confused by the gekko
- Thread starter gbray
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blue steal
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I own a gekko. It is my first dive computer. Before I bought it, I downloaded the manual online, (70 pages), and read it. When the computer arrived, I practiced with all the buttons (3), modes, functions, settings for an evening. It is very easy to use, even for a dummy like me.
I've dove a Gekko for the last year. A couple tips:
- The manual is fairly straightforward but not the easiest read. You might want to just brush up on the sections you need and learn in steps. For example, the Gekko does not automatically adjust for altitude, and the settings on the actual computer do not give you the range (you just pick A0, A1 or A2 if I remember right). So if you will be diving at altitude you need to have that chart handy that shows you what A1 is, for example -- but if you only dive in the ocean it's not a concern. Same with Nitrox -- the computer defaults to air, but if that's all you ever dive then it's not critical first-day knowledge. Or alarms ... if you are not going to set them, then you don't need to worry about them immediately.
Eventually when you get comfortable with the settings you need to know about you should learn the rest of the stuff., just not in the first 10 minutes =)
- If you dive Nitrox at all, just set the computer to Nitrox mode and leave it there. When you dive air set it to 21%. The reason is that if you dive a tank of 21% (normal air) in air mode, it will not let you enter into Nitrox mode and set a O2% until the computer clears (no-fly timer counts all the way down), so for a series of dives if you might dive Nitrox you need to always be in that mode.
- The lower price point on the Gekko is partially due to the fact that it's sold as not able to download your logbook to a computer. This is false. The Gekko is almost identical to the Vyper and there is a freebie desktop application out there that tricks the Gekko into thinking it's a Vyper so you can download your logbook (Google gekko2vyper). Also you can find the cable you'll need to do so vastly cheaper on eBay (like 80% cheaper).
- DiveNav's classes are awesome and cheap -- if you have continued troubles with the Gekko and just can't "get it," I'd strongly recommend checking out their class.
- The manual is fairly straightforward but not the easiest read. You might want to just brush up on the sections you need and learn in steps. For example, the Gekko does not automatically adjust for altitude, and the settings on the actual computer do not give you the range (you just pick A0, A1 or A2 if I remember right). So if you will be diving at altitude you need to have that chart handy that shows you what A1 is, for example -- but if you only dive in the ocean it's not a concern. Same with Nitrox -- the computer defaults to air, but if that's all you ever dive then it's not critical first-day knowledge. Or alarms ... if you are not going to set them, then you don't need to worry about them immediately.
Eventually when you get comfortable with the settings you need to know about you should learn the rest of the stuff., just not in the first 10 minutes =)
- If you dive Nitrox at all, just set the computer to Nitrox mode and leave it there. When you dive air set it to 21%. The reason is that if you dive a tank of 21% (normal air) in air mode, it will not let you enter into Nitrox mode and set a O2% until the computer clears (no-fly timer counts all the way down), so for a series of dives if you might dive Nitrox you need to always be in that mode.
- The lower price point on the Gekko is partially due to the fact that it's sold as not able to download your logbook to a computer. This is false. The Gekko is almost identical to the Vyper and there is a freebie desktop application out there that tricks the Gekko into thinking it's a Vyper so you can download your logbook (Google gekko2vyper). Also you can find the cable you'll need to do so vastly cheaper on eBay (like 80% cheaper).
- DiveNav's classes are awesome and cheap -- if you have continued troubles with the Gekko and just can't "get it," I'd strongly recommend checking out their class.
Leejnd
Contributor
I have a Gekko too. One point about using the Nitrox setting that has caught some people unaware - if you are diving Nitrox and set it to whatever your percentage is, once your dive is over and after a period of time (can't remember what the time frame is, I'm sure it's in the manual
) it will revert BACK to 21%. I've heard of divers who set it at the beginning of the day, and didn't realize it had reverted back to 21% before their dive, therefore eliminating the value of having your computer set for what you are actually breathing.
Hatul
Contributor
ameneon
Contributor
halocline
Contributor
I have a Gekko too. One point about using the Nitrox setting that has caught some people unaware - if you are diving Nitrox and set it to whatever your percentage is, once your dive is over and after a period of time (can't remember what the time frame is, I'm sure it's in the manual
Actually, I suspect it defaults to 79% N2 and 50% O2, at least many dive computers do that, to give you the most conservative information on both N2 loading and O2 exposure. Your computer can easily tell you you're getting bent and having a CNS ox-tox hit on the same recreational dive.
Ah, the little triangle.... wonder how many people know what that means and what happens if you decide to go back diving with that on?
My dive buddy uses one, it it took him months to learn to dive in a way that the thing would not punish you with reduced dive times.
It took two of us, going over the manual page by page to understand what it is doing. It is the one computer that just jumping in the water with is not a very good idea.
He now loves it, as it is very protective of the diver.
My dive buddy uses one, it it took him months to learn to dive in a way that the thing would not punish you with reduced dive times.
It took two of us, going over the manual page by page to understand what it is doing. It is the one computer that just jumping in the water with is not a very good idea.
He now loves it, as it is very protective of the diver.
Togalive
Contributor
Talk about a perspective, it would seem that the "responsible" thing to do, would be to know all of your gear in and out wouldn't it? I cant expect a computer to be any exception to the rule. If knowing what every function on a computer does could possibly impair a person on a dive, I'd like to know how....
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