The Soundlink is a pressure altitude audible altimeter that uses alarm tones and voice announcements to aid in altitude awareness. Connect to the Soundlink using bluetooth from an Insight, Stratos, or the Deep and Steep app to change settings and view data.
Standard Dropzone Operation #
The Soundlink is always on and will calibrate itself to the current air pressure. As the air pressure changes due to air temperature changes or weather systems pass through, the Soundlink will automatically track the ground level pressure.
IMPORANT: If you drive to the dropzone and change elevation (less than 1,000 feet) the Soundlink may take up to 10 minutes to reset to the DZ field elevation. If the elevation change was more than 1,000 feet it may take up to 30 minutes for the Soundlink to reset to the DZ field eleation.
When the Soundlink detects ascent in an aircraft it will lock the field elevation and begin to track your altitude above ground level (AGL). All of this is done automatically with no need for input from the user.
Manual Altitude Zeroing (Forced Restart) #
WARNING: Do not perform a forced restart while in the aircraft or during a skydive. Reported altitudes will be incorrect.
To force the Soundlink to reset the altitude (and field elevation) perform a Forced Restart. Use a small pointed object, such as a paperclip, and insert into the hole in the top right of the case (see diagram to the left). Depress the small button and the Soundlink will restart and report “Soundlink” followed by the battery level as part of the restart sequence.
User Interface & Buttons #
The Soundlink has a simple 1 button and 1 LED interface to access the menu system. Most settings require connecting the Soundlink to an Insight (or Stratos) altimeter, or the Deep and Steep phone app.
Press the button 5 times within 3 seconds to unlock the menu. The LED will flash blue each time a button press is recognized. The Soundlink will beep when the menu unlocks, and will announce the first menu item. The menu will lock automatically after 2 minutes.
Advance to the next menu item by tapping the button.
To use the current menu selection, press and hold the button for 1 second.
Menu Options #
- Wireless Connect
- Enables bluetooth for already paired devices.
- Pairing Mode
- Enables bluetooth and waits for a new connection. This option will require entering a passkey to connect with a device for the first time.
- USB Connect
- Changes the Soundlink to USB mode, allowing it to show up as a USB drive when connected to a computer via the USB-C cable. The Soundlink does not operate as an altimeter while in USB connect mode.
- Freefall Preset Selection
- Lists the current freefall alarm preset number.
- Canopy Preset Selection
- Lists the current canopy alarm preset number.
- Preview Alarms
- Plays the freefall and canopy alarms.
Battery and Charging #
Battery Life: Starting at a full charge, the Soundlink can be in standby for up to 12 months. Battery life while skydiving will depend on features used such as bluetooth connectivity and the frequency of voice announcements and audible alarms.
Charge Time: The battery charges using the USB-C port. If the Soundlink 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.
USB Power Delivery (PD): Soundlink supports power delivery (PD) for charging.
Care #
Your Soundlink takes care of you on your skydives, so take care of it. Treat your altimeter like you would a smartphone or smart watch.
Avoid hard impacts such as drops onto concrete. Store your altimeter in the case it came in or your helmet instead of throwing it in a gear bag with other hard objects.
Do not allow dirt, sand, water, or other foreign objects to get into the speaker holes.
A few simple precautions and your Soundlink 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: SOUNDLINK
Dimensions: 58mm x 39mm x 10mm (2.3″x1.6″x0.4″)
Weight: 32g (1.1oz)
Speaker
Max Decibels: 102db
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 are damaged if charged 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: None
