Ascent H1 User manual

ascent h1
v1.224
English Instructions

Thanks!
Thank you for your purchase of the Ascent wrist-mounted vario. This product was designed by engineers who also happen to
be paragliding pilots. We wanted a product that would meet the following criteria:
- Small
- Light Weight
- Easy to Operate
There was nothing currently available that satises each requirement so we sat down, rolled up our sleeves, and after many
hours of hard work, prototype builds, programming, reliability testing, and test ights came up with what we believe is the best
small, rechargeable variometer available.
This was our introduction in 2008 to our v1 unit. After selling thousands of varios, getting pilot feedback, and collecting
lessons learned, we decided to do the whole thing again. We believe that this new product both improves on the
original concept while retaining the ascent identity that made the v1 such a success.
We know that you will enjoy this product and wish you many safe and enjoyable ights.
Thank you again for your purchase.
Ascent Products
Safety Information
Warning; This product is not intended to be used as a precise measurement of altitude, velocity, or temperature.
Warning; This product contains a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The product must be disposed of properly. Use only
in accordance with operating instructions.
Warning; This product and its components contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects, or reproductive harm. This notice is being provided in accordance with California Proposition 65. If you have
further questions please contact Ascent Products.
Charging the Battery
Your vario operates on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery can provide power for at least 8 hours of ight
time, or up to 1 year standby time when fully charged. The beep volume and mode have a noticable aect on battery life
with louder and longer beeps requiring more power and reducing battery life.
To charge the battery, plug the micro-USB end of the cable into the product and plug the other end into the AC wall
charger, car charger, or computer. The screen will display “USB Connected Charging”. When the unit is completely
charged the screen will change to “USB Connected Charged”.
The product takes less then 2 hours to fully charge. Due to protection circuits it is not possible to over-charge. When
fully charged, the icon on main menu will show full. Lithium-polymer batteries do not have a memory and there is no
advantage to letting the unit run completely out of power prior to charging. Therefore you are advised to keep the unit
fully charged so that it is ready to use when you are ready to y.
If the battery becomes low during use, “Low Batt” will display at the bottom of the screen. If the battery becomes
critically low, the unit will shut o and not turn on again. We recommend charging the battery as soon as possible to
avoid possible permanant damage caused by over discharging the battery. Avoid storing and charging the battery in
extreme hot (>40C) or cold (<0C) environments.
2

Product Overview
To get the most out of your new product we recommend that you read the entire manual. However, we believe that once
you start using the menus you will nd the operation of the product easy and intuitive.
The product has four push buttons for navigation and adjustment as shown below.
moves up one menu position
per click or increases value of
selected variable
- holding the button down will
accelerate the change
moves down one menu position
per click or decreases value of
selected variable
- holding the button down will
accelerate the change
Power button
(long press)
goes back one menu step
(short press)
goes forward one menu step
(short press)
Volume button
(during ight)
Flight Exit
(long press)
>Settings
>Info
>Log Book
>Fly
Turning the vario on and o
Press and hold the button until the prompt appears (2 seconds), then press the button (again) to scroll to “Yes”and
press the button to turn the unit on.
As soon as the unit is turned on, it will attempt to start aquiring satellites. Please make sure that the antenna has a clear
view of the sky during use and especially during the calibration process. This process should take less than 3 minutes.
To turn the unit o, press and hold the button for 2 seconds. Note that it is not possible to turn the unit o while in y
mode.
To extend the battery life, after 30 minutes of inactivity the vario automatically turns itself o. This will not happen in the
y mode.
When the unit is turned on, the main menu is displayed (shown above). This screeen has four options: Fly, Log Book,
Settings, and Info. Use the and buttons to highlight your choice and press the button to select. This page also
displays an estimate of the current battery charge using an icon at the bottom of the screen.
Starting and Ending a Flight
Use the and buttons to highlight Fly and then press the button to enter Fly Mode. The unit will not start record-
ing a ight (and by default not beep) until the velocity threshold has been crossed. This thresholds can be adjusted in the
Settings menu. To exit the ight, press and hold the button.
3
GPS Antenna

Wrist Strap
The wrist strap is secured to the vario body by two spring pins (similar to those used on a typical watch). To remove the
strap place the vario face down on a non scratching surface and with a small screwdriver or similar tool place the end
between the spring pin shoulder and the vario body. Carefully compress the spring pin several mm and the pin should
disengage from the body. Repeat on the other side. Installation of the strap is done by installing the spring into the
strap hole and aligning one end of the pin into one of the holes in the back cover. Carefully compress the other end of
the spring pin while aligning the tip with the other hole in the body. Release the pin and be sure to give the strap a good
pull to make sure that the pins are well seated and engaged.
Reset Switch
Reset Switch
The reset switch is used to reset the vario. This may be necessary if the vario is not responding to button presses or by
charging. To manually reset the vario, place it face down on a non scratching surface. Then, insert a paper clip or other
similar pin into the hole on the back of the unit and gently press. You should feel a slight depression like you do when
you press one of the other buttons (it is not necessary to hold it down). The screen will go blank and the vario will reset.
The date and time will be reset, however the ight logs will not be erased.
4
Wrist Strap
Spring Pin
Lanyard Hole
Press Here

