Question Lost communication with Teric and Swift transmitter while using a strobe

[Qbrew]

I am a recreational diver and purchased a Teric dive computer and Swift transmitter a few years ago. Both have worked perfectly and I've had no issues over 150 dives. I added an OM TG6 with a housing to my dive set up an were very happy with my photos. In January, prior to a trip to Bonaire, I decided to add an Ikelite DS51 strobe to my camera set up.

When using the strobe on a dive, I intermittently lose communication between my Swift and Teric. Communication between the Swift and Teric reestablishes after a period of time and all is good. I flash the stobe then notice I've lost communication again. When I lose the dive computer/transmitter signal, I can extend my arm(holding my camera) away from my body(moving further away from the Swift/Teric) then the computer/transmitter signal returns. If I dive without the DS51 I have no lost communication issues.
I have replaced the battery in the Swift transmitter(batteries from two different lots). I've also deleted the transmitter from my Teric and have readded it to the computer. No change in the communication issue.

I have contacted Shearwater and Ikelite. I wanted to post here to see if anyone else has had a similar communication issues with their dive computer/transmitter/strobe.

Any idea on what may be causing the lost communication issue?

 

[sea_ledford]

That was a known problem with strobes and earlier transmitters. I thought it had been addressed with the newer transmitters like the Swift, but I guess not.

Probably not an issue as long as you are aware you'll lose your connection. But this is where the whole notion of diving with a transmitter and an SPG came from: the fear that one would lose connection and it wouldn't come back.

 

[davehicks]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

 

[tursiops]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

The SWIFT operates on 38kHz RF; if there is noise on the frequency during a transmission, that's a problem.

 

[tursiops]

The SWIFT operates on 38kHz RF; if there is noise on the frequency during a transmission, that's a problem.

....but it is only a problem for that single transmission; the next one, about 5 seconds later, will be fine.

 

[Qbrew]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

Optical cable with an adapter.

 

[Qbrew]

....but it is only a problem for that single transmission; the next one, about 5 seconds later, will be fine.

Lingers on for quite some time well past the 5 second sample time unless the strobe is moved away from the computer/transmitter (my completely anecdotal testing scheme).

 

[Jai Bar]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

I used an ikelite strobe circa ~2003-2006, was told to turn it off near dolphins because they are very sensitive and respond badly to its presence. Not only was the strobe not annoying, it was a dolphin magnet. They'd come from all sides and try to play, pushing their babies towards the strobes. Don't know if was something like rf emission from strobe or they made some pitch noise in a frequency we cannot hear but dolphins do. Matter of fact with the strobe I had to constantly push dolphins and their babies away because they were so close that I couldn't move, to the point they became a nuisance..

Then with Oceanic White Tip sharks (longimanus) in Egypt had similar experience, had to push the sharks away by bumping the camera into their snouts, eventually ran away from the water and climbed into boat because they got over-curious and too "friendly" to feel comfortable. I suspect something electronic related with Ikelite strobe has to do, since in consequent multiple trips with newer strobes (Inon) I barely got any reaction from same sharks and dolphins. At least found out the dolphins react nicely to out dpv- could be electronic related, noicse or just their curiosity....

 

[stuartv]

Lingers on for quite some time well past the 5 second sample time unless the strobe is moved away from the computer/transmitter (my completely anecdotal testing scheme).

Just curious: Have you tested it to confirm one way or the other, if you just wait, does the connection eventually re-establish? Or does it never come back unless and until you hold the camera away?

If it does eventually come back, any idea how long that takes? And is it a consistent amount of time, over multiple tests?

 

[tursiops]

Just curious: Have you tested it to confirm one way or the other, if you just wait, does the connection eventually re-establish? Or does it never come back unless and until you hold the camera away?

If it does eventually come back, any idea how long that takes? And is it a consistent amount of time, over multiple tests?

If the interference lasts longer than the flash of the strobe, it is likely the charging circuitry in the strobe....so might last as long as it take to rechange....which with an older strobe might well last into a second transmitter cycle. (I used to be able to hear the recharging. Not any more.)