Flytec Balloon 4:Vario
Variometer settings
The Flytec Balloon 4 indicates vertical speed numerically, graphically and also acoustically. This section explains how to configure both its vario acoustics, and the vario's sensitivity to vertical movement.
Accessing vario settings
Long press
, then use
to select Vario, press
Acoustic
The acoustic settings determine in which situations the vario beeps, and how those beeps sound. Inside the Vario menu, select Acoustic and press 
to get here.
Note: As a shortcut, simply long press 
to quickly get to the vario acoustics settings.
Audio general
Inside the Acoustic menu, select Audio general and press to get here.
Audio mode
Determines whether the vario beeps all the time, or only in flight. In the Audio general menu, select Audio mode and press to get here. Use 
to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with 
.
- In flight: Regardless of all other settings, the vario will only beep after a launch has been detected. To allow for testing, the vario will also beep during the first 30 seconds after adjusting the sound volume.
- Always: The vario will beep at all times.
Base tone
Determines the pitch of the vario beep at 0 m/s. In the Audio general menu, select Base frequency and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
The frequency is set in Hertz, default is 800 Hz.
Tone change
Determines the way the tone changes with increasing vertical speeds. In the Audio general menu, select Tone change and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- linear: The frequency increase and decrease are linear to the vertical speed
- harmonic: The frequency increase and decrease are adjusted to how we hear musical notes (which is not linear to frequency).
Tone rise
Determines whether and how fast the tone frequency increases or decreases with vertical speed. In the Audio general menu, select Tone rise and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- off: The frequency does not change. The vario will always beep at the base tone frequency, regardless of vertical speed. Use this in connection with clear cadence changes if your hearing is limited to a small frequency spectrum.
- slow: The frequency increases or decreases slowly with vertical speed.
- medium: The frequency increases or decreases at a medium rate with vertical speed. This is the default setting.
- fast: The frequency increases or decreases quickly with vertical speed. Use this to clearly distinguish between different climb or sink rates acoustically.
Cadence change
Cadence determines the number of beeps per time unit. A high cadence means fast beeping, a low cadence means slow beeping. In the Audio general menu, select Cadence change and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- linear: The cadence increase and decrease are linear to the vertical speed
- logarithmic: The cadence increase and decrease are pronounced at low vertical speeds, and reduced at high vertical speeds. This way the vario seems less "nervous" in high vertical speeds.
Climb tone
The climb tone is an acoustic signal that only sounds when the vario's altitude is increasing. It is a beep of varying frequency and cadence depending on vertical speed. Inside the Acoustic menu, select Climb tone and press to get here.
Active
Determines whether the vario produces a climb tone or not. In the Climb tone menu, select Active and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- yes: The vario produces a climb tone
- no: The vario does not produce a climb tone
Threshold
Defines the minimum ascent speed necessary to produce a vario beep. In the Climb tone menu, select Threshold and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
Select a value between 0.1 m/s (20 fpm) and 8.0 m/s (1600 fpm). Default is 0.1 m/s (20 fpm).
Descent tone
The descent tone is an acoustic signal that only sounds when the vario's altitude is decreasing. It is a beep of varying frequency and cadence depending on vertical speed. Inside the Acoustic menu, select Descent tone and press to get here.
Active
Determines whether the vario produces a descent tone or not. In the Descent tone menu, select Active and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- yes: The vario produces a descent tone
- no: The vario does not produce a descent tone
Threshold
Defines the minimum descent speed necessary to produce a vario beep. In the Descent tone menu, select Threshold and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
Select a value between -0.1 m/s (-20 fpm) and -8.0 m/s (-1600 fpm). Default is -0.1 m/s (-20 fpm).
Sensitivity
The sensitivity setting determines how finely the Flytec Balloon 4 reacts to changes in air pressure. The more sensitive it is set, the more it will also react to turbulences. Inside the Vario menu, select Sensitivity and press to get here. Use to adjust the value. Select one with or cancel with .
- low: The vario filters out most turbulence, and reacts relatively slowly to changes in altitude nor to changes in climb or sink rate.
- regular: This is the default, with some filtering. The vario reacts quickly to changes in altitude or to changes in climb or sink rate.
- high: The vario filters nearly no turbulence, and reacts very quickly to changes in altitude or to changes in climb or sink rate.