Question My transmitter won't pair with my Apeks DSX

[Elricdelyon]

Hi,
I just bought the Apeks DSX along with an Apeks transmitter. I followed the instructions to pair them : i entered the serial code of the transmitter in the dive computer. But the computer doesn't detect it. I then replaced the CR2 battery, with no effect.

Is my transmitter broken ? Does my Apeks DSX has a problem ? Will the transmitter 'wake up' once it will be plugged on a regulator and receive pressure, staying 'off' before that ?

I'm going to a liveaboard to Raja Ampat in 2 weeks, i would have liked to be sure this transmitter was ok before that.

 

[Belzelbub]

Will the transmitter 'wake up' once it will be plugged on a regulator and receive pressure, staying 'off' before that ?

This is most likely the issue. Transmitter needs to be attached to a regulator, regulator needs to be attached to a tank, and the tank valve needs to be opened. The Transmitter is one of the PPS compatible MH8A units. They turn on when they sense pressure and turn off when pressure drops below a certain threshold. So, you need a tank to check.

 

[stuartv]

You got it. The transmitter doesn't turn on until it gets high pressure fed into it.

It turns off automatically, once it loses all pressure. So, to preseve battery life, you should try to remember, after you're done with it, turn your tank off and depressurize the regulator. Meaning, after pre-dive checks, if your rig is going to sit for a while before you splash, and also after you get out of the water after a dive.

Don't just turn the tank off. Turn it off AND depressurize the regulators. That will allow the transmitter to turn off (after a few minutes with no pressure).

 

[dspalthoff]

Hi,
I just bought the Apeks DSX along with an Apeks transmitter. I followed the instructions to pair them : i entered the serial code of the transmitter in the dive computer. But the computer doesn't detect it. I then replaced the CR2 battery, with no effect.

Is my transmitter broken ? Does my Apeks DSX has a problem ? Will the transmitter 'wake up' once it will be plugged on a regulator and receive pressure, staying 'off' before that ?

I'm going to a liveaboard to Raja Ampat in 2 weeks, i would have liked to be sure this transmitter was ok before that.

Hi,

How is your experience with the Apeks DSX overall? I'm considering buying that one.

 

[GraRob]

Hi,

How is your experience with the Apeks DSX overall? I'm considering buying that one.

I've been using the DSX for over a year now, it's quite a complex beast, but has all the functions you'll likely ever need.

Ref. The transmitter issue above, the t/X needs to see pressure before it will activate, in fact I've found you need to squirt some air out a purge valve before it will register pressure.

Also, when setting up the transmitters, after allocating the serial number, you also need to set up gas type, and T/X no etc, and all over again, when changing dive mode. eg; from Open Circuit (OC) to Side Mount mode - which I use for my twins set up.
The user manual doesn't cover this properly in my opinion.
One very annoying thing I've only just found out is, the screen protector is a factory fitted spare, and Aqualung don't have it listed as a spared item. I'm told they're looking into selling a user fitted one in the next 6 months, but history tells us that could be years away!!

I'm happy to answer any questions I can on the DSX.

 

[Belzelbub]

Ref. The transmitter issue above, the t/X needs to see pressure before it will activate, in fact I've found you need to squirt some air out a purge valve before it will register pressure.

The second part doesn’t sound right. AFAIK, the DSX uses the same transmitter as several other DCs. The PPS MH8A transmitter. You are right that the transmitter needs to see pressure to turn on. Once it does turn on, it sends pressure info about every 5 seconds. Apart from a slight change in pressure, the transmitter has no idea that the reg was purged. Some transmitters do go to sleep if pressure hasn’t changed in a while, but not the PPS. It will continue to read and send until about 2 minutes after pressure drops below 50 psi. That’s one of the things I like about it. It’s simple. Just turns on with pressure and off when pressure is released.

I suspect it’s more of a timing thing. Might take a few seconds to wake up, then perhaps a few more to start transmitting. The purging of gas coinciding with reading pressure is most likely coincidental. None of my PPS transmitters require this.

Also, when setting up the transmitters, after allocating the serial number, you also need to set up gas type, and T/X no etc, and all over again, when changing dive mode. eg; from Open Circuit (OC) to Side Mount mode - which I use for my twins set up.
The user manual doesn't cover this properly in my opinion.

So, if I’m understanding this, you need to set up the transmitter ID, name it, and set gas type before it will report pressure? For gas type, does that mean Air/NX/Trimix, or do you need to set the mix? And then if you switch modes you have to do it all over? Does it remember if you switch back?

That seems odd and annoying?

 

[GraRob]

The second part doesn’t sound right. AFAIK, the DSX uses the same transmitter as several other DCs. The PPS MH8A transmitter. You are right that the transmitter needs to see pressure to turn on. Once it does turn on, it sends pressure info about every 5 seconds. Apart from a slight change in pressure, the transmitter has no idea that the reg was purged. Some transmitters do go to sleep if pressure hasn’t changed in a while, but not the PPS. It will continue to read and send until about 2 minutes after pressure drops below 50 psi. That’s one of the things I like about it. It’s simple. Just turns on with pressure and off when pressure is released.

I suspect it’s more of a timing thing. Might take a few seconds to wake up, then perhaps a few more to start transmitting. The purging of gas coinciding with reading pressure is most likely coincidental. None of my PPS transmitters require this.


So, if I’m understanding this, you need to set up the transmitter ID, name it, and set gas type before it will report pressure? For gas type, does that mean Air/NX/Trimix, or do you need to set the mix? And then if you switch modes you have to do it all over? Does it remember if you switch back?

That seems odd and annoying?

Yes, correct and it is very annoying. It doesn't remember if you switch it back. I've been in Comms with Apeks over it, and they admitted the manual needs sorting. You don't however need to re-enter the t/X serial number, but it disassociates itself from that particular dive mode, etc.

Ref. The t/x showing pressure;
This is my own personal experience. It shows 000 bar until the purge button is briefly pressed.
I've left it for a few minutes, and it won't register until the system is vented quickly.

I haven't left it for any length of time to be fair, as I just hit the button to get it to register pressure.

 

[Belzelbub]

Ref. The t/x showing pressure;
This is my own personal experience. It shows 000 bar until the purge button is briefly pressed.
I've left it for a few minutes, and it won't register until the system is vented quickly.

I haven't left it for any length of time to be fair, as I just hit the button to get it to register pressure.

Truly odd. I use the same transmitters with Oceanic and Shearwater computers. I've never had to wait a few minutes. Maybe at most up to 10 seconds. I'm pretty confident that the transmitter is sending before the purge is pressed. It could be that Apeks is suppressing the display until it sees a change, but that seems strange.

However, it seems that they've made some strange choices (Setting up gas, Tx ID, etc) before displaying pressure. So perhaps they are enforcing the pre-dive breathe down. Just a guess on my part, but I can't see any other reason why the Apeks appears to behave differently than other computers. If you have access to a different computer compatible with the transmitter, this could be tested to see if the other computer displays pressure before the purge.