Wireless transmitters and backup gauges

[marcbs]

I just bought an Oceanic VT3 with the wireless transmitter setup. I've only heard good things from people who have them. Of course, if the computer dies u/w I'm without information. I always dive with a watch so I'll know my dive time but common sense says get a SPG and depth gauge. Any thoughts? (although I think I just answered my own question).

Marc

 

[Codiak]

I suggest you ask yourself a couple questions first

If you had an SPG and depth gauge would you have redundant systems for them as well?

If you have equipment failure are you intending to continue the dive?

 

[stablgr]

Personally, until the reliability of underwater wireless communication and of electronic instrumentation gets closer to that of relatively simple mechanical devices I will continue to dive with a watch, depth gauge and SPG as well as my computer.

 

[Peter_C]

Both my gal and I use air integrated wrist computers. We also have an SPG clipped off to our hip for redundancy and it also helps when setting the rig up. Easy to check air pressure before syncing up the wrist computer. Also if diving in the tropics a depth/bottom timer along with tables can be used to continue diving the rest of the vacation in case of computer failure. Might have to sit out a couple of dives but at least not an entire vacation.

The gauge gets a bolt snap tied to it using some cave type line. Then it clips to a d-ring on your left hip. The hose should be around 24", and if you want more advice I am sure Phil would be more than happy to answer any questions.

Phil Ellis has a rockin' deal for scubaboard members.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ho...-50-each-2-sizes-free-us-shipping-2-more.html

 

[njd3rph]

follow your common sense, you should be using redundant gages regardless of whether or not you use a wireless transmitter, your life could depend on it

 

[Charlie99]

Take what you need to safely ABORT a dive. At any point in the dive, you should always have enough air to abort a dive --- not only for you, but enough air for both you and your buddy to share air.

The 2nd question is whether or not you can safely ascend without a depth gauge.

In my recreational diving, even without any backup I can safely abort a dive in case of failure of either my SPG or my computer/depth gauge. Were I doing solo decompression dives in low viz water, then a redundant depth gauge would be a requirement, but even then, a backup SPG is just extra junk to bring along.

 

[tedwhiteva]

I just bought an Oceanic VT3 with the wireless transmitter setup. I've only heard good things from people who have them. Of course, if the computer dies u/w I'm without information. I always dive with a watch so I'll know my dive time but common sense says get a SPG and depth gauge. Any thoughts? (although I think I just answered my own question).

Marc

Two failures possible - transmiter fails (air pressure reading gone), or computer fails (depth, air pressure, and time gone).
Assuming recreational/no deco limits
You will (should) abort the dive - with your buddy hopefully. You don't care much about air remaining at that point. Can you roughly guage where 15 feet is for safety stop without it? or with your buddy. So what if you can't - its not a manadatory deco stop.

So what do you need the back-up spg and depth guage for again?

 

[paulwlee]

Yup, unless you need to continue diving in the event of a computer failure (you're a dive guide, you're an instructor, you paid a million dollars to do the dive, etc. etc.) no need for that kind of redundancy for recreational diving.

If something fails (it only happens rarely), you abort the dive.

That said, having an SPG tucked away is pretty minimal in terms of additional equipment, so if you want to keep diving in that one-time-in-a-hundred-dives-when-your-transmitter-battery-runs-low-and-you-forgot-to-change-it, then it's a pretty small investment.

 

[UncleJoes]

The average SPG with hose and boot costs around $99 MSRP. So as paulwlee said you have a minimal investment there.

One of my customers who recently bought an Atom asked me the same question. I told him in the event of computer/ transmitter failure ABORT dive. However either a spare SPG or full console (~$230 MSRP with compass) tucked away in your reg bag is Highly reccomended especially on a big vacation.

 

[dkatchalov]

Personally, until the reliability of underwater wireless communication and of electronic instrumentation gets closer to that of relatively simple mechanical devices I will continue to dive with a watch, depth gauge and SPG as well as my computer.

+1 for the above comment.

Why would anyone pay a premium for AI is beyond me. Apart from reliability issues, what is wrong with looking at your SPG? One extra hose to worry about I hear you say? Who cares! As if you really notice it that extra hose underwater.