Galileo Sol - Bulk or Bite?

[hobodiver]

Splitlip do you know how much the upgrade is for the triple gas switching? A quick price check on Leisurepro shows a difference of 800.00 between the two computers.

Ron L.

Remember that Leisurepro is not an authorized Scubapro/UWATEC dealer, so I'm not sure you'll be able to upgrade the Terra if you buy it from them.

 

[Splitlip]

Remember that Leisurepro is not an authorized Scubapro/UWATEC dealer, so I'm not sure you'll be able to upgrade the Terra if you buy it from them.

Yeah! Good point. MINE is coming from an authorized dealer, but LP buyers better check it out.

 

[Mikey Bag O Donuts]

I have been diving with the Gaileo since March 08 and I love it. The size hasn't been an issue except for one time when I was removing my BCD. You just have to watch when you pull that arm out of harness. Underwater, I haven't had any negative effects from the size. I have a hard time hearing underwater, so I don't always hear the beeps and alerts (which you can turn off), however, my dive buddies usually let me know. Although the screen is big, it does pack a lot of information that i have found helpful. I'm a somewhat new diver and I'm 52 years old, so the larger screen is a good thing for me. I noticed that someone complained about the strap in this forum. The strap is long but it tucks in and underneath the unit when it is on your wrist. Also, with a 3M or 5m suit the band is plenty tight to hold the unit on my wrist. The ability to monitor someone else's tank is a plus. When I'm diving with my girlfriend, I can see how much gas she uses and get angry because I use my so much more than her. I also use the software (which can be downloaded from the Uwatec website) to view my dive profiles, and print them to maintain my logbook. Nitrox settings are very straight forward, as is the rest of the basic setup. I haven't had to replace the batteries yet but that seems very straight forward.
I also use the heart monitor, which in conjunction with the respiration monitor gives you a accurate assessment of your nitrogen (or oxygen) uptake.
OK, so what is the geek-factor.... It is high... I always get people asking me about the computer and commenting on the size. I usually just respond that I watch the computer when I'm down and don't pay attention to anything else and the laugh gets everyone past the issue. I have attached a photo of myself where the Gaileo is clearly visible on my wrist from 20 feet away. (No, it's actually not visible on Google Map)
In short I think the Gaileo Sol is a great computer despite it's size, and would recommend it.

Mike

 

[mikeguerrero]

My Galileo Sol came in with transmitter from www.scubastore.com they are an authorized dealer for scubapro according to their website.

I got an awesome price just click on their site and see for yourself... Do not purchase it from Leisurepro they are asking $1599.99 without shipping.

MG

 

[mikeguerrero]

I thought I'd ask on this thread about an item that ships with the Galileo Sol. What is the small 3m sticker that is clear? It's the same size of the screen. Do you place this film over the actual screen or on the plastic protective screen?

I ordered a film that is suppose to protect the Galileo from a company called Zagg. Here is the link:

ZAGG | invisibleSHIELD | Uwatec Galileo Sol Cases, Screen Protectors, Covers, Shields, Skins, Invisible Shield

Any answers would be great...

Thanks,

MG

 

[jitz]

I bought galileo SOL at my LDS. I only have 2 dives on it but i like it allot. Scubapro has a special on buy a BC with air 2 and regulators and you get a Aladdin prim for free. I chose to upgrade both computer and regulators. If you can use the package you will save.

 

[Clammy]

I thought I'd ask on this thread about an item that ships with the Galileo Sol. What is the small 3m sticker that is clear? It's the same size of the screen. Do you place this film over the actual screen or on the plastic protective screen?

I ordered a film that is suppose to protect the Galileo from a company called Zagg. Here is the link:

ZAGG | invisibleSHIELD | Uwatec Galileo Sol Cases, Screen Protectors, Covers, Shields, Skins, Invisible Shield

Any answers would be great...

Thanks,

MG

I believe it's an either/or accessory. You can put the 3m film over the screen or use the plastic shield. I actually put on both but then there's too much distortion when you are on land in the sunlight to see it properly without having to shade it.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Clammy,

Thanks for letting me know about the 3m coating that ships with the Galileo. I think I will just use the plastic shield. When I had the VT3 Oceanic if the shield got too scratched I would just purchase another plastic screen and the computer would go back to looking brand new.

Clammy I will let you know how the Zag works when it arrives, I have heard nothing but great things about it's reslience to scratches. Hopefully it arrives this week before I dive.

Mike

 

[MMM]

I just came back from Cozumel and did 12 dives with the computer. It is a pretty terrific computer, although it has a few quirks. For instance, if you drop below 20 feet during your safety stop, it resets the timer once you ascend above 20 feet. I did one safety stop 3 times...

I think I'm going to cut a couple of inches off the strap (after I try wearing it on my forearm, as someone suggested). Even threading the excess through the back, it got lumpy.

