https://danielvelezbravo.wordpress.com/2017/07/11/digifly-air-bt-impresiones-despues-de-1-mes-de-uso/

A little more than a month ago, and after a judicious analysis, in
order to replace my flight computer of more than 10 years (one of the first
Compeo+ manufactured by Brauniger) I decided to acquire a Digifly,  the
model Air BT with pitot tube.

Now, after a month of testing and rehearsal, I venture to write my personal
conclusions, trying to keep them objective.

HARDWARE:

I really liked what I found in this aspect. A fast, precise and configurable
barometric sensors, a very sensitive GPS receiver, a light weight, a battery
that has not left me hanging despite the abuse (more than 10 hours of continuous
operation, but I have not yet tested its deep discharge). The screen has a
suitable size, and the simplicity of the design of the buttons make it friendly.

Any hang glider pilot that really wants to take advantage of the potential of
this instrument must acquire the version with pitot tube (anemometer) because
the true potential of any flight team is only discovered by exploiting the
information processed by all sensors where the air speed is of special
importance. In this equipment the pitot performs without problems, although
during the first experiments of configuration, I unbalanced it for a moment but
later I adjusted it again.

The Bluetooth module is perhaps the hardware element to which less importance
has been given, but that after a month I find among the most convenient. This
module not only allows the instrument to connect to a cell phone (I only speak
for Android), to manage the way points and flight logs, but also to receive
telemetry of the sensors of the equipment in real time and to use it with
different free flight applications. I have tested the connectivity with XCSOAR,
XCTRACK and LK8000 (beta version just released for Android). I am completely
enamored of the latter and all its potential, as long as it is powered by
DIGIFLY telemetry. At another time I will tell you about LK8000.

The equipment also has position sensors (magnetic compass, accelerometers in
several axes) called inertial platform, which for now do not seem to be
exploited in useful form, and I can not think what they are needed at the
moment, but it is possible they are used to filter the variometer information,
however I am speculating and I will not dwell on them. Just notice that the
functionality of the magnetic compass may be erratic or dysfunctional, but it is
because it apparently has not been implemented correctly in the firmware. In any
case, when we are flying we do not use the magnetic compass but the position of
the GPS to trace the direction of travel.

The audio (speaker for the variometer and the audible alarms) is very good and
can be heard without problem even in the low volume position (it has low volume,
high and off).

As for the physical format of the instrument, I have to admit that it is a
strange thing. Apparently they wanted to design a characteristic shape. It has a
rubber protective edge which for my taste is somewhat ugly (may have a
protective function), but the most inconvenient is its asymmetrical shape in
guitar form (wider at the bottom than at the top), design that seems more a whim
than a hardware need. I consider it inconvenient because to mount it in an
aerodynamic pod it is necessary to build a slightly wider pod just for the
design issue, and asymmetrically.

The instrument also has a port for Micro SD card in which the topographic maps
are stored, and a mini USB port that serves either to load it conveniently with
any 5v charger or through a USB port, and to connect it to a computer for
updates, administration, downloads and more.

FIRMWARE: (Proven version 501a)

The architecture of the Digifly offers great advantages in the matter of
firmware. On the one hand, and with relatively simple tools to handle, you can
design and customize the twelve pages of information that the instrument
delivers. Locate the information where we like most, dispense with the one we
find unnecessary, expand the size where we need it most, or implement the
interesting graphic navigation proposals that the programmer has developed.

The automatic thermal plotter is especially useful for visualizing the thermal
centering.

The programming of the instrument, although it is friendly, requires of special
care and I recommend to have always the handy manual to read judiciously all the
tricks for the operation and adjustment of the Digifly.

Introducing a test for a championship is natural, and you just have to adapt to
the special terminology.

In this version we find a small inconvenience in competition, since after taking
the last way point before the goal the fields of glide, height and distance to
target were going to zero. In this respect the programmer is finishing a new
version that corrects the problem. In the meantime, it is necessary to introduce
a second goal mark, a few meters of radius, so that there is a waypoint before
the goal.

I miss some functions to adjust gliding speeds between thermals, as I think the
current proposal is not very practical, as well as some indications for
abandoning the last thermal and starting the final glide that have not yet been
implemented, and I still think it can be improved. The algorithm with which the
height is calculated to the next way point or the target, so I think the
firmware is still a bit immature.

Finally, I advise you to stay away from the menu during the flight, as the
instrument suspends its recording functions while we are inside the menu, so our
flight logs can be partially interrupted during this time. If it is necessary to
enter the menu (to set up a badly placed waypoint during the event, or to put a
"second goal" so that the glide data will appear provisionally), it is important
to do it when we are away from the controlled airspace, or height limits, or
when we are to mark a goal.

The process of updating the firmware is quite easy to apply, and developers are
very active in the production of improved versions of the firmware so it is
advisable to periodically visit the download sections on the Digifly websites to
always have the latest version available.

SUPPORT - THE HUMAN COMPONENT:

Behind this flight computer is a supremely qualified support team. Through the
official distributor, http://digiflyusa.com/, we find the backing of Pedro García, one of the most
recognized competitive pilots in recent years, and Claudia Mejía, widely known
for her interaction with international free flight organizations (FAI) and her
active participation in hang gliding championships as a pilot and organizer.

Firmware developers are fully committed to the development of the instrument,
and they answer the doubts, suggestions and observations of the users, so the
possible weakness that in my opinion today presents the firmware, tends to
mature very fast, as long as we keep the developer informed of our findings.

Knowing that a team of these developers has direct and qualified support (does
not mean that other brands do not have the same support) provides a piece of
peace for those who are interested in acquiring one of these dedicated flight
computers.