Lx 1600 vs Borgelt 50

[Glen Kelley]

Would anyone with experience flying with both of these varios please provide
comments on their views of the two devices? Audio, ease of adjustment,
accuracy, etc?

I've been to the various websites, so don't need any more specs, thanks.

[Kevin Christner]

I flew with the LX1600 last season. Most of the settings have to be
adjusted on the iPaq. This is either a pro or con depending on how you
look at it. One major benefit if you have a glider with 2 sets of
wingtips is its much easier to change the polar than on the B50. On
the B50 you have to open the case. Both are very good as far as the
vario goes. Having flown with both the LX and the B40, I prefer the
digital meter of the LX over the Borgelt analog meter.

The LX has its own final glide functions that you may find useful. Its
best to use a Colibri with the LX, where a Volkslogger would probably
be your best choice for the B50. This also might influence your
decision.

Kevin

[Glen Kelley]

Kevin, good stuff, thanks.

What is it about the digital presentation that you prefer. Does the LCD
display provide good contrast in direct sunlight?

Since I have a VL, I thought the comment about the Colibri working better
with the LX was interesting. It appeared from the spec sheets that the LX
series could get the proper info from a VL. Is there more to the picture?

Thanks again.

Glen
"Kevin Christner" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I flew with the LX1600 last season. Most of the settings have to be
> adjusted on the iPaq. This is either a pro or con depending on how you
> look at it. One major benefit if you have a glider with 2 sets of
> wingtips is its much easier to change the polar than on the B50. On
> the B50 you have to open the case. Both are very good as far as the
> vario goes. Having flown with both the LX and the B40, I prefer the
> digital meter of the LX over the Borgelt analog meter.
>
> The LX has its own final glide functions that you may find useful. Its
> best to use a Colibri with the LX, where a Volkslogger would probably
> be your best choice for the B50. This also might influence your
> decision.
>
> Kevin
>

[Kevin Christner]

The LCD is great. It dosent seem to suffer from some of the problems
that have affected the 302. I'm not sure what I prefered about the
LCD, I guess it seemed like the response rate was better, but I'm not
sure if I just imagined this. The LX1600 technology is several years
newer than the B50, and is designed to work with the latest PDA
software.

The LX will work fine with the VL, you will just need to make your own
cable, or find someone to make one for you. The LX has final glide
capability with only a Colibri and itself. If you use the VL, all
final glide information will come from the PDA. The B50 dosent do
final glides without a B57 or B2000, so either way this is an "extra"
feature that you won't get with the B50.... On the other hand, you
really do need the PDA with flyWithCE Navigator or Pocket SeeYou to
make the LX1600 really function.

So, I guess the real question to ask yourself is, am I planning on
flying with a PDA. If you answer yes, go with the LX1600. If you
answer no, go with the B50.

Kevin

[Glen Kelley]

Ok, thanks. Sounds like a pretty good summation.

"Kevin Christner" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> The LCD is great. It dosent seem to suffer from some of the problems
> that have affected the 302. I'm not sure what I prefered about the
> LCD, I guess it seemed like the response rate was better, but I'm not
> sure if I just imagined this. The LX1600 technology is several years
> newer than the B50, and is designed to work with the latest PDA
> software.
>
> The LX will work fine with the VL, you will just need to make your own
> cable, or find someone to make one for you. The LX has final glide
> capability with only a Colibri and itself. If you use the VL, all
> final glide information will come from the PDA. The B50 dosent do
> final glides without a B57 or B2000, so either way this is an "extra"
> feature that you won't get with the B50.... On the other hand, you
> really do need the PDA with flyWithCE Navigator or Pocket SeeYou to
> make the LX1600 really function.
>
> So, I guess the real question to ask yourself is, am I planning on
> flying with a PDA. If you answer yes, go with the LX1600. If you
> answer no, go with the B50.
>
> Kevin
>

[[email protected]]

Glen,

WinPilot PRO and a PDA will work equally well with either the LX1600 or
the Borgelt B50. WinPilot has two screens to setup the LX1600 and
control its characteristics. WinPilot PRO and either vario will also
work equally well with either the VL or Colbri for GPS data.
Declarations can be made to both the VL and the Colibri. The B50 has
the option of a larger 80mm ADU or a 57mm ADU. WinPilot PRO also has
the additional feature of the Climb Maximizer and Direct Winds with
either vario or Logger. WinPilot also has a speed to fly with either
vario or logger.

