"AltimeterOne" is the ONE altimeter that you'll use in every rocket you fly to find out how high it went. Why? The four main reasons are because it displays the altitude on an LCD screen, it is so easy to use, it doesn't require a payload bay like other altimeters, and it is small and lightweight.

The one complaint that people have about other altimeters is that they have to count the number of beeps or flashes. "Was that 8 beeps, or 9?" So they have to wait around for the sequence to begin all over again. Not with the AltimeterOne. When you pick up your rocket after the launch, you just simply look at the display and see how high it went.

When you come walking back to the range head with your rocket, and some new-comer asks: "How high do you think that went?" You'll be able to say: "I can show you exactly how high it went. Look here at my AltimeterOne!"

2. It is Simple to Use

There is an attachment point that is built into one end of the AltimeterOne. Just attach it to the base of the nose cone or to the shock cord (see photo below, but add extra padding). At this point, you can turn it on by pushing the one button, hold it down to reset it to zero, and put it in the rocket for launch. Note: It works in model airplanes and kites too!

The only other modification you need to do is to make three small holes in the rocket so that the altimeter can sense the atmospheric pressure and record the peak altitude. The holes can be very small. We recommend 1/16-inch diameter, spaced evenly around the rocket. Just make sure that they are just below the shoulder on the nose cone so that they aren't block by the nose cone when it is inserted into the rocket. If you are worried about the holes being fuzzy on the inside of your rocket and possibly closing up, wick some thin CyA glue (super glue) into them and sand off the burs on the inside with some sandpaper.

That's all there is to it. When you fly the rocket, it constantly senses the pressure and records the peak altitude. Note: If your rocket gets caught in a thermal and starts to rise up higher in the air, it will always report back the highest altitude.

3. Doesn't Require a Separate Payload Bay.

It doesn't require a payload bay because it is enclosed in plastic. In fact, this is the first barometric altimeter created for the hobbyist that has a durable ABS-plastic case to enclose the electronics. That case protects the pressure sensor from the spike in heat that is caused by the ejection charge, and from damage of rattling around inside the rocket (however, extra padding is encouraged because it is not indestructible).

Because it doesn't need a payload bay, you'll find yourself wanting to fly it in every rocket you own. And your friends will want to borrow it too, so be sure to get several of them for your range box.

4. Small and Lightweight

The AltimeterOne is very lightweight at only 6.7 grams. The weight of this thing will hardly affect the performance of the rocket you're trying to measure. It is also physically small and will easily slide into a 18mm diameter tube. So you can use it even for small high-performance rockets like the Apogee Blue Streak rocket kit. (WARNING! Choking Hazard. Don't put it in your mouth or leave it with small children.)

But it will also fit in large rockets, and can even measure altitude in rockets that travel at supersonic speeds!

The AltimeterOne is so simple to use. Just reset it between flights by pressing the button on the front so that the display turns to four-zeros. When you let go at that point, it will then display a single zero, and you know your ready to launch.

Watch the video below to see how easy it really is to set up the AltimeterOne in your next rocket.

Fabric/Rubber cozy from lip-balm
provides extra padding

Download the User's Guide
(3.68mb pdf)

A New Display

The display is the same physical size as the original, but has now been custom-manufactured per Jolly Logic's specifications.

Units

The display now shows units, and can be set to display either the English or metric system.


Peak altitude in feet…

…or in meters.

You can switch between English and metric units by pressing and holding the button until “unit” appears, without losing any data (it will be automatically converted into the new units).

Battery Status

When only one hour remains of running time, the altimeter displays the low-battery indicator, a small icon of a battery at the far right side of the screen. When only 10 minutes remain, the entire screen will flash rapidly.

Low-battery indicator.

Special Features

Pressing and holding the button presents a series of options. Release the button when you see the option you want.

Clear

To clear the last results and reset for the next flight, press and hold the button until this is shown:

Release at this point to clear the display.

Units

If you'd like to switch from English to metric units, press and hold the button until the screen looks like this:

Release at this point to switch to metric.

To switch back to English units, press and hold the button until the screen looks like this:

Release at this point to switch to English units.

The altimeter will automatically convert the current data being shown to the new units without clearing it.

Current Mode

In Current Mode, the altimeter continuously shows the current pressure altitude above ground level. Ground level is set at the moment that the mode is entered.

