The Deep Blue AG board of directors decided to seek liquidation on 06.24.2021. Deep Blue AG has now been in liquidation since 07.21.2021.
Michael
Michael
Who made who?
- Thread starter poseident
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Part of answering the OP's question is mapping out the history and relationships in the development of digital decompression computers. It makes sense that these devices would start to show up on the market in the early 1980s due to microcomputer technology, which is the "enabling technology" along with decompression algorithms.
Computationally, microcomputer technology was more than capable since the mid-late 1970s but advances were required in miniaturization, component cost, and power consumption.
Computationally, microcomputer technology was more than capable since the mid-late 1970s but advances were required in miniaturization, component cost, and power consumption.
Back in 1975, at TI in Fuerstenfeldbrueck outside of Munich, I spent a couple of weeks working parttime on TI's SCMP (Single Chip Micro Processor), now long forgotten.
Michael
Michael
OP
OP
That's a fair question. My answer is two reasons....the foremost is just curiosity. It's an area of interest and I'd like to understand it. I usually prefer buying things that are the OEM's own brand over "re-branded" items. This goes for computers, appliances, etc. My lizard brain contains a bias that says "a company will sell their best stuff under their own brand name."
But the second answer is that these things are expensive, and if I'm going to fork out $1k on a piece of life support equipment that I'm likely to have for 20 years, my best bet is to buy one made by a company that has "stood the test of time" to a certain extent. Sure, all the manufactures have had issues, but the ones with history have the resources to "fix" those issues. I doubt a "kickstarter" project computer is going to get that level of long support--but maybe they would.
Everyone will (and should) have their own way of making choices...the above just describes one factor of my way.
OP
The question about computer manufacturers was the "macro-level" goal. At the micro-level, I was hoping to find some light about two questions:
#1: Has Huish's arrival on the scene impacted quality of their brands in any way?
For example, When Oceanic computers were "Pelagic," and built in a corner of Oceanic's floor that was "taped off with a sign up that said Pelagic (according to the stories)" their quality was so-so. Some models were great, others not so much (US Diver's Matrix unit had a 100% failure rate within a couple of years in my diving circle). It's strange to me that they have multiple computer manufacturers, and they appear to still be manufacturing from both (Suunto and "formerly Pelagic").
#2: What's going on with Suunto?
Suunto was the instrument manufacturer that I had the most trust in, but they had that huge issue with depth sensors and their handling of that was terrible. I can't square that in my head. But, seeing that Suunto was purchased by Amer, and now seems to be somehow split between Huish and Amer/Anta in a way I haven't found explained in detail yet does fill in some of the blanks.
I'd happily accept anyone's opinions, observations, or anecdotal evidence on either of those questions.
#1: Has Huish's arrival on the scene impacted quality of their brands in any way?
For example, When Oceanic computers were "Pelagic," and built in a corner of Oceanic's floor that was "taped off with a sign up that said Pelagic (according to the stories)" their quality was so-so. Some models were great, others not so much (US Diver's Matrix unit had a 100% failure rate within a couple of years in my diving circle). It's strange to me that they have multiple computer manufacturers, and they appear to still be manufacturing from both (Suunto and "formerly Pelagic").
#2: What's going on with Suunto?
Suunto was the instrument manufacturer that I had the most trust in, but they had that huge issue with depth sensors and their handling of that was terrible. I can't square that in my head. But, seeing that Suunto was purchased by Amer, and now seems to be somehow split between Huish and Amer/Anta in a way I haven't found explained in detail yet does fill in some of the blanks.
I'd happily accept anyone's opinions, observations, or anecdotal evidence on either of those questions.
In terms of "who owns whom," the purchase, by Huish, of a sizable chunk of the diving products industry, has served to diminish -- according to some friends in the business — many direct lines of communication, especially at the customer level.
At one time, Oceanic-Farallon, was out of San Leandro (near Oakland, in the SF Bay Area), and you could still reach a live person, on the phone. The question of Oceanic's quality, for better or worse, is not something that I can easily answer, since we stopped using their products, after a number of computer failures -- one, right out of the box, in the 1990s.
Suunto is a bit different; and we've continued to use their products for some years. I still have a fully functional Solution from 1992-3 (when they were then distributed by Sea Quest); and that terrible gaffe with the faulty depth sensors thankfully bypassed us. All of our air-integrated computers jibed with analogue gauges, at the time. I may be an outlier; but I really have no issues with them -- and haven't had occasion or opportunity to attempt any contact.
