Better than a Petrel?

[Divetech99]

This OTSC dive computer looks smaller (width wise) than a Petrel, replaceable battery, well laid out info, and seems to have all of the functions and features of a Petrel sans the bulk.

heinrichsweikamp

Has anyone used this OTSC computer? Is it as good as advertised?

 

[tbone1004]

oh it is an incredibly nice piece of equipment, and quite competitive with the Petrel, though I do prefer the piezo buttons on the Petrel. Just try getting one in the US ;-) It's essentially impossible. HW is pretty much the euro equivalent of Shearwater.

 

[Divetech99]

Not sure but the OTSC 2 (Tec version) looks like it's using piezo buttons.

In both the OTSC 2 or 3, the data layout seems to be neater and more organized than the Petrel.

 

[dmaziuk]

Has anyone used this OTSC computer? Is it as good as advertised?

https://subsurface-divelog.org/misc/dive-computer-ramblings/ -- both Linus and Dirk have and commented on it, Dirk has a side-by-side with Petrel 2.

 

[tbone1004]

OSTC 3 is more in line with the Petrel

 

[Hatul]

oh it is an incredibly nice piece of equipment, and quite competitive with the Petrel, though I do prefer the piezo buttons on the Petrel. Just try getting one in the US ;-) It's essentially impossible. HW is pretty much the euro equivalent of Shearwater.

You can order directly from his website.

 

[tursiops]

OSTC 3 is more in line with the Petrel

And only $75 more than the Petrel, plus shipping.

 

[tbone1004]

and what happens if you need to service it, what is the OSTC offering over the Petrel that makes it worth risking having to ship back to Germany for any service other than the size advantage, which comes at the cost of inferior buttons. If distribution was set up in the US this would be a very different discussion, but it's not. USA isn't even an option to ship to from his store, just checked to see what shipping did to offset VAT. To Canada you can get one for $1013CAD, or you can get a Petrel 2 for $950CAD, so I just don't see why you'd risk any service issues to get one over a petrel at this point. It's thinner sure, but not good enough to ignore the cons. I want HW to get US Distribution, really do, Shearwater needs some legitimate competition, but if they aren't even offering to ship to the US *but will ship to Canada, Mexico, and Cuba* there is really no reason to consider them

 

[buddhasummer]

Just to throw it out there in my experience customer service from HW is on par with Shearwater. I do wish they'd widen their distribution network as they make very nice gear. Interestingly they will ship to Japan.

 

[tbone1004]

i've heard nothing but good things about HW, in fact quite the opposite, everything has always been a rave, but they're still in germany with absolutely 0 support in the US, and that has to be addressed before it is worth risking that kind of money when there is a perfectly good alternative basically locally.