Q:I have several products that use the new Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The people who sold me the equipment implied better performance compared to the Ni-Cds with respect to "memory" (when the battery loses capacity with repeated charges, especially when not completely discharged before recharging). However, my Li-ion batteries seem to have a memory problem similar to what I experienced with the Ni-Cds. Are these new batteries defective or am I the victim of hype?

Q:Instead of using a thermometer and barometer to measure atmospheric conditions to set the PPM atmospheric correction value on my EDM, I use a 100-ft tape to determine the correction. I stretch it out and set my EDM at one end and my prism pole at the other end. Then I vary the PPM settings until I read 100.000 ft. I attended a seminar recently where the speaker said this wasn't the right thing to do. Why?

Photo courtesy of Western Latitudes.