A300CS OLED Dive Computer

[guyharrisonphoto]

I do not believe it transfers DECO calculations unless you manually confirm the switch to the other gas.

It might switch the gas PSI display or remaining gas calculation once it senses you are breathing off another tank, but that is not connected to the deco calculations. Will check the manual again on that as I don't dive multiple transmitters yet.

 

[kafkaland]

Yup.
What computer does that? I'd HATE to dive a computer that randomly guesses what tank I'm breathing from! If it did it by calculating from deltas, then MAYBE I'd be more okay with it.....unless one of my tanks has a leak, in which case it'd be dangerous. Having a computer tell you what gas it thinks you might be on based on depth and then calculating your deco profile based on that is a horrifying proposition. Truly.

I believe that having a feature where it shows automatically the tank that it thinks you're breathing from based on the pressure sensors on the main display would be useful if you want to breath down your two sidemount tanks evenly. But something that switches automatically to a different gas mix for deco calculations sounds scary to me. It might mess up things badly if you're having a temporary freeflow or a little leak on a tank that you're not breathing from. At least, a manual acknowledgment of the tank switch should be required.

 

[BoltSnap]

So we are still undecided/unsure of how the computer switches calculating deco/air time remaining, manual or automatic or magically between different tanks/transmitters?

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

No, no uncertainty about DECO. The deco algorithm never "automatically" switches between tanks or gas mixtures. The algorithm only alerts you when a "best gas" becomes available but you must manually confirm any switch before the algorithm calculates based on the new gas.

There is a difference between the DECO algorigthm, and the display of gas remaining (PSI or litre) and the calculation of how much "gas time" is remaining in that particular tank (this is NOT decompression time, completely unrelated). That is where I am not sure if it "automatically" switches gas display and gas time when it senses you are breathing off of a new tank. It might do that (or maybe that is an option), but that does NOT affect the deco calculations.

 

[BoltSnap]

I know that there isn't a relationship, I merely included the two since they are two different parameters that the computer keeps track off but each with its own calculations. I am "guessing" that the diver will need to tell the computer manually that they have switched tanks and for it to start giving deco info based on the gas mix (programed on the surface before going in the water) in the new tank as well as gas time remaining (GTR) based on the pressure and gas consumption when using the new tank.

 

[fnfalman]

Seriously not wanting to turn this into an AI vs non-AI discussion, but how is it LESS clutter? Last I checked, it's MORE clutter to go AI....wireless or not. You still have to have a mechanical SPG as a backup, anyway.....so anything additional is MORE clutter. Right?

Who says that you have to have a mechanical SPG backup when you dive hoseless AI computer?

 

[kafkaland]

Who says that you have to have a mechanical SPG backup when you dive hoseless AI computer?

My buddy, perhaps? I imagine he wouldn't be too happy if I had to thumb the dive because the wireless communication got disrupted by a strobe while he is about the get the money shot of some elusive critter, or so he thinks. With a backup SPG, no problem to continue.

 

[drrich2]

Sometimes the argument raised is what if your transmitter battery dies with no spare, or your transmitter itself dies, on a live-aboard trip, for example, and now you supposedly 'can't dive' because you don't have a way to check your pressure.

Kind of like if you were diving tables, bottom timer & an SPG, and your SPG malfunctioning irreparably...

I'm speaking of rec. diving, not technical diving.

Richard.

 

[Doug Krause]

First let me say that in my personal diving and travels I can state that I've seen more failures of hoses, air spools and inaccurate analog pressure gauges than transmitters. I've enjoyed the AI/non-AI debate for 20 years... my guess it will go on long after I'm gone.

Regarding freediving features: The A300 CS has freediving mode, but is a carryover from our other dive computers, not the F.10 or F.11. It is certainly something we want to do - and may do so via firmware update in the near future. In the meantime, the best option is the Oceanic OCi - a full-featured dive computer with the F.11 freediving feature set.

Regarding gas switching/transmitters: up to 4 mixes may be pre-programmed and require manual switching underwater. I am not a multiple cylinder guy - but find this feature beneficial for the amount of Nitrox diving I do... I set up a variety of common mixes and switch as needed to avoid individual programming for each dive (if I've got a match pre-set of course).

I've sent a number of manuals out to those who have requested them - the link on the web site should be setup later today. Production units are moving over from QC to begin shipping to dealers beginning tomorrow.

I'm in international planning meetings all week and will jump in to answer any other questions as quickly as I can.

Thanks to everyone for the interest.

 

[Hatul]

Who says that you have to have a mechanical SPG backup when you dive hoseless AI computer?

This is one of those debates that goes on on SB. I use a Galileo and have never had a complete transmitter failure but still keep a backup SPG -- a small one on a Miflex hose, for the following three reasons.

When I connect my reg I immediately see my tank pressure without having to activate and wait for pressure reading.

It takes a minute or two before I get a pressure reading when I activate my computer. I can just glance at my SPG and I'm good to go. No need to wait.

Occasionally I've had cutouts and it's reassuring to have an SPG and know I can continue the dive.