Just buy an altimeter or two and start reading the directions. Read the directions. Dont connect up the battery backwards and dont think you can set any of them up without the directions in hand. YOU CANT.
I was overwelmed at first by the number choices of stuff out there. After a while I found out ther are really only a few.
I still dont know all the functions in my head that some of my altimeters will do. But that doesnt really matter, I know the basics.
Look at alot of pictures. And just keep reading.

After a couple of crashes, you will start to get a real good picture. 😉

Check out www.featherweightaltimeters.com if you haven't already. There are av-bay kits that include battery, battery charger, magnetically-controlled arm switch, altimeter connector, bulkheads and deployment charge terminals in one small package that requires no user wiring. It's designed around the Raven altimeter, which has a lot of flexibility in how its outputs can be configured, but has default settings that can be flown for dual deployment in almost any rocket without modification.

I haven't decided yet if I'll be there on Saturday, but if I'm there I'll be happy to show you an example.

Adrian
Those ave bays are pretty cool.
Thats another way he could go.
Are those magntic switches adaptable to other Alt. with 9 volts.
How high are those ravens rated for?

but for simplicity I like Perfectflite altimeters.

I've had success with both. I like Adrian's for bigger projects where I use back up charges. His also generates cooler data. I am playing with his avbays, which appear to be very nice too.

For a first dual deployment, Perfectflite's are hard to beat. They're cheap, and if you ding one up they'll fix it for free (you pay postage). Of course, if you auger in and shred it I doubt they'll replace it...

I use both these altimeters and like them. I have three Ravens and four Perfectflites (I hate switching electronics in the field...)

Read the manuals carefully and ask for help if you're unsure. There are a lot of fliers familiar with these and other altimeters. I am no expert. Thee are even altimeters that have telemetry with GPS too. My recommendation is to keep it simple for your first.

I learned the hard way - keep it simple until you're comfortable. I'll second the motion on Perfectflight altimeters, but also add a plug for Missileworks' RRC2-mini - I have 3 of them. Very reliable as far as deployment is concerned.

I have Adrian's original altimeter - the Raven. I've never used it for deployment, just data collection. Right now I'm waiting for the next generation altimeter from him. Either that or a Telemetrum or preferably both.

Adrian
Those ave bays are pretty cool.
Thats another way he could go.
Are those magntic switches adaptable to other Alt. with 9 volts.
How high are those ravens rated for?

Thanks.

The magnetic switches are only designed to work with the 4V Li-poly cells that come with the kit. I have a design for a stand-alone magnetic switch that will work with a variety of batteries, though.

The Raven is designed for up to 100,000 feet ASL altitude.

Adrian
Those ave bays are pretty cool.
Thats another way he could go.
Are those magntic switches adaptable to other Alt. with 9 volts.
How high are those ravens rated for?

Thanks.

The magnetic switches are only designed to work with the 4V Li-poly cells that come with the kit. I have a design for a stand-alone magnetic switch that will work with a variety of batteries, though.

The Raven is designed for up to 100,000 feet ASL altitude.

I may be in need af a magnetic switch soon. So if your developing one...hurry up. 😉
I need to switch a perfect flight alt. on with a 9 volt.
John said you might sell some that you have or have a line on something that would work that he got from you.
I have been serching web for latching reeds, latching sensers, latching relays, latching this that or the other ect. ect. ect. I am just not an electronics dude.
Its all jibberish to me. Sorta.
We all know what would happen if the altimeter turned back off. 😯

Dave, I'd second the idea of Perfecflite http://www.perfectflite.com/cgi/PF_Store/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=enter&thispage=MAWD.html&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID!

I like missileworks rrc2 mini also, but it blinking lights setup is not as easy to double check as the MAWD[url]

Raven I don't have yet :-)... need for a computer in the field to reconfigure isn't for me, though it does have good defaults.

For motor selection you can't go wrong with cesaroni J285 in my opinion. Its lower end of J and has enough kick if your rocket is heavy, but not too much kick. And of course a breeze to assemble and ignite so you have more brain left for your other prep tasks.[/url]

Thanks to everyone who has chimed in!
I am thinking that the perfectflite might be the best beginner's kit for me. Whether I can get things ready for MHM might be a long shot.

Given my initial close encounter with the altimeters over at Ken's, I did opt to spend my time and money increasing my skills on construction rather than jumping right into dual deploy.
The results are pretty cool. I have the Qmodeling kits of the Retro Bullpup and the Stiletto on schedule for launching. I "had" the Yank Enterprises "Iris" on the assembly line, but my 13yr old daughter, Mira snatched that away from me and is carefully building her "Dreamchaser". I bought all three kits on a rockin' deal at the Jan. Banquet and can't wait to see them fly!

I will be nosing around at the next launch to have a look at some more of the dual deploy builds.

There are a lot of incredibly helpful guys in our club, I really appreciate it.
Thanks,

Dave