Fly Mode
The main y screen is shown below. By briey pressing any of the four buttons during the ight, the screen will tempo-
rarily display other ight information for 5 seconds and then return to the default screen.
Pressing the button will display the current volume. Press the or button to adjust the volume. Remember that a
long press of the button will exit the Flight Mode completely and stop the recording of ight data.
Flight Exit
(long press)
4,730
+ 850
20.3
315°
20:1
Speed
Ratio
Speed
Track
Alt
MSL
Vert
Ground
Glide
True (MSL) Altitude
(or Altitude Relative to launch depending on settings)
Averaged Vertical Speed
(default = 5 second average)
Ground Speed
(Instantaneous)
Glide Ratio
(xed at 5 second average)
Heading
(Instantaneous)
13:24
1:56
6.3
NW
76.5°
and
Temp
Duration
from Start
Time
Dist.
Direction
Time
Duration of Flight (h:mm)
Distance from Launch (mi. or km)
Temperature (F or C)
Direction from Launch
4,730
1,290
850
620
-730
Max Lift
Max Sink
Alt
Avg Lift
Alt
Max
Rel
Maximum Altitude this ight (ft or m)
Altitudue Relative to launch (ft or m)
(or True (MSL) Altitude depending on settings)
Maximum instantaneous lift this ight (non-averaged) (fpm or m/s)
Maximum instantaneous sink this ight (fpm or m/s)
Maximum averaged lift this ight (fpm or m/s)
Page
Page
5

Log Book
Use the and buttons to highlight Log Book and then push the button to enter the Log Book. This unit can store
ight summary data for up to 200 ights. Pushing the and buttons will scroll through the recorded ights.
Pressing the button will allow you to see additional ight details. Note that the data in the log book will be saved,
even if the battery is completely discharged or the unit is reset.
Log Number
Launch Date
Launch Time
Flight Duration
Start (Launch) Altitude
Max Altitude
End (Land) Altitude
Max Lift (instantaneous)
Max Lift (averaged)
Max Sink (instantaneous)
Log Number
Maximum temperature
Minimum temperature
Launch GPS Coordinates
Landing GPS Coordinates
Flight #059
Start Time: 15:36
Flight Duration: 1:40
Max Dist: 12.5mi
Max Temp: 80°F
Min Temp: 60°F
Flight # 059
Start Alt:
Max Alt:
End Alt:
Max Lift:
Avg. Lift:
Max Sink:
Flight # 059
Start
Lat:
Long:
End
Lat:
Long:
Flight # 059
> Delete Flight?
• No
o Yes
33.82087
-116.95718
33.81973
-116.96423
18,522
175
+ 480
- 510
12,083
+ 520
Date: 29/01/2011
Maximum distance from Launch
Log Number
Flight Number
Use the button to highlight Yes and then push the button to
delete this ight. Note: this action permanently deletes this ight
number from the log book and the remaining ights will not be
re-numbered.
6

Settings
To enter the Settings Menu, highlight Settings on the main menu and press the button. All of these settings are saved
even if the battery is completely discharged however, if the rmware is upgraded, some of these may be lost. From this
page you can select which catagory of settings you wish to modify. There are currently seven choices: Altimeter, GPS,
Beep, Flight, Date & Time, Units, and Memory.
Use the GPS to calibrate the Altitude prior to Launch
Set the altitude manually
It is possible to turn the “Sink Alarm”on and o.
Altitude Calibration
o Known Altitude
> 1,752 ft
Flight Mode
o Relative to Launch
•
True (MSL)
GPS Units
o DD,MM.MM
o DD,MM,SS
Beep Style
o Classic
• Alarm On
Sink Alarm
o Alarm Off
Sink Rate
> 590 ft/min
Vertical Speed Avg.
Start Flight
> 10 kph velocity
•
GPS
After entering Fly Mode, the unit waits until this customized velocity
threshold is crossed. A series of beeps will play to indicate that the
ight has initiated.
7
Altimeter
The Standard beep has been optimized for performance and long
battery life (16-30 hours). The Classic may be a more familiar sound,
however the battery life is reduced (8-22 hours). The battery life is
aected by beep volume. The higher the volume, the shorter the
battery life.
GPS
Beep
Flight
This setting selects what altitude is displayed on the main y screen.
The Relative to Launch altitude is automatically reset to zero for
every ight when you rst enter the y mode.
• DDD.DDDDD
This setting selects the units for GPS display
Decimal Degrees
Degrees, Decimal Minutes
Degrees, Minutes, Seconds
• Standard
This is the instanteanous negative vertical speed required for the
sink alarm to go o.
Preflight Beep
• Off
o
On
> 05 seconds
This is the number of seconds that the displayed vertical speed is
averaged. The “beep” always uses the instantaneous vertcial speed.
Prior to a ight being initiated the “preight beeps” can be
suppressed. This prevents the unit from making annoying and
battery wasting beeps prior to launching.

