HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gff%Rational.COM (Geoff Fitch)
Subject: Re: Has anyone ever bought from "AdultToys"
Organization: Rational
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 20:18:47 GMT

I bought two Peltor's from AdultToys and have been very happy with them.
From: khubbard@ems.cdc.com (Kelvin Hubbard)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Re: ANC Headsets
Keywords: ANC, Headsets
Date: 21 Dec 92 18:54:37 GMT
Reply-To: khubbard@ems.cdc.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Empros Systems International, a division of CDC

In article <2551@usna.NAVY.MIL>, dfr@usna.navy.mil (PROF D. Rogers (EAS FAC)) writes:
|> G'day,
|> 
|> Has anyone had addtional experience with the Evolution ANC Headsets?
|> 
|> Anyone had a chance to compare them to the other major brands?
|> 
Unfortunately, No and No to your questions Dave.

I ordered my set of Evolution ANC Headsets on November 9.  Still hav'nt
received them.  I am going to call them again and find out what the hell
is going on.  I called them back on December 10 and they said "They will be
going out tomorrow".  Well, I gave them the benefit of the doubt, and since
it is christmas time, figured it might take a week in the mail/UPS, but 
this is getting a bit ridiculous.
-- 
==========================================================================
Kelvin R. Hubbard                           email: khubbard@ems.cdc.com
Active Software, Inc.           
C/O Empros Systems International            Phone: (612) 553-4560
2300 Berkshire Lane North                     FAX: (612) 553-4018
Plymouth, Minnesota  55441-3694 USA      Mailstop: PLY013

                        In search of the Big Iron.
==========================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: clyde@hitech.com.au (Clyde Smith-Stubbs)
Subject: Re: NiCad charge/recharge (was Re: Using a handheld ...)
Organization: HI-TECH Software, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 15:38:28 GMT

elmore@rap.ucar.edu (Kim Elmore) writes:

>	I'll see if I can dredge up the information, but the "memory"
>effect often associated with NiCd batteries is mythological.  They

Memory is a bad term, but the fact is that NiCd's do need deep
discharge cycles to maintain maximum performance. Agreed, this does
not mean discharging a multi-cell pack down to zero volts. Once a NiCd
starts dropping below 1.2V per cell, it is essentially flat and
should be recharged. Discharging further does indeed risk reverse
charging of individual cells, which is a no-no. But repeated
shallow cycling (e.g. in the range 1.3-1.5V per cell) will result in
an apparent loss of capacity. This is reversible with proper cycling.

It's not a myth, just much misunderstood.
--
 Clyde Smith-Stubbs       | HI-TECH Software,       | Voice: +61 7 300 5011
 clyde@hitech.com.au      | P.O. Box 103, Alderley, | Fax:   +61 7 300 5246
 ...!nwnexus!hitech!clyde | QLD, 4051, AUSTRALIA.   | BBS:   +61 7 300 5235
 HI-TECH Software: C Compilers for all manner of machines
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: jbrown@qdeck.com (Jordan Brown)
Subject: Re: NiCad charge/recharge (was Re: Using a handheld ...)
Organization: Quarterdeck Office Systems, Santa Monica CA
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 01:33:06 GMT

elmore@rap.ucar.edu (Kim Elmore) writes:
> If I can find the long articles, complete with old and new exerpts from
> battery manufacturers, I'll post it in all of its lengthy glory.

Thank you very much for posting those informative articles.

They fail, however, to completely explain a phenomenon I've observed from
my NiCads.

My shaver is rechargeable.  As anybody who knows me can tell you, it doesn't
get used very often, like a few times every three or four years.

I find that whenever I go to use it after it's been unused for a long time,
not only is it dead (surprise, surprise) but it won't hold a charge worth
beans.  If I charge it for a while, then discharge it fully, and repeat the
cycle a few times, it gets better.

What's going on?  Is it just that it's developed some whiskers and that
in my charge/discharge cycling I'm blowing them away?

It seems like I've observed this behavior on several rechargeable devices.
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: matt@iqsc.COM (Matt Reedy)
Subject: Re: handheld GPS in commerical airlines
Organization: IQ Software Corp.
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1993 00:37:48 GMT

In article <JKF.92Dec31061042@frisky.Franz.COM> jkf@Franz.COM (Sean Foderaro) writes:
>  Has anyone tried to use one of the handheld GPS receivers from the 
>inside of a commercial airliner?  Can you receive well enough through 
>the window to determine your position?  

