I recently installed the Vario E-TEC unit in my 6.6m Arcus sailplane and LOVE IT. I had been running a "state of the art" SM-Modellbau unit that requires the (expensive) bent TEK tube for nearly five years, and frankly I wanted to compare the two units side-by-side in the same aircraft. My conclusion: The E-TEC is the better vario, and as an added bonus, you get true airspeed (which the SM unit cannot do). While they are both good varios, the E-TEC seems more sensitive and has fewer artifacts (in fact, none at all that I have noticed) where the SM unit is a bit laggy and seems to suffer from artifacts at any but the slowest speeds. It's also great to be able to use a simple, sturdy pitot tube (a plain hollow tube) and for the first time get actual airspeed readings. I am super excited about this product!!!

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]