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Variometer Comparison

This page includes an overview of variometers and a comparison table.  There are no example systems on this page because basic variometers are not connected to other devices.  There are advanced varios with speed-to-fly, final glide and flight recorder capabilities included on this page.  Example systems for flight records can be found on the GPS Flight Recorder Comparison page. Example systems for complete flight computer systems can be found on the Flight Computer Comparison page.

Overview
There are many types of variometers available.  Different pilots will be interested in different variometers.  My goal is to help you find the right vario for your needs by providing product overviews and comparison tables.

Links
Borgelt | Cambridge Aero Instruments | ILEC | LX Navigation | Tasman | Winter

Related Pages

• GPS Flight Recorder Comparison
• Flight Computer Comparison

Averagers
If you have never flown with a vario that offers a 20 or 30 second averager, you will love it the first time you try it.  The averager gives you a more accurate read of how strong the thermal is and is especially useful when deciding when it is time to leave a weak thermal.  Often new glider pilots estimate thermal strength based on the peaks they see on the variometer needle.  Once you fly with an averager you will see that the averager reads only about half as much lift as seen in the short peaks.  That is important to know when using MacCready theory to set your speed to fly between thermals.

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Variometers
Manufacturer Click on link to see details	Description	Photos Click on image to see details	Logo
Borgelt	B400 Vario with Audio, Averager and back-up battery B500 Speed-to-fly variometer with GPS
Cambridge Aero Instruments	302 - Speed-to-fly Vario with GPS Flight Recorder
ILEC	SN-10 - Flight Computer & Vario SC-7 - Club vario with averager SB-9 - vario with built-in back-up battery
LX Navigation	LX 16 - Vario with averager LX 160 - Flight computer and speed-to-fly vario LX 1600 - Speed-to-fly vario LX 7007 Pro IGC - Flight computer and speed-to-fly vario with graphical display
Tasman	Variometer with Audio and Averager
Winter	Mechanical variometers with optional custom speed-to-fly rings

Comparison Table
For detailed info. on the varios listed in the table click on the variometer name in the left hand column.  Certainly the table below is not perfect or complete.  I have done my best to make it as complete and accurate as possible but some of the data is difficult to find.  If you see an errors or have any suggestions, please send me an e-mail.

