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Scuba Forum / UK Scuba / January 2005Computer packed up - quantum looks good
My aged Aladin Air packed up yesterday,it has Err on the display. Bought 1998 and has around 240 dives under it's belt. Last time I looked, in the autumn, it wat showing 63% battery life remaining. It must have known I was thinking of replacing it to get nitrox capability so it has sort of forced my hand. Anyway, the Quantum looks like what I'll go for, and it can be had for a good price. Any reasons not to go this route? I'll be doing more nitrox diving as the big five oh approaches and may use the 2 mix capability, but to be honest, I don't push it. Could end up on twin 12's sometimes but can't see that matters. Cheers Graham >My aged Aladin Air packed up yesterday,it has Err on the display. Bought >1998 and has around 240 dives under it's belt. Last time I looked, in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >use the 2 mix capability, but to be honest, I don't push it. Could end >up on twin 12's sometimes but can't see that matters. alternatively.. for about £40, you can get the battery replaced and carry on using it until you need the additional benefits of a Nitrox computer. > > alternatively.. for about £40, you can get the battery replaced and > carry on using it until you need the additional benefits of a Nitrox > computer. That's about now really, so it's time has come........... It may still be worth getting it looked at as it's a cheaper option to buying a backup bottom timer, even if it gets 'bent' on each nitrox dive, it will still accurately give depth, time and ascent rate . IMNSHO I prefer and use the Suunto Vytec, which is also available at discount and can have 3 gases programmed, which is a major bonus as I often use two deco gases, and I'm used to the display layout (probably because it's my third Suunto), plus I like the proper buttons rather than 'wet contacts', one of the reasons I changed from my original Solution to the Vyper, which was lost on a dive, so I replaced it with the Vytec. For discounted prices, try Amphibian Sports in West Norwood, South London. TonyH > > alternatively.. for about ?40, you can get the battery replaced and > > carry on using it until you need the additional benefits of a Nitrox > > computer. > That's about now really, so it's time has come........... > For discounted prices, try Amphibian Sports in West Norwood, South London. They quoted me £210 for the Quantum, I thought that was a bit steep. :) Tim Oh well, it was worth a try. They were very good on the price of my Vytec and a couple of Uwatec timers last year. > forced my hand. Anyway, the Quantum looks like what I'll go for, and it > can be had for a good price. Any reasons not to go this route? I'll be > doing more nitrox diving as the big five oh approaches and may use the 2 > mix capability, but to be honest, I don't push it. Could end up on twin > 12's sometimes but can't see that matters. Cheers If you don't push it, it's not a bad choice. It seems a bit conservative on non-deco dives especially multi-level stuff in the sort of 25m range. I was going into deco way before everyone else. On the deeper stuff, say 35+m, it's not that conservative compared with others, and is more liberal than a Suunto Vyper, though less so than my Cochran Commander, but what isn't And it's cheap. Really easy to use and has a nice log interface. Longer review on my website. Jason  SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports including trips to Plymouth, Weymouth, Falmouth, Exmouth and Scapa Flow > If you don't push it, it's not a bad choice. It seems a bit conservative > on non-deco dives especially multi-level stuff in the sort of 25m range. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Jason Yes, read your review already. I think I could live with the conservative algorithm so it's'still first choice. Cheers Graham >My aged Aladin Air packed up yesterday,it has Err on the display. Bought >1998 and has around 240 dives under it's belt. Last time I looked, in [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Cheers >Graham I've got one which I use right next to a Vyper. I bought it as a backup computer at the NEC dive show for 149 from Go-Dive. However after using it for a bit I am tending to use the Vyper as a backup now and the Quantum as the main, Have lent it to another diver for them to play with at 50m and they liked it and bought one themselves. Diver's Warehouse are also knocking them out pretty cheap (around the 150 mark) and their after sales is excellent. > I've got one which I use right next to a Vyper. I bought it as a > backup computer at the NEC dive show for 149 from Go-Dive. However [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Diver's Warehouse are also knocking them out pretty cheap (around the > 150 mark) and their after sales is excellent. Quantum ordered from DW last night, hopefully on it's way to me by now. Thanks for input one and all:-)) Cheers Graham I had a look at the a review of the Quantum, and these look like the main differences and why I'll be staying with my Vytec, and probably upgrading my wife's Vyper to a Vytec: 1. Only two gases can be programmed (I often use three gases back-gas, EAn50 and 100%O2 for deco) 2. No computer interface for download 3. Does not keep gas mixes stored but loses them each day 4. Fixed PPO2. In all other aspects they are similar computers , so the Apeks looks like a good unit and is reasonably priced; however the Suunto is available for only about ?50 more and I would find the limitations of the