The heartrate monitor is a fascinating feature. It was easy to see the dta when I was swimming against the current (to try and get a shot) or chasing an eagle ray (those things don't look like they are swimming fast but they are!).

As others have said, the monitor is very clear. And in spite of the million page manual, it's very intuitive and easy to use.

I didn't like that the transmitter stops sending gas info once you hit 200 lbs. however that was only a factor once. I made sure it didn't happen again. So maybe that is a built in safety feature.

I removed the sticky plastic guard - too hard to read through, I found.

I am hopeless when it comes to using the compass but even I loved the compass in this thing. It's dead easy.

The clanger? I got off the plane when it landed and headed straight to the LDS where I bought it and said it had to go back. It continuously lost the transmitter signal, even though the battery said "high". (There's another thread on this board from others who have had the same experience). Sometimes I didn't hear the beeping right away through my hood. And at some point, after the signal has been lost long enough, it ceases to calculate remaining bottom time as per air consumption. That's not a complete show stopper as I generally know when I need to start to ascend based on remaining pressure but when you pay this much for a computer, all the bells and whistles need to work. And its a PITA to constantly be trying to reconnect the signal. In a 90 minute dive, I'd probably lose it 20 or 30 times. I tried rotating the thing 180 degrees (which you can do, and which felt better on my small wrist, actually, having the weight at the bottom rather than the top), but that seemed to make the signal loss worse. Once at the LDS, the owner said that he'd never heard of this happening in any of these computers he'd sold. He phoned the rep immediately who asked a couple of basic questions - did I wear the computer on the same side as the transmitter (yes). (It wasn't pointing at my head as my regulator - an Oceanic Delta 4 FDX 10 - just doesn't allow for that.) Was the battery good (yes, brand new). So off it went. So we'll see.

The manual says that flash photography can affect the transmission. I was the only person using a camera in the group throughout my dives, and it still lost the signals even if I didn't have the strobe turned on.

I hope they will be able to get it working properly because it's a pretty cool computer. Otherwise, I will not be keeping it, obviously.

 

[tedj101]

Probably half the dives I have done with the SOL have been done while shooting with a strobe. While I have lost the signal momentarily a few times, I just hold my hand up and it comes right back. Something is wrong there.

My only other comment would be that I would not cut the strap until I was sure that I had used it with all the possible gear I might ever need. If you make your cut based on tropical experience and later go to a heavy wet suit or a dry suit, you may be in the market for a new strap - and I have a suspicion that cost of a new strap might be mind boggling <g>!

Best,
<TED>

I just came back from Cozumel and did 12 dives with the computer. It is a pretty terrific computer, although it has a few quirks. For instance, if you drop below 20 feet during your safety stop, it resets the timer once you ascend above 20 feet. I did one safety stop 3 times...

I think I'm going to cut a couple of inches off the strap (after I try wearing it on my forearm, as someone suggested). Even threading the excess through the back, it got lumpy.

The heartrate monitor is a fascinating feature. It was easy to see the dta when I was swimming against the current (to try and get a shot) or chasing an eagle ray (those things don't look like they are swimming fast but they are!).

As others have said, the monitor is very clear. And in spite of the million page manual, it's very intuitive and easy to use.

I didn't like that the transmitter stops sending gas info once you hit 200 lbs. however that was only a factor once. I made sure it didn't happen again. So maybe that is a built in safety feature.

I removed the sticky plastic guard - too hard to read through, I found.

I am hopeless when it comes to using the compass but even I loved the compass in this thing. It's dead easy.

The clanger? I got off the plane when it landed and headed straight to the LDS where I bought it and said it had to go back. It continuously lost the transmitter signal, even though the battery said "high". (There's another thread on this board from others who have had the same experience). Sometimes I didn't hear the beeping right away through my hood. And at some point, after the signal has been lost long enough, it ceases to calculate remaining bottom time as per air consumption. That's not a complete show stopper as I generally know when I need to start to ascend based on remaining pressure but when you pay this much for a computer, all the bells and whistles need to work. And its a PITA to constantly be trying to reconnect the signal. In a 90 minute dive, I'd probably lose it 20 or 30 times. I tried rotating the thing 180 degrees (which you can do, and which felt better on my small wrist, actually, having the weight at the bottom rather than the top), but that seemed to make the signal loss worse. Once at the LDS, the owner said that he'd never heard of this happening in any of these computers he'd sold. He phoned the rep immediately who asked a couple of basic questions - did I wear the computer on the same side as the transmitter (yes). (It wasn't pointing at my head as my regulator - an Oceanic Delta 4 FDX 10 - just doesn't allow for that.) Was the battery good (yes, brand new). So off it went. So we'll see.

The manual says that flash photography can affect the transmission. I was the only person using a camera in the group throughout my dives, and it still lost the signals even if I didn't have the strobe turned on.

I hope they will be able to get it working properly because it's a pretty cool computer. Otherwise, I will not be keeping it, obviously.