Out of air! Wireless pod

[Lostdiver71]

You don't see any use in having an SPG? Redundancy is always nice and considered a must depending on the type of diving you are doing. You have listed yourself as a solo diver so you should recognize the importance of redundancy. I have seen air integrated computers fail due to electronic problems as well as dead batteries. Three weeks ago I was out on a boat and saw a guy lose the battery cap to his transmitter. I have never seen a SPG fail.

Maybe you are being sarcastic. Hard to tell.

I have seen many SPG's fail over the years, they are a mechanical device with moving parts! I have seen more high-pressure hoses to the SPG fail than SPG's. I have seen very few transmitter failures and those are operator error where the battery is not changed properly and the transmitter floods, which is pretty much the only failure point as there are no mechanical parts to fail inside and most transmitters are mounted directly on the first stage so no hose to fail. I have personally been using wireless transmitters for around 20 years with 0 failures!

 

[AfterDark]

I have seen many SPG's fail over the years, they are a mechanical device with moving parts! I have seen more high-pressure hoses to the SPG fail than SPG's. I have seen very few transmitter failures and those are operator error where the battery is not changed properly and the transmitter floods, which is pretty much the only failure point as there are no mechanical parts to fail inside and most transmitters are mounted directly on the first stage so no hose to fail. I have personally been using wireless transmitters for around 20 years with 0 failures!

If I understand your post correctly, AI in your experience is more prone to human error than internal failures of the electronic components.
Using that, analog SPGs are as not prone to human failures, connecting to a LP port is the only example of human failure I can think of related to analog SPGs, but more prone to failures of the mechanical components. Sounds logical to me.

So with diver training being what it is, and the number of divers that do not set up their own rigs and may not know when the set up is wrong. Would not divers of that "caliber" be a better served by a goof proof analog SPG rather than AI?

 

[kelemvor]

Stuff happens. That's why you did OOO drills in class. The result? Your wife shared air with you and you made a safe ascent. I bet you won't make this mistake again .

Personally, I gave up having an SPG in addition to my hoseless transmitter a while ago because I dislike the extra clutter. If that doesn't bother you then by all means, add one.

For what it's worth, I'm also an air hog. Working on my trim and buoyancy helped a lot. Reducing any un-necessary gear (and especially weight) helped a lot. When I dive at home, I use my own tanks and they're big 108cuft tanks. When I travel, some dive operators offer larger tanks (I get a big tank, wife gets regular). Sounds like you're already working on that problem.

 

[scubadada]

Hi @DrMack

Pelagic Pressure Systems transmitters (currently, Aqua Lung, Oceanic, Shearwater, Sherwood) pair permanently to their computer(s) through their entered serial numbers, no chance for this type of pairing problem to occur.

Now, to identify your regulator sets. Assuming they are absolutely identical, something as simple as a different color zip tie on one or both mouthpieces works perfectly.

Good diving

 

[Lostdiver71]

If I understand your post correctly, AI in your experience is more prone to human error than internal failures of the electronic components.
Using that, analog SPGs are as not prone to human failures, connecting to a LP port is the only example of human failure I can think of related to analog SPGs, but more prone to failures of the mechanical components. Sounds logical to me.

So with diver training being what it is, and the number of divers that do not set up their own rigs and may not know when the set up is wrong. Would not divers of that "caliber" be a better served by a goof proof analog SPG rather than AI?

Not necessarily, because most of those divers are going to have either type setup by professionals at the dive shop, and once a transmitter is paired with a computer it stays paired! The problem is when either type of gear is not serviced on a regular basis or they are too cheap to replace batteries or hoses before there is a failure.

 

[AfterDark]

Not necessarily, because most of those divers are going to have either type setup by professionals at the dive shop, and once a transmitter is paired with a computer it stays paired! The problem is when either type of gear is not serviced on a regular basis or they are too cheap to replace batteries or hoses before there is a failure.

Well lostdiver71 I suggest you read the OP 1st post. Their problem was because the crew(professionals?) set their rigs up, which was why I posted what I did. Someone else set them up and they didn't know it was wrong. If they had analog SPGs the regulator switch by the crew would have had zero effect on their dive.

 

[Lostdiver71]

Well lostdiver71 I suggest you read the OP 1st post. Their problem was because the crew(professionals?) set their rigs up, which was why I posted what I did. Someone else set them up and they didn't know it was wrong. If they had analog SPGs the regulator switch by the crew would have had zero effect on their dive.

I meant when they are maintaining their equipment as far as failures, I personally do not let anyone else set up my gear for many reasons, including that I have a very unusual set up for my gear. But I have seen dive crew set up one person’s regulator with another person’s bcd. If a couple has identical set of gear they should clearly mark which is which. An easy way to do that is a regulator color kit or a different color regulator hose.

 

[DrMack]

OP - Your first error was allowing someone else to rig your gear. It's your gear, your're diving it, you should rig and check it.

Yes, that was indeed my most significant error.

Every dive since I have made it a habit to ensure that each of our computers are sync'd to the correct serial numbered pod. I am now in the process of implementing all of the excellent marking techniques shared in this thread.

 

[davehicks]

The debate about AI vs SPG comes down to redundancy. You have two 2nd stage regulators because one may fail, or you need to donate to a buddy. If you only have one and it free flows, loses it's mouthpiece, etc you are in big trouble. Same with a pressure gauge. You can't dive without it safely. If your AI fails or even breaks on a trip, your diving is over. If as in this case the readings don't seem valid, the SPG is your reality check. You can easily add a small SPG to any reg on a thin braided hose and you won't even notice it. Velcro it down to your BC strap to keep it out of the way until needed.

 

[AfterDark]

Personally I'd have more trouble completing a dive if I lost a fin then if my SPG failed. I dive without a SPG when I use my double hose. Diving without a SPG isn't hard or unsafe one just has to pay attention to time and depth and know one's SAC rate. Who carries a redundant pair of fins?