Uemis Zurich SDA - getting rid of the hoses?

[nwflyboy]

I'm currently shopping for gear packages for me and the Mrs. Although I've been diving a long time, I have always used rental gear, but we've decided to finally take the plunge and buy the full set. We only dive warm water/tropical sites on recreational trips, so no need for cold water/tech gear for us (not that there's anything wrong with that).

One of the things I'd like to do is eliminate as many of the hoses as possible.

I'm planning a package that includes an integrated octo/power inflator (probably the Atomic SS1, although I'd consider others). I figure that eliminates one hose there. Check.

For a computer, I greatly prefer a wrist-mount, rather than having it on the console. That raises a question for me in my quest to reduce the number of hoses I'll have to manage...

Here's are my questions for those who know more than I do about this stuff....

1. If I get an air-integrated wrist computer with wireless, can that provide all the functionality of traditional console-mounted gauges - and eliminate that hose entirely?

2. If yes, is that a reliable, safe setup? Just how reliable are the wireless transmitters? Do people using such a setup typically still have hose-mounted air pressure & depth gauges on a console along as a backup? Seems like that would defeat the purpose of the wireless/air integrated wrist setup, no?

Even though they are breathtakingly expensive, I'm eying the Uemis Zurich SDA for this purpose, but that's assuming it would result in a hose-less solution (eliminating the need for a console entirely - yeah, I know I'll still have a hose to my primary reg and another to the combined safe second/power inflator....there's no hoseless way to deliver air...at least not yet).

So, would this setup work?

Thanks.

 

[iztok]

I was contemplating SS1 type and lucky for me I didn't buy it. However some do make it work for them. Keep in mind that if you go this way please make sure your primary reg is long enough for donation (longer than you usually get with standard primary hose).

I have transmitter and D9 computer but if there are a lot of photographers nearby I do lose connectivity from time to time and one has to re-sync. I would NEVER dive w/o good analog SPG. Good thing you can get a simple one for about $65 (2.5" HOG).

 

[nwflyboy]

Is it generally considered a must to have a back-up analog SPG even if you've got a good air integrated computer?

 

[iztok]

Is it generally considered a must to have a back-up analog SPG even if you've got a good air integrated computer?

No. But are you willing to end a dive and potentially others to follow when a battery dies in transmitter? Or when a couple of people take strobe photos and your wireless transmitter and computer fail to re-sync?

I am not thus I am diving with analog SPG. for $65 it is a no brainer.

 

[nwflyboy]

Interesting - strobes going off nearby cause an interruption in the wireless connection? I had not heard of that before. It this pretty common, and does it affect all wireless transmitters?

Thanks.

 

[mark260165]

Interesting - strobes going off nearby cause an interruption in the wireless connection? I had not heard of that before. It this pretty common, and does it affect all wireless transmitters?

Thanks.

I have owned an air intergrated DC for the past 14 years, my first one was a Uwatec Aladin Air X, there was a rumour that underwater strobes broke the signal between the sender & receiver, I myself have never experienced or heard of this happening to anyone I know.
My next computer was a Uwatec Air X nitrox, when I received it it had a small bubble floating in the oil that its fillled with, as I was leaving for the Maldives a couple of days later I rang Uwatec (who were in Hampshire UK), they invited me to their premisis to pick up a new one, whilst I was their I mentioned the strobe rumour, they explained that they are sheilded & also explained that the strobe pulse is less than half a second , if it did interupt the signal it would only interupt it for a fraction of a second and as the sender sends the info in bursts every few seconds it could not permanently stop the information.
Since then I have had Aladin Air z, Air z Nitrox, Aladin smart, Suunto Viper air, D9 & now a Uemis Zurich.
I honestly believe the problem does not exsist.
But I do not for one minute presume I know all AI computers.
Regards
Mark

 

[nwflyboy]

Thanks, Mark. Just curious, though - do you dive with a backup SPG console on a hose?

 

[Hatul]

If it was me I'd get a short Miflex HP hose and mount a small SPG gauge to have as a backup. It has very small profile and then you don't have to sweat over this issue. There's enough to worry about when you're diving.

Adam

 

[mark260165]

Thanks, Mark. Just curious, though - do you dive with a backup SPG console on a hose?

Yes I do, infact I have a Scubapro twin console, its very compact, see it here......

http://www.scubapro.com/europe/uk/s...ges/scubapro-2-gauge-console-[12825]-[12831%5

The reasons I have Gauges as well as an air intergrated DC are as follows....

1. When I put my equipment together I can easily check the contents of my cylinder without having to pull my DC out of its bag & fire it up.
As most of my diving is done from a RIB, my scuba set is assembled, checked & stowed before I get suited up.

2. When I am diving abroad & the dive is being guided by a local Dive master or Instructor I have been amazed by the amount of times that when he/she asks me for my cylinder pressure they don't believe that I have checked it when I just look at my wrist DC & point & ask for my SPG reading!

3. Redundancy, if for what ever reason my DC packs in whilst diving I can safely either carry on (dive depth dependant) or make a controlled ascent with the ability to make correct deep or safety stops, I would like to add that in seventeen years of diving I have never known a DC to fail whilst diving, however I have known two cases where the diver has lost his computer during a dive, one was where the actual DC came out of its surround & the other was an Aladin Air x, we dived the same site a week later & found it on the sea bed, the stap pin had failed! oh and the DC was well & truly locked out! so always use a landyard.

Regards
Mark

 

[iztok]

I have D9 and I've noticed that on wrecks where there are several photographers my signal was having issues. On the dives w/o I am fine. Hence mentioning. It does sync back when I lift my computer close to the transmitter under water.

BTW: I also had Oceanic VEO (my backup to D9) flood. In fact it was just sent back to Oceanic to check it out.