Alti-2 ALTIMASTER NEPTUNE User manual

ALTIMASTER NEPTUNE
Manual
Issue D
May 2004
Alti-2, Inc.
1400 Flightline Blvd.
Suite E
Deland, FL 32724
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.alti-2.com

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Introduction
Congratulations on buying an Altimaster Neptune.
Neptune information is constantly being updated.
Please refer to our website, www.alti-2.com, for the latest information.
Software Upgrades
The Neptune has an Infrared interface which allows you to update the built-in software as new
versions become available. Software updates are available free of charge from our website:
http://www.alti-2.com/neptune_updater.htm.
Customer Support
Neptune has a considerable number of options and facilities covering, alarm settings, log book,
manual mode, DZ offset, contrast, flip, backlight etc etc, and there are hundreds of combinations
of settings.
If you have ANY problems or question, please call or e-mail us. We will do our best to
help you get the most out of your Neptune.
386-943-9333
[email protected]
We may have Altimaster Field Support at your drop zone. Check our online Altimaster Field
Support locator: http://www.alti-2.com/field_support_locator.htm.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Manual
All menus have the same basic operation;
the top and bottom buttons move the
cursor and the center button selects the
highlighted choice.
BASIC SETUP PROCEDURE
INSERT BATTERY
Remove the two screws securing the battery cover
using a Phillips screwdriver.
Be careful not to lose the O ring.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Insert one type Duracell DL2450 (or equivalent)
battery.
(2 batteries are provided – 1 is a spare)
The battery should only go in one way, with the “+”
side up, i.e. toward the buttons.
The Neptune will only be waterproof if you fit the o-
ring into the groove in the battery cover.
This can be an awkward task and you may wish to
use silicon grease or petroleum jelly to help hold the
o-ring in the grove.
If you never jump near water you can leave the o-
ring out.
Replace the two screws, DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!
This can crack the battery cover and cause the unit
to lose water resistance.
You can press the battery cover down to seal the o-
ring to the body of the unit for maximum water
resistance.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
FITTING THE HELMET CLIP
If you wish to use Neptune as an audible altimeter,
use the helmet clip and tie wraps provided.
Align the Neptune’s speaker with the speaker hole
in the helmet clip. Failure to do so may result in
inaudible alarms.
Using the “flip” function, Neptune can be fitted with
the buttons in either direction, on either side of your
helmet. Use the tie wraps to attach the clip to your
helmet in desired position, keeping the speaker hole
and speaker aligned.
The Neptune is snapped into the clip.
The clip is designed to fit in a recess as shown. If
mounted on a non-recessed helmet, we suggest
that a rubber band be fitted around the clip to
prevent the Neptune from sliding out.
HAND MOUNT
If you wish to use Neptune as a visual altimeter we
suggest you use the hand mount provided.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Lay the hand mount across the back of the Neptune.
Line up the four (4) holes with the threaded inserts
in the back of the Neptune and insert the screws
provided, with the washers between the fabric and
the screws.
You may use Loctite to hold the screws securely in
place.
If you wish to wear the Neptune on your wrist, like a
watch, use the wrist mount provided.
The fabric wrist mount is attached to the back of the
Neptune in the same way as the hand mount. The
narrow wrist strap is then fed through the channel in
the wrist mount.
Metal backplates were previously issued with
Neptunes. Do NOT use one of these backplates
alone with the narrow wrist strap; this setup will
crack the display!
TIME AND DATE
Setting the time and date is typical of many Neptune setup menus.
This adjustment is explained in detail to familiarize you with the menu system.
The system starts up in the Ground mode screen. It
displays time, date and temperature.
Icons indicate:
•the battery state
•alarms enabled or disabled
•logbook enabled or disabled
•backlight enabled (no icon for disabled)

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Start by pushing the center “menu” button on the
ground screen. The main menu will be displayed.
Move the cursor (top or bottom button) to “System”
and press “Select” (center button).
In the “System” menu, most of the basic setups are
under “Options 1” and “Options 2”.
Move the cursor (top or bottom button to “Options 2”
and press “Select” (center button)
You will now see the “Time/Date” setting option (as
well as many others)
The cursor will already be on the “Hours” setting.
Use the top and bottom buttons to increase or
decrease the number, then press “Select” and the
cursor will move to the next item.
When all entries have been adjusted the system will
automatically exit from this screen.
LOGBOOK SETUP

