In lieu of the Altimeter 3, why not get a Flight Sketch Mini?
They are in stock, cost only $29.00 (versus $99 - $110 - REALLY!?!), and do the same thing if not better.
The FS Mini comes in at 2.93g and the Altimerter 3 weighs 10.49g.
What does the Altimeter 3 have the that FS Mini lacks?
https://flightsketch.com/store/catalog/flightsketch-mini_1/
Zeke
Well, since you asked (and since I have hundreds of flights on both devices):
- AltimeterThree is ruggedly packaged for flying without a dedicated payload section (without resorting to third party or homemade protectors) and is MUCH more resistant to kinetic damage
- AltimeterThree's app automatically stores your flight data on your phone/tablet upon download—no further steps required. This, to me, is a BIG deal
- These data can be easily retrieved later, graphed later (both altitude and accelerations) from the A3 app
- The app's summary flight statistics (both barometric and accelerometer-based) are concise and consistent, benefitting from work done for AltimeterTwo, and several of these key points are nicely displayed on the altitude graphs
- AltimeterThree is powered by an internal rechargeable LiPoly cell, not a primary coin cell, so no incremental operating expenses (unless you let A3 sit for too long without charging and ruin its cell....though you can get spares if needed
The FS Mini is lighter and less expensive as noted. It also is less fussy with respect to Bluetooth connections (does not require the "pairing" process but uses Bluetooth Low Energy) It also lets you publicly share data via the web-based log, which is kind of fun (though it would be more so if people would actually put some useful data in the title and info fields when posting there).
While its size and weight are generally an advantage, it is also much more likely to be damaged in an off-nominal flight/landing.
Currently you can only see acceleration data in the FS app right after download. Once you fly again, it's gone. The data are in the files it stores (if you do store them and/or upload them) and you can plot them in your favorite spreadsheet or grapher, but there is nothing in the app or the web log for this yet. There are also still issues with some of the filtering of spikes in the pressure data on the FS Mini, leading to some inaccurately reported apogees. You really need to look at the graphs, especially flying a Mini in a pouch rather than in a dedicated payload section, or on flights where the ejection comes early, to see the true story. This is being addressed, but as for many of us, real life is getting in the way of this effort.
Both can be quirky around reconnecting to your device after a flight, but generally power-cycling and/or killing/restarting the app will clear that sort of thing up.
At this time, AltimeterThree's software is much more polished and fully functional. The current shortage of A3s is because there is a BLE-based hardware update is in process, and Mr. Beans is also very busy with real life and other projects, hampering the completion of app updates to talk to the revised hardware. I have done a little beta testing of the new app (on Android) with the old A3 hardware, and it is compatible with devices already in the field.
Mmm... I wonder if they'll fight connecting with 2 devices?
It is possible to connect to and control FS Minis with one phone/tablet. Only one can be actively controlled at a time but you can start one recording, switch to another, do the same, then switch as needed after the flight to download multiple sets of data fairly smoothly. This can also be done with AltimeterThree, I think....it's been awhile since I've tried to do it.
If I don't talk too much, and therefore get there, at the end of my vNARCON talk on Saturday afternoon I will be showing an example of the data from one of my flights that carried an FS Mini and an AltimeterThree aboard the same flight.