Sidemount - SPG and Transmitter - HP Splitter? Button SPG?

[Underwater Tourist]

Happy Halloween!

I hope SPGs are also Florida style forward facing lollipops. With the transmitter extension they can now reach the mask and act like two nerds - one into each eye!

View attachment 867974
Points of failure - 9 o-rings per side, two hoses. Failures so far - 3 hose failures, 2 transmitter failures, 2 shattered gauge faces. Upgrades - Stainless steel hoses, Swift transmitters. Aborted dives - ZERO

 

[Underwater Tourist]

Did some searching and found SPG vs. AI transmitter discussions for a variety of configurations, but not much specifically on setting up sidemount regs for both SPG and AI transmitters.

My initial preference is to have both SPG and transmitter on each tank, but I'd be comfortable with just one or the other if that makes more sense.

On a serious note, here are some threads for you, but bottom line is that there is nothing special about SM, choose one (spg or ai) and go with it.

The curious case of AI. Do you use a back up SPG while using AI?

Hi ! So in the past 4 years I've I started to come out of the "old ways" and try new gear and it has been paying off. Now it's the air pressure's turn and I was wondering what divers, especially technical, think in general about the new Air Integration Technology (AI). I know it's not treally...

scubaboard.com

Spg, AI, both

Had a discussion with my instructor wether AI alone is safe enough or not I believe they are enough in them self he believes you have to have a spg and a transmitter. Got my curious what a peoples preference and why

scubaboard.com

Spg backup to transmitter

backup spg to transmitter Hey just to sum it up i am a pretty experienced diver And i am just starting to dive sidemount and i have ordered the perdix 2 and 2 swift transmitters but i was thinking about if i could swap the spg with the transmitter that way i don't have a annoying bulge in my...

scubaboard.com

SPG with AI computer?

So I recently picked up a like-new Oceanic Atom 3.1 and transmitter, which looks like they've never even been used. Tested the air integration out on a tank at my local dive shop, and it seems to work fine. My wife and I will be further checking out all our scuba equipment in their pool prior...

scubaboard.com

AI and Transmitters, our two cents on Air Integration in cave diving. - ProTec Dive Centers | Cave Diving Playa del Carmen & Tulum, Mexico

Technology, techniques and trends… they all evolve, some are quickly forgotten, some are here to stay. One of our followers sent Tamara a request for a series of IG stories where our team would talk about the use of transmitters in technical cave diving. What seemed like a simple and easy idea...

protecdivecenters.com

if you go with spgs, I personally found the usual way of checking gas in SM annoying (I am a minority when it comes to that, most people dont really care) and I made all my spgs stage style (here is a pic for you if you are not familiar with it). Just something to play around with for you

if you want to go into caves, you might want to take sm course from a cave instructor so your gear will be streamlined to begin with and you won't have to make any modifications down the road. I would also caution against taking advice from people whose sm rig looks like that (no offence to anybody):

 

[rjack321]

I'd add a j-valve, just for good measure...

H valve baby

 

[stretchthepenn]

My initial preference is to have both SPG and transmitter on each tank, but I'd be comfortable with just one or the other if that makes more sense. Leaning toward using an AI transmitter on a short HP hose with QD fittings (in the typical SPG position) plus a button SPG on the opposite side.

Both is overkill. Pick one or the other.

As for me, I don't bother with a short hose. I screw my transmitter directly into one HP fitting and put a button gauge on the other side.

(Cue the "button gauges are stupid" chorus.)

 

[Mobulai]

H valve baby

Is that a throwback to the instructor interview thread?

 

[Etmar]

I have button SPG and transmitter in my SM config. It is easier to check pressure from button SPG before dive and it is unnoticeable when diving. And transmitter is so easy in total dark waters.

 

[MightyDuck]

I use both an SPG and a transmitter.

My final solution for a while now is to use a hp splitter in one of the HP ports of the first stage.
Since the splitter (apeks) can turn quite easily you do not want to out any hose to the turning port because otherwise it would turn (what a surprise) and with the hose it would stick out downwards, you definietly dont want that.
But if you just put your transmitter into that moveable port it would save from from anybody’s attempt to grab it. (Because its movement made in basically impossible to grab it and lift up the tank with it.)
On the straight going port I put a short (6”) hose with the SPG on it, so I can easily look at it if ever needed, exactly the same way if there was an SPG only.

This way you have 2 redundant system (I don’t say you NEED this, I’m perfectly fine if somebody says it unneccessary.), it is quite streamlined, no snagging hazard. If I wouldnt find this working solution, I would have dropped the SPGs altogether.

 

[girlwithbigtanks]

Pick one. If one transmitter goes poopy and IF you have been balancing your tanks you have a pretty good idea what’s in it Switch to working one. Breathe for a set time. Then breathe the dead transmitter side same amount of time. Chances are you’ll finish the dive with balanced gas volumes. You know how much you have when they failed. ****If your dive is a *planned *dive its a minor annoyance.

I would keep diving a rec dive* on plan with 1 dead transmitter. Call it for a tech/cave dive. Any failed gear. (*assuming you planned your dive)

Not worth making my regs more complicated. Dive tomorrow.

 

[crofrog]

H valve baby

This is truely the way. Use a z system on 1 post per tank too.