Oceanic VT Pro Hoseless Wrist Computer

[scubaguymark]

Looking to buy a new computer; currently have an older SUUNTO FAVOR and am looking at the Oceanic VP Pro Wireless. I work in IT and love the whole wireless thing and when I came across this new scuba computing technology I got curious. Many people in my area are using it and I haven't heard bad things.

My main issue that I am seeking others insight on is the whole "wireless thing" when diving. I know that Oceanic publishes that NASA and the Navy are all into the wireless thing Oceanic has been building into their dive computers, but seeing as the pressure gauge is NOT connected to the cylinder makes me a bit leary as I would hate for interferance to screw up exactly how much air the computer thinks I have left in my tank halfway through a profile.

Can anybody help educate me on 1) if this is really something to be concerned with, and 2) what they think of the Oceanic VP Pro wireless dive computer? I am really close to making a decision and am crossed between the VT Pro, Versa Pro, and the Pro Plus.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[scubatoys]

We sell the Aeris Version which is the Aeris Atmos Elite and that is really the same as the Oceanic - both made in the same factory in Oakland - the only difference is Oceanic does not allow any internet sales (voids the warranty) and Aeris does honor the warranty if sold through authorized dealers.

The hoseless thing used to be a bit flakey in the days of the 750GT, the previous versions - but they improved the transmitter and receiver, and now they seldom have any problems. It actually uses magnetic impulsing since radio waves won't work underwater, so the only thing that really interferes is if you create a strong magnetic field - like a scooter motor. While the motor is running, it might interrupt the air pressure - but the rest of the computer will still work. Then as soon as you stop the scooter, the air pressure will pop back in. That is the only time I've lost signal.

Hope that helps!

 

[Brian Gilpin]

Why not have two spgs? Keep your old one and clip it somewhere you can get at it but still out of the way. Redundacy is a good thing. Of course to do this your reg needs two hp ports.

Check out the upgrade offer on the Oceanic website. You can order directly or through your LDS. Maybe you or a friend have an old broken dive computer.

Other than that the people I know who have them like them.Big surprise there. For mixed gases, deco etc they are more limited than Suunto or even the Oceanic Atomic. I don't believe they use the RGBM model as Suunto does. If you dont know the import of this, research it first right here on SB.

Above all have fun and be safe.

 

[Rob Jacobs]

I had an Aeris 750Gt that I never had any problem with. I just bought the Oceanic VT Pro and it failed on the very 1st dive. It would not consistently get a signal for the air tank pressure. I had to put my left wrist behind my head to get a signal. For the money I paid, it should not come from the factory that way.

 

[jagfish]

I had an Aeris 750Gt that I never had any problem with. I just bought the Oceanic VT Pro and it failed on the very 1st dive. It would not consistently get a signal for the air tank pressure. I had to put my left wrist behind my head to get a signal. For the money I paid, it should not come from the factory that way.

I've had mine for a year w/no problems...Never experienced a signal loss that I am aware of.

JAG

 

[Diver2diver]

I went thru 3 of them in a 5 1/2 month period. Between the LDS and Oceanic I never found out what was causing the problems. I had the Data trans Plus before I switched to the VT Pro in which I had no problems. The first Computer last the longest at just over a 3 months never had a problem air transmition but when it downloaded to my PC nad just displayed 555 and nothing else. the second one and constant problems with air and again when it downloaded. The third one was all about the air pressure very first dive with it to a 100 ft and lost my air pressure, I was diving my steel 100's so I knew I had air but a very uncomfortable feeling to say the least. I swap the Transmitter around on 3 more dive and even switched reg's all to no avail. I have since turn it back in to my LDS and they refunded my money and I turned around and brought the Scubapro SmartCom which I like much better and have not problems since. I do like to have a hoseless setup but I have lost the trust in the techology. Since then my buddy brought the VT Pro against my better advice and I was with him on the his first dive with it no deeper then 55 feet and his computer went into deco time at about 28 mins into the dive. when he surfaced it was telling him he was at 300 ft and was beeping like crazy. Now my LDS has discontiued with the Oceanic dive computers and Regulators.

 

[jagfish]

Soudns like you guys have some kind of magnetic anomoly down there.

I have never heard of such a proponderance of problems with this unit, period, and for them to have all been experienced or witnessed by you is truly remarkable...

JAG

 

[HammerNoMore]

1) if this is really something to be concerned with.

I use the VT Pro, but I keep an SPG clipped off on my hip D-Ring just in case.

What they think of the Oceanic VP Pro wireless dive computer?

It's a good computer if you get one that works. Oceanic seems to have a big quality control issue with these computers. The first one I got would go into violation mode before it ever hit the water. The replacement lost it's signal at least 10 times a dive. The one I have now works great, I've only lost the signal once in about 15 dives on it.

The whole signal loss thing is a real issue for me because when it does loose the signal, not only is it worthless for your air, but it's worthless for anything else. When the signal is lost the DTR goes to 0. There is no way to convince the computer to give your DTR based on NDL if it doesn't have an air signal. This IMHO is a major design flaw. Forgeting about signal loss for a minute, suppose you have a problem with your regulator while you're on vacation and you wind up renting one from the shop for a day. Unless you can convince them to swap out your transmitter you basicly don't have a dive computer. (Yea you can look at the tissue load graph if you carry a magnifying glass with you.)

I hear rumors that SP/Uwatec has a gas switching wireless comeing out next year. I'll be switching to that one if they do.

James

 

[jagfish]

James...
Have you heard anything about the Oceanic Atom?

JAG

 

[HammerNoMore]

Nope, but I wouldn't use a watch sized computer anyway. Too much information I want to see to fit on that little of a screen and still be usefull.