Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Highgear Axis Altimeter Watch > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report

Initial Report: Highgear Axis Altimeter Watch

Contents

- Product Arrival

- Product Features and Construction

    - Time

    - Compass

    - Barometer

    - Altimeter

    - Chronograph

    - Alarm

- Initial Impressions

- Comments on the Manual

- Test Strategy

It's Here!
After a couple false starts*, my current Highgear Axis arrived in good condition in a nicely designed product box.  On the outside of the box, the key features of the watch are identified: "altimeter, barometer, digi compass, temp, time, alarms, chrono, backlight, navi-bezel."  The Axis is a part of the Highgear Altiware series products and is billed as "the perfect companion for all outdoor enthusiasts."  Included with the watch is a piece of paper detailing the limited warranty and directions for service, a small, easy to read, thirty-nine page manual for operation and an additional two-page quick reference guide.  The Axis arrived with the date and time set in Central Daylight Time.  A quick check of its altimeter log noted that it had accumulated 61936 feet (18878 meters) during its travels, with its maximum altitude achieved logged as 8370 feet (2550 meters).  The face of the watch was protected by a plastic membrane which I have decided to leave in place to protect the lens crystal.
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Product Features and Construction
The Axis Altimeter Watch is a feature loaded watch with features including time (well, it is a watch after all!), date, compass, barometer (with weather forecast!), altimeter, chronograph and alarm.  Each mode is easily navigated using the neatly labeled buttons on the perimeter of the watch face.  The watch itself is housed in a plastic body and comes in three color choices: Bone, Black or Blue.  The plastic watch band is 3/4 inches (2 cm) wide, and adjusts from five and a half inches (14 cm) to eight inches (20.3 cm) in circumference.  The band does not appear to be easily removed or replaced.  The face of the watch is quite large, with the crystal at 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) in diameter.  The watch face is partitioned into three fields.  The central numbers are clear and easy to read and stand 0.3 inches (8 mm) in height.  The top and bottom fields displayed on the face are also clear and easy to read with the numbers about 0.2 inches (4 mm) in height. The backlight works differently on this watch than others I have used - it illuminates the text on the face, rather than illuminating the whole background of the face leaving the text in relief. The watch has several different modes, each of which is detailed below.

Time:
As a watch, the most important feature of this item is its ability to maintain and display accurate time.  This watch has the ability to tell time in two time zones (each independently set and adjusted by the user).  It is possible to switch between time zones at the press of a button.  Each time can be displayed in 12 or 24 hour format.  In addition, this mode displays the date (day of week and day of month), weather forecast (with an easy to identify icon), in addition to optional barometric pressure or temperature readings.  Within the Time mode, it is possible to select between three primary displays.  The default display presents the date in the top field and the present temperature in the bottom field on the watch face.  The Barometer display mode shows a chart of recent barometric pressure readings for the last 24 hours in the top field and the current sea level barometric pressure in the bottom field. Barometric pressure is displayed in millibar (mbar) which are equivalent to the metrological preferred unit hectopascals (hPa). The third display mode is the Weather display mode.  In the top field, the last 24 hours worth of barometric pressure are displayed.  In the bottom field, the current temperature is shown (the default is in Fahrenheit, though it can be changed to Celsius. Resolution to 0.1 degree, display range 14 to 122 Fahrenheit (-10 to 50 Celsius)).  It is noted in both the manual and quick-start guide that the body temperature of the user can affect the accuracy of the temperature ratings - and may result in a 10-15 degree difference in temperature measurement.  It is recommended that the watch be "reasonably separated from the body for a few minutes before taking a reading."
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Compass:
The digital compass setting provides the degree reading (resolution to 1 degree) in the main field of the watch face with an abbreviated orientation (N for north, W for west, NW for northwest) in the top portion of the display.  Each indicator will change to reflect any movement.  The reading is displayed for 10 seconds before the watch returns to display "----" - this is done for battery preservation.  The rotating bezel on the watch face is used in conjunction with the north arrow indicator to obtain a heading, similarly to using a manual compass.  During compass calibration, it is possible to input declination in order to compensate for true north and magnetic north.  In the manual, it notes that the compass will provide the highest accuracy when readings are taken while the watch is as level as possible.  Both the manual and quick-start guide stress the importance that the compass must be calibrated before the first use.
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Barometer:
The barometer mode displays the current sea level barometric pressure in the central field (display range 300 to 1100 mbar (hPa)).  In the top field on the watch face, a chart depicting the last 24 hrs of barometric pressure is displayed.  In addition, the current weather forecast is depicted.  The weather forecast is an estimate of the weather conditions for the next several hours and is determined based on past and current barometric trends.  The available icons include: sunny, mixed sun and clouds, cloudy and chance of precipitation.  If the weather is incorrect, it is possible to adjust the watch to reflect the actual weather.  In the bottom field, the absolute barometric pressure is displayed.  The units of pressure used are millibar (mbar) which are numerically equivalent to hectopascal (hPa).  It is possible to change the temperature units from Fahrenheit to Celsius while in barometer mode.
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Altimeter:
The altimeter mode displays a readout of the present altitude (resolution to 1 foot or 1 meter, with display range from -1600 to 29500 feet (-500 to 9000 meters)).  While the default setting is in feet, the watch can be changed to report the altitude in meters.  At the top of the face, the watch can display  the altitude history for the past eight hours.  In addition, the watch tracks and stores maximum and accumulated altitude over time.  Maximum altitude is the maximum altitude attained since the measurement was last reset, and accumulated actitide is the sum of all individual altitude increases measured since the last reset - this is NOT the same as net altitude increase. Net increase is simply the difference between the highest and lowest elevation points in a given period.  Each value is updated whenever the altimeter mode is accessed and is displayed as scrolling text across the top field whenever the altitude mode is selected.  Highgear recommends that the altimeter be calibrated on a daily basis for most the most accurate reading as barometric pressure fluctuations can result in false altitude variation.

In addition to the Altimeter, the watch has an Altimeter Data mode where it is possible to recall saved altitude readings.  The watch is capable of storing up to twenty data points  - each data point stores the recorded altitude, as well as the date and time of the reading.
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Chronograph:
In Chrono mode, the watch provides basic chronograph functionality.  This allows the user to measure the elapsed time between various events.  In the main text field, the watch displays the current split time, or the total time elapsed since the beginning of a given run.  The top field displays the elapsed time for the most recent lap, and the bottom field displays the lap number each time the "lap" button is pressed.  The watch has a lap storage feature (up to 100 laps of data) that allows the user to record times for interval measurements.  This stored data can be accessed in the Chrono Data mode.
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Alarm:
The alarm mode allows for two separate time-of-day alarms to be set.  Each can be individually enabled or disabled.  Both alarms can be set to trigger based on time zone; the appropriate time zone is selected during alarm setting.
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Initial Impressions
Having never had an altimeter watch, I wasn't quite sure what to expect; and at the time of application, the product was not yet listed on the manufacturer's web site.  This has since been remedied (complete with downloadable manual in pdf format), and while the site has a good photo and listing of features, I would have liked to have seen approximate size listed.  In addition, the site states that the watch can be set to take single or continuous compass readings; unfortunately I cannot find a way to toggle between these modes and am stuck with pressing a button every 10 seconds to obtain a new compass orientation.

I have found some discrepancies between the resolutions on certain features as listed on the website when compared to the owners manual:

- Resolution for temperature: in the owners manual, is listed as 1 degree (Fahrenheit or Celsius); on the website it is listed as 0.1 degree. 
- The working range for the thermometer: recorded as 14 to 120 Fahrenheit (-10 to 50 Celsius) in the owners manual, the website claims a wider range of -4 to 158 Fahrenheit (-20 to 70 Celsius).
- The working range of the altimeter: owners manual provides a range as -1600 to 29500 feet (-500 to 9000 meters) and the website states the range as -2296 to 29500 feet (-700 to 9000 meters).

