Should I not buy a suunto d9?

[mike_s]

Anyone know if Scubatoys carries AL? I know Phil Ellis does at divesport.com

Scuba Toys doesn't carry Aqualung because AL won't allow online sales or competitive pricing.


Phil at Dive Sports is no longer an Aqualung dealer because of the same issue. But he might still have some inventory on "special clearance". (I doubt he has any D9's though).

Very Good points Mike S! & I would love to ask my local lds to be competitive on pricing, if there were any around here that carried suunto.

Maybe that's a *sign* that once of the biggest cities in the US doesn't have an Aqualung dealer. (Mabye the LDS's are tired of the companies crap).

 

[Aelvin]

Thanks Aelvin. That's good info to know.

you are welcome! you can always ask your LDS to order one directly from Suunto, that way u always get the lastest batch. If not you can call up LP and have them ship you a 07 model. ( Ben at LP will do pretty much to keep customer happy! love to do business with them)

 

[sucnip]

You can tell if a D9 has had the upgrade by connecting it to your PC with the included cable. If the software version is 1.2.15 or above it is the latest (updated) version. Updated computers will either be above the recall serial number range, have a white dot that may wipe off (updated at a distributor, not the factory) or have a "U" etched into the case following the serial number (updated at the factory in Finland).

For what its worth here is my experience buying two D9's from an international eBay seller:

My D9 (S/N 5xxxx U, 1.2.15 software) works great. Sometimes looses contact with transmitter for 30 seconds when I use the compass underwater. If this were under warranty I would have sent it back.

My friends D9 flooded after about 10 dives. Sent to Aquanaut Australia (suunto distributor) to investigate and possibly pay for repair.

Would I buy from eBay again? You bet. I would also consider Rich @ Divetank as they have their own warranty + the factory warranty.

Regards,
David

 

[Leisure Pro Brett]

I like my fancy toys, and decided to purchase a suunto d9 wrist computer. Sounds easy enough. . yeah right. I'm finding out real quick they don't have any authorized online dealers, so any future updates or mnfg recalls are out the window if I go with un-authorized sellers. I figured living in Dallas, that I'd be able to find a lds that carries them, but no luck. There are several very good lds here, when I ask them about suunto, I get a very professional, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" type of response. Basically no dive shops around here carry them. I can find plenty of dealers for suunto's non-diving related watches, just not the d9. Being that most lds are avid enthusiasts, and get to play with everything they sell. . My Question is, What do the dive shops know that I don't that's so bad about suunto computers? Is it an actual product thing, or is suunto as a company a real pain to deal with? I'm tempted to buy one from leisure pro, but being they are not authorized, I don't think I can expect help if any more recalls pop up. So what's the deal? Also, if there are any authorized dealers in the Dallas area that aren't listed on suunto's website, speak up.

Hey guys,

Just to throw in my 2 cents here. First of all, the D9 is awesome, possibly my favorite dive purchase ever (maybe my dry suit, it's so close). I wanted to answer a few questions from this thread, first is that we (LP) can and have gotten our customers D9's taken care of with the recall service. We wouldn't have been around so long and been so successful if we could not take care of issues like this. Secondly is that since it is a product recall, as someone stated in another thread, "the manufacturer doesn’t care if it is stolen", just if it has received the recall service or not. Also, in all my dealings with Suunto products over the last 11 years I would say they make some of the most reliable gear out there.

 

[realdiver7]

A friend of mine used the D9 for a while, but did not like it. He said the displays (numbers and letters) were too small, narrow, and not bold enough, compass was hard to use and read underwater, computer was too heavy compared to composite (plastic)-cased computers, tank pressure reading was not displayed when using the compass, battery was too much of a hassle to have changed, and the computer was too conservative with no decompression dive limits. He said it was no more than an expensive toy and a diver's fashion statement, and sold it after about 25 dives.

After comparing his D9 to my Oceanic Atom 2, and after we dived side-by-side with both computers, he bought an Atom 2 with transmitter like mine, and has never been happier with a dive computer. I even had a chance to buy a new D9 at a rock-bottom dealer price, but passed up the offer because of the reasons I listed above. I hate to see divers get stuck with very expensive toys when they could have bought something just a good or better, at better or at least comparable prices.

With that said, I know Suunto products are very high quality, so what you decide to buy is a very personal decision.

Hope this helps.

 

[kc00per]

I own a D9 and it's great. But there is a couple of issues that I have had. First is the display is too small. Hard to read in low light and have to put it on your wrist in the perfect way to even have a chance at seeing it. Not a problem after the first couple of dives.

Second is it is hard to get it to sync up. I have to put it right next to the transmitter to get it to work. This is only an issue when I am away from the transmitter for a long period of time and forget to sync it back up before getting in the water. Once in the water I can't get it to sync back up. My arm isn't long enough to get it close enough to the transmitter to sync it.

I bought when I was doing some aggressive dives in Hawaii and my SmartCom was going crazy on the alerts. I got it at Ocean Concepts for around $300 below list. Would I change, no way. It's just too nice of a toy to give up. I asked them about the recall when I bought it and they said it didn't need it. This was last November.

K

 

[slingshot]

The transmitter sync range on the Suunto is deliberately set low to reduce the chance of interference with other divers when syncing. My Vytec has to be within a foot or so of the transmitter to sync. Love the Vytec, no experience using the D9. Why should the compass not work as well underwater?

 

[scubapatton]

One thing many people do not remember with the electronic compass is that you should re-calibrate it when you change areas. The AL rep I spoke to said you don not have to chang eit from beach to the enxt, but certainly fromone significant area to another (eg vacations, etc). He also advised re-calibrating it about once a month.

Wait till you hear the hard part... To calibrate/re-calibrate, you have to go into a menu on the watch, then get it to the set option, then SLOWLY and without moving up and down too much, rotate in a 360 degree. My friend's kid had to try it twice...

I tease her about it even today.. even if she is 8.

Sarcasm aside, it is pretty easy to calibrate. Now, I have heard of some people finding the display too small/hard to read, but no real complaints from the compass. Then again, most people I know with the D9 still have a backup compass...

If you like the toys, then this is one you will really like.

 

[bobcatdiver]

My two cents I bought my D9 about 6 months ago from Richard at Divetank and would recommend them to anyone. The price was alot better than my local LDS.

 

[Matt S.]

I have a D6 and I wouldn't buy another one. It is a fine product, but I have realized that I don't need a computer that is watch-sized: it's too big to be a daily wear watch and too small to be easy to read while diving. Some of the symbols on that display are TINY.

I would rather have a computer with a much bigger display. (Also, the compass in the D6/D9 is farking useless. USELESS. Just bite the bullet and get the SK-7.)

If I was starting again, I might do it this way:

Depth & dive timer on right wrist.
Compass on left wrist (what I do now)
Air-integrated computer on the HP hose. You gotta look at your SPG frequently anyway, why not put a computer there? Just don't build a giant wrecking ball.

I'm not interested in wireless air integration from Suunto or anyone else, mainly due to price, partially due to reliability concerns. But honestly, I would not pay a lot more for any kind of air integration. Managing your air isn't that hard... and I LOVE excuses for gadgets.

HTH.