Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always obvious
on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units available which
incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:53:26 -0400, Piperson <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
>high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always obvious
>on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units available which
>incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

The altitude readings on most GPS units I've used have never been very
reliable. You could probably pick up a real barometric altimeter on
eBay quite cheaply if you're that interested.

Chris

On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:53:26 -0400, Piperson wrote:

> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always obvious
> on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units available which
> incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

Almost all automotive GPSs have some way to get to the computed altitude
and display it, though it may not be immediately obvious. Most Garmin
Nüvi units can put it on the main display (replacing the clock) when
not routing, and it can be gotten to on the satellite info page by
press-and-hold on the sat strength bars on the main (not map) screen.

There's several hiking units with actual pressure altimeters as well.

--
Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases
to be serious when people laugh.
-- George Bernard Shaw

On 4/28/2010 6:53 PM, Piperson wrote:
> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always obvious
> on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units available which
> incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

I would recommend one of these-

> http://www.microtim.com/

They have several models. I would recommend the XB (extended battery).
I have one and can tell you it is EXTREMELY accurate and EXTREMELY
sensitive. When set to current local barometric pressure, I have found
it as or more accurate as an aircraft altimeter. In fact, I took a trip
with a friend of mine in a Twin Cessna 310 and he commented the MicroTim
was more accurate than his aircraft altimeter.

You can take the MicroTim, hold it at waist level and let it stabilize
for a few seconds. When you set it on the ground at your feet, the
altitude reading will change a few feet.

For the record. I do not work for or have any financial interest in
this company. I am only a satisfied customer.





--
Two most common elements in the universe- Hydrogen & Stupidity

On 4/28/10 5:53 PM, Piperson wrote:
> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always obvious
> on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units available which
> incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?


See:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/genin...ndardFINAL.pdf

See: http://pnt.gov/public/docs/SPS-2001-final.pdf

See: http://gps.afspc.af.mil/gpsoc/docume...ignal_Spec.pdf

1hogrider wrote:
> On 4/28/2010 6:53 PM, Piperson wrote:
>> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
>> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always
>> obvious on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units
>> available which incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?
>
> I would recommend one of these-
>
>> http://www.microtim.com/
>
> They have several models. I would recommend the XB (extended
> battery). I have one and can tell you it is EXTREMELY accurate and
> EXTREMELY sensitive. When set to current local barometric pressure,
> I have found it as or more accurate as an aircraft altimeter. In fact, I took a trip with a friend of mine in a Twin
> Cessna 310 and he commented the MicroTim was more accurate than his aircraft altimeter.

How would he know that when it isnt even possible to
know how accurate an aircraft altimeter actually is ?

Maybe he just meant that the resolution is better, a different matter entirely.

> You can take the MicroTim, hold it at waist level and let it stabilize for a few seconds. When you set it on the
> ground at your feet, the altitude reading will change a few feet.

And you cant try that with an aircraft altimeter.

> For the record. I do not work for or have any financial interest in this company. I am only a satisfied customer.

Sam Wormley wrote:
> Piperson wrote

>> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
>> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always
>> obvious on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units
>> available which incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

> See:
> http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/genin...ndardFINAL.pdf

> See: http://pnt.gov/public/docs/SPS-2001-final.pdf

> See: http://gps.afspc.af.mil/gpsoc/docume...ignal_Spec.pdf

The last two do not compute.

On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:04:12 +1000, "Rod Speed"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>1hogrider wrote:
>> On 4/28/2010 6:53 PM, Piperson wrote:
>>> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
>>> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always
>>> obvious on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units
>>> available which incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?
>>
>> I would recommend one of these-
>>
>>> http://www.microtim.com/
>>
>> They have several models. I would recommend the XB (extended
>> battery). I have one and can tell you it is EXTREMELY accurate and
>> EXTREMELY sensitive. When set to current local barometric pressure,
>> I have found it as or more accurate as an aircraft altimeter. In fact, I took a trip with a friend of mine in a Twin
>> Cessna 310 and he commented the MicroTim was more accurate than his aircraft altimeter.
>
>How would he know that when it isnt even possible to
>know how accurate an aircraft altimeter actually is ?

Why do you say it's not possible to know how accurate an aircraft
altimeter is? These instruments must be calibrated and certified to an
accuracy of +/- 20 feet before they are permitted to be used on an
aircraft.

Chris Blunt wrote
> Rod Speed <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
>> 1hogrider wrote
>>> Piperson wrote

>>>> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered
>>>> how high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always
>>>> obvious on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units
>>>> available which incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?

>>> I would recommend one of these-

>>>> http://www.microtim.com/

>>> They have several models. I would recommend the XB (extended
>>> battery). I have one and can tell you it is EXTREMELY accurate and
>>> EXTREMELY sensitive. When set to current local barometric pressure,
>>> I have found it as or more accurate as an aircraft altimeter. In fact,
>>> I took a trip with a friend of mine in a Twin Cessna 310 and he
>>> commented the MicroTim was more accurate than his aircraft altimeter.

>> How would he know that when it isnt even possible to
>> know how accurate an aircraft altimeter actually is ?

> Why do you say it's not possible to know how accurate an aircraft altimeter is?

I didnt say that. I actually said that it isnt possible to know that the MicroTim is MORE ACCURATE.

> These instruments must be calibrated and certified to an accuracy
> of +/- 20 feet before they are permitted to be used on an aircraft.

And he cant have done a comparison with the MicroTim calibration wise,
so he has no basis for saying that the MicroTim is more accurate.

What he ACTUALLY meant was that the resolution is better, a different matter entirely.

On 4/29/2010 12:04 AM, Rod Speed wrote:
> 1hogrider wrote:
>> On 4/28/2010 6:53 PM, Piperson wrote:
>>> Driving many miles in other than flat land, I have often wondered how
>>> high I was, and was I really going up hill or down (not always
>>> obvious on gradual grades). Are there any automotive GPS units
>>> available which incorporate an altimeter and suitable programming?
>>
>> I would recommend one of these-
>>
>>> http://www.microtim.com/
>>
>> They have several models. I would recommend the XB (extended
>> battery). I have one and can tell you it is EXTREMELY accurate and
>> EXTREMELY sensitive. When set to current local barometric pressure,
>> I have found it as or more accurate as an aircraft altimeter. In fact, I took a trip with a friend of mine in a Twin
>> Cessna 310 and he commented the MicroTim was more accurate than his aircraft altimeter.
>
> How would he know that when it isnt even possible to
> know how accurate an aircraft altimeter actually is ?

It is quite simple to know the field elevation of where the aircraft is
sitting. The Tower and or ATIS will give the current barometer. Set
both altimeters to current barometric pressure and compare to the field
elevation on record.

>
> Maybe he just meant that the resolution is better, a different matter entirely.

Nope, he said the MicroTim was closer to the recorded field elevation
than his aircraft altimeter. His altimeter may very well be within
accuracy tolerances, but the MicroTim was closer. Just a passing
comment from a friend who has his commercial pilots license.
>
>> You can take the MicroTim, hold it at waist level and let it stabilize for a few seconds. When you set it on the
>> ground at your feet, the altitude reading will change a few feet.
>
> And you cant try that with an aircraft altimeter.

Well, actually you can, if the altimeter is removed from the aircraft.
I have an aircraft altimeter sitting right in front of me on my computer
desk as I type this. The dial resolution is in 20 ft increments. The
MicroTim is in 1 ft increments.