Suunto Vyper Air or Vytec DS

[ba_hiker]

The DS is being phased out now and is on the closeouts on AL

Its still a good computer, this might make it a great time to buy one!

 

[nicholasj]

I have the opportunity to upgrade my computer from the shop and I was wondering what others might think of the new Vyper Air. I see that the gas switching is 2 instead of 3 gasses. Can anyone see any other changes besides the compass which I did not like on the Cobra 2 but now they are saying it is able to be set by the user for how long it stays on. Hopefully I can get a few opinions here and since Suunto is my only choice please do not ring in with negatives about them. They have always brought me home!!

I had recently bought a vyper 2 only to find a few weeks later that it was discontinued so I manged to get a credit not and await report from Mark on the Vyper Air.
One important question for me is that if I also bought a transmitter would I be able to use it (the transmitter) at most dive centres as I do not have a regulater and always hire this. Can I fit the transmitter to hire regulaters?
I also understand that there is an adapter available if the 1st stage ports are busy....anyone heard of this please?
Anyone help here please

 

[GatorJoe]

i just bought 2 Vyper Air's. Should be getting them in a few weeks. ill let u know what i find out about them...

 

[JayDiaz]

I was on the same Boat, IŽ´m Sure both are great computers and at first I was leaning towards the Vytec DS, then besides the clearer differences(compass and etc...), I took a closer look on little details like these:
Vytec DS:
Logbook recording interval :10, 20 or 60 seconds
Memory capacity: approximately 36 hours of diving with 20
seconds recording interval.
Displays only in Nitrox mode:
Oxygen%: 21 - 99.
Oxygen partial pressure display: 1.2 - 1.6 bar depending on the
limit setting.
Oxygen Limit Fraction: 1 - 110% with 10% resolution (bar
graph).

Vyper Air:
Logbook recording interval: 1, 10, 20, 30 or 60 seconds
Memory capacity: approximately 80 hours of diving with 20 second recording interval
Displays only in NITROX mode:
Oxygen %: 21 - 99
Oxygen partial pressure display: 0.2 - 3.0 bar.
Oxygen Limit Fraction: 1 - 200% with 1% resolution

Another 2 differences are the Compass (only on Vyper Air) and on the Vytec DS you can have 3 different pre-sets of Nitrox mixes (where on the Vyper Air you can have 2). ThatŽ´s all I could find and in the end I picked the Vyper Air also because the price difference was around 60 Euros so I should have it in 4 days or so, then maybe I can give a better review.

Jay

 

[nicholasj]

Thanks for all that good information. I hope to buy a Vyper Air at the upcoming dive show in London.
One question please. I do not have a regulator and will hire at various dive centres. If I did have a transmitter could I use it on hire regulaters. Do dive centres do this...are they okay to attach the transmitter to the first stage. Are there normally a spare port for this?
Thanks
John

 

[mangrovejack]

Not sure if they do mind or not, but its a quick and easy thing to do to unscrew the HP port using the appropriate sized hex key. They won't know (unless the thing floods or the oring screws up). I would personally put the transmitter on a short 3-6" HP hose in case the regulator 1st stage design prohibits the rather large transmitter being mounted directly to it.

 

[JayDiaz]

I don´t know, I´m not buying the transmitter yet exactly because I don´t have a Regulator yet once the transmitter is pretty expensive I´d rather get myself at least a BCD and a REG first, but I just HAD to also take the protector shield and USB cable for the PC interface cuz I wanna use it to log my dives.

 

[nicholasj]

Thanks for this information. How does the wireless air transmitter fit onto a short length of hp hose? does the hose have the normal fitting to the 1st stage port? Sounds a good idea but I cannot visualise it.
Many thanks

 

[mangrovejack]

Yes, exactly as you described. The female end of the HP hose is exactly the same as the female port in the 1st stage, so basically the transmitter hangs out a little from the 1st stage. You could zip-tie or otherwise secure it to the first stage so it doesn't move too.

 

[nicholasj]

Hi JayDiaz,
Let me know how you get on with your new Vyper Air. Wen will you dive with it?