One feature that is claimed in the manual that is not on the watch is a leveling bubble for use during Compass mode.

I must say, this watch is much larger in size than any watch I've worn in recent history.  I suspect this is to facilitate easy reading of the data that is displayed on the watch.  I personally think that the watch could be shrunk and still maintain its readability.  As it is, the watch dwarfs my wrist and does not wrap closely - which is fine, since I don't like my watches clinging to me.  At over a half inch in thickness (about 5/8ths inch (1.6 cm)), the watch is certainly not low profile.  Other than its large size, the watch is certainly easy and intuitive to navigate and has more than enough functions for me to play with.  If I had any confusion, a quick glance at the owners manual set me on the right track in no time at all.  I found that a quick skim of the owners manual cued me into the basic operations of the Axis and I was quickly on my way.  One thing I will miss is a timer.  I'm accustomed to using my digital watch with a timer while cooking as I am often too easily distracted - a timer with an alarm has often saved me from an overcooked or scorched meal.  The only functional nit I have against the watch is its backlight function - when activated in all but the brightest or dimmest light, it makes the text on the watch difficult to read.  In full light or complete dark, it works fine.
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Comments on the Manual
While I did find the quick-start guide and manual easy to read and digest,  I did find some discrepancies between the two.  The first one I noticed is different labeling conventions of three of the buttons.  In the manual, it notes that the upper left button is the "Set/Reset/Light" button, while the quick-start guide refers to this button as simply the "Set/Light" button (the former is correct).  The lower right button is referred to as the "Stop" button in the manual, and as the "Stop/Reset" button in the quick-start guide (again, the former is correct).  Finally, the center button below the watch face is not named in the manual, but is called the "Start/Lap" button in the quick-start guide, however I did not find it to perform in the same manner as the "real" "Start/Lap" button (upper right button).

Another difference noted between the instruction manual and the quick-start guide can be found in the Compass Calibration section.  In the manual, it first states that the compass must be calibrated by rotating the unit in a full 360 degree clockwise or counterclockwise circle - it later refers to 2 rotations (720 degrees).  The quick-start guide has different instructions, indicating that the unit must be rotated clockwise through not one, not two, but three full rotations!

All other instructions are accurate and match between the instruction manual and quick-start guide.
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Test Strategy
The Axis Altimeter Watch will be worn on my wrist daily during the test period.  It will be removed while working out at the gym as I seem to sweat much more while confined to stationary workout equipment.  The watch will be worn for all adventure activities and will be exposed to sun, sweat, perhaps rain, sand and grit, and all varieties of water - from clear running stream water to murky, smelly stagnant water as found in slot canyons.  Each feature will be evaluated for accuracy, ease of use and field applicability.  Upon beginning the test, I set the time against the atomic clock, and I will check for drift at the field report and at the end of the long term testing phase.  The barometer and weather forecast will be checked against data reported on the weather channel website and also against observations while outside.  The altimeter will be used to gauge altitude drops in technical canyons - it will be compared to topographical maps and other data I might have at hand.  I'll be checking range or drift in altitude based on altitude recorded on my kitchen counter and at my desk at work.  The temperature function will be checked against an instant read digital thermometer that I use for cooking.  The compass will be tested against my GPS unit as well as against my good old bubble compass.  As an engineer, I'm looking forward to using this watch.  I hope to find that it is durable, reasonably accurate, and easy to navigate and use while in the field.
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*A brief note on previous test history: This test has been a while in the making - the original test period started back in October of 2003.  Due to reported failures of the Compass and Altimeter functions to the manufacturer, the test was interrupted while Highgear completed a redesign/replacement of some of the internal shielding materials of the watch.  New test units were issued, and the test has been restarted.

My thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Highgear for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Electronic Devices > Watches > Highgear Axis Altimeter Watch > Stephanie Martin > Initial Report