Charlie,
I got more interested in this, played with two O-puters more this morning, then called Oceanic again. I now have O-Tech Support in my cellphone book, and I obtained their 800 number if you or anyone else would like more on this. It's always good to confirm non-professional opinions and understandings, like mine.
Oceanic: 800-435-3483, Tech is Opt 6, or Christopher - the Consumer Tech I spoke with - is Ext 128. My questions were beyond him, but he spoke with an Engineer, called me back, and I think I have this right...
O-puters are supposed to change to altitude and freshwater at 2,000 feet - give or take 1,000 feet, depending on temperature and barometric pressure.
Excerpting you: "My house...is just over 1000' elevation..." With the 1,000 foot give and take, your O-puter should operate either below or above 2,000 ft if you activate there, reaing either 4:20 or 3:35 for 30 ft statrt up. (1 or 2 minutes variation is neglible here.)
"...took me to 1800', which is where I activated the computer." With the 1,000 foot variation possible, it would then react either in the < 2,000 or 2,000-3,000 ranges. Again, should read 4:20 or 3:35, so your reading of 3:34 is right on with 2,000-3,000. Sounds fine.
My house is at 3,250 feet, so my puters would activate in the 2,000-3,000, 3,000-4,000, or 4,000-5,000 range, depending on temperature and baormetric pressure, i.e. 3:35, 3:21, or 3:07, therefore - the 3:21 I got on both yesterday was within range, and the 3:34 and 3:07 I got on the two different puters this monring are also okay.
Here's the schedule, give or take 1,000 feet:
< 2,000 - 4:20
> 2,000 - 3:35
3,000 - 3:21
4,000 - 3:07
5,000 - 2:55
Hope I explained it well...?
Tim, if you are under 1,000 feet when you activate, and you have already satisfied your Saturdation count down, your puter is bad. But if you are over 1,000, you could read either below or above 2,000 feet, so 3:35 or so would be okay. So while I thought all of Florida was too low, maybe not. Call your closest airport and find out what you elevation is.
thanks, don