I was just reading in a recent *AOPA Pilot* about a commercial airline 
pilot flying to Hawaii (?) who got a knock on the cabin door.  The flight
attendant said that a passenger had told her the plane was off course.  The
pilot scoffed, scanning his instruments to be sure.  Later the pilot
walked back to the cabin to see this joker, and it turned out he had 2 or
3 GPS receivers and was checking the plane's course.  So, I think the answer
to your question is: yes!

matt
-- 
Matthew Reedy                 UUCP: uunet!iquery!matt
IQ Software Corporation       Internet: matt@iqsc.COM
400 N Loop 1604 E, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX  78232        (512) 490 6684  Fax: (512) 490-3590
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: km11480@medtronic.COM (Keith A. Meisel)
Subject: Re: NiCad charge/recharge (was Re: Using a h
Reply-To: km11480@medtronic.COM
Organization: Medtronic, Inc.
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 17:04:30 GMT

Regarding the "memory" effect of NiCad cells, I vaguely remember an
article in an engineering rag (Design News or Machine Design) which
suggested that the phenomenon does exist, but is actually a function
of the circuit to which the battery is connected (charging circuit or
working circuit, I can't remember), and that if the circuit is designed
properly the memory effect should not manifest itself.

Perhaps someone else has seen this article and can remember which magazine
and issue it was in.  I will search some back issues for the article.  It 
provided tips for circuit design to avoid this "memory" effect.

Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: eandersn@mach1.wlu.ca (Niels Ejvind Andersen)
Subject: Re: Ear protection for small children
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Organization: Wilfrid Laurier University
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 15:13:13 GMT

Dave St.Clair (dave@exlog.com) wrote:
: What does one do for ear protection for a 2 and 4 year old?  The've
: flown with me a few times (local) and really enjoy it -- especially
: my 4 year old.  The only problem is the noise level.  As I'm about
: ready to purchase a plane (cherokee 180), I thought I'd check the
: net.experience.
: 
: Does anyone with small kids use headsets?  When I fly without kids
: (just me and my wife), we both don our FlightCom 5DX's.
: Highly recommend these. We've thought about buying the low end FlightComs
: for the kids.  Are there any headsets just for the little ones?
: Or should we just try earplugs?

My son has been flying with me since his first flight when he was three
years old.  My Telex D950 is huge on his little head, but it has worked
fine on him.  Our flights have been relatively short, though (half an hour
or less).

One problem with a headset plugged into the intercom would be how to stop
the child from talking during critical stages of flight, i.e. landing.  This
has not been a problem for me, but some kids are chatterboxes.  If the
headset can be isolated from the pilot when required, that's good.  If not,
the microphone cable can always be unplugged.
--
Niels Ejvind Andersen     [eandersn@mach2.wlu.ca / 70511.2302@compuserve.com]
Information Systems, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON  N2L 3C5 Canada
                                                                  ... VFR NC4
Xref: sparky rec.aviation.products:287 rec.video:15146
From: falk@peregrine.Sun.COM (Ed Falk)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products,rec.video
Subject: Re: NiCd Batteries, Part 3/3
Date: 28 Dec 1992 19:37:47 GMT
Organization: Sun
NNTP-Posting-Host: peregrine

In article <1992Dec18.170438.11762@ncar.ucar.edu> elmore@rap.ucar.edu (Kim Elmore) writes:
>
>
>                NICAD CELL CHARACTERISTICS
>                            by
>                          W6WTU
>

...


Here's what I do:  When the batteries in a device are low, I remove
them and put them into a discharger I built.  This discharger is simply
a light bulb in series with a battery holder that holds 1 battery.  I
discharge the batteries individually and then put them into the
charger.  Is this good or bad?  I've toyed with adding a diode to
the circuit so that the batteries only discharge to .7 volts instead
of to 0 volts.


> Now, temperature... that's another problem.  I talked to four
> applications engineers at Gates and each one stressed that temperature
> is the killer.  They say that each 10 degree C over the life of the
> cell reduces cell life by one half.  TEMPERATURE, THAT'S THE BIG THING!

That's a qualitative answer; how about a quantitative answer?  How warm
is too warm?  How long is too long?  I keep my batteries at 20 degrees
C (room temperature), does that mean I've reduced the batteries to
1/4?  That doesn't quite make sense to me.  Should I put my charger in
the freezer?