On this page, you can customize the displayed units.
Time: 14:19
> +02
20/07/2012
• DD/MM/YYYY
Date Format
Altitude
o
ft, ft/min
• km, kph
Temperature
•
°C
Track Logs (IGC)
10% Full
Flight Log Book
125 Flights
62.5% Full
> Clear Log Book?
UTC Offset:
8
Date & Time
This shows the current memory used by the detailed track logs.
These logs can be downloaded to a PC in IGC or KML format. There
is 50 hours of logging memory available (1-second intervals). It is
not necessary to erase the Flight Log book when doing this. If the
memory is full, it will not record new tracks.
Units
Memory
The date is set automatically using the GPS signal, however you can
choose which format you would prefer the date displayed.
• m, m/s
o mi, mph
3.6 hours
This shows the current memory used by the Summary Flight Log
Book. It is possible to erase the entire Flight Log at once, however it
is not expected that you will do this very often.
Date
o MM/DD/YYYY
The time is set automatically using the GPS signal, however you
need to enter the UTC oset manually.
Distance
o
°F
> Clear Track Logs?
Info
To enter the Info screen, highlight“Info”on the main menu and press the button.
Ascent software version
Unit Serial Number
Ascent h-1
Serial# FFFF0008
20/07/2012
Long: 0.00000
Lat: 0.00000
Altitude: 71.3m
Software: v1.222
10:38:05
Ascent hardware version
Date
Time
Altitude
Latitude
Longitude

9
Connecting to a Computer
Please visit www.ascentvario.com to download and install “h1 ascent control” software from the support page. The h1
vario uses completely new software that is not compatible with the“v1 ascent control” software. This software currently
works only on a Microsoft PC.
To connect your variometer to a computer plug the micro USB end of the supplied cable into the product. Plug the other
end of the cable into a computer USB port.
If using for the rst time and the h1 ascent control software does not recognize your h1 vario, you may need to manually
install the driver.
1. Open the Device Manager, this can be found by typing “device manager” into the start menu search.
2. Select “Ports (COM & LPT)
3. The h1 should appear (perhaps under the name Alti)
4. Right click on whichever appears and click ”Update Driver Software...” This will open the hardware wizard.
5. When prompted to connect to Windows Update to search for the software, select No
6. Then select install from a specic location
7. Click the Include this location in the search and select the Ascent folder C:\Program Files\Ascent\h1 - Ascent Control
8. Click Next
9. If a window pops up that says that the driver has not passed Windows Logo Testing. Click on Continue Anyway.
The driver should install and the Ascent Control should now recognize your h1 vario.
Press this button to download the complete
Log Book summaries in .csv format to the
directory that the Ascent software is located.
This le can be viewed in any spreadsheet
program (such as Excel).
To upgrade the rmware on the unit, use
File->Upgrade Firmware and select the new
rmware to be uploaded. This process takes
about 1 minute during wich the unit and the
software will be unresponsive.
To perform a factory reset, use File->Factory
Reset. Please note that this will also erase
the complete Log Book memory.
Pressing “About” will display the current
Device Firmware, Application GUI Firmware,
and DDS Version.
To download IGC or KML data, select the
ight that you would like to download using
the drop down menu, select the format, and
press the “Download Tracklog” button. This
will prompt what directory to use and
download the ight data.

Care of Product
Your product is constructed of high quality materials and does not require maintenance other than cleaning. Clean the
product using a soft cloth dampened with a mild detergent solution and then wipe dry. AVOID chemical cleaners and
solvents that may damage plastic and braided nylon components.
Do not store the product where prolonged exposure to sun, heat, rain, snow, or extreme cold may result in permanent
damage.
Do not store the unit where the buttons can be depressed as this may lead to the battery being drained.
The product is not waterproof so do not immerse it in water.
10
Specications
Altimeter:
Temperatue corrected, gps or user calibrated altitude
True and Relative (to launch) altitude
Display in meters or feet with 1 meter (3 ft) resolution
GPS:
48 Channel GPS Receiver
Variometer:
Customizably averaged digital display with 0.1 m/s (20 ft/min) resolution
Instantaneous audio with adjustable volume
Sink alarm with user selectable threshold
Temperature:
Ambient temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius with 1 degree resolution
Memory:
Automatically records Flight Log summary data for up to 300 ights
Automatically records up to 50 hours of 1-second interval detailed tracklog data in igc or kml format
Display:
Black & White Transective Graphic LCD with 128 x 128 pixel resolution
Battery:
Custom 830 mAh rechargable lithium-ion battery with Sanyo cell
Physical Properties:
83.4mm (3.28”) x 54mm (2.13”) x 14.9mm (0.59”)
93g (3.3 oz)
PC/ABS housing with PMMA display window