Suunto Stinger vs mosquito

[blackice]

ReefGuy once bubbled...
One other difference. On the stinger, you can choose your sample rate for your log file from 2-20 seconds. On the mosquito, it's fixed at 20.

this a handy feature, but can chew the memory up quickly. I did 2 dives with the sample rate set to 2sec and when I want to review the dives it takes 10secs to load the dive and then forever to go thru the profile. After that I changed it to 60sec and now it's too fast on the profile to record the details to my log book , so I'm going back to 20secs as it's enough time to log each depth when it plays back in the profile.

 

[caveseeker7]

blackice once bubbled...
...As a result you can't change it to normal dive mode when you come back up so it's like that for the whole trip.

I'm sure every computer that offers a gauge mode has that feature preventing you from switching from gauge to deco-computer after a dive. You can keep using it in that mode, it'll keep displaying dive time, depth, ascend and rate. In gauge mode the computer doesn't calculate decompression, and therefor won't be able to consider desaturation obligation into the next dive. To avoid giving you false NDL based on zero desaturation rather than what you have actually accumulated the computer locks in gauge mode. Mine (DiveRite Nitec+, also a watch-size computer) does so for 24 hours, I believe. Check your manual, it should state the amount of time you won't be able to switch it back to computing.

 

[blackice]

I guess your right, I wasn't to fussed as I was using the Mosquito as my backup timer. All dives were using tables. I just thought that after the first few dives I would change it to normal dive mode as I was tired of it not understanding that I was deco diving and only wanted to know my depth and time. It kept thinking that I was holding my breathe for way too long and displayed "Er" inthe FREE mode.

But it didn't matter as my main computer was working just fine.

 

[DawgPaddle]

My Wife just bought me a Suunto Stinger (watch version) for Christmas and I've not yet got it wet - planning to in the next month.

I've been searching for PC Interfaces and I've found a fella that sells home made ones (complete or as a kit) but wanted to find out if anyone has used them before and how they worked.

Any experience shared would be appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[scubachris]

Divers, I’m not sure why you would want to put to mosquito in Free mode unless you are free diving. It pretty clearly states in the manual pg 60 that “to prevent the possibility of accidentally using the Free-mode during a SCUBA dive the Free mode is limited to 5 minutes. If the 5 Minute limit it exceeded the user is warned by an audible alarm, activated backlight, upward arrow and a blinking error warning.”

It goes on to say that basically you’ll be locked out for 48 hours in error mode during which time it can’t be used as a dive computer.

I haven’t used the Stinger but I grabbed a manual at the shop also on pg. 60 it says that after five minutes of “diving” in Free mode the computer switches to Guage mode (something the Mosquito DOES NOT do.). On pg. 62 it goes on to say that after a dive in guage mode you cannot change the mode of the Stinger for 48 hours. As a previous post says the computer would not know your residual Nitrogen so doesn’t let you switch.

So if you wanted a depth/bottom timer and a computer all in one, of the two you’d have to go with the Stinger. But that’s a pretty expensive back-up bottom timer!

Both are great computers and you can’t go wrong with either. But right tool for the right job. I like the look of the Stinger but as an instructor diving every day I didn’t want to beat up something that expensive. My Mosquito has done over 300 dives and is still going strong, maybe someday I’ll get enough tips for that elusive titanium Stinger!

Chris

 

[rcohn]

With my Mosquito, it goes into the error lockout after 5 minutes as the manual states. You may be locked out from switching to one of the scuba modes, but you are not locked out from performing another freedive. Thus, a short (< 5 minute ) "freedive" will clear the lockout condition and allow the computer to be used normally. 5 seconds below 4 ft should do the trick. I discovered this feature accidentally when I forget to take my computer out of freedive mode when switching to scuba, my Suunto Favor computer controlled that dive.

Note my Mosquito is one of the earlier ones from 2001, this “feature” may have been fixed on the more recent units. Also I am not suggesting you should do this, just pointing out it can be done.

Ralph

 

[Santa]

Main differences:

1. Stinger has 'gauge mode'. Mosquito DOES NOT have 'gauge mode'.
2. Mosi has user replaceable batteries. Stinger batteries must be replaced by an authorized Suunto tech.
3. Stinger is stainless steel. Mosi is plastic.
4. Stinger has a mineral glass face. Mosi has a plastic face (scratches easily).
5. Stinger is heavy. Mosi is light.
6. Stinger looks better, especially over time. Mosi glossy finish will start to peel off over time.
7. Stinger uses an older pc interface. Mosi uses the same pc interface as the cobra, vyper, and vytec.
8. Stinger is water resistant to 200m. Mosi to 100m.

and 9. Mosi got free dive mode - stinger doesn't unless they've changed that lately.

 

[divingdoctor]

This happened to me. I accidentally set it to free mode, went scuba diving, and it errored. The manual states that if you exceed a 9 minute free dive, it will lock out. It continuously locks out for 48 hours from your last water immersion, so it becomes useless as a dive computer for 2 days. Not a very acceptable situation, IMO