HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: eap@leland.Stanford.EDU (Eric Perozziello)
Subject: Re: CYPRES altitude readings
Keywords: turbulence pressure physics-weenies
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 92 00:24:28 GMT


{most good stuff deleted}

>	Yes, it's exponential, but the difference in pressure between
>your back and your front will never be detectable on your altimeter,
>if that's what the question implied.
>

Most people say they've seen this, though (Via altitude reading change)

>Do you still trust your altimeter?
>

Absolutely, when I'm belly down. If it's "off", it'll be "off"
in the safe direction. 

>	Everybody says that "the altimeter reads high when you're on
>your back."  This is generally true, but something to think about
>might be that it probably reads *low* when you're on your belly; your

Yes, this is known.  This is also the problem. If you're on your back,
that ain't a good position for deployment. Hence, one might think he/she
is higher, and then they flip over (500 -1000 feet lower) and find out
"oh shit, I'm low". 
 
>falling makes a pressure wave in front of you, where your altimeter is
>usually riding, making it think you're at a lower altitude.  I doubt
>the altimeter manufacturers did (or even could, since it would vary
>widely) correct for this.  So don't be all that scared if there's a
>1000' difference between what's indicated when you're on your back and
>on your belly; it probably means the altimeter's several hundred feet
>off your actual altitude in each case (with the real answer somewhere
>in-between).
>

You seem to know this stuff well. Can you give us a (approx) 
calculation for the pressure difference for an average jumper, and
roughly how much altitude differnce this corresponds to? (I wouldn't
know where to start!) Thanks for the input!

-Eric

Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: dappel@grafted.UUCP (Dave Appel)
Subject: Re: malfunction stats
Organization: GRAFTED, Central Indiana's Usenet BBS 317-881-4369
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 17:37:38 CST

pvf@alantec.com (Paul Fries) writes:

> OK, let's try this again...

289 0 0 dappel@f30.n231.z1.fidonet.org

--
Dave Appel
The Grafted Branch BBS
317-881-4369
internet: dappel@grafted.UUCP
uucp: ..!uunet!grafted.UUCP!dappel
 = = Grafted Branch BBS (317) 889-6997 2 Gig on-line = =
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: bdaniels@ssf-sys.DHL.COM (Ben Daniels)
Subject: Re: You may pick up your
Organization: DHL Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 19:53:34 GMT

In article <1992Sep22.021330.10747@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu> bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Robert Church) writes:

>By the way, I thought 'The Right Stuff' was incredible. Many parts of it
>hit home but none as much as when Shepard is sitting in the capsule. 
>Everyone comments on how scared he must be. It's like doing an airshow
>and people think that you're nervous (you are). However, they think
>that it's because of fear of getting hurt or killed. Like Shepard said
>though 'Dear God, don't let me fuck up'. That's the real fear.

Yes, that struck me too.

Interesting thing now is that I'm learning to see my fear of making mistakes
(especially out in public) as a no-longer-bearable self imposed limit.

If I can't make mistakes then I have to go around pretending that I already
know how to do everything which is a hard one to maintain. And pretty much
precludes me from learning anything new.

It's very humbling to realize how many things I did because I was worried
about what *they* would think.

And the real irony is that if *they* even noticed, they probably didn't
give a damn anyway.

So here I am at the ripe young age of 50 and I think I detect the first
faint glimmerings of growing up (gasp).

This weekend I flew 300 nautical miles without getting lost or running
into anything. It was my second cross country. The first 20 or 30 minutes
were scary as shit as I headed out over this vast unknown continent with
my home nest receding into the distance behind me. But then I realized
that I could actually hold a heading and see checkpoints.

And I made the two worst landings I've made since I started learning.
And of course the whole town had turned out and was watching from the
bleachers along side the runway. But nobody laughed (at least not over
the radio). And you know what? I wasn't even embarrassed.

So progress is possible.