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
From the “System” menu, select “Log Setup”
The Logbook setup menu allows to set the starting
number of jumps, starting Freefall (FF) time.
If necessary it also allows you to delete the entire
logbook.
Method of selection and entry is the same as the
“Date and Time” setup.
ALARMS
From the main menu screen, move the cursor down
to “Alarms” and press “Select”
Neptune will display the current alarm Group and
altitude settings.
If the setting are correct select “OK”, if you want to
change them select “Edit/Select”
Alarm setup is described in detail under the 'Alarms’
section of this manual.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
IR Downloads
The Neptune has a build in IrDA compliant infrared port (see photograph above) which provides
a wireless link to your PC. The IR port allows:
- Neptune software to be updated
- The log book to be downloaded to Paralog.
For Neptune software updates, go to www.alti-2.com. Full download instructions are included
with the software.
Instructions on downloading jumps to Paralog can be found in the Log Book section of this
manual. Paralog can be purchased online at www.paralog.net.
If you have any questions or problems updating your Neptune, please go to our online
Altimaster Field Support locator to see if we have Field Support at your drop zone. If there is
none, please call or e-mail Alti-2.
http://www.alti-2.com/field_support_locator.htm
[email protected]
386-943-9333

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Ground Display
The ground display shows time, date and temperature, and also shows status icons for
backlight, logbook, alarms, and battery.
The Neptune has a power saving mode which switches the display off after 30 minutes. The
Neptune will continue to function as normal; the display can be reactivated by pushing any
button. It will also reactivate automatically if the unit switches to aircraft mode.
There is no on/off switch on the Neptune. The two holes on the back of the unit are for the
speaker and filter; touching either one could irreparably damage your Neptune.
Alarm
Status
Backlight
Log Book Battery
Status

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Altitude Display
When “Alt” is showed in the bottom right of the screen (in ground mode and aircraft mode), push
the bottom button and change to the “Altitude” screen. This shows altitude AGL (above ground
level) and also altitude MSL (Mean Sea Level).
Climb Display
The climb screen shows:
•Time to altitude (not shown on the picture above). In version 1.x and 2.x software, exit
altitude is assumed to be 13,000 feet and is not adjustable. A software update is being
planned in which the target altitude will be adjustable.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
•Current altitude
•Climb Rate
oIn climb mode, you can adjust any setting, look at your logbook, and turn functions
on and off up right up until you are ready to exit the plane. You do not have to
return to the main screen when you are ready to skydive.
•Temperature
Freefall Display
When the Neptune detects you are in freefall it will switch to the freefall display, regardless of
which screen you may be in at that time. The freefall display shows altitude in thousands of feet
(or hundreds of meters).
There is also an analog display called the “fun meter”. The “fun meter” is a black bar across the
bottom of the screen which starts to fill in at 3000 feet and is a complete solid bar at 12,000 feet.
The purpose is to give you a quick indication of where you are between 12,000 feet and 3,000
feet.
NOTE: If the analog bar (fun meter” is empty it does NOT mean you are at 3,000 feet, it means
you are BELOW 3,000’ – check the numbers!!
“Fun Meter”

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Canopy Display
The canopy display shows altitude in feet to a resolution of 10 feet. It also shows rate of descent
in feet per second.
The canopy display may be disabled (Menu > System > Options 1 > Canopy Display). If you
disable the canopy display you will see the freefall display while under canopy.
DO NOT allow the canopy descent rate information to distract you from safely flying and landing
your canopy.
Alarms
Neptune’s alarm groups each have 3 alarm altitudes, and there are 4 groups which you can
select from.
We recommend that alarms are disabled (Menu > System > Options 1 > Audible > Disable) if
you are using Neptune as a visual altimeter. The alarm icon will change on the ground screen to
show that the alarms have been disabled.
If you attempt to check the alarms settings (Menu > Alarms) while they are disabled you will
see the following screen:

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Select “enable” to activate the alarms, or exit if you wish to leave them disabled.
If the alarms are enabled, Menu > Alarms will display the following screen showing the current
active group and the alarm altitudes.
To exit without making changes select “OK” or to
change the setting select “Edit/Select”.
The following procedure shows how to edit and select another group
When you select “Edit/Select,” you will see the screen
shown on the left. Group 1, named 16-way in this
case, is the active group.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Assuming that we want to set up another group,
highlight the group to be edited and press select, in
this case group 2.
You will now see the current settings for group 2. The
first item is the name; if you wish to change the name
press select.
You can now scroll through a list of names. In this
case 4-way has been selected. Press select to confirm
the new name.
The same method is used to select and change the 3
alarm altitudes.
When the alarm name and altitudes are correct,
highlight “Activate Group” and select.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
The menu item will confirm that this group is now
active.
Now highlight and select “Exit”
The process is now complete. Group 2 has been set
for 4-way, and the arrows confirm that it is the active
group.
Log Book
To use the logbook function, make sure it is enabled (Menu > Log Book > Enable/Disable).
The log book icon on the ground mode screen will confirm that logging is enabled.
A summary of your jumps is available (Menu > Log Book > Summary), which shows total
jumps and total freefall time.
Detailed jump logs can be viewed for the last 10 jumps, and can be reviewed on a jump by
jump basis (Menu > Log Book > View Logs). You will see the latest jump number displayed.
Use the up button to highlight the jump number (Jump 12 in the photograph below), and press
the center select button.
The first page of the detail log for the jump shows:

