Mares Computer M1 rgbm & IRIS question

[DI_Guy]

I just purchased the Mares M1 RGBM computer and really like it. It can accept an option called IRIS which is a infrared link to a computer to download your dive data.

Does any one have experience with this ? Mares allows you to download the SOFTWARE from their site, and I have done that.

I was wondering if the Infrared on the M1 can communicate directly to the Infrared on a Laptop, or must you have the IRIS interface.

Any comments would be appreciated. Anyone selling a used IRIS ?

Bubblemaker

 

[Boogie711]

Multiple threads on here... long story short - the Mares IRIS is a POS and deserves to rot in crappy dive gear hell. And yes, you need the IRIS to make it work. Well - making it work is a misnomer - do a search and find out how many people CAN'T get it to work.

 

[DI_Guy]

Thanks for the info before I invested my money. That is indeed a shame because the printouts look pretty good. I will check the thread and review the comments. I noticed that the IRIS does have a software upgrade on the MARES site. I wonder if anyone has downloaded it. ( I know more about computers than I do diving. Do I dare give it a try ??? Hmmmm ) lol

Thanks again Boogie

Bubblemaker

 

[DI_Guy]

Boogie:

I checked out the thread and finally figured out what POS meant. ( lol )

I am concerned now and will have to reconsider my options...

Thanks again

Bubblemaker_ontario

 

[Boogie711]

I'd rather you find out now than after you spent the money.

 

[DI_Guy]

Well.... I decided to take a chance and bought the IRIS for my MC1 .....

It works great.... first try.... Maybe they have changed the software or maybe its WINDOWS XP...

No problems at all ...

Bubblemaker_ontario

 

[Kauaiguy]

I just received an M1 RGBM and the Iris. Both work fine, had to shield the Iris from bright light and reposition it once but uploaded fine. I did start with the 2.1(2?) version of the s/w from Mares web site so don't know if that helped.

My question, which is separate from the Iris discussion, is that the buttons, especially the "Mode" button are extremely hard to activate--to the point of using two thumbs sometimes to get it to go into a mode. Anybody else's act this way?

Thanks...

 

[DI_Guy]

Kauaiguy: That seems to be the biggest complaint of the M1.... I have noticed the same with mine... I guess we have to live with it.

TIP: back-up every now and then the file C:/program files/HTMSport/IRIS2/DIVES which contains all your dive history data. (its an MS Access file)

I was adding notes to my records and attached a JPG image in the "notes" section. The software allowed me to do it but when I tried to exit the program, I got the message "some text items are too long" . This stopped me from accessing the log again and locked me out. Fortunately I just copied over my back-up file and all was OK. ( minor glitch)

Bubblemaker_ontario

 

[miketsp]

I just purchased the Mares M1 RGBM computer and really like it.
Bubblemaker

Since you seem to have an open mind I would be curious as to what you think of the M1 after about 20 or 30 dives.
Everybody I know that has (or had) one says it's a POS.

I turned down a chance to buy a used one really cheap.
Just curious if I made the right decision.

 

[DI_Guy]

I'll let you know.... I did find out that it seems to use Microsoft ACCESS as the database program. I thought this was strange. What if people don't have MS ACCESS ? ( maybe it will default to another database program ). Wish Kauaiguy and I luck as we venture into POS territory .

Bubblemaker_ontario