> 1.  Nicads are very easily damaged due to gas pressure caused by
> over-charging at high charge rates.  Unfortunately, Nicads do not have
> a positive indicator for indicating the state of charge.  It is up to
> the user to estimate the relative charge state.  Typically, the charge
> rate is calculated at C/10 where C equals cell capacity and the 10
> represents hours for charging.  At C/10, a nominal or normal charge
> would occur.  A fast charge can be accomplished, cell design
> permitting, by changing the ratio, i.e., 5C/2.

I can't parse this.  I can't figure out the units.  What is C?  Volts?
Milliamp-hours?  If I have a 1.25 volt battery, is C/10 .125 volts/hour?
How do I find out the capacity of a cell?  What exactly does C/10 or
5C/2 mean?

> 3.  Pulse charging of Nicads is most preferred as it is more efficient
> than a steady-state current value.

How do I pulse-charge a Nicad?
		-ed falk, sun microsystems
		 sun!falk, falk@sun.com
	"Towards the end, the smell of their air began to change"
From: ewv@craycos.com (Eric Varsanyi)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Re: Casio Twin-Sensor Altimeter Watch
Date: 28 Dec 92 06:16:30 GMT
Organization: Cray Computer Corporation

In article <1hih6nINNjt2@bigboote.WPI.EDU> cyganski@ee.WPI.EDU (David Cyganski) writes:
>1) The thermometer is useless. In my 68 degree room, right now, it tells
>me that my wrist surface temperature is about 79 degrees.  Thanks.
>I do not find that there is any correspondence between ambient temp. and
>the reading on the watch.

I have a low-tech thermometer/compass on my ski jacket zipper and it
suffers from consistently high readings. A friend said there is some
well known effect (even when wearing a ski jacket and skiing) that
causes warmer air to 'stick' to you and cause higher readings. The
fact this is touching your body makes it even more suspect.

>2) The altimeter readings and the barometer settings are not linked as
>in your cockpit. You can set the barometer to calibrate to the current
>local conditions, but this in no way causes the altimeter to give you
>a calibrated reading of altitude.  

I have the older (last years models) digital altitude/barometer Casio.
I was disappointed that the altimeter doesn't act like an airplane
altimeter as well. There really is NO relation between the barometer
function and the altimeter function. You should NEVER set the barometer
section, it reads ABSOLUTE pressure (and appears pretty accurate at that).
This is NOT the pressure adjusted to sea level that we set into the altimeter.
The only way to set the altimeter is by being at a known altitude and
setting the altimeter to that altitude. Once you are airborne you can't
use the local altimeter setting to set the watch (well, you can set
your real altimeter, then set the watch, but that is kind of a waste
unless you are really paranoid about your altimeter).

All that said, once the altitude is set it is pretty darn accurate. I
set it before takeoff from 00V (6880 ft) and flew around at around
13K one day, the watch and the altimeter in the plane agreed to within
25 feet or so the whole time (taking into account the sample time lag).

Pressure does not seem to be a great way to measure absolute altitudes,
if I'm driving in the mountains and set the altitude at one pass
(based on a sign by the road, ie: Hoosier pass, 10500 ft) then
check it at the next one it is usually off by 200-500 ft. (Irrelevant
note: my GPS almost always matches the surveyed altitudes to within
20 feet or so, without any adjustment from WGS-84).

When I took my altitude chamber ride from the Air Force they made us
take off our watches, however once inside one of the instructors had
a Casio altimeter watch on through the whole thing (which involved
almost explosive decompression from 6K to 22K (5 sec or so)). He
didn't have any problems with the Casio. They have everyone take
off their watches because some can't stand the rapid decompression
and they're just trying to be nice and not blow up anyones watch.

-Eric Varsanyi
 ewv@craycos.com
From: jd5f+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jeffrey Dunkle)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Re: Casio Twin-Sensor Altimeter Watch
Date: 28 Dec 92 03:50:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.UfDkMP600WBLE1MIQ9
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Questions re: Casio Altimeter Watch


> You cannot
>recalibrate the altimeter until you know your altitude correctly again.

I have an older model of the same watch you describe...mine has altitude
only..not temp...and doesn't have the past pressure tracking/graphing
feature...but it does display "altitude" in the atmosphere...(and depth
under water).  The only way I've been able to get it to do anything
useful while flying is to set the display altitude (not toe bara.
pressure) to the field elevation before I take off.  It seem then to
track fairly accurately to my plane altimeter.  I have not tried to
reset the watch in the air....during cross countrys...as I'm usually
single pilot IFR w/o auto pilot and the reset is too tedious. 
Obviously, i'm stuck with pressure errors.

