Brief:
T' Transolve P6K is a peak reportin' dual deployment barometric altimeter. Aye aye! It is t' same altimeter as their P6 model, but in kit form. Blimey! It measures 1.4" x 4" x 1.2" and weighs 1.1oz without t' required 9V alkaline battery. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Just as it's sister model, matey, it has dual deployment, with a selectable main deployment at 400 or 800 feet or an optional chip with 600 or 1,200 feet main deployment. Begad! T' P6K has peak reportin' t' a range o' 25,000 feet with 100 foot accuracy. Ahoy! Begad! T' on-board beeper signals continuity, ya bilge rat, altimeter status, ya bilge rat, and peak readout in feet. Well, blow me down! Begad! For t' speed demons, it has a programmable "Supersonic Inhibit Delay" (SID) for 5, me bucko, 10, or 15 seconds that is changeable usin' jumper blocks. Begad! Blimey! This allows it t' be used for any supersonic flight. It's a rugged design, capable o' firin' any low current e-match or flashbulb. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! With low power usage, it is capable o' sittin' on t' pad for several hours. Arrr! This unit is also capable o' triggerin' Transolve's air-start board timer for staging, matey, air-startin' motors, or other timer dependant events. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
T' kit includes t' printed circuit board, me bucko, a bag o' components, low current LEDs for testing, a switch, and two sets o' instructions. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! One set of instructions if for buildin' t' unit and t' other is for its operation. Avast! It even comes with enough solder t' complete t' project. Avast, me proud beauty! Don't worry if you have never built an electronic project. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' instructions contain information for solderin' your first project. T' smallest surface mounted components have already been installed for you, matey, so t' steadiest o' hands is nay mandatory. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It took me less than 1/2 hour t' assemble and test me unit.

T' instructions take you through t' buildin' process by first explaining which components are which. Avast! It then tells you which components t' solder first and which ones require special attention.

Even if you are a newcomer t' solderin' electronics, shiver me timbers, this kit will nay be too difficult and should take you a little more than an hour t' assemble. You will need t' buy or borrow a solderin' iron. You may also want t' practice on some thin speaker wire or bell wire but you will need extra solder for this. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! If you make a mistake, ya bilge rat, you can send it t' Transolve and they will repair it for a listed $5.00 t' $10.00.

I purchased t' optional air-start board with me P6K kit. Ahoy! I found that the instructions t' wire t' P6K t' t' air-start board were missing. I sent an email regardin' t' subject and I received with a very quick and friendly response. Ahoy! Apparently I be t' first customer t' buy t' two units and discover the missin' instructions. Aye aye! Avast! Transolve has since added this t' t' P6K instructions.

Flight:
I test flew t' P6K in a scratch built rocket that has a 54mm central motor and four 38mm outboards. I used t' P6K for deployment as well as triggerin' the air-start board. Arrr! T' altimeter is designed t' trigger t' air-start timer at 300 feet for safety. Aye aye! I used t' included relay and two 9V batteries t' light all four J330 motors. All four motors lit with authority right on cue.

Summary:
With a retail cost o' $58.00 includin' shipping, matey, me hearties, t' price o' t' Transolve P6K is considerably less than comparable models.

PROs: Rugged and inexpensive.

CONs: Larger and heavier than some altimeters