of my house with nothing between us, at max 200 meters.

    At least for wingsuiting, push to talk with a controller in your left hand and using a regular land based (FRS) radio would work well but would require more wiring up than most people (including me would want to do). The appeal of the motorcycle systems is that it is all in the helmet, but the range sucks.




    I bought these a few years ago and have used them both while skydiving and skiing and they have about the range they state. 1200 m or (4000 ft.)

    And since they are dirt cheap (compared with sena) I think they are worth the money.
    Battery is good too, no problem lasting a full day of skiing in cold weather.
    The only downside is that you can only talk to one person at the time.

    I have never tried them in freefall, pretty sure it won't work.

  3. Charge it once a week?
    There is a off button.


    Did you get a quote on $50-60? Sounds steep.
    Where do you get the $80 from?
    Sounds as if you are just tossing numbers in to the air. Are you sure it has ground to land on?


    Regarding your sim card. Sure.
    Can't argue since I don't know whats on offer over there. But here you can buy prepaid sim cards.
    Cost is about $7-10 to buy and will last you many years.

  4. One of the trackers is lost and not suitable.
    It was a flat, and large as a cell phone and white.
    No place to attach it, meant a pocket had to be made.
    Pocket opened, tracker fell.


    This one is probably the best I have found.
    I did not buy it from this company, it was someone else. Same product.
    http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/2015-New-Factory-Mini-Waterproof-Pet_60087623974.html?spm=a2700.7724838.30.84.x20I8w
    I tested the unit and got about 12 days battery time when laying in a window poor cell and GPS reception.
    (it goes in power save mode but wakes up every now and then to get a new GPS position. This took a long time because of the poor reception.)
    Very good mounting for a main, easy to build.
    Type 4 bindning and some flat dacron and it's a very "tight" mount on the d-bag.
    The only problem was the on/off button.
    I tried to ask for a special software which made it turn on off as a cypres but did not get a "yes".
    They confirmed that it was possible but kept trying to stay off the topic.


    The next one was this unit:
    http://ningmore.en.alibaba.com/product/60170926875-220437413/2015_long_battery_and_mini_size_child_anti_kidnapping_gps_tracker_with_free_tracking_site_and_APP.html
    I actually think I found the company I bought this and the one above from.
    It's a nice device. Waterproof with about one week battery if I remember correct.
    I thought I could attach it to the metal clip, and it worked fine for a few jumps.
    But after each jump the unit got less and less waterproof as the clip opened the device more and more.
    After about ten jumps I took it off.
    Again problems with the on/off.
    I bought it because he claimed it was "hard" to turn off. It wasn't.
    This one also has a special connector to charge it, which makes it hard(er) to charge when you need. The others use a mini/micro USB.


    The issue seems to be the forces on the everything as the canopy opens.
    I never thought it would be so hard on stuff.
    But with the "correct" way of mounting it, spreading the load, it is possible to have something there.


    The problem seems to be the on/off.
    I have thought of opening one and trying to replace the on/off with a old classic on/off (slide switch left/right), but it seems there is some programming controlling the on/off.
    To turn on you just push the button.
    Off you need to push once to "wake it up" and once again to switch off.


    If I ever build one from scratch I would have a reed switch as on/off.
    That would be awesome.
    Just set a magnet close to the unit and it turns on/off.


    All of the devices I have bought and have asked for manuals on are the same software.
    You can easily see that they all work the same and all the commands (or most of them) are the same.
    Probably that is the reason why I did not get the "yes" on building a special software to the device.

  5. hackish

    ***Nice work!

    How do you find GPSes that cost $100-200? Mine only costs about $35 including taxes and shipping.



    I have never seen a GPS unit sold for that price. That ioda one was around $150 when I looked at it. Do you have a link?

    -Michael

    Sure!

    You need to buy them in China.
    Alibaba.com
    But be aware, there is a bunch of frauds there.
    I have bought from three different peoples (or companies, I honestly don't know. Could be someones toilet that is the office for all I know)
    Anyways, I have no complaints on any of those three.

    I got what I orderd, some of them are more problematic to get to the point of actually making the buy/sale but once the deal was done they kept their word.
    Also be prepaired to get spamed after the sale is done. They always want to to buy more the next day.
    And they will keep on doing this for a few weeks.

    On Aliexpress however, there seems to be more frauds.
    Aliexpress is meant for normal people buying one or two units, but alibaba is mainly a buisness 2 buisness page.

    I orderd from a guy on aliexpress and he kept trying to change the order after the deal was done.
    Trying to tell me customs would not allow him to send unit X but unit Y is OK to be shiped out of China.
    After a week of him trying to change it his time was up and I pushed the "fraud" button and got my money back. No issues at all with that.

    Alibaba however does not have the fraud money back thing as far as I know.

    One thing to keep in mind.
    What I have learned both from reading what others have written and own observations, if a Chiness does not answer "yes". That means they will not do it.
    They will most likely not answer at all because they don't like to say no, but it does mean no.
    Do not try and force it.

