Question Lost communication with Teric and Swift transmitter while using a strobe

[Qbrew]

I am a recreational diver and purchased a Teric dive computer and Swift transmitter a few years ago. Both have worked perfectly and I've had no issues over 150 dives. I added an OM TG6 with a housing to my dive set up an were very happy with my photos. In January, prior to a trip to Bonaire, I decided to add an Ikelite DS51 strobe to my camera set up.

When using the strobe on a dive, I intermittently lose communication between my Swift and Teric. Communication between the Swift and Teric reestablishes after a period of time and all is good. I flash the stobe then notice I've lost communication again. When I lose the dive computer/transmitter signal, I can extend my arm(holding my camera) away from my body(moving further away from the Swift/Teric) then the computer/transmitter signal returns. If I dive without the DS51 I have no lost communication issues.
I have replaced the battery in the Swift transmitter(batteries from two different lots). I've also deleted the transmitter from my Teric and have readded it to the computer. No change in the communication issue.

I have contacted Shearwater and Ikelite. I wanted to post here to see if anyone else has had a similar communication issues with their dive computer/transmitter/strobe.

Any idea on what may be causing the lost communication issue?

 

[sea_ledford]

That was a known problem with strobes and earlier transmitters. I thought it had been addressed with the newer transmitters like the Swift, but I guess not.

Probably not an issue as long as you are aware you'll lose your connection. But this is where the whole notion of diving with a transmitter and an SPG came from: the fear that one would lose connection and it wouldn't come back.

 

[davehicks]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

 

[tursiops]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

The SWIFT operates on 38kHz RF; if there is noise on the frequency during a transmission, that's a problem.

 

[tursiops]

The SWIFT operates on 38kHz RF; if there is noise on the frequency during a transmission, that's a problem.

....but it is only a problem for that single transmission; the next one, about 5 seconds later, will be fine.

 

[Qbrew]

The DS-51 is a very old design (2004 or so), and it may be putting out a lot of RF (radio frequency) noise that interrupts the transmitters radio signal. This issue used to come up a lot in the past, but with more modern strobes we don't often hear about these issues with interference anymore.

Are you using it with an electrical sync cable, or optical fiber with an adapter on the strobe?

Optical cable with an adapter.

 

[Qbrew]

....but it is only a problem for that single transmission; the next one, about 5 seconds later, will be fine.

Lingers on for quite some time well past the 5 second sample time unless the strobe is moved away from the computer/transmitter (my completely anecdotal testing scheme).