Colin MacAlpine wrote:
The new glider is ordered and we consider what vario
to instal. Having had a 302/303 for 6 years; 4 repairs
and some doubts could you please let me have your experiences
of the instrument re the following to assist in our
decision - Borgelt or Cambridge.

1. Reliability
2. Wind calculation ( Intermittantly final glides are
mad numbers and the wind is at that point very wrong
)
3. On thermal entry it overreads then calms down after
a half turn ( Maybe our plumbing)
4. We have never been convinced that netto relative
works.

Many thanks , Colin

Hallo:
Have owned 2 S-NAVs, 1 L-NAV, 1 SN-10b (all with CAI GPS-NAV), 2 302s
each with both 303 and WP. The one glider that I used all three types
in ended up with the 302/303/WP. That panel was fantastic.
Worst thing about the S-and L-NAVs was that the audio tops out at 10
knots. Got used to the wacky wind screens, only 250 navpoints in ye
olde GPS. The 123.5MHz noise problem is a pain.
Even though Dave Ellis thinks we're crazy, the 302 thermal entry
overread is fixed with a Scheuemann restrictor in the TE line. See
Ray's post.
I liked the SN-10b, could add/change turnpoints to a task (then with
only 250 points in the database, their turnpoint abbreviations are too
short so a larger database would be messy). When the Ilec went quiet
switching from cruise to climb I absolutely hated it. It was even worse
with auto cruise/climb switching. Had thought the "No Bad News" option
was "no sink in climb", but it provided "no push in cruise". Would
prefer the other way around. The newer software's moving map is
primitive, but useful for turn sectors and SUAs.
Have had a couple of problems with the 302s but very quickly repaired
by CAI.
No experience with any contemporary Borgelt but the trusty B40. Heard
service turnaround wasn't great.
Jim