    When I have more time tomorrow I can give you some links to devices I have bought and tell you how they did not work ;-)

  9. Nice work!

    How do you find GPSes that cost $100-200? Mine only costs about $35 including taxes and shipping.

    Would love to see a real test of the device.
    I made two test jumps last summer with GPS units.
    First one landed in the middle of the field as I planned.
    On the second jump the thermals had picked up some and the test became 'for real'.


    A very quick edit of the jump and geting it back.
    Have fast forwarded when nothing out of interest is happening.
    Before anyone says anything about it, everyone knew what I was doing and the plan was for me to stay up for as long as possible and let everyone else come down to a safe low altitude where my PC would not be an issue.
    https://youtu.be/Qbnv5tEdkaQ

  11. skow

    Think you could share it?



    It's mentioned in the flysight wiki.
    It's a Excel add-in. It only works on windows computers as the apple version of Excel is not nearly enough advanced.

    You need to grant the add in permisson to install itself on your Excel.
    Once that is done Excel should recognize flysight files and prompt you if you wish to use the software or not, and if you want to change the settings.

  12. Ouch! Not Stonetether?

    I was very close on backing that project.
    I'm happy I didn't.

    Since I'm not a backer I can't see everything on the kickstarter page, but yesterday when I was there it almost looked close to be released?
    It was a working device on a video. Didn't look like a prototype.
    But maybe it needs bugtesting first, and that can take a long time.

  17. Nicknero1405

    With a little over 100 jumps, I had my first reserve procedure.
    Story behind it? Well...
    My first jump of 2016, happened on the 10th of jan 2016 and I had a VERY long snuffle. Or however you call the process of deployment where the slider hasn't come down yet when you're still slowing down from terminal velocity.

    Anyway, I had the bad luck that the slider enjoyed it's time a little too much inside my main as it refused to come down. I opened on 3,500ft and the chute came out of the bag just fine. But at 2,000ft my beeper went off (Alarm to indicate that this is the time to decide if you chop the main or not.) But I got into a brain-freeze and I didn't know what to do. I had my hands on the back risers and I was pulling like a mad-man trying to get the chute to fully deploy, And eventually it finally fully deployed. I looked at my altitude and it said 1,200ft. HOLY SHIT! That could have ended way worse. It's simply too low for comfort and I should have already cut away. But for some reason I didn't.

    Second jump the parachute opened just fine. But third jump, it happened again. But this time I was prepared. If my beeper goes of again, I'm chopping this son of a bitch!. I looked at my altitude and it was dropping fast! 2,000ft came close and yup, still no fully deployed chute. Beeper went of, and I had no moment of doubt: I had to get rid of this shit and get someone to check it out before it's going to be my death. So I chopped the main and pulled the reserve. All ended well, except of the main landing directly in the channel. aka water. :(

    I collected the main and let it dry. I found the freebag on a field a little further away and I kept hold on both of the handles Aka Cutaway and Reserve deployer.

    But damn, this was one heck of a day. I learned a lot this day and I'm glad that I'm actually able to share this story without any physical harm to myself other than a wet main.

    Here is a outside video from another guy who I jumped with. It's really hard to see because the lens was foggy due to the cloud we went through and I was far away. Even after zooming in 600% it's still vague. But you can clearly see the main and freebag flying away as I tumble down waiting for the reserve to deploy.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb9KwNhPNMg



    What canopy do you jump?
    Sounds like there is a problem with it.

    Is this a new canopy for you or is it the same you have jumped previously?

  18. mathrick

    Because generally gluing things down with a resin-type substance makes it hard to rotate them? I don't quite see how you'd work around that. I'm not familiar with the specific Contour mount you're referring to, so I have no idea how it managed to make the camera able to rotate around an axis while having gaps pluggable by polymorph. The only way I see is to have an internal point-attached mount covered externally by an enclosed fairing, but that's way more complex even than my idea.

    The mounting plate doesn't rotate with with the visor when it goes up and down, but it is adjustable if you loosen the hex bolt in the middle. That's how the helmet is constructed, and the washer is specifically intended as an attachment point; the other side doesn't have mounting holes drilled (though you can swap them freely).




    So if you are going to use a bolt when mounting it at the visor, why not use a bolt at the dytterpocket?
    No shit you can't glue something and then expect it to rotate.

    I would have used something like this:
    http://fa-stone.en.alibaba.com/product/552068781-213362208/serrated_lock_washer_din6798.html
    Attach one on the camera and one on the helmet.
    Bolt through that you can loosen when you want to rotate it.

    It will leave a smal gap between helmet and camera, but this can be filled with....

  19. Well....
    Then maybe you have the wrong helmet for the type of jumping you want to do?

    And why would you not be able to adjust the angle if you attach it to the audible pocket?
    Or what makes it adjustable on the other position higher up? You said the round thing there by the visor does not rotate (?), so how does that make it more adjustable than not being able to rotat a few inches lower?


