This is a take off of the sting that was going on a couple of days ago. The question of which dive computer is recommend for the tech side. Heard alot of VR3s and the such. I currently have a Cochran Gemini and am completely fed up with it. Had it for almost a year and never made it a weekend without it loosing contact with the tank unit (mostly during dives!). This last weekend I couldn't ever get it to read info from the Tank unit - again, AFTER it has been back to Chochran. Dive aborted before it ever started. Is the VR3 air integrated? If not what are the options for wireless, multigas, integrated computers that are well suited for tech?
Wireless Computer Question
- Thread starter gdive
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I'll be honest. I just ditched the transmitter on my VyTec last month. It is another O-Ring to fail and got in the way of my hose routing of my short hose off my left post. It's much cleaner on my hose routing now.
I've always had the mechanical gauge anyways.
To my knowledge, the VR-3 does not have the wireless integration yet. It it did, I probably wouldn't use it. I guess that Delta Technologies will have that option soon. I have ordered a VR-3 and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival
. The people that I dive with up here swear by it.
I've always had the mechanical gauge anyways.
To my knowledge, the VR-3 does not have the wireless integration yet. It it did, I probably wouldn't use it. I guess that Delta Technologies will have that option soon. I have ordered a VR-3 and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival
. The people that I dive with up here swear by it.gdive:
I just use my old Genesis Escort. It's AI and air only but when I bend it it defaults to gauge mode, which suits me just fine...
I think if I were to replace it now I would buy a VR3 but it's hard to part with that kind of money when I don't really need it for the kind of dives I'm making. Most of my puddlestomping doesn't require a computer at all and the wreck diving is all square profiles, 35-40 metres and the only thing I ever look at on my computer are the basic parameters anyway.... Seeing the pressure on the screen is nice but it's definitely a luxury you could do without.
R..
gerardnealon
Contributor
I have the vytec with the transmitter and love it. It is kind of a pain in the beginning to sync your computer with the transmitter. You have to hold the unit right against the transmitter for it to sync. If you put your gear on and forget to sync the unit, you have to either ask a buddy to put your computer against the transmitter or take you gear off again. Also if you walk away from you gear and your computer starts reading fail, you have to turn the transmitting feature off and on again on the computer to get it to sync again.
After you learn the quirks of the computer, it is really a great unit. Good luck.
After you learn the quirks of the computer, it is really a great unit. Good luck.
gdive:
UWATEC Smart TEC and Oceanic Atom. These two are capable of switching between up to three transmitters. IMHO, Atom has rather small screen and the reliability is just not there yet.
http://www.scubapro.com/products/comps/sm_tec_wrist/sm_tec_wrist.asp
http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/p_computers_atom.html
perhaps I should add that most tech divers (most that I know anyway) would probably consider an air integrated computer to be unsuitable for technical diving.
For tech: Ditch the transmitter. Either your hoses will be in the way, or the transmitter will be in the way of reaching your valves. A HP port plug has an o-ring, the same as a transmitter, so you don't get the benefit of one less o-ring as mentioned above, but the transmitter sticking out is a great lever to shear on a wreck or cave overhead. This would really make for a bad day.
I used my Oceanic VT Pro in gauge mode for tech for almost two years. The only benefit, if you want to call it one, was the tank pressure readout on the cx. I've always had the SPG clipped off as well. I just got rid of the transmitter from my tech rig and won't miss it a bit.
For recreational dives (non overhead), I'll use it to lose one hose. Using it with a hose SPG defeats the purpose. One or the other in my mind.
As for cx's for tech: Look at the HS Explorer as well as the VR3. I haven't heard too many praises for the Cochran's, but I've never used one personally. I've been steered towards the prior two.
I used my Oceanic VT Pro in gauge mode for tech for almost two years. The only benefit, if you want to call it one, was the tank pressure readout on the cx. I've always had the SPG clipped off as well. I just got rid of the transmitter from my tech rig and won't miss it a bit.
For recreational dives (non overhead), I'll use it to lose one hose. Using it with a hose SPG defeats the purpose. One or the other in my mind.
As for cx's for tech: Look at the HS Explorer as well as the VR3. I haven't heard too many praises for the Cochran's, but I've never used one personally. I've been steered towards the prior two.
gerardnealon
Contributor
I have actually heard of the Cochran refered to as the "Bend - o - Matic". I have never used it before so I cannot attest to that.
gerardnealon:
Cochrans are quite "aggressive," but for technical diving shouldn't one ALWAYS pre plan dives/cut tables? The computer's just there for backup or serving as a bottom timer.
I've had issues with my Cochran Gemini, but all the Commanders I've used have been very reliable. The only issue I have with Cochran computers is the "automatic gas switching" function - IMHO it's just not a good idea.
OP
I will defend a little at to this reply. It WAS given that moniker by a specific dive site that was routenely seeing them give bad information. However, since then software has been upgraded and there have been no problems since. It is an excellent computer - if I could rely on the transmission. Am leaning toward the "ditching the tank unit" option.
gerardnealon:
Bob3
Contributor
The original "bend-o-matics" were made by Healthways & ScubaPro; they had a little gas filled chamber that was supposed to approximate gas absorption & move the needle on the dial accordingly. They were discontinued probably about the early '70s
Take a peek at what the guys at Bikini Atoll are using, they do the deep & deco stuff almost every day. http://www.bikiniatoll.com/divetour.html
Take a peek at what the guys at Bikini Atoll are using, they do the deep & deco stuff almost every day. http://www.bikiniatoll.com/divetour.html
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