Variometer Comparison Table
Mechanical Variometers
Photo (click on image to view larger version)
Product	Sage	Winter
Price	$600 to $1500	$555 to $625
Type	Mechanical taut band and brass bellows	Mechanical Vane
Response Time (seconds)	1, 1.8 or 2.2	1.8 or 3
Audio	No	No
Averager (seconds)	25 (CVA model only)
Speed-to-Fly Director	No	Yes with optional MacCready Ring
G- Meter	No	No
MacCready Ring Option	No	MC
2-Seat Repeater Option	No	No
Speaker	No	No
Temp. Probe	No	No
Capacity Required	Capacity	Capacity
Size	57 mm or 80 mm	57 mm or 80 mm
Power (mA)	0	0
Unique Features	Fast and friction free, unique design allows for precise needle movements but with large range (±20 kts), unique 25 s mechanical averager on CVA model.	Rugged, extremely popular, reliable, low cost
Electrical Vario with Audio - no averager
Photo (click on image to view larger version)
Product	ILEC SB-9
Price	$740
Type	Thermal flow measurement with thermistors at const. temp.
Response Time (seconds)	1 or 3
Audio	Audio
Averager (seconds)	No
Speed-to-Fly Director	No
G- Meter	No
MacCready Ring Option	No
2-Seat Repeater Option	No
Speaker	Internal
Temp. Probe	No
Capacity Required	Capacity (very small)
Size	57 mm
Power (mA)	10 to 30
Unique Features	Built-in back-up battery makes it a great back-up in case of loss of power - just like a mechanical vario - except that it has an audio output while in backup mode.
Electrical Vario with Audio and Averager
Photo (click on image to view larger version)	or
Product	Borgelt B400	ILEC SC-7	LX 16	Tasman V1000
Overview Video				Video
Price	$585  $690 with optional "DAD" average display	$910	$745	$620
Type	Pressure Transducer	Thermal flow measurement with thermistors at const. temp.	Pressure transducer	Pressure transducer
Response Time (seconds)		1 or 3	Adjustable from 1 to 4 sec	Adjustable from 1 to 4.5 sec
Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio
Averager (seconds)	20	25?	20	20
Speed-to-Fly Director	No	Yes with optional MacCready Ring	No	No
G- Meter	No	No	No	No
MacCready Ring Option	No	MC	No	No
2-Seat Repeater Option	Repeater 57 mm and 80 mm versions	Repeater	Repeater	Repeater
Speaker	External	Internal or External	Early versions had an external speaker New versions have an internal speaker	Internal (standard) or external
Temp. Probe	No	Remote		No
Capacity Required	No	No	No	No
Size	57 mm or 80 mm	80 mm	57 mm	57 mm
Power (mA)			50
Unique Features	You can view the average on the meter by pressing the button on the lower left corner of the meter.  Or display the average at all times on the optional large or small Digital Average Display (DAD)	The only electric vario with audio and averager that also allows the use of a MacCready ring, digital average display, voltage and temp. display	Small (57 mm) vario with audio and averager. No moving parts, flight time indicator, Low battery indicator.  The first generation model had an external speaker.  The new version has an internal speaker.	Small (57 mm) vario with audio and averager. No moving parts, voltage indicator, Optional Flight Pack turns it into a speed-to-fly variometer when used with a PDA with soaring flight software.
Electrical Vario with Audio, Averager and Speed-to-Fly Director
Photo (click on image to view larger version)
Product	LX1600
Price	$1595
Type	Pressure Transducer
Response Time (seconds)
Audio	Audio
Averager (seconds)
Speed-to-Fly Director	STF
G- Meter	No
MacCready Ring Option	Not Applicable
2-Seat Repeater Option	?
Speaker	External
Temp. Probe	Remote
Capacity Required	No
Size	57 mm vario readout
Power (mA)	30+
Unique Features	Only 1 small hole required.  Provides 5V power output for Pocket PC.  MacCready setting and other parameters can be edited with the buttons on the front of the unit, but it works best when connected to a Pocket PC running flyWithCE Navigator or SeeYou Mobile. When connected to a GPS it can send GPS and flight data to the Pocket PC. See Air Data Transfer for more info.
Electrical Vario with Audio, Averager, Speed-to-Fly Director and Glide Computer
Photo (click on image to view larger version)	+ or +
Product	Borgelt B500	Cambridge 302	ILEC SN10	LX160si	LX7007 Pro IGC	LX8000
Price	$1395 with GCD1 $1665 with GCD2 with SD Card	$2375 $2770 with 303 LCD Nav. Display	$3655	$1355	$4450	$5595
Overview Video
Type	Pressure transducer	Pressure Transducer	Flow	Pressure Transducer	Pressure Transducer	Pressure Transducer
Response Time (seconds)			1 or 3
Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio	Audio
Averager (seconds)	20	30	20
Speed-to-Fly Director	STF	STF	STF	STF	STF	STF
G- Meter	No	G	G
MacCready Ring Option	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
2-Seat Repeater Option	Yes 57 mm and 80 mm versions	Repeater	Repeater	Repeater	Repeater	Repeater (greyscale - not color)
Speaker	2 x External	Internal (standard) External (for motorglider)	Internal	External	External	External
Temp. Probe	Yes	Remote	Remote	Remote	Remote	Remote
Capacity Required	No	No	capacity flask inside unit	No	No	No
Size	Meter: 57 or 80 mm Glareshield Control and Display: 30 x 82 x 30 mm	57 mm	57 mm vario readout 80 mm flight computer display	57 mm vario readout, 57 mm data entry unit	57 mm vario readout 80 mm flight computer display	57 mm vario readout 3.5" diagonal flight computer display 98 x 88 x 80 mm (display unit)
Power (mA)		300 to 360	100 to 150	120	400	550
Unique Features	The high performance GPS sends data 4 times every second.  The stereo speakers help the pilot center the thermal.  The GPS data and air data can be sent to a Pocket PC.  See Air Data Transfer for more info.  The Glareshield Control and Display can be used to edit MacCready and bugs settings and in the future will display thermal history graphs and navigation and final glide data.	Only 1 small hole required, GPS flight recorder, 5V power output for Pocket PC, IGC Approved GPS flight recorder.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info.	Custom user screen is very well liked because you can select which parameters you prefer to view.  Thermal Height Band Graph, Optional additional vario readout.  No Pocket PC required.	Only 2 small holes required.  No Pocket PC required.  Supports 2nd seat display for up to a total of 4 different indicators.  When connected to a GPS it can send GPS and flight data to the Pocket PC. See Air Data Transfer for more info.  Provides 5V power (2A) for a Pocket PC.	Large graphical display, IGC approved flight recorder.  No Pocket PC required.  Supports 2nd seat display and up to a total of 4 different "analog style" meters. Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info.   Can supply 5V power for a Pocket PC.	Large color graphical display, IGC approved flight recorder.  No Pocket PC required.  Integrated FLARM.  Supports 2nd seat display and up to a total of 4 different "analog style" meters.  Sends air data to a Pocket PC along with the GPS data. See Air Data Transfer for more info.

Air Data Transfer
Several soaring instrument systems are able to send air data (airspeed, vario, etc.) to a Pocket PC in the data stream with the NMEA GPS data.  Software packages such as WinPilot Pro, pocket*StrePla, SeeYou Mobile and Glide Navigator II can take advantage of the data.   For example, WinPilot Pro offers a climb maximizer and other nice features when connected to an instrument which sends airspeed and vario data.