    The Contour has (had) a similar shape and had a rotatable mount. It did stick out from the helmet, but this gap can be filled with polymorph.

  20. mathrick

    Indeed, my earlier attempts at a design had that, and the helmet has a built-in cutaway too. But manual release systems require composure, mental power, time, and not having a snapped neck to activate; all precious commodities when you're busy entangling with your last remaining canopy. So I'm trying to make it release on its own, since I cannot completely prevent snags, given the shape of the camera and the helmet.




    Sorry mate, I call bullshit.

    Unless you have a camera they usually have in a news station studio, I'm not buying it.

    I bet it will take you less than 20 minutes to fix the real problem with polymorph instead of spening hours building a "auto cutaway".
    https://youtu.be/IhVuc6RNyaw

  21. Don't know if this is true, but I have heard from good sources that those cars are easier to steal.
    The "key" sends out the code to the car all the time and can be sniffed with the correct tool.
    So as you park your car someone sniffs the code and makes a copy of this code that their computer sends out, this unlocks your car and lets the theif push start and drive off with your car.

    But this is only what I have heard.
    Anyone know how true it is?
    It does sound as a big flaw in the system.

  22. bdenny20

    Hi.

    So I went up to my folks' place for Christmas. This is the first time my entire family has been together since I picked up skydiving. While I was talking to my brother about it, I mentioned that because I'm a larger and heavier guy, I've been having a little trouble flying with other people because...well, most of you fuckers are small and I have some difficulty slowing down.

    Now, real quick. He comes from an scientific background. Chemistry, but that path included lots of courses from other areas of focus, including physics. He immediately goes off saying how that shouldn't be a problem, gravity effects everyone the same, fall rates should be equal, yadda yadda yadda you know the type.

    I'm not from a scientific background, let's put it at that. I like flying airplanes and as of recent, jumping out of them. I wasn't able to convince him...so I pulled up a video of a recent jump with me an one other small chick. It shows us docked in a two way belly, and as soon as we separate, I take off like a rock.

    He's perplexed. I know of the concepts of air resistance and how I'm still new and my form isn't spot on, but I'm not smart enough to come up with an educated response....How do I explain to non-skydivers that us fattys have a hard time keeping up with lighter peeps?



    Maybe he was thinking of how things fall if there is no air?
    If you remove the air resistance from it, he is correct.
    And most likely he remembers this from school because it's one of those things the teachers 'outsmarts' the class with.

    I believe Mythbusters tested it in one of thier episodes.

  23. baronn

    Some really amazing footage of the wingsuit scene but, the rest of the movie and the story line could have sure used some improvement. Doubtful this will be as much of an asset to the skydive community as the original did.




    Meh... I found the BASE/skydivingscens the least impressive.

    What was it 3 minutes of video to fly through the crack?

  24. I had a day in the workshop a few years ago to figure out how break cord works.
    It is very concistent at 80 lbs or whatever the load is supposed to be depending on the setup. (Loop = 160 lbs)

    However, inspect the cord for defects, a smal error in the pattern means a big loss in strenght.

    Also with your setup you shoud think about the movements will "eat" the materail.

    This is by no means sscientific, but this is some videos of how break cord handles load and different static line setups.
    The excelfile is probably in swedish and most likely hard to read even for a swede. It was never intended to be read by others, it was just my sum up of the tests.

    http://217.209.138.12/Videoklipp/2012/Fallskärm/Dragtest/

  25. base570

    ******Please post when it's on DVD :)



    Any news on this yet?


    Here ya go, just in time for Xmas!! Also keep an eye out on CNN in January. It will be shown along with a bunch of other BASE stuff I hear.

    USA/Canada: click WATCH ON DEMAND here http://www.magpictures.com/sunshinesuperman/


    UK and IRELAND
    http://amzn.to/1FDbUYX

    AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
    http://bit.ly/1LB9BVl

    NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM
    http://www.bol.com/nl/p/sunshine-superman/9200000035993887/

    GERMANY
    http://www.amazon.de/Sunshine-Superman-John-B-Macaulay/dp/B013J9X910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450502642&sr=8-1&keywords=sunshine+superman

    SWITZERLAND
    http://www.cede.ch/de/movies/?branch=2&view=resulttile&sort=7&branch_sub=0&search=sunshine+superman


    ITALY
    http://www.amazon.it/Sunshine-Superman-Cecilie-Bull/dp/B012OQXWF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450502773&sr=8-1&keywords=sunshine+superman

    MEXICO Amazon
    http://www.amazon.com.mx/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_es_MX=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sunshine+superman+dvd+-donovan&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asunshine+superman+dvd+-donovan

    Spain
    http://www.elcorteingles.es/cine/pelicula/sunshine-superman-marah-strauch-blu-ray-dvd-001025981502039

    NORWAY, SWEDEN, DENMARK, FINLAND
    http://cdon.no/film/sunshine_superman_%28blu-ray%29-34878856


    Got mine yesterday.
    Still wrapped in plastic.