I'm in the market for a new SPG after the 30+ year old Farallon gauge I had flooded on it's first dive in 30 years. I have it on a new hose since the fitting on the old hose was the wrong size and the choice was new hose or an adapater. I'm looking at getting a brass and glass for 4 reasons: 1) they're recommended a lot of here 2)they look sleeker 3)they don't come with a hose by default (since I've already got a basically brand new one) 4) they seem to be cheaper.
I was at my LDS the other day to see the what they had. They currently have only 2 models, a brass one and a plastic one, both in boots, with hoses. The prices are what most bothered me though... $160 for the brass and 120-something for the plastic:shocked2:. The reg is currently at the shop waiting for the service tech to tell me what I can replace it with (the girl in the shop wasn't sure if the fittings are standard, or something, but whatever, I don't have any dives planned for a few weeks anyway) and I've started looking online. Even with shipping I'm looking at half the price the LDS charges.
From what I've read, they're all pretty much made by the same company, just with different logos put on, so pretty much the only real difference is the face markings. Am I missing something? At first I didn't like the look of the black faced ones, but they're really growing on me - how do they compare to the white ones for ease of reading during daylight or in the dark?
Are all hose/SPG connections the same or should I have any concern about the SPG not fitting on the hose? Anything else I should know about the assembly? because I have a sneaking suspicion that if I buy online, the LDS won't want to attach it for me.
Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the long post.
I was at my LDS the other day to see the what they had. They currently have only 2 models, a brass one and a plastic one, both in boots, with hoses. The prices are what most bothered me though... $160 for the brass and 120-something for the plastic:shocked2:. The reg is currently at the shop waiting for the service tech to tell me what I can replace it with (the girl in the shop wasn't sure if the fittings are standard, or something, but whatever, I don't have any dives planned for a few weeks anyway) and I've started looking online. Even with shipping I'm looking at half the price the LDS charges.
From what I've read, they're all pretty much made by the same company, just with different logos put on, so pretty much the only real difference is the face markings. Am I missing something? At first I didn't like the look of the black faced ones, but they're really growing on me - how do they compare to the white ones for ease of reading during daylight or in the dark?
Are all hose/SPG connections the same or should I have any concern about the SPG not fitting on the hose? Anything else I should know about the assembly? because I have a sneaking suspicion that if I buy online, the LDS won't want to attach it for me.
Thanks in advance, and I apologize for the long post.
