How fragile is the tank transmitter?

[mys_721tx]

Hello ScubaBoard!

Being a new rec diver myself, I'm planing to buy a wrist computer. However, I wish to utilize the benefit of gas integration.

I did some research on dive computers and it appears to me that many tech divers prefer to use glass-and-brass SPGs rather than tank transmitters citing that tank transmitter is a failing point in the system.

Therefore I want to ask, how fragile is the tank transmitter? Should I consider one or "man up" and use a SPG?

 

[Dive Right In Scuba 2]

Most AI transmitters are built to be rather tough, and if cared for properly will last quite a long time. However, as with anything they are not 100% all the time. With that in mind AI transmitters/computers are amazing tools for divers, I still do recommend a "brass and glass" as a backup.

 

[AJ]

In my opinion there's no benefit to AI. It's just another way of reading tank pressure, maybe just a a little bit more convenient in some ways.

The reason I converted from AI to SPG is that my transmitter died during a Red Sea trip. My rig was hoisted in the RIB by the transmitter. It started leaking soon after that. A new transmitter was so costly and already having an SPG, I decided not buy a new transmitter. After a few dives I got used to the SPG and never looked back. For me SPG is the way to go. It's simple, reliable, dirt cheap compared to AI and it is all I need/want.

There's no right or wrong in this discussion, only opinions. Just wanted to share my view on AI. In the end it's your call

 

[JohnnyC]

Well, the Suunto's are built devoid of polarity protection. There's a thread just recently where someone replaced the battery backwards, smoked the transmitter. For such an expensive piece of electronics, designed to give you critical information during a dive, an engineering concept so easily overlooked doesn't instill much confidence.....

 

[eelnoraa]

I have used Oceanic AI before, so I can only speak for this brand. It is actually quite tough. The base is metal. The body is some very solid plastic bolt to the base. Battery change is via the door at the other end, which I much prefer. Unless someone accidentally life the tank by the transmitter, I don't think it will easily be broken physically. More of an issue would be someone accidentally twist the transmitter while handling the reg and loosen the transmitter. Just make sure you check the tightness before the dive.

 

[NAM001]

Here is my experience with AI. I have had 3 aeris integrated units including the xmitters. 2 have had to be sent in to be replaced because of inaccuracy in the psi sent. one was 500 psi off. The computers are as good as anything else. the weakness is in the xmitters. Some folks have complained of blackouts when the xmitter signal is not received by the computer. that is easy to fix with a 1 foot hp hose to extend its distance from the 1st stage. The repair of the xmitter is about 100$. next the unit powers on and off with air pressure sensed by the switch. so I guess it is on all the time and the xmiter turns on when say 50 psi or greater is senced.

Problems for those that do not like them is that.

1. the battery on the transmitter goes dead during the dive.
2. the battery continually drains even in storage.
3. with every battery there is a seal to keep the water out.
4. to move the xmitter from the reg to someplace that can be seen by the computer it requires a hose that has more seals to stop leaks.
5. the ultimate benefit of using a xmitter for our use is for having more data to download and having he ability to calculate time till you have to surface.

So from the tech angle of this using one is problematic in that you have seals batteries additional hoses involved. All of which are failure points.
Techies do not like failure points. The mo simple the mo better.

A gage is probably 80$ installed and will last for years, with any reasonable care decades perhaps.
A xmitter will have to be repaired/calibrated probably every 2 years and then the battery going dead issues in the middle of a deep dive is not preferable. Face it the
techies do not even like computers because of battery failures. A gage is much cheaper to own and use.

So in answer to your posted ?s

Yes they are tough (the capsule) its the shock sensitivity of the unit that has more problem. Put nitro glycerine or fragile crystal in a 6" thick safe and drop it from a roof top. Get it.

to use one or man up. its preference. I gave up on my units and now just use a gage. now a hosed integrated unit may be more of you liking. Still there is a psi sensor in one of them so all you change is direct application of hp air to the computer ot it is transmitted. once again I have had to send in the entire computer to replace the psi sensor for 125$. Face it after 2-3 times you have spent the cash to buy a new puter. And then Neptune forbid you have a backup puter that is AI also.
For the cost of an ai puter you can buy a shearwater or comparable and a gage. If the gage goes bad you can got to your save a dive kit and replace it.

My recommendation is to MAN UP and stick with simplicity.

 

[eelnoraa]

Some issue with this site and IE. I was not able to complete my previous post. Continoue from the two post ago:I also have issue with transmitter read lower pressure than my other brass SPGs (they are consistant), by about 200psi, not a big deal I have never bother fixing it. Losing signal during a dive happened one in a while, but every time signal came back within a few seconds. I have never had transmistter losing signal and costed me a dive. To my knowledge, the transmitter does NOT drain battery when it is not pressurized. I have had transmitter battery dead during a dive tho. The battery meter isn't very linear. It showed full on the first dive of the day, then dead on the 2nd dive.I am not going to turn this into AI vs non AI again. But a few year ago, I stopped using the transmitter. If I have to do it all over again, I would have skip the AI from the beginning. So to your final question, I would say man up and use brass/glass SPG,

 

[Diving Dubai]

Okay my input:

I have 2 Transmitters (TX) my wife has 2 which I sometime "borrow when I need additional TX's on extra cylinders.

All my (and her) 1st stages have a 6" hose on the HP port with a Quick release (QRF) fitting and the end for the TX. The primary reason for this is to protect the TX if someone tries to lift the equipment by the 1st Stage or if the gear falls etc. It also allows us to swap TX easily between 1st Stage. Our QRF's are made by scuba pro (which is a more compact version than the Suunto version) It allows connection and disconnection (by means of a Left handed thread) under pressure and is self sealing.

As for TX issues. Never had a problem with the TX nor any connections dropping out - I do use the Eon Steel which I believe has a different type of TX from other Suunto's. The only issues I have had with AI have been caused by the HI (human Interface i.e. finger trouble!!)

However I still keep my main SPG (An Apex unit with just contents and not brass and Glass) and all my other 1st stages have a small SPG on a short hose. I do this for a number of reasons

1. I can check my contents when initially putting my gear together without getting the computer out.
2. Mainly used when switching gas under water - I like to confirm the contents before switching over my computer.
3. Redundancy.
4. Old habits die hard in that just before I splash I like to check my SPG for deflection while breathing - its habit.

People here are either for or against AI. I' like most others who use it prefer having our tanks contents on our wrists along with all the other information. Others see no point for the extra cost, and that's fine.

The whole failure point thing is an overly used phrase. Generally if something is going to fail - say a hose, it will fail when you first pressurise the hose not mid way through a dive, A seal will leak if you have disturbed the system, once it's seated it won't leak unless disturbed (or if a tank valve it will only start to leak with wear caused by opening and closing) Basic checks of equipment before diving will prevent this.

Disclaimer for the above: I come out of the Aerospace industry and have carried out numerous failure point analysis and risk mitigation exercises.

I would never force my preferences onto others - I happen to like AI with the advantages it gives me - but that is my personal opinion and you have to decide whats right for you

 

[ontdiver]

I too have had issues: mine was with the UWATEC Galileo Luna transmitter. It failed regularly and was eventually replaced twice under warranty. After the first failure - fortunately at the end of a dive - I bought an SPG. Also, in terms of battery life - particularly on a liveabord trip with multiple dives per day - if your reg is under pressure topside and the wrist unit is within transmitting range, your battery may drain. On balance, however, I really like being able to read tank pressure on a wrist unit.

 

[NateS]

It would be neat to have a unit that just recorded pressure. It goes on the tank, no gauge, you wouldn't look at it during the dive, you'd use your SPG. Later you could take it to your PC and download the air data from it and match that up with your DC data.