To enter the mode and set ground level (and clear the last apogee), press and hold until the display looks like this:

Release at this point to enter Current Mode.

Current mode is a temporary mode which only persists as long as the altimeter remains on. After it is turned off, the mode ends. When the altimeter is turned back on, it returns to normal Peak Altitude mode—and in fact shows the apogee attained during the Current Mode. In this way, Current Mode does everything that it does in normal mode, with the addition of displaying the current altitude above ground level.

Reboot

To fully reboot and reset the device, hold the button until the display looks like this:

Release at this point to reboot the altimeter. The current apogee is saved on restart.

If you accidentally pass the option you want, continue to hold the button until it comes back around again.

Watch this video explaining the new features!

1. You can just go from FT to M without turning it on or off. It'll convert the existing apogee. No data is lost. The data is actually stored to the nearest foot (more precise than meters), and the conversion back and forth is "lossless." The setting just determines what's "shown," not what's stored.

2. The threshold is 50 feet, not 40.

3. A very subtle point is that in CURRENT mode, the altimeter still performs it usual apogee recording. For instance, if you zero(0000) it, then go into CURR mode, the display will vary up and down. But in the background, it is still waiting for an apogee over 40 feet. So anyone can actually fly it in CURR mode, and then see the apogee when they are done. But they WILL have to turn it off and then on to see the apogee, though (because until you do that, it's still displaying the CURR altitude).

Features:

• Durable ABS-plastic case - Sleek looking and solid. It keeps the grim and residue from launch getting inside to the electronics.
  
  
• LCD display - Shows you how high the rocket went. No need to count beeps or flashes of light.
  
  
• Can be used in model rockets, airplanes, balloons, kites, Falcons, and Homing Pigeons (or anything else that might fly through the air).
  
  
• Stores altitude on flash memory - That way, you can turn it off and then turn it back on to see what the last flight reading was. Note: It only stores one flight, not multiple flights.
  
  
• USB chargeable - Just plug it into your computer for two hours and it is fully charged. The device holds a charge for a minimum of two weeks, but theoretically, it can go a whole year... But we'll only say 2-weeks for legal reasons.
  
  
• Status of Charge Displayed: Red light charging. Green light equals "done."
  
  
• Attachment hole makes it easy to tie on to your rockets, or mount it down in an electronics bay.
  
  
• One button simplicity - It turns it on/off, and resets the altimeter to zero between flights.
  
  
• Rocket can be launched up to 60 minutes after it is reset. Don't worry, it senses the launch, and won't turn itself off during the launch.
  
  
• Power Save Feature - The unit will automatically turn itself off after 60 minutes of inactivity. The battery charge will last for over 17 hours of continuous use - assuming it doesn't turn itself off.
  
  
• Lead-Free assembly: Can be sold in Europe
  
  
• As a side note, the fact that the altimeter is so patient about apogee detection also means that it is less susceptible to things like wind bursts and mach-shock false readings. The erratic pressure waves caused by the mach cone sliding down the rocket around the vents won't cause this altimeter to think apogee has been reached and to stop looking.

The AltimeterOne comes with a "snap-lock" clip that allows you to easily attach it to your rocket, model airplane, or kite. The spring steel clip is easy to use and allows you to swap your AltimeterOne from one model to the next in just a few seconds.

When you turn it on, it senses the current atmospheric pressure of the air. It then starts waiting for the pressure to change, signifying the rocket (kite, or model airplane) has left the ground. As it rises, it senses the reduced pressure. When the pressure stops falling, it knows that it has reached the peak altitude and displays that on the LCD screen.

While it is small, this altimeter comes with a very smart brain. It can tell if a gust of wind comes by the rocket that might try to trick it to thinking it has launched. And it is smart enough to know to turn itself off after 30 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery power.

And the cool thing is the battery is rechargeable. You just plug it into a USB port on a computer, and it will automatically charge itself. There is a little light that comes on to let you know when it is charging, and when it is fully charged and ready to fly again. If the battery was drained completely, it will take approximately 2 hours to fully charge (less time if the battery still had some charge on it).

For more information on how the AltimeterOne and other altimeters work, check out the article in Newsletter 283 - How Electronic Altimeters Work

The AltimeterOne is pre-charged and can be used right out of the package when you receive it. You do not need to charge it the first time you turn it on (if the display turns on).

The advanced Lithium Polymer battery in the AltimeterOne can be recharged in any standard USB port, including those on computers, printers, and other devices.

Recharging Directions

1. Insert altimeter into USB port
   
   
2. Rear will glow if inserted properly. If unit does not glow when inserted follow these steps:
   
   a. Make sure computer is turned on. Most USB ports won't work unless the computer is also powered on. Also, it is possible to power down (disable) a port on your computer. But if you can plug a USB device in and it works, that means that power is okay. For instance, if you plug a USB flash drive in and it works, the port is fine.
   
   b. Flip the altimeter over and try again. The altimeter can be inserted in two directions. One works, the other doesn't. Try both ways.
   
   c. Wiggle the altimeter slightly to make sure the connection is solid.
   
   d. Please understand that the lights are on the back of the altimeter (not the side with the LCD display). Usually you can see the glow from the front, but not always, especially in a bright room. It may be that the lights are on, but you have to look behind the altimeter to see them.
   
   e. The altimeter's plug is as short as possible to reduce its size and weight. That means that on some computers you might not be able to plug it in far enough because the curve of the altimeter case may hit the computer case and not allow it to be inserted properly. Try other ports, and even a USB port in a printer or cell phone charger can be used. We're confident that the altimeters can charge correctly because every single one was charged twice during assembly, and had to show a red light when first plugged in. Try a different computer or USB charging device.
   
   
3. Start of charging: red glow
   
   
4. Charging complete: green glow

Fully charging the altimeter usually takes about two hours. It does not hurt the battery to leave it in the charger.

Red Light: Charging

User's Guide - Download the user's Manual (click here) PDF format, 568K. Pages are in "print order," so that if you print 2-sided on regular sized paper and then fold and staple they make a book.

Accuracy: 19 bits of pressure precision and 16 bits of temperature compensation can resolve 0.82 feet (0.25m) RMS (including noise) at 25° C.

Precision Displayed: Nearest Foot (0.3 meters) under 10,000 feet, and nearest 10 feet above 10,000 feet. The display shows four digits of resolution. For flights under 10,000 feet, you'll see the actual altitude. For flights over 9,999 feet, the display will show the altitude in thousands of feet, with a decimal point after the first two characters. Example: "1245" equals 1,245 feet. If after the flight the display shows "12.45", this equals 12,450 feet.

Sampling Rate: >20 times per second. Display updated 64 times per second.

Battery life: On: 17 hours+ Standby: 2 weeks+ Standby means that the altimeter actually never turns completely off-even when you turn it "off." It just shuts down the peripherals (display, pressure chip, signal channels) and goes into a low-power sleep mode, waiting for the user to press the button again. Personally, we've had test altimeters in the standby mode for a lot longer than 2 weeks and used them all day long when flying rockets without having to recharge. The energy management is phenomenal.

Battery type: Permanently installed rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery (not user-replaceable), with separate recharge and safety circuits to prevent over-charging.

Charging time on USB: 2 hours, from zero charge

USB Current: approx 25ma

Automatic Sleep: Shuts down after one hour of inactivity

Temperature Compensated: The altimeter uses a temperature sensor (16 bits) for two purposes:

1. To compensate for thermal effects in the pressure sensor across its temperature range -- -4°F to 120°F  (- 25°C to 49°C)
2. To compensate the atmospheric model used to convert true pressure to altitude.

Q. Does this AltimeterOne store data that can be downloaded to a computer through the USB port?

A. No. The AltimeterOne USB connector is only to charge the battery. This altimeter does not store data other than the peak altitude, which is displayed on the LCD screen.

Q. Does this altimeter come in bulk pack?

A. Yes.  It includes 10 AltimeterOne altimeters, a 10-port charging station and more!  Check it out!

Q. Does this altimeter fire ejection charges?

A. No. But we do offer several altimeters that do. See the HiAlt45K dual-deployment electronic payload, Entacore AIM USB, G-Wiz Flight Computers or the TeleMetrum.

