Shearwater Tern and Tern TX

[scubadada]

Does it have anything the Teric does not have?

Remora click-lock strap kits?

 

[Belzelbub]

Does it have anything the Teric does not have?

A different battery. Apart from that it appears to not have anything that's not in the Teric. Essentially, just disables the Tech modes.

 

[Belzelbub]

Remora click-lock strap kits?

Missed that. Looks quite similar to the Garmin Quickfit system. If so, it's pretty slick. If the band width and lug size on the Teric is the same as the Tern, it might also work on the Teric.

Also, one other difference that might be significant. Terns have "Toughened Glass" while the Teric has "Sapphire." So, the Tern might be a bit less resistant to scratches on the face. No clue if that will actually have an effect in the real world, though.

 

[jay040]

I used the Tern TX twice last week. Once on a night river dive that lasted 45 minutes. I was glad that I sprung for the TX because being able to mark a coordinate heading on the compass helped keep me on track, as it was very easy to get pushed to the sides or change direction without realizing it. Battery life after this, with the screen brightness on high showed almost fully charged on the battery logo.

My second dive was in a lake, and we went down to 70 feet. That dive lasted for 25 minutes and once again, the battery still showed a full charge after the dive in the ~58 degree water. I had gone ahead and placed the computer on the charger for a couple of hours the day before, as my goal wasn't to test the battery. Sharing this so that hopefully it's useful. The Teric was out of my price range, but after the night/drift dive, I think splurging for the TX over the normal Tern is worth it for the compass alone. (I also don't have the transmitter for the AI... yet)
*edited to reflect heading vs coordinate

 

[Belzelbub]

I was glad that I sprung for the TX because being able to mark a coordinate on the compass helped keep me on track, as it was very easy to get pushed to the sides or change direction without realizing it.

Just for clarification to those that may read this later. I think you meant to say you marked a bearing or heading. You can't mark coordinates with the Tern TX or any dive computer.

Good to see that you like the Tern TX. I have been hoping for a Peregrine with AI for my daughters, but might look at the Tern TX coming soon. They already have the transmitters for their Oceanics.

 

[jay040]

Just for clarification to those that may read this later. I think you meant to say you marked a bearing or heading. You can't mark coordinates with the Tern TX or any dive computer.

Good to see that you like the Tern TX. I have been hoping for a Peregrine with AI for my daughters, but might look at the Tern TX coming soon. They already have the transmitters for their Oceanics.

Yes, sorry, you are correct. I should have taken more time to think that out out properly. I marked a heading.

 

[stuartv]

Just for clarification to those that may read this later. I think you meant to say you marked a bearing or heading. You can't mark coordinates with the Tern TX or any dive computer.

Good to see that you like the Tern TX. I have been hoping for a Peregrine with AI for my daughters, but might look at the Tern TX coming soon. They already have the transmitters for their Oceanics.

Some dive computers have built-in GPS. On those you can mark coordinates. (As long as you’re on the surface)

 

[Belzelbub]

Some dive computers have built-in GPS. On those you can mark coordinates. (As long as you’re on the surface)

Yes. That's true. I was absolutely thinking during the dive. But, you are correct. I have one of them that does allow that.

 

[Triple C]

Thanks to all who replied. Bought the Tern TX yesterday. Paired it with the Swift AI in the shop and did a 'dive' in their training pool. I haven't read the manual yet, but in the pool the psi was not on the home screen, I had to go to a second screen to see it. I'm hoping it's configurable to get psi on the home screen. Also, setting up Bluetooth is not intuitive, it's not the usual 'settings' method on my iPhone. You have to download the Shearwater app to your phone and pair Bluetooth from their app. And I agree with others that the Shearwater app, on my first tour, seems pretty paltry.

Planning on reading the manual over the next few days, then a drive trip to Cozumel in a couple of weeks. Will write more about it after that.

I now have 18 hrs underwater with the Tern. I had a Zoop before, so my comparison reference is only that. Short version - I like the Tern a lot.

AI is the bomb, I really liked losing a hose and not looking in 2 places for data. Pairing is immediate and the 2 devices never became unpaired in 18 uw hours.

Good screen visibility uw (2 night dives with it, max day time depths around 85' in Cozumel). I contacted SW helpdesk to configure psi and depth on same screen. You have to click through 1 screen to get that data, but it now holds that as the home screen throughout the dive. I like the haptic alarms, now I can (try to) ignore all the beeps around me from other divers.

I paired the computer with my phone after most dives so I could capture the site name and any particulars of interest. I like the dive profile data it captures - a graph of depth, temp and off gassing. Other data points can be added to the display at your preference. I didn't realize how basically NO off gassing occurs until about 15' and even then, most is above 11'. That data got me studying up, so that's a good thing.

Battery life is good. When not diving the battery drain is basically imperceptible. Fully charged battery has dropped to 86% in 9 days since I got back. Two dives a day use maybe that much, I probably used more battery bc I was fooling around with it a lot as I experimented. Recharge is fast.

I managed to scratch the lens or cover on 1st dive, of course. SW says the Tern has a lens cover and I probably scratched that. I will ask my shop when I'm in there - I'm not going to try to peel it off to find out. Either way, a scratch on day one with ordinary use is pretty frustrating.

I'm going to Jardines del la Reina this Saturday, which will be as many as 30 more dives on this computer shortly. If anyone has specific questions about the SW Tern, lmk and I'll try to answer.

 

[Belzelbub]

I paired the computer with my phone after most dives so I could capture the site name and any particulars of interest.

Depending on the dive log software you use, you may also do this to record the actual location. I've been using Subsurface for a while. They used to allow direct logging of phone GPS location, but as Apple (maybe also Google) updated the requirements for using the phone GPS location, this was disabled.

However, you can still save that info into the log if still on site. If using an iPhone, just open the Compass app. It will also give you GPS coordinates. Hold on the coordinates and you'll get an option to copy, which can then be pasted into the location info with Subsurface mobile. I don't use the Shearwater Cloud app for logging, but it appears that only allows you to save the name.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. As expected, it's another great computer from Shearwater. Glad you like it, and enjoy your upcoming dives.