Q & A for Suunto Diving Products

[DevonDiver]

I've owned and used Suunto products for many years. My first computer was an 'Eon', followed by a Vyper and a D9. I still use the Vyper primarily... it's the epitome of a rugged, reliable computer that does everything you need a dive computer to do (10+ years and mine's still going strong).

Feeback:

1) Straps on new models remain an issue. The computers aren't compatible with regular watch straps - which comes across as cynical. The rubber straps have a very short lifespan - and do not reflect the good quality that one otherwise expects from Suunto. My D9 strap survived for about 9 months of light use - very disappointing, especially considering the cost of replacements.

2) A stopwatch function would be invaluable for professional level divers. Ideally, it would be accessible in conjunction with regular dive functions. For instance, when dive instructors need to time 30 seconds, or 2 minutes, accurately when assessing diver skills in training.

3) The Suunto Gekko doesn't have a bottom timer function. If it did, I would recommend it in virtually every instance as an entry-level computer. The lack of bottom timer makes it unusable for many training courses, especially technical diving, where tables are used. Likewise, it hinders those instructors who wish to teach the use of tables, in conjunction/addition to dive computer use. Put a bottom timer function on the Gekko and it'd be close to the perfect recreational diving computer...

4) D9tx and HelO2 are over-priced in comparison with some of their competition IMHO. They lack certain features (such as rechargeable, oLED color display, user chosen firm/software etc) in that price bracket.

5) Suunto dive alarm functions are too high pitched. I have high-end hearing loss from my military service. I can hear other dive computer alarms, but cannot hear alarms on Suunto computers.

6) Bungee-type arm mounts are very common and popular now. Suunto are missing a trick by not offering these as an option/standard with their computers.

Hope that helps.

 

[lucky83]

I'm sorry if this q has been up for discussion before, but i recently bought myself a macbook air and was wondering why i cannot make the DM4 work with it even though the specs say that it is compatible? If it does matter - it's a D6i.

 

[Nods]

I have a problem with my cobra 3. When in diving in Nitrox mode the O2% continually flashes hiding the tank pressure. If I scroll through to view tank pressure its only available for a couple of seconds before reverting to the blinking O2%. This is regardless of the O2 % that has been set and it occurs as soon as the decent comments until resurfacing. Can you help?

 

[Hendrik@Suunto]

Nods,

Please check the settings in your Cobra 3 and let me know if you possibly have the 2nd gas mix on. I believe that is the reason you are experiencing this.

Best Regards,
Chris from Suunto

 

[Nods]

Hello Chris, thanks for your reply so far. Yes I have the second gas turned on because I was using Air and then switched to Nitrox during deco stages. I believe the only way to do a gas switch from air is to set the first Nitrox for 21% and then the second gas to what ever the mix is.. This still caused the computer to blink while using a legitimate gas mixes.Thanks

 

[gizmo1972]

Hi Chris
I have a D9Txi titainium which is a great unit i bought it because of my history with Suunto is great i dive every day (my job)
i have one thing which is driving me NUTS!!!!! deep stop on nitrox diving you can not swich it off i k now you can switch it off in Air mode
the old D9 was great you had the option to switch the deep stop function off which was GREAT!! i was told this was not ment to be like that
my question is is there any way i can turn the deep stop function off in nitrox mode PLEASE
our diving sites have a 50ft from surface to the top of the wall so we go over the wall down to 80 ft then at the end on the way back i have to to a 1-2 min deepstop 10ft above the wall mid water away from my guest s such a pain ! can you help please?

 

[Hendrik@Suunto]

Nods,

By having your mix 2 turned on the computer is prompting you with an alarm. This is not an error within your computer. I have attached section 6.2.4 in the user manual where it explains the reason that your computer is functioning this way.


Best Regards,
Chris from Suunto

 

[Hendrik@Suunto]

Gizmo,

The D9tx does not have the capability of turning off the deep stop function in mixed gas mode. I have forwarded your post to the software development team, and will respond as soon as I receive a reply. Sorry for the delay.

Best Regards,
Chris from Suunto

 

[Hendrik@Suunto]

gizmo,

In response to your post about deep stop:

Correct, in Mixed Gas mode the deep stops are always ON in the Suunto Technical RGBM. This is the same implementation as in HelO2 – but because HelO2 does not have Air mode, there’s no possibility to turn the deep stops OFF in HelO2 at all.

Just to add a side note, the newest development in decompression algorithms is Suunto Fused RGBM. This algorithm works in the same way – you can turn the deep stops OFF in Air mode but they’re always ON in Mixed Gas and CCR modes. However, depending on the profile, the deep stops may be entirely substituted by ceiling (see the Q&A below). If the customer wants to have his D9tx “upgraded” to DX software this is possible by sending the unit to Suunto Vantaa, there will be incurred costs.

