Reliability of Hoseless Computers?

[fppf]

No disrespect taken, I'm all about open conversation.

Its more of an issue at the start of the day when everyone is first setting up there gear.
But still there is a chance, small but still a chance to mix signals with a different tank than your own. And if 2 transmitters generate the same code you may not know it until on your dive.

I'm just saying the Oceanic system has a zero possability of reading any tank but your own.

My opinion is based on owning and diving 2 sets of computers personally and having buddies that own and dive them on a professional level without any problems. And even though I don't like the suunto's I dove for 2 weeks with a group of 6 people all using D9's without any issues. Every dive I go on with groups of people in the water I hear tons of computers beeping away, I know there is no way to know whos it is and why it beeping unless you look.

 

[peterbj7]

I don't think the Suunto system is that easy to accidentally read the wrong tank, as long as you make sure you are not using the same code as someone else nearby.

What if you're using your D9 to monitor several tanks, either all yours or some belonging to others? Given that you can't identify each on the face of the computer with a name, how do you remember which code relates to which tank? I've never tried it myself, but I know others who HAVE tried and who have ended up hopelessly confused. Translation - they made mistakes, mistakes that could be serious.

 

[mruseless]

What if you're using your D9 to monitor several tanks, either all yours or some belonging to others? Given that you can't identify each on the face of the computer with a name, how do you remember which code relates to which tank? I've never tried it myself, but I know others who HAVE tried and who have ended up hopelessly confused. Translation - they made mistakes, mistakes that could be serious.

I don't think the D9 can monitor more than one tank... I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think so. Based on my very limited experience with the D9, as long as you confirm that your code does not match another diver, you are OK.

Interesting question, though. With some of the more elaborate systems, can you enter a diver's name?

 

[peterbj7]

fppf - I've amended my wording. But please don't make assertions about other people's views when they may (and in fact do) have vastly more experience than you do.

 

[mruseless]

No disrespect taken, I'm all about open conversation.

Its more of an issue at the start of the day when everyone is first setting up there gear.
But still there is a chance, small but still a chance to mix signals with a different tank than your own. And if 2 transmitters generate the same code you may not know it until on your dive.

Yes, there definitely is a small chance. Part of my pre-dive routine involves taking a few deep breaths off my main and octo, while watching my gauge. I'll have to make sure that I do this either away from any other D9 owners, or when they are not doing the same thing.

One thing Suunto did to try to minimize this is to reduce the transmitter signal strength during the pairing process. I experimented a bit with it, and you have to get within about a foot to pair. Normal signal strength is probably out to 5 feet or so. So even if there was another diver with the same code, you would most likely be reading your own tank underwater unless you were really close together. But its definitely possible.

I'm just saying the Oceanic system has a zero possability of reading any tank but your own.

Agreed, the Oceanic system is superior in that regard.

 

[peterbj7]

I don't think the D9 can monitor more than one tank... I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think so. Based on my very limited experience with the D9, as long as you confirm that your code does not match another diver, you are OK.

Interesting question, though. With some of the more elaborate systems, can you enter a diver's name?

I think you're right. Must be thinking of another manufacturer, though offhand I haven't got a clue which.

I don't know of ANY computers where you can enter identifying information for the tank being used, but this is really only from hearsay, from observing people setting up their gear. I've never used or knowingly handled a computer with that capability.

My only experience of the D9 is that a close friend and dive buddy bought one and I did several dives with him wearing it. He's moved away, but I had told him about the abysmal battery life of my Stinger and asked him to tell me what his battery life was like. He bought the computer when they first came out (a couple of years ago?) and he HAS had to replace the battery since.

The chief thing that attracted him to the D9 was the ability to store and use three different nitrox mixes. I said that I couldn't envisage any circumstances when I'd want three nitrox mixes, not unless I was also using a helium mix in which case I wouldn't be using a D9. In a couple of years he's used two mixes several times, but never three.

I like the idea of a built-in compass, but the cost in terms of $, bulk/weight and battery consumption pushes me strongly to a simple watch-strap one such as the Suunto/Recta.

 

[fppf]

I have amended mine as well, truce.
I don't think I made any assertions, just inquarries about the incident.

The D9 does support multiple mixes.

The way Oceanic supports muli tanks...
You can by a transmitter 2 pack, there are 3 different colors, grey for back gas, yellow for travel/deep deco gas, and green for O2 deco gas. You program the serial number of each transmitter into the computer as "tank1" "tank2" and "tank3" tank1 is your back gas, grey transmitter, tank2 is your travel/deep deco gas or yellow transmitter and tank3 is your O2 or green transmitter. When on a dive you can change tanks and the display will read "tank1" or which ever tank you want and the % O2 for that tank.

Batterys last about a year in the Atom 2.0's and are user changable. Took me about 5 minutes to change out the batteries in 2 computers.

 

[peterbj7]

Maybe it's the Oceanic I was thinking of. They've considerably improved their range in recent years. When I became a service technician for Oceanic over ten years ago they were pretty basic - absolutely non-decompression computers.

And thanks for the "truce" - willingly accepted! I'm afraid you caught the brunt of a disagreement I've been having with some VERY opinionated people on another thread!

 

[fppf]

Yeah they are setup more for deco dives, however I still don't trust it 100%. I would still carry a back gauge and bottom timer for deco dives. There is no room for error when your in deco. But for rec dives, there good.

 

[Zeeman]

Had my hoseless for 2 years now. No probs at all.

People who say "They fail all the time" need to qualify that.

To a boat captain who takes, say 140 people diving a week (20 people a day, that's a small boat), one or two a month may appear to be "all the time", but really, it's not that many. And you never know how well individual divers service their equipment. I suspect a lot of failures may be user error...

Z...