AI transmitter on stage cylinder?

[JFKelly]

I am a recreational diver now heading toward ‘accelerated deco’ training which involves a stage cylinder with Nitrox.

I have an AI transmitter for my back gas and was wondering, for those that also use a transmitter, how many people add another for their stage cylinder (as well as the SPG)?

Cheers
Jonathan

 

[DiveLikeAMuppet]

I don’t but I’m cheap. I think it depends on where you dive - stages get tossed around a lot on boats (or trucks for that matter). Having a spare SPG or a full reg in your toolkit is cheaper than having an extra transmitter. It’s all disposable kit and the more diving you do, the less precious you need to be about the kit.

You would also preferably have two computers that can read the transmitters.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I am a recreational diver now heading toward ‘accelerated deco’ training which involves a stage cylinder with Nitrox.

I have an AI transmitter for my back gas and was wondering, for those that also use a transmitter, how many people add another for their stage cylinder (as well as the SPG)?

Cheers
Jonathan

I do ... whether it be a pony, deco or stage bottle. I see many technical divers using an AI transmitter on their deco/stage/bailout bottles in South FL. I also dive with two AI computers (Shearwaters) and can monitor all transmitters from both computers.

 

[Mobulai]

I use 2 transmitters already on my bottom gas for sidemount, and I am considering getting a 3rd for the sake of a Deco stage IFF I can find a used one at the right price

But at the same time, I’m considering it only as a double usage: when on CCR I want to use the 2 I already have for to monitor DIL (my sidemount tanks), and the 3rd would monitor my o2 bottle (the button gauge is useless mid dive)

If I wasn’t doing CCR I wouldn’t consider the 3rd Tx, an SPG already is covering that need and I have no use to monitor my SAC during Deco

 

[gbirch]

Preface: Speaking from Backmout Open circuit perspective only.

Nothing particularly wrong with it if that’s what you want to do but, IMHO, it is way overkill for a stage cylinder. I’d start by asking yourself why you need it, and if you come up with a reason, one that works for you, then why not, but practically, you have already done the gas planning so you know that you have enough so mostly all you need to know is that the cylinder is full at the start of the dive and still full when you start deco, The precision of a transmitter is not really necessary, and many divers make use of a simple, compact button gauge on a stage.

Good luck with your deco training and welcome to the dark side

 

[inquis]

I use a transmitter or SPG/button -- not both. Anything that I might handoff to a teammate does not have a transmitter: deco stages, bottom stages, or backup diluent/bailout (CCR/caves).

 

[LFMarm]

It depends on configuration.

In CC, it makes sense to have AI for all the tanks you actually use when you don’t bailout. In my case is O2, 50/0 and bottom gas; the other bailout tanks have SPGs as they will not be used unless I bailout.

In OC, I use AI on all tanks — Shearwater allows 4 transmitters so 4 AI and rest SPGs.

 

[Mr_C]

I am sure I am old school here. I tried the AI transmitters and got frustrated when they lost sync. I see value on anything that is normal open circuit- including doubles. But for bail outs and CCR bottles - extra failure points and yet more batteries to keep up with. IMHO

 

[LFMarm]

I am sure I am old school here. I tried the AI transmitters and got frustrated when they lost sync. I see value on anything that is normal open circuit- including doubles. But for bail outs and CCR bottles - extra failure points and yet more batteries to keep up with. IMHO

I (and the teams I dive with) have not had connection issues with Shearwater transmitters at least for the past 5 years. Maybe the issues you encountered were from before?

In any case, AI is just a convenience and would have zero problem diving with all SPGs (I actually always carry 2 for spares case of transmitter or battery failure — which has not happened yet).

Personally the 2 main reasons to go for AI convenience are (1) no need to look for SPGs for regulator switch when side mounting OC, (2) recording my SAC rate. Both are easily doable with SPGs but definitely nicer with AI.

 

[davehicks]

I am a recreational diver now heading toward ‘accelerated deco’ training which involves a stage cylinder with Nitrox.

I have an AI transmitter for my back gas and was wondering, for those that also use a transmitter, how many people add another for their stage cylinder (as well as the SPG)?

Cheers
Jonathan

You don't need this. Unless and until you are planning dives that require a gas switch, it is only necessary to check your pony pressure before beginning a dive. You won't be monitoring it during a dive, and it would be a distraction to do so. If you DO end up using the pony bottle during a dive it automatically means you are ending the dive as quickly as safely possible. You remaining gas supply should not be an issue. To the small extent that it is, you have the spg on the pony.

For all you diving with transmitters, how many of have spare batteries and an SPG for when the transmitter is not working?