SkyCorder Operation Notes

The SkyCorder is intended to be carried in a pocket. The display is not intended to be used as an altimeter. To assure this, the display automatically turns off while the unit is in freefall.

Exit Altitudes

There are several factors which can affect the accuracy of the SkyCorder, especially the exit altitude. Since the measurements are based on ambient air pressure, the location of the SkyCorder just before exit could fool it into an inaccurate reading. For example, a front floater may be in a high speed wind. This can cause a slight vacuum which would cause the SkyCorder to think it is higher than it really is. We are constantly improving the SkyCorder to make it as accurate as possible, but while interpreting the results, you should consider all relevant factors.

Freefall rates

The new software calculates rates in a different way than the earlier designs. The average rate is the distance divided by the time. The distance is from about 800 feet below your exit point until the approximate deployment altitude. The time for the average is measured between these two altitudes. The peak rate is determined from the distance fallen in 5-second intervals. The fastest of these is saved as the Maximum Rate. There are filters and limits in the software to provide more accurate and consistant results. Due to these effects, peak rates will be higher as the fast speeds are maintained longer (i.e. very short bursts of speed are ignored. For short freefalls (less than about 10 seconds), the resolution of the average rate becomes very poor. To prevent inaccurate results, the average rate will be set equal to the peak rate if this condition is detected.

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SkyCorder Last modified on March 21, 1998