Of Zeagle, I have heard contradictory accounts (non-computer related) about some quality issues and continued customer support for their BCs -- again, a distancing between Huish and the customer base, where, once, you could actually raise someone on the phone. Whether any of their "higher-end" products are still manufactured in Zephyrhills, Florida, I honestly do not know . . .
At one time, Oceanic-Farallon, was out of San Leandro (near Oakland, in the SF Bay Area), and you could still reach a live person, on the phone. The question of Oceanic's quality, for better or worse, is not something that I can easily answer, since we stopped using their products, after a number of computer failures -- one, right out of the box, in the 1990s.
Suunto is a bit different; and we've continued to use their products for some years. I still have a fully functional Solution from 1992-3 (when they were then distributed by Sea Quest); and that terrible gaffe with the faulty depth sensors thankfully bypassed us. All of our air-integrated computers jibed with analogue gauges, at the time. I may be an outlier; but I really have no issues with them -- and haven't had occasion or opportunity to attempt any contact.
Of Zeagle, I have heard contradictory accounts (non-computer related) about some quality issues and continued customer support for their BCs -- again, a distancing between Huish and the customer base, where, once, you could actually raise someone on the phone. Whether any of their "higher-end" products are still manufactured in Zephyrhills, Florida, I honestly do not know . . .
My memories are tainted regarding the Scubapro DC10 and older Suunto Computers.
I'm pretty sure that I can get a Scubapro DC10 to start showing that some deco is required while showering. The older Suuntos were just as conservative and I worried about bending them in an olympic pool. Guess thats what can happen when the manufacturer lets the lawyers tweak the conservativism of the computer.
I can remember back when Buchaly and Waldbrenner were using a GFhigh 150 successfully for their big dives. 20 years ago I worked out that using a GF High over 125 was suboptimal for me, now after several Skin Bends and a major DCS2 requiring multiple chamber rides I've become older and much more conservative. Now using a GFHigh over 75-80 is frowned upon.
Appearantly what worked beautifully at 40 was way too wild at 60.
Michael
I'm pretty sure that I can get a Scubapro DC10 to start showing that some deco is required while showering. The older Suuntos were just as conservative and I worried about bending them in an olympic pool. Guess thats what can happen when the manufacturer lets the lawyers tweak the conservativism of the computer.
I can remember back when Buchaly and Waldbrenner were using a GFhigh 150 successfully for their big dives. 20 years ago I worked out that using a GF High over 125 was suboptimal for me, now after several Skin Bends and a major DCS2 requiring multiple chamber rides I've become older and much more conservative. Now using a GFHigh over 75-80 is frowned upon.
Appearantly what worked beautifully at 40 was way too wild at 60.
Michael
keyshunter
Contributor
Has Suunto's depth sensor issue been resolved?
Sorry for arriving late, folks.
What I know concerns old computers, but might still help :
- Cochran made Beuchat Maestro Pro (not a nice memory at all)
- UW made the Aladin line then sold by Beuchat, and also made the Monitor computers sold by Spirotechnique (not yet widely know as Aqualung)
- Seiko designed computer for DiveRite (Nitek from the very 1st one to the ill fated Nitek X if I remember correctly. The Nitek (yellow box with green buttons, diving air or nitrox), was also made for Seac with a blue box. The software was also available on a Seiko digital watch.The electronic and software (with slight variations) of the Nitek Duo could be find in : Cressi Leonardo, Apeks (don't remember the name of the model), Zeagle In2ition. Seiko did also issued their own diving watches/computers over the years.
What I know concerns old computers, but might still help :
- Cochran made Beuchat Maestro Pro (not a nice memory at all)
- UW made the Aladin line then sold by Beuchat, and also made the Monitor computers sold by Spirotechnique (not yet widely know as Aqualung)
- Seiko designed computer for DiveRite (Nitek from the very 1st one to the ill fated Nitek X if I remember correctly. The Nitek (yellow box with green buttons, diving air or nitrox), was also made for Seac with a blue box. The software was also available on a Seiko digital watch.The electronic and software (with slight variations) of the Nitek Duo could be find in : Cressi Leonardo, Apeks (don't remember the name of the model), Zeagle In2ition. Seiko did also issued their own diving watches/computers over the years.
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