Sooner1:
I have an Oceanic Versa Pro computer. I would love to be able to hook it up to my PC so I could download the dive log. The computer came with the software but of course no cable. Oceanic wants to charge $100 for the USB cable. I just don't understand this. Well actually I do. There is NO WAY I'm spending $100 for a $10 USB cable. Does anybody know if I can get around this say by going to Radio Shack? Any suggestions would be appreciated. :06:
Problem is, it's more complicated than you think. In addition, Radio Shack couldn't sell you a straight USB cable for $10, let alone one that could hook to your dive computer. 6' USB cables are $24 on their website. Considering I can find the same thing online for less than $5, THAT's a rip-off.
Here's a picture of the innards of mine:
http://www.scubaboard.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5276
This isn't just a cable that connects three pins on the dive 'puter with the 4 pins on your USB port.
With everything else scuba, the prices are out of line because they sell in low volume. To make their R&D bucks back, we all are required to pony-up more of that cost. This is the situation for everything that you've purchased up until this point, why would this be any different?
Go look at a middle of the road PDA (color, bluetooth, video and mp3 playback, 65,000 color screen, etc.) for $200 and then tell me that you didn't get ripped off for a $300 dive computer that has a 2 color screen and is capable of running a single algorithm while sampling for depth and (maybe) temperature. Sure, there's pressure testing, water-proofing, liability, etc., but you get the point.
Same thing here. It's par for the course. You can either get upset, or just deal with the fact that it's a small volume business.
BTW, the cable used to cost around $150, so it's come down somewhat. The serial cable may be cheaper.