The Insight is a pressure altitude altimeter that includes a GPS module for spotting assistance, improved canopy flight navigation and GPS track recording. It also has built in wireless capabilities to connect to other devices such as heads-up-display (HUD) glasses and the Soundlink audible altimeter.
Standard Dropzone Operation #
Power on your Insight at the DZ at the beginning of the day by pressing the center button. By default the Insight tracks the current air pressure to calibrate your field elevation throughout the day. Even as the pressure changes when the air temperature changes or weather systems pass through, the Insight will continually adjust the field elevation while you are on the ground.
Once the Insight detects ascent in an aircraft it will lock the field elevation and begin to show your altitude. All of this is done automatically with no need for input from the user.
There are a few reasons the altimeter may not display an altitude of 0 on ground. If the altimeter was on and you drove to the DZ, or you performed a skydive and did not land at the same elevation where you took off in the aircraft it may not have the correct field elevation. In this instance read below to zero your Insight altimeter.
Manual Altitude Zeroing (Forced Restart) #
WARNING: Do not perform a forced restart while in the aircraft. Reported altitudes will be incorrect.
The fastest way to manually zero the altimeter is to perform a forced restart by holding the top & bottom buttons for 8+ seconds, then release. The altimeter will restart and calibrate the field elevation and will display an altitude of 0.
Automatic Shutdown #
The Insight will automatically shutdown 14 hours after it was turned on in order to save battery. If a skydive is in progress at the 14 hour mark, the Insight will shutdown after the skydive when it is on the ground.
To manually turn off the altimeter, from the clock screen press the center button to open the menu. Navigate to System->Shutdown.
Battery and Charging #
Battery Life: Skydiving every weekend, the Insight will last roughly 4 weeks before needing a charge. If jumping every day, the Insight can last about 10 days. This will depend slightly on the different functions used because systems such as GPS recording, wireless connect, and the display light will drain the battery more quickly.
Charge Time: The battery charges using the USB-C port. If the Insight battery is at 0% charge it will take approximately 1.5 hours to completely recharge the battery.
A charge of as little as 20 minutes will be enough to get through a day of jumping. Useful if you forgot to charge the Insight and arrived at the DZ with a dead battery.
USB Power Delivery (PD): Newer versions of the Insight support power delivery (PD) for charging.
Insight altimeters manufactured before May 2025 do not support PD and must use a standard USB cable and 5v charge block, or a USB C-to-C cable and PD block can be used along with an adapter that negotiates the “standard” 5v charging voltage.
Care #
Your altimeter takes care of you on your skydives, so take care of it. Deep and Steep builds tough altimeters, but they are still electronic devices with fragile screens. Treat your altimeter like you would a smartphone or smart watch.
Avoid hard impacts such as drops onto concrete or smashing your altimeter against the door of the airplane. Store your altimeter in the case it came in or another protective case instead of throwing it in a gear bag with other hard objects. Wipe the screen with a soft cloth to keep it clear and easy to read.
A few simple precautions and your altimeter should give you years of worry free use.
Storage #
If storing the altimeter for periods of longer than a month, the following conditions are best to maintain the overall battery capacity:
- Store at a battery charge between 40% and 60%
- Store at temperatures between -0°C to 35°C (14°F to 95°F)
Lithium Ion batteries in any device can lose capacity over time. Long term storage of a battery outside of the parameters listed above decreases the battery life of the device. When possible never store the battery completely discharged as this can damage the battery and degrade its capacity further.
Specifications #
Model: INS
Dimensions: 75mm x 45mm x 17mm (2.9″x1.8″x0.7″)
Weight: 86g (3oz)
Display
Size: 36mm x 28mm (1.4” x 1.1”)
Viewing Angle: 120° x-axis, 120° y-axis
Power
Charge Voltage: 5v DC
Charge Port: USB-C
Charge Time: 1.5 hours
Charge Temp Range: 0°C – 55°C (32°F to 131°F) Lithium ion batteries will not charge below 0°C
Environmental
Max. Altitude MSL: 9,146m (30,000 feet above MSL based on pressure)
Operating Temp: -20°C to 55°C (-4°F to 131°F)
Storage Temp: 0°C to 35°C (32°F to 95°F)
Water Resistant: Depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes
