CFDAlden
Contributor
If you charge your Gekko up, for, oh, say a couple minutes, the glow will last for quite a while. Using a LED light, or HiD light will work great, and provide for a nice long lasting backlight.
Suunto Gekko or Equivalent - beginner computer
- Thread starter Pseudocyber
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keyshunter
Contributor
I carry 2 computers, a Vyper and a Gekko on EVERY dive. For night diving, I use the Gekko as my primary, and I would not turn on my Vyper's backlight unless the Gekko failed, since backlights are terrible battery eaters. Thus far, neither computer has failed. I, and every other experienced diver I know, carry at least one READILY AVAILABLE BACKUP light on every night dive as well. The probability of anything bad happenind during the deployment of the backup is incredibly small.
A backlight would be a two handed job as well though, wouldn't it? Using the other hand to activate the backlight on a wrist computer seems like the only option to me, unless you have a continual backlight.
I use a Vyper 2 so no glow screen for me. I often wish I had both features though. Just moving an instrument into the lightbeam takes a lot less effort for me.
ChefLamont
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Not to sound smart, but the best computer for you is the one that works best for you. As you can see from the backlight/glow feature discussion here, different features and functionalities are more valuable to people than others.
If you have a LDS that will do it, I would start diving on tables (I am old-school and think all students should start and do at least their first couple to few dives on tables before bringing in a computer), and then RENT a couple of different computers for dives and see which one works best for you.
Also, you are a newb now, but you wont be one forever. You should honestly think about how far/where you want to go in the sport. If it is basic recreational diving while on vacation, then something like the gekko would probably be perfect. If you are aspiring to more technical diving, trimix, etc., then you might want to save the cash for a model you are less likely to outgrow. It may be hard to determine right now being so new, but I think most people have some idea of where they want to end up.
Having given the whole "you need to decide for yourself speach"
you also might want to look at the Dive Rite Nitek Duo. It is a feature packed computer that is generally in the price neighborhood your are talking about.
my $0.02
If you have a LDS that will do it, I would start diving on tables (I am old-school and think all students should start and do at least their first couple to few dives on tables before bringing in a computer), and then RENT a couple of different computers for dives and see which one works best for you.
Also, you are a newb now, but you wont be one forever. You should honestly think about how far/where you want to go in the sport. If it is basic recreational diving while on vacation, then something like the gekko would probably be perfect. If you are aspiring to more technical diving, trimix, etc., then you might want to save the cash for a model you are less likely to outgrow. It may be hard to determine right now being so new, but I think most people have some idea of where they want to end up.
Having given the whole "you need to decide for yourself speach"
you also might want to look at the Dive Rite Nitek Duo. It is a feature packed computer that is generally in the price neighborhood your are talking about.my $0.02
Not overly - on mine i just hit a button so can keep torch in computer hand and still see where im going. Plus my backlight stays on for 30 seconds after pressing the button as opposed to the glow thing which seems to a few seconds after removing the light source.
The other problem i have now is my vyper screen guard is so scratched shining a bright torch onto it i cant read the display through the scratches and scatter
Check out the Diverite Nitek Duo. I sold my Suunto Vyper for the DR. It's in your price range and might work well for you. It is simple and easy to use. Has a guage mode, can do 2 gases on the fly and can be downloaded.
I was able to pick up a Deep Sea Supply bungee wrist mount that really made it nice. I like mine very much.
I was able to pick up a Deep Sea Supply bungee wrist mount that really made it nice. I like mine very much.
richerso
Contributor
I was doing a night boat dive in Roatan in 2006. While the boat was motoring to the dive site, I used my torch to charge my Gekko for many minutes. I continued charging the Gekko right up until I did the giant stride off the boat. Despite all of this effort, the Gekko went dark after about 20 minutes -- no where close to the endurance needed for an expected, and typical, one hour dive.
