On Aug 21, 7:44*am, Eric Greenwell wrote:
Martin Gregorie wrote:
On Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:21:42 -0700, ryanglover1969 wrote:

I have a few suggestions for the way my vario, an LX1600 should work,
ideally.

I would like it to switch between "STF mode" and "Climbing mode" when I
hit lift or sink. Ideally it should switch to climbing mode when I hit
lift that equals or exceeds my MC setting. Of course there would still
be a manual override switch when you are low and/or scratching.

Do other vario manufactures set up their varios to work the way I
describe? If so, which ones?

Currently it switches between modes using three methods all of which I
think are inferior. It will switch to Climbing mode when I start
turning, when the speed drops below a set value, or when I manually
switch modes.

How do other manufactures do it?

I have an SDI C4 that offers three modes:

- a manual switch - I've not fitted it so can't comment on how well
* it works for me.

- by GPS. I tried this and didn't like it. The idea is that the C4
* switches to climb mode after a 90 or 270 degree turn and back
* to cruise when you straighten out. One thing that I didn't like
* is that it stays in cruise mode when running a cloud street.
* This means that it makes faster/slower noises rather than climb rate
* noises even when the lift is weak and you're flying slowly.

I always assumed cruise mode was the appropriate mode while running a
cloud street. Isn't that "cruising"? What tactic are you using, if not
the usual McCready speeds?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
* Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

* "Transponders in Sailplanes"http://tinyurl.com/y739x4
* * * Sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more

* "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" atwww.motorglider.org

I use the usual tactics with regards to MC speeds. But my question has
more to do with how other varios switch between Climbing and Cruising
mode. I would rather my LX1600 switched to Climbing mode when I
encounter lift equal or greater than my MC setting instead the way it
currently operates.

With regards to the MC setting I generally set my MC less than the
average climb rate I'm experiencing. If I'm getting 4 knots average
and if conditions look similar up ahead I'll set my MC around 3 knots.
I use a deadband of 1.5 to 2 knots before I get an audio signal to
speed up or slow down. On a typical day here in Oklahoma with good
clouds I tend to thermal in lift that is equal or better than the
average for the day and slow down and do some S turns in the weaker
stuff.

Thanks for the input from everybody.

Ryan Glover