MetaAlti is a speaking audible, so it provides more constant altitude awareness than other types of audibles. MetaAlti also has the ability to beep or produce sirens if one requires a more dramatic altitude indicator at a specific altitude. And unlike any beeping-only audible, it can drive a peripheral-vision light (StickyLight M or FlexiLight M) in your helmet—a third, visual channel of altitude awareness on top of speech and sound.

Both are speaking audibles, and they share the same case, speaker, and amplifier—so size, loudness, and IP67 waterproofing are identical, and both log jumps for syncing to FDS Logbook. The difference is a third altitude-awareness modality: MetaAlti can also drive a peripheral-vision light (StickyLight M or FlexiLight M) in your helmet, adding a visual indication to speech and sound.

Yes! You can create your own MP3s and upload them to MetaAlti—more easily than on any FDS altimeter before it.

MetaAlti is a sensitive barometric pressure device. Driving in a car can be similar to the takeoff in an aircraft. If you do not want to hear the altimeter on the ground at all, it is recommended to turn off the pre-jump briefs in the FDS Altis app. You can also change the Ascent settings for the preset the altimeter is on: Do you have it from 0 to 30,000 ft? That is why it is reading at 0 feet; change the 0 to 100 feet or higher.

No, it only has a built-in speaker with no external ports.

The best way to understand how MetaAlti works is to watch the demonstration video:

With MetaAlti, altitude reaches you through three modes of input that work synergetically: a light in your peripheral vision provides constant, real-time indication; spoken callouts deliver exact altitudes at regular intervals without a glance at your wrist; and beeps or sirens grab your attention at the altitudes where it matters most. Each mode covers the others’ gaps—the light never stops, speech carries precision, and alarms cut through task fixation. Together they train the skill that counts: associating an altitude picture with a number, and an honest sense of how fast you are actually losing altitude on a skydive.

Yes, one can select presets by holding down the top settings button in the aircraft. However, Freefall Data Systems always recommends doing any setting of altimeters on the ground before a skydive as to minimize distractions. Jumpers should be focused on safety and their jump in the aircraft.

Yes! It works with our online logging system FDS Logbook.

MetaAlti does not have GPS as that would reduce the battery life greatly and compromise dependability. Altitude measurements are based on barometric pressure changes.

MetaAlti fits and can be heard well in most skydiving helmets that have an audible port or pocket. It is recommended to contact FDS with questions about specific helmets.

MetaAlti can be very useful in enhancing a student's altitude awareness and provide cues, but should only be used with the permission and under the supervision of a current instructor officially rated by a national parachuting organization such as the United States Parachute Association.

Yes, MetaAlti is waterproof to IP67.

Yes—MetaAlti offers an optional, per-preset Tactical Mode intended for specialized low-altitude operations such as smokejumping and military static-line jumping. Tactical Mode should in no case be used for normal skydiving operations, as the altimeter functions entirely differently. See section 4.8 of the manual for the full description.

Yes. MetaAlti differentiates between the three types of announcements and notifications: ascent, freefall, and canopy.

Yes. Because barometric altimeters are subject to wakes and burbles, their placement can affect their readings. Which is closer in accuracy will depend on the type of jump you are doing and how you have the altimeters mounted. In most cases, the deviation is not larger than a couple hundred feet at the very most. If the deviation is more, see whether the altimeters are at least synchronized during ascent in the plane and go from there. If they are synchronized in the plane or under canopy but not in freefall, then the placement of the altimeters is certainly affecting their synchronization in freefall. Altimeters placed in a wake will read higher than those in clean air. So if you are, for example, sit-flying or doing a tandem, it isn't an unlikely possibility that your altimeter is being subjected to a significant burble.

The previous reading is cut off—what you hear always reflects your current altitude, not a stale one. Audio follows a level of precedence: notifications first, then announcements, then alarms (synthesized tones consisting of beeps and sirens). A tone alarm that gets interrupted by spoken audio yields and resumes once the voice has finished.