Skratch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email:  bdaniels@ssf-sys.DHL.COM
From: bm127@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (T. David Gossett)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: jumping around
Date: 29 Sep 1992 22:51:50 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


I just completed my first jump about 1.5 months ago and want to 
continue.  I took my lessons at Thunderbird club in Richmond
KY.  I was wondering.  If you want to jump from another club,
do you just have to pay the $15-25 for the chute and flight or do
you have to start over with the $100+ bucks?
---DG
-- 
bm127@cleveland.freenet.edu The above statement obviously
doesn't contain my  own thoughts.  If it did it would 
probably make sense.
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: bob@pta.pyramid.com.au (Robert Vernon)
Subject: Re: CYPRES altitude readings
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corporation, Sydney
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 09:58:13 GMT

In article <1992Sep24.193259.12039@mercury.cair.du.edu> jvilhube@diana.cair.du.edu (Jan Vilhuber) writes:

>Hm.. I seem to recall talking to one of my AFF instructors about why he 
>didn't like wearing a wrist-mount altimeter, when doing AFF. He said,
>when he had his hand on the student (i.e. leg-strap grips), his
>altimeter (on the same hand) read 1000ft.

Never noticed with AFF.  But then I don't wear my alti on my leg-grip
arm anyway, so I wouldn't notice.

The reason why I always wear a wrist-mount, is so I can look at my alti
without taking my eyes off the student.  If I go reserve-side, then I
grip the students left arm with my left hand so I wear the alti on my
left wrist.  If I go main-side then everything gets reversed.  I guess
there's not enough vacuum over the students arm to make the alti
misread.  

If you really want to see the effects of the burble, get one real
stable Stage I student, and two jumpmasters.  The JMs should both stay
in close after the student pull.  Then watch the JMs both go apeshit as
they see the pilot chute bounce around with the bridle trying to tie
knots in everything.


Bob V!
From: bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Robert Church)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Bungee vs. Skydiving
Date: 3 Oct 92 11:51:26 GMT
Organization: Ohio University School of Art. Athens

In article <1108.2ACD24AD@ehsnet.fidonet.org> SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE) writes:
>Reply-to: Bill.Caefer@p0.f853.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Caefer)
>Fido-To: romulus!ra.oc.com!mandel%jumprun
>
> r> : How would you describe the difference between bungee-ing and skydiving?
> r> : I bungeed from a 175+ foot high crane, and am interested in skydiving.
> r> : Anyone have any comparison comments? Thanks....
> r> : Bill
>
> r> Kinda like the difference between riding on a Merry-Go-Round and going
> r> horseback riding.

When I mentioned to a student that I was going Skydiving this weekend she asked
if I ever bungee jumped. When I said no she asked why. She had never tried 
either. I had to think about this one and answered quite honestly.
"It's a matter of money. I can go to 12,000 feet with several friends, exit the
aircraft and spend 60 to 70 seconds flying my body in freefall while building
formations. Then, I'll open my parachute and spend two to three minutes flying
this 'nylon motorcycle' across the sky. For about $15.00. Or, I can dangle
under a hundred foot cord a few seconds for 50 - 100 dollars."




-- 
*********************************************
*    bob church                             *
*    bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu           *
*    D-8195 NFS #27                         *
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: compressed air-horn
Date: 1 Oct 92 15:36:50 GMT

Reply-to: Bill.Caefer@p0.f853.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Caefer)
Fido-To: romulus!andrew.cmu.edu!dr25+

 r> promised my DZ owner that I would look into getting a compressed 
 r> air-horn and jumping with it strapped to my leg or something.  I 
 r> could then use the horn to get the attention of the folks on the
 r> ground in the event they miss my opening.  My concern is, just how well
 r> is one of these horns going to stand up to being depressurized 
 r> to 13,500FT and back to sea-level multiple times.  

 r> If anybody has any information on how safe it would be 
 r> to cycle one of these 
 r> cans through this pressure range I would apreciate it if you could 

Well, not specifically, but I've taken cans of Coke up there.  I'm sure they are much weaker than those cans, although they have less internal pressure also.  Hard to say.

It's easy enough to find out...

--- Maximus 2.01wb
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: <X> Infinity Ltd.  HST/DS (1:102/853)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Number of jumps
Date: 30 Sep 92 22:12:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1117.2ACD2504

Reply-to: Paul.Stansberry@p0.f22.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Stansberry)
Fido-To: romulus!tne01.tele.nokia.fi!

Wednesday September 30 1992, romulus!tne01.tele.nokia.fi!psaarel writes to Skydive:

 >> #jumps              #jumps          #mal

 rtnf> Pete             1300             0

I'd be willing to bet, that you pack your chute pretty cleanly, and ALWAYS
check all your lines thoroughly.  The guy who taught me (Hector Mandel) does
a GREAT job of packing.  I watch others now, and get worried.  Anyway, I also
pay very close attention to just about everything with that entire rig.  All
the way up until exit time.


--- GoldED 2.40
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: The Workshop BBS (217-352-6168) - <V32b/HST> (FidoNet 1:233/22)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Skydiving marana
Date: 4 Oct 92 12:44:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1151.2AD198C3

Reply-to: Paul.Stansberry@p0.f22.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Stansberry)
Fido-To: anthony maglietta

Wednesday September 30 1992, Anthony Maglietta writes to Paul Stansberry:

 AM>   Very few people who run DZs are in it for the money.  They make most
 AM> of their money from new students.  Consider where I jump...It takes 5
 AM> jumpers about 30min to get to jump altitude in a small Cessna.  Another
 AM> 10-15 for the plane to get back down.  Now if the plane costs $100/hour
 AM> tack time, what would you charge your jumpers?

I will answer that with a question, where on earth do you buy your fuel? Our
pilots are volunteer, they fly for the hours, which saves them mucho bucks.  I
do not know what our DZ owner spends to keep the plane in good flying shape,
but 100 per hour sure sounds a tad steep.  A BIG tad.  :-)

What kind of Cessna do you use?  We use a C-182, only 4 passengers are allowed
in the plane, more is illegal from what I hear.


--- GoldED 2.40
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: The Workshop BBS (217-352-6168) - <V32b/HST> (FidoNet 1:233/22)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: shibuya@mailhost.bl.cad.slb.com (Hiroto Shibuya)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: It happened...
Date: 5 Oct 92 01:45:48 GMT
Reply-To: shibuya@mailhost.bl.cad.slb.com
Distribution: rec
Organization: Applicon; Billerica, MA (USA)

I think it was asked several time on this group if anybody ever hit a
bird in a freefall, (or was it just hitting plane in freefall?) I
don't remember the answer to it, but, well, I think we have enough
circumstantial evidence that we did.

I was on today's last Otter load at Pepperell Sports Parachute Center
(MA) doing 4way with Tom McLaughan.  After not too bad 4 way, the last
point before the break off was 2 way in the middle, Tom and another
Tom, and two of us were side docked on them.  As we got that point,
Tom McLaughan felt rather strong impact on his right hand, and other
Tom on his left chest.  I felt something hitting my chest lightly.
Nobody saw anything.  I first thought my chest strap came undone, or
something, so I checked everthing as tracking, seemed ok so I dumped. 

As we got togather on the ground.  Tom showed us his glove with a
little stain of blood, and pieces of some kind of guts or meat.
None of us were hurt nor bleeding, so we concluded that we hit a small
bird at around 3,500.
From: bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (Robert Church)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Case of Beer!
Date: 29 Sep 92 21:50:17 GMT
Organization: Ohio University School of Art . Athens

In article <cx+p1sl@lynx.unm.edu> crockett@TECHNET.NM.ORG writes:

>Some people in the plane called it a pop & hop.  I had only one thing
>on my mind: arch and pull (oh well that's two things), so I pulled
>right away.  After all I didn't want to make my jump master look bad
>by bouncing.

I did one of those on my 10th jump. My ninth was a reserve brought on by
a sleeve lock, so they let me slide on that one.


-- 
*********************************************
*    bob church                             *
*    bchurch@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu           *
*    D-8195 NFS #27                         *
From: drf40@cd.amdahl.com (Daryl Fortney)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: EXPERIENCE
Date: 6 Oct 92 17:47:13 GMT
Reply-To: drf40@cd.amdahl.com
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA


	Sorry about my post, guess I did get a little carried away by
expressing how skydiving felt to me. Shoulda posted it to some
rec.skydiving.emotional.smiley or something.  I can assure you that I
will never share my feelings with you guys again. It isn't healthy.

