Uwatec SmartCom

[jigster]

I've narrowed down my computer choice as long as the answers to my question come out positive. I really want the Z Nitrox unit for the Hose-less AI feature, but the price tag is right around a thousand bucks :whoa: . I totally can not afford that!

I checked out the SmartCom and found that it seems to be every bit the computer that the Nitrox Z is, if not more, the only drawback being that it isn't wrist mount ;-( . I looked at the Oceanic wrist mount AI hose-less unit, but didn't like the layout of the screen and controls.

Here's my big question (BTW...I am new to the sport and this will be my first computer purchase, so don't beat me up too bad if this question seems 100% stupid :bonk: )
All the other nitrox computers I looked into besides the Uwatec's have N2/O2 uptake graphs, why doesn't Uwatec do so? From Uwatec's website, it looks as if there isn't even an alternate screen that will display any real time info about the current levels of N2/O2....should this be a valid reason to steer away from this computer? It seems that uwatec has forced the diver to not have the choice of ending a dive or ascending some at a certain level of N2 uptake so that time can be saved for a repetetive dive---am I reading into this right? Is this lack of "newbie" knowledge on my part? All the other features of the SmartCom (other than this question and the fact that it isn't hose-less) are very appealing to me, but I just want to be sure about this before I make a purchase.

Thanks and sorry for the potentially idiotic "Q's"
-jason

 

[JDostal]

I know that the SmartCom does give you information as to what your O2 uptake is - it displays the information in the form of CNS O2%. I would have to read the manual again to get the more detailed information on exactly how it works, but it does let you know in a fashion at least what your O2 uptake is.

As far as graphs go...I think you're out of luck =)

And the SmartCom is more of a computer I think than the Z - a friend of mine has that one...you are shelling out several hundred dollars more just so you can have a wrist mounted computer. In my mind, not worth the money!!

The SmartCom has a "nicer" display - it's hard to describe but to me it has a nicer display and easier to navigate screens. More userfriendly, I guess. Plus, it has a compass right on it.

 

[Diversauras]

Tho I am not sure I have enough dives on it to trust it on a major trip yet. There is another thread addressing this. I also love the IR interface.

 

[JDostal]

I know - I'm not sure how much I trust it either...I'm the one that started that thread =)

I'll probably get about 10-20 dives on it in the next month or so and then I'm going to Copper Harbor wreck diving, so we'll see how it goes. It's my only computer, so hopefully it doesn't fail on me!

And yep, the IR interface is awesome! It definitely beats the homemade thing one of my friends made for the older computers with the pins and everything.

 

[Diversauras]

To COCOs Island in Feb and if I don't get 20 or 30 on it I will take a backup, including an SPG since this is also the gage. The shop put 7 or 8 dives on mine I think so I am not anticipating a real problem, just being cautious.

The detail in the down load is amazing but the one dive I put on it was in such bad viz that I couldn't see why it was buzzing...

 

[Dryglove]

I just picked up my smartcom yesterday and will do 5-6 dives this weekend at monterey incuding one or two dives at monastery if conditions are diveable.Hopefully my smartcom holds up.

 

[JDostal]

Good luck with it - watch the RBT times on it. Be sure that it actually calculates the time, and just doesn't stay at :99. I started another thread about this problem actually...I'm curious to see if anyone else is having the problem.

 

[Diversauras]

being interested in your results.

I want to believe that the smart coms are as dependable as the other uwatec computers, I have several hundred on my nitrox pro and it has never even hicuped.

 

[JDostal]

I'm thinking (hoping) they just had a bad batch. I really like the computer otherwise...and two other friends of mine have 100+ dives on them and haven't had a single glitch yet. We'll see - it'll have to "work" a little harder to earn my trust now.

 

[srkdvr]

jigster check out DiveInn on the internet, they have the Air z Nitrox for about $850.00.... Don't know if that helps or not.

Rich :mean: