Suunto

[HunterAK]

My GF just bought me a Suunto Vector watch for my birthday in black and military green. I like it, but I've been looking over the manual for setting the alitmeter, barometer, and compass and I'm not getting it right now. I guess I'll try later.

Anyone else have one of these?

 

[gage092879]

we are issued suunto. tough watch, just uses batts somewhat fast for a watch. but then again, guess that depends on how much you use the comp, etc. mine helped a little at the cove at 2 a.m.

 

[sboada]

Have one and like it. I've had it for about 4 years. Agree on the battery usage comment, but the upside is that the battery is user replaceable, so you don't have to send it out like some. The manual is a beast.

The compass is pretty accurate, and the barometer seems to work fairly well, as long as you know what to look for.

 

[gmookher]

I have owned several SUUNTOs over the years

all 3 of my watches have had the compass fail on them, once even just a few months after a warranty fix

They have worked flawlessly otherwise
you need to set "ref" barometric pressure to your current altitude which you need to get from some other source with current barometric pressure

I stopped being anal and caliberating mine all the time and the alti works great, as far as measuring change, but it can be off by a bit as 'sea level' is relative to the weather systems- meaning you can use it as alti or baro not both at the same time, tho while camping its more important to see if baro has been rising or dropping

after the new-ness of the device wears off, its a functional outdoors tool, but dont rely on it for uber accurate altitude readings unless you caliberate it to sea level

the user manual is good, just get really stoned before you try reading it..

 

[HunterAK]

That won't be a problem!

 

[flyfisher11]

Standard day barometric pressure is 29.92" but if I'm not mistaken you can't set it on the Suunto to that. Set it to 29.90" and leave it. This will give you pressure altitude which will be different plus or minus depending on the actual barometric pressure from true altitude/elevation. In flying you set 29.92 as you pass through transition altitude which in N. America is 18,000'. It varies all over the world though. This is important flying because with everyone on autopilot flying through varying weather all planes set to 29.92 will dive and climb the same based on the varying actual barometric pressure. I've only been retired from flying a year and a half and I can't remember the calculation for finding your actual elevation even though your instrument is set to standard day. How soon you lose it when you don't use it LOL!

 

[gmookher]

I also use 29.90...

as for setting your compass

http://www.thecompassstore.com/decvar.html#

 

[HunterAK]

Thanks guys. I'm looking forward to actually USING this thing, so I want to make sure I know how. It's not the most accurate thing in the world, but from what I've read it's pretty damn accurate considering...

 

[Sam C.]

I have one too, its great watch. x2 on the battery usage, much faster than others but easy to change.