	-df

-- 
Daryl Fortney						drf40@cd.amdahl.com
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: fsbgf@acad3.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: High altitude bungee jump
Date: 4 Oct 92 22:51:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: acad3.1992Oct4.145117.1
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks

In article <1992Oct3.121203.1@acad3.alaska.edu>, fsbgf@acad3.alaska.edu writes:
> With all this talk about skydiving and bungee jumping I started thinking...
> has anyone ever exited an airplane like a Casa or Caribou connected to the
> plane with a long rope/bungee and been towed behind the airplane then cut
> away from the cord to freefall?? It sounds like it could be fun if done
> right.
> 				Brandon


It has been pointed out to me that this is an old topic, so disreguard
this post....Thanks
				Brandon
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Skydiving Arizona
Date: 28 Sep 92 14:02:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1110.2ACD24C0

Reply-to: Bill.Caefer@p0.f853.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Caefer)
Fido-To: romulus!chdasic.sps.mot.com!beutel

 r> I can't stay away...!

 r> I quess to make an enjoyable long story short, Arizona is very
 r> pretty. I really like flying over it and now jumping over it.
 r> Is there anyone else out there that shares my feelings? Any locals?
 r> I have been jumping Marana Jump Center, near Tucson. Although I 
 r> live in Phoenix. 

Glad to hear it.  Welcome to the sport.  But after you graduate and get off student status, try jumping at ELOY instead of Marana.  I think you will be glad that you did.

--- Maximus 2.01wb
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: <X> Infinity Ltd.  HST/DS (1:102/853)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Skydiving
Date: 5 Oct 92 13:52:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1153.2AD198D7

Reply-to: Paul.Shafer@p0.f13.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Shafer)
Fido-To: jerry self

WITFITS!
--- Maximus-CBCS v1.02
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: Check Source BBS (1:233/13)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: jumpers whiplash?
Date: 2 Oct 92 12:22:10 GMT

Reply-to: Paul.Stansberry@p0.f22.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Stansberry)
Fido-To: romulus!landru.mtc.ti.com!rm

Wednesday September 30 1992, romulus!landru.mtc.ti.com!rmfowler writes to Skydive:

 rmtc> I just made my first tandem jump this past weekend and noticed
 rmtc> some aches in my body for a couple of days afterwards.  Most
 rmtc> notably was a slight "whiplash" feeling in my neck and back.
 rmtc> My friend who also jumped felt the same.
 rmtc> I watched the video and didn't notice much of a jerk when the
 rmtc> chute opened but that's the only explanation I could think of.

 rmtc> Anyone else ever noticed anything like this?

Yes, you were just using muscles you have never used before.


--- GoldED 2.40
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: The Workshop BBS (217-352-6168) - <V32b/HST> (FidoNet 1:233/22)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Number of jumps (mals)
Date: 4 Oct 92 12:24:26 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1157.2AD198FF

Reply-to: romulus!ache.mad.adelaide.edu.au!dp@p0.f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (romulus!ache.mad.adelaide.edu.au!dp)
Fido-To: skydive

From  romulus!ra.oc.com!news
From: romulus!ache.mad.adelaide.edu.au!dparsons (David Parsons)
To:   ehsnet!skydive
Date: 4 Oct 92 11:32:04 GMT

> In article <7120@lhdsy1.lahabra.chevron.com>,
> (Philip Yzarn de Louraille) writes:
>
> Just for kicks and concerning malfunction rates of main parachutes, why
> don't we all write the number of jumps we have and the number of main
> malfunctions we got so far......

                 rounds              squares             aad
             #jumps   #mal      #jumps    #mal      saves    #mal
   Me        ~140       1        1485      2         n/a     n/a
                                 includes 1 on
                                 Vector tandem (pilot)

David Parsons :dparsons@ache.mad.adelaide.edu.au

--- eecp 1.45 LM2 
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: Cloud Chamber >>HST<< 1-217-684-2081  (1:233/15)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: kroon@alice.att.com (Peter Kroon)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: malfunctions
Date: 5 Oct 92 23:23:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.23812
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill NJ


Since the topic was brought up I want to share some of my experiences:

Until about 3 weeks ago I had 1800 jumps and 0 malfunctions. 
Now I have about 1860 and 2 malfunctions, so I am back to this one out
of 1000 average. The other interesting fact was that I had the 2 mals
on the same day. On different rigs though. Both malfunctions were line
over, and were not clearable. Both of them were packing errors, and the
only excuse that I can use is that I did not pack them myself. I do
heavy duty 4-way, and we do not have time to pack ourselves. 

