Shearwater Teric and Transmitter Questions

[afieldofblue]

When I placed the computer on opposite side of transmitter, I used to get at least 4-5 "communications lost" errors every dive that I noticed (I don't watch the computer continuously). Then I'd have to raise my hand diagonally to get close to transmitter and reestablish coms.

Eventually I got annoyed and being the lazy diver that I am, placed the transmitter in the same side with the computer. No comm lost errors ever since, problem solved.

So the answer to your question is yes, there can be com problem. And it can be solved by bringing thr arm/computer closer to transmitter to reestablish connection or mount both on the same side to begin with. Not really a problem whatever you choose both are ok. It is not that one is going to die because of lost AI connection for a few seconds anyway

Wow, thanks - now that's completely different feedback, and what I was hoping to avoid. I really don't want to move my mechanical SPG to the other side as it would complicate a lot of things, and really not keen on switching the arm for the primary computer location...

I wonder if this difference in user experience is a legacy transmitter vs. new Swift transmitter issue?

 

[Jai Bar]

Wow, thanks - now that's completely different feedback, and what I was hoping to avoid. I really don't want to move my mechanical SPG to the other side as it would complicate a lot of things, and really not keen on switching the arm for the primary computer location...

I wonder if this difference in user experience is a legacy transmitter vs. new Swift transmitter issue?

Mine is a new swift transmitter.

I don't have a Teric, though, but a Peregrine and Tern Tx . Both may vibrate to let you know of com lost, but with my 5mm wetsuit I don't always feel the vibration, and haven’t found any setting to change vibration intensity. Don't think Teric is any different in this aspect- I doubt that it got a better antenna.

Like you, I did not want to change SPG to the other side, nor move the computer. But after some hundred dives without ever looking at SPG I accepted the reality that it is not needed and ditched it altogether. Now transmitter and computer on same side, all good.

I do keep the SPG in the car (or bag when traveling) as backup in case battery dies prematurely. There is no way to check battery percentage, or at least I couldn't find one.

 

[Bjparris1990]

I get a lost comms every now and then but it usually picks back up. No issue on the Teric or my perdix using some old oceanic transmitters.

 

[TooCold]

When I first got my Teric I wore it on the left wrist, which is the side my SPG has always been on. I had some drop-outs with the transmitter on the other side, so I ran the SPG and transmitter from the same HP port via a Y adapter (transmitter on 6" hose).

The bonus was that the transmitter was no longer a convenient handle for picking up the tank - which was a frequent problem with helpful crew when vacation diving.

 

[Brett Hatch]

I've dived with the transmitter on both sides of my 1st stage, and never had a disconnect. I don't log dives, but I've done at least 100 dives this way

I keep my hands folded most of the time while diving, so my other hand would only be a couple of inches apart most of the time. Maybe the problem is more prevalent with divers who keep their hands at their hips, I dunno

Here's an idea. I have seen some people use a short high-pressure hose between the 1st stage and the transmitter, like 3-12 inches. The purpose of this is to protect the transmitter by encouraging people not to use it as a handle. But you could do the same thing to move the transmitter to the other side of your 1st stage

 

[PuyallupCoug]

Both my wife and I have terics with the swift transmitter and we install the transmitter directly into an HP port on the same side of our first stage as we wear our watch.

We both have each others transmitters set up as T2 on our respective watches as well. We’ve never lost contact with our own transmitters but if we’re more than a meter away from each other then the other persons transmitter drops out.

We’ll frequently check each others air throughout the dive by going into a Superman pose with our wrist that the watch is on and swimming towards each others transmitters. It becomes a running joke but when she sees me swimming towards her looking like Superman she does the same and understands we’re checking each others air.

 

[Dan]

Hi guys,

So we stepped up into the new millennium and each got a Shearwater Teric and transmitter. I had a few general questions regarding install, travel, and use.

1. Do the majority of people plug the transmitter directly into the hp port of their 1st stage? I feel like the transmitter and port will take a beating this way.
2. Does anyone use a 6” hp hose to mount their transmitter?
3. When traveling, do you remove the transmitter from the 1st stage or do you carry the regulator on your carry on?
4. Do you trust the transmitter to not fail or do you have a regulator with 2 HP ports and have an analog backup? Both of our regulators only have 1 HP port.
5. It appears that I can monitor my wife's air by setting up the T2 on the Teric. How far is the range? Curious if anyone else does this.

We have 2 other divers in the family, so I can always use the 2 old regulators for them when they vacay with us, so all is not lost.

I was looking at the Cressi Compact MC9 – opinions?

Thanks for any feedback

1. Yes. No problem so far (> 1000 dives).
2. No.
3. No (for removing battery). Yes (for reg in carryon)
4. Have 2 HP ports & SPG in one of them.
5. No T2.

No problem with connecting the transmitter to my Teric. The only problem I had was when I dropped my Teric on boat deck & broke the fine antenna inside Teric circuit board. Lesson learnt is to not drop Teric on boat deck.

Another thing that my LDS tech told me is to only turn on the tank valve the minute before you get into the water to conserve its battery life. Also, to turn the valve off, purge the air off the reg after diving. Once the battery voltage reaches down to 3 volt, you’ll have problem with transmitting the signal. My battery lasted up to 500 dives by following this procedure.

 

[Wants2divemore]

I use a 6" HP hose to attach the transmitter to my 1st stage.

I carrry my regs in carry on.

I trust the transmitter and don't dive with a backup transmitter or backup SPG (even though my 1st stage has 2 HP ports)

 

[tursiops]

I wear a Teric on one wrist, and a Perdix on the other; no connection issues. Transmitter is directly on the D6 Signature reg, left side (to keep it away from the valve knob), small SPG in the HP port on the right side (so pressure -- full tank or not -- can be checked without a computer; helps on liveaboards).

 

[Dan]

My SPG is very small. Since I have 2 HP ports, so why not add this little SPG as a backup to the transmitter?