>The Casio instructions say that this watch should NOT be used in sports
>in which fast altitude changes are expected. It lists parachuting and
>hang gliding as examples.  Or else WHAT?????

The Casio only updates the altitude reading after selecting that
function every 9 seconds....so during rapid assents/decents...it just
won't keep up.  After a few minutes...the display reverts to altitude
update only every minute.  (supposedly this is a battery savings
design).  After an hour....the display self cancels to read either
day/date or digital time.

As an ex-skydiver (400 jumps)  free fall at terminal velosity is a bit
over 10,000  feet per minute.  Updating the display every 9 seconds just
won't hack it.  Sure these words in the watch "manual" were put in by
the lawyers.

>Does this line mean that the watch will be damaged in some way if I carry
>it with me in a plane??? Some Airmen's watch if this is the case. In fact,
>if this is true we know why "It all but fly's the plane" -- it doesn't

Given all of the above "caviats"...mine does work fine in the
plane...I've been up to 10,000 feet with it and it's right there with a
fair readout.  They just don't want the liability of someone using this
as a "primary" altitude sourse.

Good luck.

Jeff Dunkle
From: stephens@access.digex.com (John Stephens)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Re: Casio Twin-Sensor Altimeter Watch
Date: 27 Dec 1992 15:30:47 GMT
Organization: Severn Companies, Inc., Lanham, MD 20706
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

In article <1hih6nINNjt2@bigboote.WPI.EDU> cyganski@ee.WPI.EDU (David Cyganski) writes:
>One of my Christmas presents was a Casio Alti-Thermo, Twin Sensor
>Watch.  I had been curious about this item from the moment I saw 
>
   [desription of features and performance of the product deleted]

>The Casio instructions say that this watch should NOT be used in sports
>in which fast altitude changes are expected. It lists parachuting and
>hang gliding as examples.  Or else WHAT?????
>
>Does this line mean that the watch will be damaged in some way if I carry
>it with me in a plane??? Some Airmen's watch if this is the case. In fact,
>if this is true we know why "It all but fly's the plane" -- it doesn't
>dare leave the ground!
>
No, the watch will not be damaged -- it just won't respond
"accurately" to rapid changes.  From David's description, it seems
that "accuracy" is largely in the mind of the marketing
department!

The reason for the warning is one of liability -- they don't want
to be sued for its misleading altitude readings.  If you were
sky-diving, I'm sure that you wouldn't want to base you chute
opening on this product!  Neither does CASIO!!!
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
From: barnett@convex.com (Paul Barnett)
Subject: Re: ANC Headsets
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 19:09:31 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Keywords: ANC, Headsets
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <1h521pINNl21@transfer.stratus.com> lee@deneb.sw.stratus.com (Lee Cooprider) writes:

>My cigarette lighter is filled with the intercom power plug.  a) any problems
>with additional loads through lighters? (I wouldn't think so, given the load
>of the original occupant of the cigarette lighter hole).  b) has anybody seen a
>cigarette lighter cord that splits into 2 or more sockets?

Check Radio Shack.  I bought one a while back (for another purpose).
It may be a little short for what you have in mind, but I'll bet you
can fix that.

I expect to have a similar problem in the near future.  What's the
general opinion on the legality/practicality/advisability of tapping
into the wire(s) to the cigarette lighter myself to create the
appropriate hot connectors to power things like a portable intercom,
ANC headset(s), and a notebook computer?

I don't like the cigarette lighter: vibration makes it unreliable, and
I would prefer something similar to the connector used to connect
car/trailer lighting.

Is this something I should delegate to my friendly A&P?  I don't think
it constitutes a "permanent" installation, if that makes any
difference. 
--
Paul Barnett             Internet: barnett@convex.com
Convex Computer Corp.      Office: 214-497-4846
Richardson, TX        Mobile/Home: 214-236-8438
From: cyganski@ee.WPI.EDU (David Cyganski)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Casio Twin-Sensor Altimeter Watch
Date: 26 Dec 1992 21:01:11 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ee.wpi.edu
Summary: Review and open questions

One of my Christmas presents was a Casio Alti-Thermo, Twin Sensor
Watch.  I had been curious about this item from the moment I saw 
one of the half page ads in AOPA Pilot with the headline:
This watch does everything but fly the plane! (Page 11, Nov. 1992 issue).
Well, now I have one, and have a few things to say about it and one
big open question that I thought some other reader might be able to
answer.