Q. Can this altimeter be used to measure the height of kites, model airplanes, balloons, or birds?

A. Yes!!! As soon as your reset the altimeter, it begins sampling the air. It does not look for a minimum altitude to start recording the altitude readings, since it starts recording immediately. So if it takes 1 second, or 5 minutes for your kite, model airplane, or model rocket to reach a peak altitude, it will store it. When it comes back down to the ground, it will display the maximum altitude that it saw since it was reset.

Q. Is this altimeter approved for use in the TARC competition?

A. No. Not yet, at least (as of May, 2010). It is something we'd like, but it has to go through a formal approval process to be certified for the TARC competition. See the official web site of TARC to find out if it has been approved for use. Please ask them to approve it, don't ask us -- we're doing our part already. But in the mean time, it makes a great practice altimeter for your first test flights.

Q. Is it safe to expose the AltimeterOne to the corrosive ejection charge gases put out by the rocket motor? Won't the unit get dirty too?

A. Think about this question for a second... When you are prepping a rocket that has flown several times, how often do you say, "look at the base of the nose cone. It is filthy"? NEVER! Why is that? Why doesn't the base of the nose cone get dirty? Why is it so clean? Because there is a lot of stuff between it at the rocket engine: such as a recovery device and wadding. All that protects the base of the nose cone from seeing the heat and the crud of the ejection charge gases. When you put the AltimeterOne in the rocket, it will also be protected by the parachute and the wadding below it. So it doesn't feel the dirty ejection charge gases. In addition, there is also "clean air" in the tube in front of the rocket engine. This air has to be pushed out first before the dirty ejection charge gases come out of the tube. So you do not need to worry about corrosive ejection charge gases getting to your AltimeterOne, unless you fail to follow the instructions of using wadding in your model rocket. But if you are still concerned, then you still can put your AltimeterOne in a payload bay -- it will work there too.

Q. Where can I find out more information about how electronic altimeters work?

A. See our Peak-Of-Flight Newsletters. Issue #240, Issue #242, and Issue #257

 

Q. Is the AltimeterOne Waterproof?

A. No. If your pet falcon dives into the water carrying the AltimeterOne attached to its foot, it will ruin the pressure sensor. Sorry. But the unit has to breath to take pressure readings, and it can't breath under water (Yep... This has happened to a owner of the AltimeterOne, or we wouldn't be writing about this.)

 

Q. Why is it black instead of a bright color?

A. Because it looks high-tech in black instead of another color. We have been made aware (by the same guy who's falcon that went swimming with it attached to the bird's foot) that it looks like a small mouse to an Eagle, and the eagle may attack the falcon or pigeon to get the mock-mouse. We are not responsible for the health and safety of your model or bird for damages caused by other life-forms trying to get the AltimeterOne.

How accurate are altimeters? Which is the best one? These are common questions that are hard to answer, because of the randomness of the atmosphere. This video explains what that means and how it relates to the accuracy of electronic altimeters.

The AltimeterOne altimeter has undergone a significant upgrade modification to make it even better. It now displays either English or Metric units, plus it has a low-battery icon that shows when it is time to recharge the unit. In addition, it also has a special mode that allows you to see the current altitude in real-time. This mode is great for educators, as it will show the students how the pressure changes with altitude. In other words, you can watch the altitude change as you ride up in an elevator! Or you can turn it on and see how high you've hiked up a hill. This video goes through the new features of the latest version of the AltimeterOne so you can see it in action.

The manufacturer warrantees the altimeter to be free of manufacturing defects for one year. You will need to test it by doing a simple suck-test (as shown in the video above). If it fails to work right out of the box, return it immediately to Apogee for a replacement.

If you fly it and break it (such as cracking the case or LCD display), we do not warrantee that. It is durable, not indestructible The ejection of the nose cone off and the parachute out of the rocket is an extremely violent event. The heat is not the problem, it is the whacking around of the parts that can cause damage to the AltimeterOne. Extra padding wrapped around the outside of the AltimeterOne can help, but it does not guarantee the survival of the device. If you are unsure or fearful, then for pete's sake, put the AltimeterOne inside a payload bay. It will work there too.

We can get replacement plastic cases if you crack a case (and the altimeter still operates normally). Call us for details.

Due to the inexpensive cost of the altimeter, there is no "repair" options available. It would be cheaper to just purchase a new one that to try to repair a broken altimeter. Sorry...

To Be Perfectly Clear...

There is no replacement, repair, exchange, store credit, or refund on this item.