The first one I found kind of interesting, because after so many jumps
you are kind of wondering about experiencing a malfunction, but I found
it actually no big deal. The lineover is a very obvious mal, and since
they tend to spin pretty violenty, cutting away is an easy choice to make.

The second one p*ssed me of, but hey you cannot land a spinning mal.

If I had been packing myself then I probably would still have 0 mals.

I do not what other's people experience with packers is, but I found that
in general, you get sh*tty openings and every once in a while some of the
fun that I described above. 
Maybe it is better to follow the strategy of the Golden Knights.
They pack
their own canopies but they use all kind of shortcuts in the way they
stow the lines etc. They were training at the ranch a month ago, and one
of their guys was able to pack in about 2 1/2 minutes,
 which I found pretty impressive.
-- 
Peter Kroon  D-12374

phone: (908) 582 7000 
Email: kroon@research.att.com
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Skydiving
Date: 5 Oct 92 13:52:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1154.2AD198E1

Reply-to: Paul.Shafer@p0.f13.n233.z1.fidonet.org (Paul Shafer)
Fido-To: jerry self

How are you taday?


--- Maximus-CBCS v1.02
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: Check Source BBS (1:233/13)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
From: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.fidonet.org (SKYDIVE)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: used 28' round
Date: 28 Sep 92 14:11:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: ehsnet.1111.2ACD24C9

Reply-to: Bill.Caefer@p0.f853.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Caefer)
Fido-To: romulus!trl.oz.au!l.lorrain

 r> What ever he spends is  wasted as ROUND canopys donot assend. They do not
 r> generate lift and will not parasail
 r> You need at least a PC (para commanda) type of canopy.

Hmmmmm.  Ya know?  The last time I looked at one, I could swear that a PC was round.


--- Maximus 2.01wb
--- eecp 1.45 LM2 

 * Origin: <X> Infinity Ltd.  HST/DS (1:102/853)
--  
SKYDIVE - via FidoNet node 1:233/13
internet: SKYDIVE@f15.n233.z1.FIDONET.ORG
-- Check Source BBS, (217) 244-6954, HST, V.32, V.42bis ---
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: drury@helix.nih.gov (Richard Drury)
Subject: Re: Our daily philosophy question
Organization: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 13:47:08 GMT

In article <f9ZS02GF23lb01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> drp40@cd.amdahl.com writes:
>
>Who goes through your pockets for beer money when you go in?

My ex-wife would.  Gleefully.
--
Richard A. Drury
drury@helix.nih.gov
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
From: WALKERK@ssvax1.ssd.loral.com ('Kent Walker')
Subject: Re: Setting DYTTERS
Organization: Space Systems/Loral
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 16:47:52 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20

In <1992Oct1.224351.17527@leland.Stanford.EDU> eap@leland.Stanford.EDU writes:

> I first set my DYTTER at about 3500 or 3000 to remind me that it's 
> time to stop RW.  I soon found this was asking for trouble when I
> started to depend on it.  I quickly moved my set point to 2 grand,
> as a "hey you idiot, get that damn main out" reminder, in the event
> that I'm distracted (like by trying to avoid another jumper, or
> trying to track out of the area of an open canopy of some jerk
> that went low and dumped). Now I'm thinking that it might be better
> as a "lower" warning. I feel I have good altitude awareness (at 
> least reasonable) in these situations, but not nearly enough
> altitude awareness when I'm in deployment. Sometimes my cheststrap
> twists on opening and I can't even see my altimeter. 
> 
> I agree a two-tone DYTTER would be better.

The DYTTER is similar to a ParAlert, isn't it - approximately a 10-second tone? 
If so, you already have a two-tone system.  Set it for about 3000 feet for
break-off.  When the tone STOPS(!) you know you're getting too low.  If you
can't hear the tone or can't determine when the tone stops, you're already
placing too much faith in technology to save your life.
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving