Vyper Air?

[jbrown287]

I am looking to get a Vyper Air and I wondering about any problems people have had with them. The biggest thing I have seen from wireless is loosing communication. Is this a big problem with the Vyper Air? How big of a pain is? Can it be fixed quickly and what data do you lose? Please chime in good or bad.

 

[Ghanguss]

I got one 3 months ago and have done 12 dives with it. Its my first computer.

Mine has a glitch in the maximum depth alarm cannot be changed. Im sending it back under warranty but its a hassle.

Other than that its been great. I did loose comms once, which was mostly my fault, but after getting home a simple "clear" operation and it worked straight away. I just didnt know what to do at the time where as now I do so it wont happen again.

The only data you lose is SAC readings throughout the dive. You can enter the start and finish tank pressure in the software later and it will still calculate average SAC for the dive, so you really dont miss anything. I have a SPG so loosing pressure wont end my dive.

Its really easy to use, and after 10 or so dives Im comfortable with it.

The compass works well, but for a serious nav dive Id use an analogue one.

The software is good too. Makes logging dives easy, and the dive planner is a gem

Even with a few glitches I am really happy with the computer.

 

[jbrown287]

Re connecting the communication can be done underwater? I'm almost positive it can I just want to make sure. What could a user do to make the communications link disconnect?

 

[tstormdiver]

I have a Vyper Air. I use it as a back- up to my Helo2. I wanted something that was reliable & would track N2 close to my Helo (I have that one's algorithms set very liberal). I will say I'm mostly pleased with it for the function that I use it in (gas switching decompression). I only use the air integration feature on my recreational regulator. I will admit I've never tried to reset the link underwater. I usually check it before I get in & have never, to date, had a problem with it reading or losing the link. I'm not sure if it could be reset underwater or not or whether I could even remember how to get to the code reset page while diving. Usually you have to reset the code to it & I'm not sure if you can reach that page while it is dive mode. As for the compass it is a cool feature, but I really prefer just using an analog one; a little less complicated. I don't like how the compass will shutdown after a couple of minutes & that's with the "stay on" timer maxed out. The biggest things I have found that causes the link to disconnect is walking out of range of the transmitter. Just to keep the link closer when diving, I keep the transmitter on the right side (as if the cylinder is on your back), because I have an analog SPG on the left. Because of the transmitter being on the right, I will wear either my Helo or Vyper on the right (either one can read the transmitter), that keeps the transmitter no more than 2 1/2- 3 ft away from the transmitter during the dive.

 

[jbrown287]

Has anyone had experience with reseting it under water? Can it even be done? With everything you hear about loosing communication, I would hate to have to stop a dive just to surface and reset the comms. Might just stick with the Wisdom 2 I have. Don't have to worry about comms, but I really like the wireless aspect.

 

[Wayne at DiveSeekers]

For the most part all manufacturers are putting out quality products, so you have to look at Features & Functionality.

Functionality - I know that divers go with Hose-less AI Computers to eliminate a hose but the prudent diver will run a small compact SPG (22", 24" or 30" HP hose) and keep it clipped off back behind them. This way in the unlikely event you lose connection, you still can check PSI (redundancy).

As far as Features, Suunto has a lot of them, the only thing that some divers don't like is how conservative they are (plenty ofposts on this). If you are fine with this and you like everything else, then go with it. The next choice that I would recommend to look at if you go this route is the Oceanic VT3. It handles up to 3 gasses and we find them very reliable especially with transmitting PSI. It doesn't have an integrated Compass, but if you read previous threads, most divers prefer Analog.

VT-3 PDC, COMPLETE *Buy Oceanic at DIVESEEKERS.com 888-SCUBA-47

Feel free to contact me if you need anymore help.

 

[jbrown287]

I am planning on running a analog compass. What is the biggest cause of wireless losing communications?

 

[shark_tamer]

I just upgraded my Oceanic to a Vyper Air with transmitter last week.

I couldn't calibrate the compass, even after 20 tries and tripple reading the manual.

Went to my LDS and tech couldn't calibrate it either. Even tried the only other one in stock who seemed to have to same problem !!!

Tech phoned Sunnto customer service ... comp has to back to manufacturer !!!

 

[Ghanguss]

Re connecting the communication can be done underwater? I'm almost positive it can I just want to make sure. What could a user do to make the communications link disconnect?

Didnt see your reply until now.

As far as I know you cannot reset the transmitter while in dive mode but you shouldnt have to.

I was using the computer in gauge mode and it was displaying out of range (for a few days) so I turned the transmitter off. Then on the next dive (in dive mode) I activated the transmitter but it did not pair with the computer. I didnt notice before I got in the water so it was too late to do anything. (maybe after being out of range so long the computer stopped trying to communicate??)
After the dive I went into the setup where you enter the transmitter code and selected "clear" and it paired up straight away.

So from this I have learned-
After a long period of being out of range OR after turning the transmitter off, check that its paired before the dive.

Under normal diving conditions the unit has worked flawlessly. I recently did 5 dives in a weekend and it worked well. I never checked for pairing, just got in the water and it worked.

 

[Ghanguss]

I just upgraded my Oceanic to a Vyper Air with transmitter last week.

I couldn't calibrate the compass, even after 20 tries and tripple reading the manual.

Went to my LDS and tech couldn't calibrate it either. Even tried the only other one in stock who seemed to have to same problem !!!

Tech phoned Sunnto customer service ... comp has to back to manufacturer !!!

Mine works OK. It calibrates easily and Ive used it sucessfully on 2 dives so far.

I have an analogue compass too, and if I expect some serious navigation on a dive Ill use the analogue, but for the everyday recreational dive the electronic compass is sufficient.