New Shearwater AI transmitter - the Swift

[scubadada]

I have been using PPS transmitter since 2010, no problems whatsoever. I'm currently diving a 11 1/2 year old Oceanic VT3 and a 2 1/2 year old Shearwater Teric.

 

[ATJ]

If it was me, I'd go for the second hand transmitter (as long as you know it is working). They are rock solid and last for ages.

All my 3 transmitters (grey Oceanic branded ones) were bought second hand and I've had no problems with any of them. My main one I've had since early 2014 and have done around 1,000 dives.

 

[scubadada]

Thanks for the reply. Where I’m living the dive shop still sells the old grey transmitter, as well as the new swift. The price difference is about 50usd as they offer a small amount of discount on the swift. I also found someone locally selling a 2nd hand yellow sw transmitter for around 100 usd less than the new (old style) transmitter. It’s about 2 years old now but only has a handfull of dives on it and is being sold with other kit like a perdix and bcd etc. I already own a teric

I have a dilemma

New swift
Or
Old style (but new) sw transmitter - 50 usd saving
Or
2nd hand yellow sw trans - 150 usd saving (over the swift)

I don't think you can do wrong.

 

[Scuba-Lad]

Looks like the second hand one is no longer available. Perhaps I will get a new old style model, cheaper and offers the exact same functionality from my point of view.

 

[Wibble]

Looks like the second hand one is no longer available. Perhaps I will get a new old style model, cheaper and offers the exact same functionality from my point of view.

Why do you need the more expensive Swift?

Its primary benefit is when it's used with other transmitters, such as on a rebreather monitoring both the oxygen and diluent pressures. When diving with a single tank, you only need one transmitter, so the far cheaper Aqualung transmitter's the best option.

BTW if you had the Aqualung and then needed a second transmitter, then that would be a Swift.

 

[stuartv]

There is about a 3% chance that two, old style, grey transmitters will interfere with each other when you turn them on. Preventing that interference is what the new Shearwater Swift transmitters do. They detect that interference and change their timing to avoid it.

If you have 2 old style, grey transmitters that you are using at the same time, and you happen to have issues with interference, turn one off (by turning off its tank and depressurizing its line), then turn it back on. Each time you turn it on, it will have a new 3% chance of interfering.

I think you have to depressurize the line and leave it off for some few number of minutes before the transmitter actually powers itself off, and I'm not sure exactly how long that is.

I have used 2 old style grey transmitters together before, when diving sidemount. I have never experienced any issue of interference. But, I have not done that much diving in sidemount like that.

The main thing I would avoid is buying old style transmitters that are not actually Shearwater branded. If it is Shearwater branded, it will be covered by Shearwater's warranty. If it is branded Aqualung or Oceanic or whatever, then it would be under that manufacturer's warranty. Which is nothing, if it is purchased used. Shearwater's warranty is transferable and is 2 years, instead of 1 year.

 

[scubadada]

...If it is branded Aqualung or Oceanic or whatever, then it would be under that manufacturer's warranty. Which is nothing,..

The Oceanic warranty is two years on digital instruments. If the transmitter ever quits working after that, they will replace it with a new one for $120. They did this for me after nine years Oceanic Worldwide Services | Oceanic

Shearwater has great customer service, I've had 2 repairs and 3 replacements for my Teric now, in 2 1/2 years Teric owners, have you required repair or replacement service?

 

[brsnow]

There is about a 3% chance that two, old style, grey transmitters will interfere with each other when you turn them on. Preventing that interference is what the new Shearwater Swift transmitters do. They detect that interference and change their timing to avoid it.

If you have 2 old style, grey transmitters that you are using at the same time, and you happen to have issues with interference, turn one off (by turning off its tank and depressurizing its line), then turn it back on. Each time you turn it on, it will have a new 3% chance of interfering.

I think you have to depressurize the line and leave it off for some few number of minutes before the transmitter actually powers itself off, and I'm not sure exactly how long that is.

I have used 2 old style grey transmitters together before, when diving sidemount. I have never experienced any issue of interference. But, I have not done that much diving in sidemount like that.

The main thing I would avoid is buying old style transmitters that are not actually Shearwater branded. If it is Shearwater branded, it will be covered by Shearwater's warranty. If it is branded Aqualung or Oceanic or whatever, then it would be under that manufacturer's warranty. Which is nothing, if it is purchased used. Shearwater's warranty is transferable and is 2 years, instead of 1 year.

I would double check, I spoke with shearwater yesterday and they mentioned a benefit of the new transmitter was they actually make it and can service it. I might have issues getting the older modeled serviced since it was a different company in California that made it. I might have misunderstood though, it wasn’t the main reason I called.

 

[tursiops]

I might have issues getting the older modeled serviced since it was a different company in California that made it. I might have misunderstood though, it wasn’t the main reason I called.

Oceanic/Huish doesn't' service the old ones. They just give you a refurbished one for $120, and presumably then get around someday to working on the one you sent in. It's a good deal, and reliable.

 

[brsnow]

Oceanic/Huish doesn't' service the old ones. They just give you a refurbished one for $120, and presumably then get around someday to working on the one you sent in. It's a good deal, and reliable.

That makes sense, apparently with the new ones shearwater makes/services them.