The other problem i have now is my vyper screen guard is so scratched shining a bright torch onto it i cant read the display through the scratches and scatter
Friendly suggestion: My LDS always stocks replacement glass for the Suunto computers. For some reason, they only seem to stock about 2 pieces at a time though. I go to my LDS about 2 times a year and buy all of their stock in replacement glass for my Suunto. I carry all of that replacement glass in my save-a-dive kit. In this way, if I break a glass in mid-vacation or if I decide that the glass is too scratched to read, I can replace it on the spot. I currently have about six replacment pieces in my kit. They've saved my butt on a couple of occassions too! Buy them now before you need them. That way you'll have them. Just common sense advice.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
Wait a second. Am I missing something here? You're complaining that the Gekko's phosphorescent glow feature only lasted...20 minutes. I don't think that the Gekko was ever designed to glow for the entire duration of a night dive. Who needs to read a dive computer for 1 hr straight under water anyway? Even the obsessive-compulsive among us probably don't check their computers that often!
The backlight feature on a dive computer is going to drain the battery. If the feature is set to stay on longer, then the battery will be drained faster. I think the phosphorescent glow of the Gekko, which eats up no battery power to my knowledge, is a very good compromise in this respect. My girlfriend loves using her Gekko on night dives and never complains about having to use her dive light to read it and/or charge the glow feature. She's had her dive computer for over 2.5 years (100+ dives) now...and has never had to change the battery. The computer is very reliable, has large easy-to-read numbers (in good viz conditions I can read the numbers a few feet away), and has a very intuitive user interface. The Gekko is a great value for the money.
I like my dive computer (Suunto Mosquito), but I wish it had a chargeable phosphorescent display like the Gekko. I tend to have to change my battery every 1.5 years even though I typically use the button-activated backlight very sparingly...perhaps once or twice during any given night dive.
I recommend keeping your eyes open for a used Gekko. Just my $0.02.
richerso
Contributor
Bubbletrubble,
LOL! I completely agree with every observation that you make. I was merely responding to CFDAlden and his statement about the glow lasting for quite a while. I agree with you. I am not obsessive-comp. I don't think I am anyway. Besides, I don't need to watch my computer straight for an hour. I just need to be able to read it every now and then, which probably includes a read at 48 minutes, 52 minutes, 56 and yes 60.
Don't completely misread my statements here. I think the glow feature is kind of worthless; but I would still rather have it as feature than not have it (something is better than nothing). And yes, you are correct on another count. My Gekko battery lasts forever. Or at least it feels like it lasts forever.
LOL! I completely agree with every observation that you make. I was merely responding to CFDAlden and his statement about the glow lasting for quite a while. I agree with you. I am not obsessive-comp. I don't think I am anyway. Besides, I don't need to watch my computer straight for an hour. I just need to be able to read it every now and then, which probably includes a read at 48 minutes, 52 minutes, 56 and yes 60.
Don't completely misread my statements here. I think the glow feature is kind of worthless; but I would still rather have it as feature than not have it (something is better than nothing). And yes, you are correct on another count. My Gekko battery lasts forever. Or at least it feels like it lasts forever.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
So to clarify...the above is what you wrote...which I interpreted to mean: "The Gekko doesn't glow long enough -- even when charged for a long time." If that isn't what you meant, then I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.
At least we agree that the Gekko battery lasts for a long time.
And to summarize: I like the glow...but you would prefer a true backlight even if it meant less overall battery life.
We could probably agree that it would be much better if the computer had both the backlight and the glow. Sounds like one of those Miller Lite commercials. Less filling. Tastes great. Less filling. Tastes great...
For the record, I didn't mean to imply that you have OCD (or even obsessive compulsive personality disorder, for that matter). I just had this crazy image in my head of some guy sitting by himself on a boat in the dark charging up his phosphorescent display for 20 minutes...
All right. Enough of these serious dive discussions. Now watch this funny Japanese game show on YouTube
It makes me laugh every time I watch it.
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