From the HelO2 manual:
According to UHMS, deep stops are stops that occur deeper than the traditional decompression model suggests. The purpose of deep stops is to slow down a long continuous ascent and minimize microbubble formation and excitation. While the Suunto Technical RGBM model is based on M-values, the use of deep stops brings the model closer to the full RGBM model. The way of implementing deep stops is conducted by Dr. Bruce Wienke.
If deep stop is broken it does not cause the dive computer to go into error mode. However there is penalty applied to the following decompressions.

From the D9tx manual:
The Suunto RGBM model calculates deep stops iteratively, placing the first stop about halfway between the maximum depth and the ceiling depth. After the first Deep stop is completed, another Deep stop will be prompted halfway to the ceiling, and so on until the ceiling depth is reached.
Enabling the deep stops does not disable Recommended Safety Stops. Mandatory Safety Stops, for example due to continuous ascent rate violations, are still prompted.
If a deep stop is violated, it does not cause the dive computer to go into an error (Er) mode. However, a penalty time is added to the subsequent decompression.
In the MIXED mode, the Deep stops are always activated.

Suunto Fused RGBM Q&A:
Q. Is Suunto Fused RGBM the same algorithm as Dr. Wienke’s Full RGBM?
A. Yes, in the depths where Full RGBM is applicable. On shallower depths the Full RGBM is fused to Suunto Technical RGBM in order to optimize the algorithm for recreational diving in terms of decompression obligation.

Q. Can you explain if there is a difference in no deco time between Suunto RGBM, Suunto Technical RGBM and Suunto Fused RGBM, when diving on air/nitrox in recreational depths (max 30m/100ft)?
A. Due to the inherent nature of the measurement situation and minor differences in the algorithms, there may be 1-2 minute difference in the no deco times in recreational depths. Suunto Technical RGBM and Suunto Fused RGBM also contain P-2 and P-1 personal setting whereas Suunto RGBM the user can add conservativeness by setting P1 or P2. The personal settings are in effect throughout all depths.

Q. Is there a difference between ascent time calculation on Suunto DX and other Suunto dive computers?
A. In Suunto Fused RGBM and in Suunto Technical RGBM the ascent time is always calculated taking into account all primary gases that have been configured on the dive computer.
Further, in Suunto Fused RGBM the ascent time is calculated assuming that the last decos are done at 6m / 20ft unless the diver ascends above this depth. If the diver ascends above 6m/20ft, the remaining dive is assumed to be completed at that depth (in any case, below the ceiling) and the ascent time is calculated accordingly. In Suunto Technical RGBM the ascent time is calculated assuming that the last decos are done at 3m / 10ft.
If the diver selects a secondary gas from the list then this gas is used up until the surface in ascent time calculation – the dive computer assumes that there is no gas switch available.

Q. I had a deepstop on my Suunto DX display but it suddenly disappeared as I was ascending. What happened?
A. The Suunto DX with Suunto Fused RGBM is designed to bring the diver up towards surface by following the best and most efficient decompression glide path. The deeper the dive, the more likely it is that the deepstop (that is originally issued when descending) is not actually needed when ascending because the ceiling limits the ascent rate so that this also covers the time that was planned for the deepstop – this is perfectly normal and correct operation of the algorithm.
This is different than what was implemented in Suunto Technical RGBM where the deepstops were fixed and could not be substituted by diving according to the decompression ceiling limitation.

If you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Best Regards,
Chris from Suunto

 

[trickchit]

Hi Chris,

I have just purchased one of Suunto's SS011350000 interfaces and as of yet have been unable to get DM4 to recognize either one of our two Cobras. Thinking that the Dell M4600 laptop might have had an underpowered USB port I installed DM4 on a dual Xeon desktop with the same results. Device Manager says the Suunto serial adapter is there and working but DM4 says there is no device connected. This is after I have modified the GTK-SHARP installer to allow the DM4 install on Windows 7 64 bit s/w. I figured it was something at the board level (cold solder joint, missed solder joint, etc.) and took a look at the board through the stereo microscope I use for doing hot air SMD rework/repair on the high end, public safety portables I refurbish and sell. It didn't take long to find the problem. Down at the actual PCB board fabrication level, before any components had been mounted to the board, the error occurred. The through hole plating operation failed on almost all of the holes which means components that should be connected aren't. For example, the low side pin that contacts one of the pins on the Cobra is completely isolated from any of its related circuitry. I don't mind fixing it myself even though there are two ICs that cover three through holes that I'll have to remove and replace but first I'd like to know if anyone at Suunto can tell me whether or not all of the full size holes were supposed to be plated. And yes the Cobras are in TR-PC mode.
Thanks,
Trickchit