Will Air Integration in dive computers replace the SPG?

[dmaziuk]

Then you've got a training scar from not routinely managing a pressure gauge.

If you fail to check your tank pressure, you fail to check your tank pressure. The instrument you fail to check your tank pressure with is incidental.

And no, a mom and pop dive shop in SE Asia is unlikely to have spare AI stuff that's compatable with your computer. Even less likely is for there to be one on the boat.

So I have a, say, 6" hose with a transmitter on QD fitting. And I have an SPG on another, say, 30" of hose with a QD sitting in my mesh bag under the bench. And I care about spare AI stuff in a pop shop on a boat in SE Asia because?

 

[Bennno]

14 pages and nobody can even name one single advantage that AI has over an SPG? Again, if there was an advantage, people would be using it. Reality tells us that AI is just a toy, some new divers are excited about, and that's fine, but please stop claiming it's new technology, IT'S NOT. It's been 20 years guys and AI still doesn't have any useful functions.

Since you guys like analogies so much: AI is like a toaster with a build in radio, oldish tech that needs good marketing to be excited about it but doesn't do anything that the even older stuff doesn't do.

 

[stuartv]

Then you've got a training scar from not routinely managing a pressure gauge.

And no, a mom and pop dive shop in SE Asia is unlikely to have spare AI stuff that's compatable with your computer. Even less likely is for there to be one on the boat.

Huh??

If I go to SE Asia, I'll have my AI and I'll have my SPG in my bag (maybe even 2), so I can take the AI transmitter off my 1st stage and put the SPG on, if the AI transmitter stops working. I'll take 2 computers, too.

 

[PfcAJ]

Lel, youre going to take THREE pieces of gear when one does just fine.

im having a giggle

 

[The Chairman]

Again, if there was an advantage, people would be using it.

People are using it and more and more are adopting it. I use it to sidemount in caves. The advantage? On sidemount the SPG is either a lollipop or a drag behind. Look at one on any cave diving rig and you can see that they get beat to hell. Each transmitter nestles between the regulator and the tank neck, so they are completely protected. It's incredibly convenient and since I eliminate the 2 biggest failure points, the hose and the spool, I'm way ahead of the game.

 

[stuartv]

14 pages and nobody can even name one single advantage that AI has over an SPG? Again, if there was an advantage, people would be using it. Reality tells us that AI is just a toy, some new divers are excited about, and that's fine, but please stop claiming it's new technology, IT'S NOT. It's been 20 years guys and AI still doesn't have any useful functions.

Since you guys like analogies so much: AI is like a toaster with a build in radio, oldish tech that needs good marketing to be excited about it but doesn't do anything that the even older stuff doesn't do.

If you read all 14 pages and did not comprehend one thing that was an advantage (to the person who said it), then you need to find a remedial reading class.

- Quicker to check and doesn't require use of any hands (you know, in case they are full).
- Gives you more data about your consumption (particularly beneficial to divers still new enough for their SAC to be improving).
- Can alert you if you accidentally switch to the wrong gas.
- 1 less hose to possibly rupture.
- 2 less O-rings to possibly leak.
- One less Bourdon tube to possibly break/leak.
- One less hose to possibly catch on something.
- One less thing clipped to your D-ring to identify by feel.
- Ability to read in extremely low viz without using an additional hand to operate a light.
- Possibly able to read it by holding it directly to your mask in zero viz, where you could not read an SPG at all.

Now, you may feel like some of these are no advantage to YOU. But, if you want to assert that not a single one of those things is a legitimate advantage to ANYONE, then there's really no point in continuing to talk.

Since you like analogies so much, how about "an electronic SPG is like a .... electronic depth gauge that needs marketing to get people excited about because it doesn't do anything that the older stuff doesn't do."

You ARE still using dual, redundant mechanical depth gauges, right?

 

[The Chairman]

Huh??

If I go to SE Asia, I'll have my AI and I'll have my SPG in my bag (maybe even 2), so I can take the AI transmitter off my 1st stage and put the SPG on, if the AI transmitter stops working. I'll take 2 computers, too.

For OW, I'll often travel with just one PDC and one transmitter. Plenty of local spares if you really need it. Going to the Philippines, I'll be taking two of each and replacement batteries. I don't want to miss a second. I'll be putting fresh batteries in the PDCs at that.

 

[stuartv]

Lel, youre going to take THREE pieces of gear when one does just fine.

im having a giggle

When we go to SE Asia, you're going to take 1 SPG and no spare? And your reason is that, if the SPG fails, you can get a replacement there? Okay, in that case, if I'll take your word for it and take only my AI.

Okay, not really. If I have a spare SPG, I would still take it. But, if I were using AI instead of an SPG, I would still take a spare SPG if I had one. I like being prepared for failures and being self-sufficient. Giggle all you want. For that matter, if I go to SE Asia, I would probably also carry a spare 1st and 2nd stage set.

The point is, an SPG can sub in for an AI transmitter the same as it can sub in for any other SPG. So, like I said before, not being able to get spare parts is a non-reason to not use AI. You're not going to take your SPG apart and replace parts inside. If it breaks on a dive trip, you're going to sub in another one. Same as anyone would do if their AI breaks - sub in another SPG.

 

[stuartv]

For OW, I'll often travel with just one PDC and one transmitter. Plenty of local spares if you really need it. Going to the Philippines, I'll be taking two of each and replacement batteries. I don't want to miss a second. I'll be putting fresh batteries in the PDCs at that.

If I travel anywhere at all to dive - even just a drive down to NC - I take spares of everything that I have spares for. I don't want to miss a second, either. That's why I have, so far, dived pretty much every single dive I've done (barring some training dives) with 2 computers. I don't think I would take a spare BP on a flying trip. But, I would take a spare wing (since I have one). 2 computers (they're small!). Extra reg set. Two SPGS (one AI and one mechanical). 2 masks. Only one set of fins, though (if I'm flying).

 

[Bennno]

Since you like analogies so much, how about "an electronic SPG is like a .... electronic depth gauge that needs marketing to get people excited about because it doesn't do anything that the older stuff doesn't do."

You ARE still using dual, redundant mechanical depth gauges, right?

Stuart, I already said in an earlier post that you can't compare depth measureing to tank pressure, as depth is required for deco calculations. Don't you see that difference?
Comparing it to a radio toaster is way more accurate. Maybe a radio toaster with a fancy display that tell how much longer untill your toast is ready.
As for you list of advantages: Bourden on the tube? Hose can catch on something? Give you your sac rate? It tells you when you're using the wrong gas? Have you ever had any of those issues. Do you bring an extra big knife to defend yourself against sharks too?

Pete, the hp hoses/spools are not the biggest failure points, what makes you say that? You don't even lose a lot of gas when you have a hp leak due to the tiny, tiny bore of the hp port. In sidemount this is hardly a problem. And yeah, the SPGs get beat up, so what? They can take lots and lots of abuse.