Dive Computers And U.S. Mail Sanitation

[ERIC.K]

I'm expecting a Suunto Vyper computer that I bought a week ago through the internet, It will be arriving from overseas and should hit the U.S. anyday. Due to the recent terroist threats and the mailing of lethal bacteria through the mail I have heard that the U.S. Postal Service will be sanitizing mail and packages using some type of electron/xray device that the makers have admitted will harm undeveloped film and electronics. Now I'm for every action to protect the U.S. from terroist activity but I'm also concerned that my Vyper will be affected in some way if it is "sanitized" with some type of "raygun".......The last thing I need with a 7 day live-aboard this month is to think I have plenty of bottom time left but find out later in a decompression chamber that my Vyper computer was also "sanitized" or recalibrated by this machine...any thoughts?

 

[ScubaBaby]

Eric

First - a big hello and an even bigger welcome to the board!!!

As for the sanitation of your dive computer....I personally havent ever tried sanitising my dive computer so I am not 100% sure of what it will do but it might be an idea to contact your postal service to find out what damage they believe it might cause - and the manufacturer of the computer.

If this process effects electronics...it would be worth the cost of the phone calls cause the cost of Deco chamber is a lot higher!

Good luck! :mean:

 

[DivingGal]

Although I really don't think what your postal service could harm the computer, I agree with Abby , a phone call to the Post Office wouldn't hurt.

BTW - excellent choice of computer - it's what I'm upgrading to.

 

[Walter]

The US Postal Service just awarded a contract to purchase 8 of these machines with an option to buy 12 more. Nothing is being sanitized yet. I do not yet know where they will be placed or how they will be used, but I will try to find out today and report back tonight. Frankly, with postal workers dying from anthrax and many more infected I'm glad to see some real action finally being taken. Unfortunately, the US Postal Service is mostly talk when it comes to the safety and welfare of its employees. Did anyone happen to catch 60 Minutes last night? Having worked at the PO since the late 70's, I was not surprised at the lack of concern shown by managers in NJ & Washington DC toward the spread of anthrax in postal facilities. This topic is one that angers me. 60 Minutes barely scratched the surface when it comes to screw ups by the USPS on this issue.

WWW™

 

[ERIC.K]

Walter, I hope I didn't sound unsympathetic. Its a national tragedy that we are all caught up and very much affected by this new terrorist threat! I can only hope that we will soon catch up with those behind the new attacks. My every sympathies goes out to everyone affected. With that said, I still have a big concern when it comes to sending sensitive packages through some type of device that the makers have admitted might damage certain types of electronics. especially when this piece of electronics constantly monitors "my" nitrogen absorption and predicts safe bottom times. I cannot afford that piece of electronics to fail! now do I have an answer to make it a safer place for our mail handlers to work?.....well, not really.....does something need to be done to take the postal workers off the frontlines? absolutely! I do however feel that the postal service will do everything within their power to protect this type of equipment but I have still some concerns......Thanks

 

[scubakat]

Now I have a compelling reason to buy locally...

-kate

 

[roakey]

Originally posted by scubakat
Now I have a compelling reason to buy locally...
kate

And the LDS gets the computers shipped to them how?

Roak

 

[MrMrEZG]

Originally posted by roakey


And the LDS gets the computers shipped to them how?

Roak

UPS. FEDEX not the USPS!!

 

[roakey]

Actually this brings up a question about dive computers that I've had for a long, long time. Is there any code or data integrity checking done?

I work on very high-end disk controllers and the customer’s data integrity is of paramount importance. All controller memory has parity and is tested (both data and addressing lines) at startup time and periodically during running. The code image is checksummed and runs in parity-protected memory. Even the parity detection hardware is checked by forcing a parity error.

Question: Do the dive computer manufacturers take as much care with our lives as we do with customer data?

If any of the manufacturers upload software is any indication, no. Most of that software appears to be written by someone who’s read “Programming for Dummies” and knows nothing about software design or even has a rudimentary idea on how to design a passable user interface.

I have no doubt that the decompression algorithms are checked backwards and forwards, but it’s everything else I have concerns over.

Roak

 

[roakey]

Originally posted by MrMrEZG



UPS. FEDEX not the USPS!!

They both x-ray, and though it's not electron beam technology, how do we know that it's not flipping a bit here and there in ROM?

Roak