Fozgometer

Does the Fozgometer indicate the optimal azimuth setting or does it just get you very close to that setting?

Tketcham, As I understood Fremer's review and the comments of others "in the know", it seemed that the absolute voltage produced by the battery makes a difference. Thus installing a new battery is not a panacea; it seems that doing so would require re-calibration of the Foz. Brand new "9V" batteries will vary from about 9.1V to 9.6V in their actual output voltage. (I had to buy several for another project, and I measured about a dozen "new" ones. No two were exactly alike in voltage.) So, if the Foz is sensitive to differences in battery voltage of 0.1V, which I am led to believe is true, then it's not so simple as to say that you need to use a fresh battery every time. Seems it's better to say you should re-calibrate the Foz every time you use it, which is a burden on the user. Probably does not make much difference to change the battery in that case, so long as it is still making 9V or more. I am more in Don's camp on this issue; the Foz should be more dependable, and it could be if Fosgate would make an outboard 9V PS for it. But maybe PS noise, even very low level, is inimical to its function. Hence the battery. But also, I don't doubt that what you said is true; a lot of the reported problems may be due to end-user and/or dealer ignorance of how to use it.

Stringreen, Shame on you for comparing an Alfa Romeo to a Fozgometer. I drove a 1967 Alfa Duetto (with Weber carburetors) for six years as my only car, living in NYC with no garage, and it never ever let me down once, not even in snowstorms. In the end, a dishonest and unskilled mechanic "killed" it. (He later went to jail for fraud and theft in connection with his Ferrari repairs.) The post-1968 Alfas did have a rather unreliable fuel injection system that was necessitated by emissions requirements. That fuel injection system may have contributed to the reputation for unreliability. Many cars were converted back to use Webers in those days. Also, many troglodytes don't know the difference between an Alfa and a Fiat. The 60s and 70s Fiats were indeed problematic.

Lew, you're right, a new battery is not a panacea in preventing all the potential pitfalls in using a sensitive electronic device like the Fozgometer. And no, I don't put a fresh battery in my Fozgometer each and every time I use it. I made the suggestion because it helps to at least establish a baseline if anyone is unsure about the condition or quality of a battery. Do I recalibrate my Fozgometer every time I use it? No, but I do swap out the battery every year and I recalibrate after doing so. It's not difficult. It doesn't take much time. Not really a burden.

Now, setting azimuth by eye and ear, that's a burden. '-)

Regards,
Tom

TKetchum...you evidently got a good one, or mine was made on Friday, just before a holiday. The first week I had the car, the exhaust system fell off....I found a wire hanger and crawled under the car and wired it in until I could get it to the dealer. The hood was designed (or not, but this did always happened) ...when taking it out in the rain, water would splash under the car and be routed into the 4 deep spark plug recesses, which would ground out the electrical system, and the car would stop. I had to carry a turkey baster to suck out the water..would be good for a block or 2....also, my car had brakes made from components from Girling and Bendix which didn't quite fit...it would suck air every time you stepped on the brake. I remember riding to NJ from Lime Rock Connecticut using only the hand brake. I could go on..but you get the idea.

The fozgometer is a PIA to use, and so is setting azimuth by ear.

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?9097-Azimuth-adjustment-the-easy-way

Optimizing Arms are a PITA no matter what approach, but the
end result should be pleasing to YOUR ear!

VTA/SRA and azimuth optimum setup tools only go so far, best to fine tune by ear in the end. IMO YMMV!