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
•Jump #
•Grp: - this is the alarm group you had selected at the time of the jump (even if you have
disabled the alarms).
•Exit Altitude
•Deployment altitude
oDeployment altitude is the altitude at which you were under a fully deployed
canopy, not the altitude at which you threw the pilot chute.
•FF: freefall time
When you select “Next” you will see:
- Average velocity
- Velocity at 12,000 feet
- Velocity at 9, 000 feet
- Velocity at 6, 000 feet
- Velocity at 3, 000 feet
Note: The velocities are an average of your velocity within 1000 feet of the reported altitude.
This is how fast you were going at that altitude, it is not an average over a large part of your
skydive.
These specific velocities and known altitudes allow jumpers to make valid fall rate comparisons.
For example, how do you compare the fall rate of a jumper who has a long dive to a formation
and then tracks like an anvil, with another jumper who is in the base and knows how to flat
track? The averages will be completely different. However, if both jumpers were in the formation
and comfortable at 6,000 feet, then the Neptune velocities are directly comparable.
When you select “Next” you will go back to the screen shown above. If you then select “View
Next” the counter will go back one jump.
If you have to descend with the aircraft, Neptune may log a jump, in which case you can use
Delete Last (Menu > Log Book > Delete Last) to erase the jump.
If you encounter any logging errors, please make sure that you have the latest version of
software. Your problem may have already been addressed and resolved!

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
To download your jumps to Paralog (www.paralog.net), you must have an IRdA interface on
your computer.
In the Neptune logbook, select the “IR Connect” function to begin the upload process (Menu >
Log Book > IR Connect).
In Paralog, select File > Read Neptune. Refer to Paralog for directions on setting up your
preferences in that program.
Next, select ‘Start Upload’ in your Neptune and align the IR port of the Neptune with the IR port
on your computer.
The Neptune should connect with your computer and warble. A popup dialogue box will also
appear in the lower right corner of your computer screen. This box says ‘Click here to send files
to the computer Neptune’ – DO NOT click this box!
After connecting with Paralog, your jumps will be downloaded into that program.

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
Manual Modes
The “Set DZ Offset”(Menu > DZ Setup > Set DZ Offset) is intended to allow you to take off at
one location and land at another DZ which is at a different altitude. The only function of DZ
offset is to enter a number which is either added or subtracted from the AGL altitude that is
displayed. The DZ altitude continues to be updated normally.
To cancel DZ offset: Menu > DZ Setup > Set DZ Offset > Cancel
“Manual Mode” (Menu > DZ Setup > Manual Mode) allows you to override ALL automatic
functions. It will ask you to enter the current altitude and will then display the altitude that you
set. It will display increases or decreases from the altitude you set. The display will NOT time
out after 30 minutes, and the DZ altitude will NOT be updated.
Shows manual mode is active

Parachuting is a hazardous activity that can result in injury or death. An altimeter is a mechanical device and may malfunction,
even when properly designed, built, assembled, maintained and used. Do not rely upon an altimeter for your safety. Your
altimeter must only be considered as an aid when checking your altitude.
The needle can stick during both ascent and descent – a visual cross reference with the ground should be used in combination
with the altimeter.
To cancel manual mode: Menu > DZ Setup > Manual Mode > Cancel Manual > Disable
If the altitude on the ground is not zero AGL, select “I’m on the DZ” (Menu > DZ Setup > I’m
on the DZ). This function is useful if, for example, you drive up a hill and then get in the aircraft
within approximately 20 mins. The unit may not have updated the DZ altitude. Selecting “I’m on
the DZ” causes the unit to fix the DZ at the current altitude. It will then continue to automatically
update as normal.
Flip
If you want to wear the unit on your right hand, flip the display upside down by selecting Menu >
System > Option 1 > Flip > Enable.
Backlight
An electroluminescent backlight is included for night jumps. Use of the backlight will shorten
battery life. We recommend that you leave it disabled unless you are actually making a night
jump, in which case you should put in a fresh battery to ensure that your Neptune will have full
power throughout your entire jump.
The menu sequence to enable the backlight is Menu > System > Options 1 > Backlight >
Enable. The backlight icon will appear on the ground screen to confirm that it is activated.
When enabled, the backlight will stay on for 3 seconds every time you press a button, and will
stay on when freefall is detected.
Auto/Econ
This option is does not function in version 1.x software. Neptunes remain in “Auto” mode.