On Thursday I scored a Suunto at REI's scratch and dent sale. To set the watch up I need some info. I need to know our "sea level air pressure reference value." I have searched the intrawebs, but have come up with nothing specific.
Need some info (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ruadhrigh
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Rory,
You cant do both weather and altimeter at the same time, so you have to pick one. If you choose alti, then you can set your altimeter to your altitude where your at and the watch will track it from there. If you chose baro, you can set the barometer to the current setting and it will stay somewhat accurate from there. Either choice will require frequent updating.
HTH
Daisy
You cant do both weather and altimeter at the same time, so you have to pick one. If you choose alti, then you can set your altimeter to your altitude where your at and the watch will track it from there. If you chose baro, you can set the barometer to the current setting and it will stay somewhat accurate from there. Either choice will require frequent updating.
HTH
Daisy
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks B. But to make sure the data showing is accurate I need to enter some reference points. One is the air pressure, and the other is a known altitude. Since I have no GPS I can scoot over to REI and they have a good reference for alti and compass declination.
Ok then. Which watch did you get?
I want a Core for my next one, that is if my Advizor ever dies
Daisy
I want a Core for my next one, that is if my Advizor ever dies
Daisy
Didnt think about my GPS. Ambient pressure at my house is 24.28hg.
Enjoy
Daisy
Enjoy
Daisy
- Thread starter
- #6
Ok then. Which watch did you get?
I want a Core for my next one, that is if my Advizor ever dies
Daisy
I got the Core at a ridiculous price
This is me hating you right now!!
You will have to let me know how you like it, seems to be a great watch.
Later
Daisy
You will have to let me know how you like it, seems to be a great watch.
Later
Daisy
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
Your non-WAAS GPS will not be remotely accurate for altitude. Within 100 feet, maybe.
If you are anal enough to get that accurate, the threshhold for runway 17 at Albuquerque is 5319.2 ft. This is the runway that you drive by on Gibson. You'll be able to be within 100 feet laterally to the threshhold from the sidewalk. Runway 17-35 is only 5 feet lower at the south end (10,000 feet--nearly two miles away), so it's pretty danged flat. You won't find a more accurate altitude reference than that (unless you find a USGS marker).
You could also check the internets for current altimeter setting at KABQ and KAEG (Double Eagle II Airport--on the west mesa). These are Sea-Level-Corrected numbers. They change constantly. Currently ABQ is reporting 29.83. But they really do change all the time. That's why we get hourly (at a minimum) weather updates.
If it was me, I'd go set it to the altitude at ABQ, then go right home, and make careful note of your altitude. Then, next time you want to use it, just set it to that altitude.
Daisy put up his barometer reading (24.28InHg), which is the actual barometric pressure there. It is an actual reading of the air pressure, as opposed to a corrected value (basically moves the reference plane to sea level), which is what NOAA/NWS puts out for aviation use. If you want to find the current minute weather, you are looking for a METAR. A typical METAR will read:
I emphasized the altimeter setting for you. Being able to read these will also allow you to find one on the road (as long as you can find an airport nearby--for instance, Moab is KCNY).
</nerdy discussion>
Dan
If you are anal enough to get that accurate, the threshhold for runway 17 at Albuquerque is 5319.2 ft. This is the runway that you drive by on Gibson. You'll be able to be within 100 feet laterally to the threshhold from the sidewalk. Runway 17-35 is only 5 feet lower at the south end (10,000 feet--nearly two miles away), so it's pretty danged flat. You won't find a more accurate altitude reference than that (unless you find a USGS marker).
You could also check the internets for current altimeter setting at KABQ and KAEG (Double Eagle II Airport--on the west mesa). These are Sea-Level-Corrected numbers. They change constantly. Currently ABQ is reporting 29.83. But they really do change all the time. That's why we get hourly (at a minimum) weather updates.
If it was me, I'd go set it to the altitude at ABQ, then go right home, and make careful note of your altitude. Then, next time you want to use it, just set it to that altitude.
Daisy put up his barometer reading (24.28InHg), which is the actual barometric pressure there. It is an actual reading of the air pressure, as opposed to a corrected value (basically moves the reference plane to sea level), which is what NOAA/NWS puts out for aviation use. If you want to find the current minute weather, you are looking for a METAR. A typical METAR will read:
ABQ METAR said:
I emphasized the altimeter setting for you. Being able to read these will also allow you to find one on the road (as long as you can find an airport nearby--for instance, Moab is KCNY).
</nerdy discussion>
Dan
Wow, I always thought a watch was for telling time. 
You can get your altitude on Google Earth to within 10 feet or so - plenty accurate enough.
- Thread starter
- #11
Dan, you hurt my brain.
If I understand you correctly I can use 29.83 inHg as "good enough."
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
When I posted it you could.
At 10:56AM KABQ was reporting 29.86. Looks like pressure is rising today, and the 10:55 METAR from KAEG (Double Eagle) was showing 29.87.
FWIW--the difference between is only 10 feet per hundredth of InHg. For 11:00, 29.86 would be my choice, but again, it's all about just how nerdy you want to be.
There is no guarantee that your house is seeing the same QNH (altimeter setting) as the airport or that it hasn't changed a bit since the last report. Even for doing our Cat. I ILS approaches (we fly to within 200 feet of the ground, with as little as 1/2 mile of visibility), we only worry about using the local altimeter setting as long as it's not more than an hour old.
Dan
DanS HJ-45
SILVER Star
x2.
Unless you're navigating vertically using an altimeter (which is a trick I want to see in a cruiser!!!), 10 feet is easily close enough.
Dan
alia176
SILVER Star
How would this tell him the barometric pressure at our elevation? I suspect that his watch needs a starting barometric pressure to tell the altitude w/o using GPS. On the other hand, the barometric pressure is changing hourly so this ought to be interesting.
If the pressure is somewhat stable (winds calm), you could get the pressure and elevation at ABQ, then, knowing *your* elevation, interpolate from here:
http://www.sablesys.com/baro-altitude.html
(Edited to show a better table)
http://www.sablesys.com/baro-altitude.html
(Edited to show a better table)
Last edited:
Wow, I always thought a watch was for telling time.
Come on Pappy (aka Gramps) get with the program.
That is what i thought too (not really) until I found out my cell phone has a digital compass. This coming from the only guy that got lost with GPS in his hand?
Last edited:
Come on Pappy (aka Gramps) get with the program.
My cell phone has a clock on it.
My cell phone has a clock on it.
I hope you have the alram, calander, tools etc... and all the technolgy that normally comes with them too
I better shut up before I piss anyone off!
My cell phone make phone calls. What else do I need?
That's what is most imortant!