The cabling is a little more extensive for the B50 VL combination than
the LX1600 Colibri. But it is not a big issue.


Richard
www.craggyaero.com


Glen Kelley wrote:
> Kevin, good stuff, thanks.
>
> What is it about the digital presentation that you prefer. Does the
LCD
> display provide good contrast in direct sunlight?
>
> Since I have a VL, I thought the comment about the Colibri working
better
> with the LX was interesting. It appeared from the spec sheets that
the LX
> series could get the proper info from a VL. Is there more to the
picture?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Glen
> "Kevin Christner" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> >I flew with the LX1600 last season. Most of the settings have to be
> > adjusted on the iPaq. This is either a pro or con depending on how
you
> > look at it. One major benefit if you have a glider with 2 sets of
> > wingtips is its much easier to change the polar than on the B50.
On
> > the B50 you have to open the case. Both are very good as far as
the
> > vario goes. Having flown with both the LX and the B40, I prefer
the
> > digital meter of the LX over the Borgelt analog meter.
> >
> > The LX has its own final glide functions that you may find useful.
Its
> > best to use a Colibri with the LX, where a Volkslogger would
probably
> > be your best choice for the B50. This also might influence your
> > decision.
> >
> > Kevin
> >

[Mike the Strike]

Glen Kelley wrote:
> Would anyone with experience flying with both of these varios please
provide
> comments on their views of the two devices? Audio, ease of
adjustment,
> accuracy, etc?


An additional point - if you're going to fly anywhere hot, make sure
your instruments are properly temperature rated. I chose Borgelt
instruments (tested under Australian conditions) after a German flight
computer I owned died in the Arizona heat. Cockpit temperatures can
exceed 50 C when the glider's sitting in the sun prior to takeoff.

We have a number of LX instrument users and they do seem to survive
here too, though.

If you're flying somewhere cold and wet (Britain or Holland, for
example), any European gear will work just fine.

The B 50 is a fine vario and I prefer the analog dial, but polar
adjustment is internal, as noted by others.

Mike

ASW 20 WA

[nimbusgb]

Mike the Strike wrote:
> Glen Kelley wrote:
> > Would anyone with experience flying with both of these varios
please
> provide
> > comments on their views of the two devices? Audio, ease of
> adjustment,
> > accuracy, etc?
>
>
> An additional point - if you're going to fly anywhere hot, make sure
> your instruments are properly temperature rated. I chose Borgelt
> instruments (tested under Australian conditions) after a German
flight
> computer I owned died in the Arizona heat. Cockpit temperatures can
> exceed 50 C when the glider's sitting in the sun prior to takeoff.
>
> We have a number of LX instrument users and they do seem to survive
> here too, though.
>
> If you're flying somewhere cold and wet (Britain or Holland, for
> example), any European gear will work just fine.
>
> The B 50 is a fine vario and I prefer the analog dial, but polar
> adjustment is internal, as noted by others.
>
> Mike
>
> ASW 20 WA

I'm using an LX1600 with twin Colibri's and an iPaq 3630 running Mobile
Seeyou. The LX has no trouble in Spain in the middle of August ( 40
degrees plus in the cockpit on the runway ) contrast of the LCD is
good. The LCD also maintains its response time at -10 degrees in wave
in the UK.

I am a little unhappy with the automatic alert sound level that is
issued by Seeyou and transmitted through the LX1600 speaker system -
sometimes way too loud. I can't get the volume on the vario to stay
audible and have the speed command volume low enough, and this weekend
I battled to get the unit to ignore my flap mounted switch and use the
GPS signal to calculate when I was in a thermal. No doubt I'll sort
things out in a while.

But apart from that this LX is my 3rd LX vario following 2 LX 160's and
I'm a reasonably happy camper.
Ian