The watch, as promised, has an electronic thermometer and barometric
pressure sensor.  It records and displays as a graph the barometric
pressure and your altitude. It can store 50 samples of the above, each
sample triggered by the push of a button or on a regular schedule. You
can also set 5 time alarms and an altitude alarm.

Disappointments:

1) The thermometer is useless. In my 68 degree room, right now, it tells
me that my wrist surface temperature is about 79 degrees.  Thanks.
I do not find that there is any correspondence between ambient temp. and
the reading on the watch.

2) The altimeter readings and the barometer settings are not linked as
in your cockpit. You can set the barometer to calibrate to the current
local conditions, but this in no way causes the altimeter to give you
a calibrated reading of altitude.  

You can calibrate the altitude to read correctly with a second setting,
but you must know your current altitude.  Now if the local barometric
pressure changes, and you change the barometer calibration, you are still
out of luck....the altitude indicator ignores this setting. You cannot
recalibrate the altimeter until you know your altitude correctly again.

The big question:

The Casio instructions say that this watch should NOT be used in sports
in which fast altitude changes are expected. It lists parachuting and
hang gliding as examples.  Or else WHAT?????

Does this line mean that the watch will be damaged in some way if I carry
it with me in a plane??? Some Airmen's watch if this is the case. In fact,
if this is true we know why "It all but fly's the plane" -- it doesn't
dare leave the ground!

Does anyone out there know the deal from another review or perhaps
personal experience. Can I take it with me on my next flight, or do
I send it back to Japan by boat?

David Cyganski
From: dick.zeitlin%acc1bbs@ssr.com (Dick Zeitlin) 
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: Casio Twin-Sensor Altimet
Date: 28 Dec 92 11:01:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Advanced Computer Concepts BBS, New Rochelle, NY 914-654-1981
Reply-To: dick.zeitlin%acc1bbs@ssr.com (Dick Zeitlin) 

DC> .1) The thermometer is useless. In my 68 degree room, right now, it tells
  > .me that my wrist surface temperature is about 79 degrees.  Thanks.
  > .I do not find that there is any correspondence between ambient temp. and
  > .the reading on the watch.

It must be your magnetic personality affecting it!  <~>  Mine indicates
71.4 at the moment, and a wall thermometer about three feet higher
indicates 73.

DC> .2) The altimeter readings and the barometer settings are not linked as
  > .in your cockpit. You can set the barometer to calibrate to the current
  > .local conditions, but this in no way causes the altimeter to give you
  > .a calibrated reading of altitude.

I calibrated the barometer once based on an accurate aneroid barometer,
and have not needed to reset it.  It works just as it should.

Yes, it's a major flaw, IMO, that you can only adjust the altimeter to a
known setting, rather than to a sea-level referenced altimeter reading.
OTOH, this is the third Casio altimeter timepiece that I own, and it's
by far the best.  After a few more tries, maybe they'll get it right.

I miss the second time zone, which I used to keep on GMT.

DC> .The Casio instructions say that this watch should NOT be used in sports
  > .in which fast altitude changes are expected. It lists parachuting and
  > .hang gliding as examples.  Or else WHAT?????

Or else you'll seriously delude yourself.  It does not respond
accurately to rapid changes.

Unless the sensor in this unit is very different from the earlier units,
no damage will result.  I was wearing mine in a 727 that experienced a
loss of cabin pressure at altitude.  The altitude readings on the watch
(cabin altitude) got over 14,000 before our emergency descent got us
back to 10,000 ft. for our return to the departure a/p, and no damage
resulted.  And it was at max track rate, since I'd just hit the button.

I always fly unpressurized a/c with mine, and don't have any problems.
I don't normally do slam-dunk descents, but have done some "max rate"
descents courtesy of ATC, and the watch did just fine...

        D/
---
 . QMPro 1.0 41-3345 . Bring back A-N airways!!    Dick.Zeitlin%acc1bbs@ssr.com
From: cj137@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jack Jeffries)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products
Subject: ===> ANTIQUE AIRLINE ADVERTISING FROM 1940s-1950s <==
Date: 22 Dec 1992 05:59:01 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


OWN A PEICE OF HISTORY!

AUTHENIC ANTIQUE AIRLINE ADVERTISING.

LIMITED QUANTITY!

AIRLINE OF YOUR CHOICE (1940s-1950s)

NOT FOR $29.95 as seen advertised but ONLY $7 !

Yes only $7 (Seven Dollars) While supplies last.
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.products