The great Suunto data cable thread (incl DIY)

[DeepTrip]

I would like to provide update to the group about my interface. I finally get the 4.3v Zener, and complete the electronic part yesterday. I've also plugged it to my laptop, and SDM recognize the device. Now I'm working for the contact to the Vyper.

I will provide picture when available.

 

[JoseBarracudas]

I modify the Roli Wasmer schemes for working with Macintosh and a Keyspan USB-Serial adapter. The mods is available here
http://www.ingraf.es/iDive/indexen.html

Jose Luis del Olmo
josebarracudas@terra.es

 

[grouchyturtle]

I bought one of jamiei's cables a few weeks ago and it works great,

BUT...

I heard from someone yesterday (and No Not an LDS owner) that a lot of these generic cables are missing some sort of resistor or something that the real cable has. This part is for regulating the current or something like that, he wasn't even exactly shure what.

Anyway he know 2 divers who's Vytecs got fried using one of these cables. I don't know if they were jamiei's cables, but they were generics.

Does anyone know if this is true? I paid less than half of what I would have even at LP, but wasn't exactly worth it if one of these days during a sync my Vytec gets fried.

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

...
I heard from someone yesterday (and No Not an LDS owner) that a lot of these generic cables are missing some sort of resistor or something that the real cable has. This part is for regulating the current or something like that, he wasn't even exactly shure what.

Anyway he know 2 divers who's Vytecs got fried using one of these cables. I don't know if they were jamiei's cables, but they were generics.
...

Grunzster,

I have built my own interface for the Cobra as well as an interface for my father's Stinger. I have also built an interface for one of the older Suunto computers.

In total, we have probably used these interfaces a total of 150 times (guess based upon my usage and their diving/download habits) - with no problems.

The device (dive computer) is protected by series resistors. Each potential current path from the PC to the dive computer is protected by resistors. This is over and above any internal input protection the Suunto computers might have. Due to the design of the interface, the maximum voltage imposed upon the contact of the dive computer (DIO) is 3V. Based upon the resistor value between DIO and GND (on the PC serial port), this gives a maximum current of about 0.1mA. This is certainly not the type of current that would do any damage to a digital I/O port. This device only shifts voltage levels from the PC serial port (+10V - 0V) to the Suunto computer level (+3V - 0V), so major current is not necessary and is therefore limited.

[It is Sunday, so forgive any calculation errors, but I am sure that you get the idea.]

If two people fried their Vytecs with their generic cables (and I mean IF), it was most likely due to errors made in construction. It is very easy to rush the construction of these units and mistakes can be made. The official Roli design document has a testing portion to ensure that the unit is safe to connect to the dive computer. It is also easy to bypass these instructions and just plug it in. Shortcuts (read laziness) and electronics generally don't mix.

I emphasised IF, because I have never heard of these experiences from someone first-hand. It is always a friend of a friend or a customer of a dive shop... Generally the person telling the story has some interest in spreading the story. It is either a LDS owner who would much rather sell you the horribly overpriced Suunto product, or it is someone who bought the official Suunto product and wants to feel justified with going that route. I mean no disrespect to those that bought the Suunto cable with this last sentence - it is my experience that some of those that bought the Suunto product cannot accept that it is possible to make these (safe) interfaces for such a low price. To get over the shock of the price differential between what they paid and what you paid, they feel the need to demean your solution. But this is just my experience.

If you build the unit with the appropriate amount of care and diligence (keeping in mind that you are hooking it to an expensive piece of kit), I am confident that you will not have any problems with it.

PS: Peace to the genuine kit purchasers - I am not slamming you

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[grouchyturtle]

True about where most of those stories come from.

I was concerned though, because this guy isn't an LDS owner, told us about the tons of gear he's bought over the years used, on ebay etc., and at the time he told use about the faulty cables he didn't even know either of us had a Suunto.

There are many sources for these cables now, though, so as you pointed out it may very well have been a hack job.

 

[hogluvr]

Would it stand to reason that if there was a problem with Jamie's cables, we would have read it here by now? I bought one, earlier this year. Transmits without a hitch. I'm pretty confident that it won't cook my computer.

Larry

 

[grouchyturtle]

That's kind of what I was thinking. This guy told me these cables worked fine then all of a sudden one day ZAP!!!

But this thread is almost 2 years old, I'm sure someone would have posted a major problem like that by now.

 

[hogluvr]

You read my mind.

 

[jamiei]

If any that I made were gonna zap a computer, it would have zapped mine first guys because I test each one on my cobra before I ever ship it. A quick test through the software will also generally let you know if there is a problem with the circuit.

I've never heard of it happening and I think if anyone would hear about something like that it would me since I get emails from so many people about them.

I have well over 1000 customers worldwide, many of whom built it from my DIY parts kit. I've had some guys screw the kits up pretty bad and try to get it to work still and still not zap their computer. It is theoretically possible to cause your suunto harm in this manner, but you have to really really really screw something up and if you do screw it up that bad you shouldn't have ever been given an OW certification anyway.

One other thing for those that may believe those stories... Roli designed the circuit most people use from scratch... that's what he does. Do you really believe that there is some top secret resistor in suunto's interfaces that someone such as Roli wouldn't use or know to use? These things aren't that complicated guys. It's sounds like if the guy that told you the story wasn't a shop owner, he was told the story by a shop owner. How did you get started talking about the interfaces if he didn't know you had a suunto? Sounds like someone's trying to get something brewing because suunto interfaces are collecting dust.

Please don't spread around something that has no basis in fact ( I know you aren't intending to)... these boards tend to turn myths into fact especially when 20 closet dive shop owners chime in that these interfaces don't work and that I'm cheating people out of money. I know its the other way around. I can round up several hundred folks that will be glad to say that is crap.

To clear up any misconceptions... if there is anyone out there that has such an interface that they can prove zapped their dive computer out there (mine or someone else's), take a picture of the interface and the circuit and you'll show us two things... a) it wasn't built my me and b) the circuit will be a mess obviously built by a hack that didn't have a clue. Still, even if a real hack tried to build it, I seriously doubt a person could damage their dive computer given that they use the right components and don't drop a 1 oz glob of solder on the circuit and short everything.

 

[jamiei]

Also, I don't mean to sound defensive so don't take this the wrong way...

but I just realized after rereading the thread that my name specifically was tossed around several times while talking about interfaces zapping computers. Unless someone has proof of such happening with my interface, please try to keep my name out of it unless you're stating facts or opinions and keep me out of the myths. Even though you didn't blame me specifically, someone casually reading it may infer that this happened with one of my products which is completely untrue to my knowledge and I think I would be the first person to find out about it. That is also how things get started that aren't true... someone reads a part of something and goes and tells his buddy that part he read and all of a sudden I stop getting orders and either people start buying suunto interfaces or they unfortunately buy from the hack that actually had the problem.

I have been making these for almost 2 years now for divers and have a reputation for making a quality product. Read through this thread and you'll find a lot of praise for my product and you won't find a single person that says there is a problem with it. The first interfaces I made were for myself and members of scubaboard and I still have one of the first circuits I ever made. I have sold over 1000 interfaces so I would say I've used the interface at least 1,250 times and that each of my 1000 plus customers have used their's an avg. of 10 times. Thats at least 11,250 times my interfaces have been used and this hasn't happened a single time.

What do you think the chances that what this guy said were true? If he knew 2 people that this happened to, those guys must have taken their laptop and interface down on a dive with them or something...