Apeks, especially the limit of two gases and re-programming of gases each day of diving to be very inconvenient, as I don't change my deco mixes, only my back-gas. As far as the conservatism of the Suunto is concerned, it looks like the previous users have not changed the RGBM conservancy from 100 to 50, this would account for the difference, as apart from that all of these units use the Buhlmann tables and therefore should be nearly identical in their deco times. TonyH > only about £50 more and I would find the limitations of the Apeks, > especially the limit of two gases and re-programming of gases each day of > diving to be very inconvenient, as I don't change my deco mixes, only my > back-gas. Reprogramming the mixes takes about 20 seconds. It's very quick and very easy. The whole interface is well thought out. I don't find the two gas limit much of an issue. You don't save that much by having two mixes unless you're doing pretty deep stuff, in which case I'm on trimix and the computer is is gauge mode. The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. > As far as the conservatism of the Suunto is concerned, it looks like the > previous users have not changed the RGBM conservancy from 100 to 50, this > would account for the difference, as apart from that all of these units > use the Buhlmann tables and therefore should be nearly identical in their > deco times. Neither of then use raw Buhlmann though, do they? Both companies have fiddled with it and added conservatism. My buddy uses a Vytec. She always has more deco than me. Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Caribbean trip reports to Aruba, Cuba, Grand Bahama, Barbados, St Lucia and Mexico >The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. Why? -- Steve Barlow >>The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. >> > Why? Because whilst I plan all my dives for a maximum of 1.4 bar, occasionally I'm going to slightly exceed that for parts of a dive. I don't really think it's a big deal if my ppO2 hits 1.41, so I'd rather not have a computer that starts beeping and flashing continuously when that happens. Things really aren't that precise. It's the same with the safety stop countdown. It will quite happily count down if your depth is 6.0m, but not 6.1m. Jason Signaturehttp://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for Aussie diving reports including the wrecks of the SS Yongala, Lady Bowen and the HMAS Swan > >>The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. > >> > > Why? The ppO2 limit is adjustable on the Vytec. I use 1.4 too and it does beep if you push it (but not sure if the display flashes too). Just the same as the Vytec does if you go beyond a pre-programmed depth limit. I think the Vytec is a viable option if you want to do more nitrox diving and various mixes on the same dive. >The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. The PPO2 for mix 2 is 1.6. If you really want to dive a PPO2 of 1.6 then use mix 2 as your main gas and mix 1 as your deco gas. >> The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. > > The PPO2 for mix 2 is 1.6. If you really want to dive a PPO2 of 1.6 > then use mix 2 as your main gas and mix 1 as your deco gas. How does the limit manifest itself? Beeping and flashing or what? nigeH > >The ppO2 fixed to 1.4 bar is a bit of a pain though. > > The PPO2 for mix 2 is 1.6. If you really want to dive a PPO2 of 1.6 > then use mix 2 as your main gas and mix 1 as your deco gas. Firstly, that somewhat defeats the purpose. It's not efficient to use the 1st mix for deco as it would limit deco to PPO2 of 1.4. Secondly, although I would not and do not normally choose to use my back-gas (bottom gas) with a PPO2 of 1.6, I might want the option of setting it at 1.5, especially for short duration dives, mainly those without significant deco and not part of a series of repetitive dives. I'm biased as I have a Suunto Vytec! But like Graham and others, I looked around a fair bit before making that choice. The type of computer you buy is (and should) be heavily influenced by the type or diving you do... and many of us do at least two types of diving! 1) UK wreck stuff which is pretty much rectangular profile on optimal nitrox bottom mix and staged, O2 rich deco... and then there's 2) the holiday stuff - air or 32% nitrox in good viz and warm waters such as the red sea So I wanted a computer which would handle a bit more than the holiday stuff, but staying this side of trimix and CCR since I can't afford either of those two options at the moment (sadly ;-( My choice was the Suunto Vytec which has what I consider to be modern and safe deco algorithms (plus variable compensation for people like me who are not as fit as the average US Navy diver ;-), very clear display and good usability (easy multi-level menu system). I though the basic computer was reasonably good value for money, especially as it handles up to 3 different gas mixes. But even though I bought it, the HP transducer (wireless) was pretty pricey. Having said that, I do take advantage of the air integrated nature of the computer now when I dive and it's a feature that I've come to appreciate with more dives, although definitely in the "nice to have" rather than "must have" category. I keep the RGBM set at 100 and vary the other compensation especially when in remote places doing lots of repetitive diving (eg. red sea live aboard). This definitely is too conservative for some diver's tastes, and causes me to notch up more deco than some of my buddies. But, as I said earlier, I am nowhere near as fit as people who I assume original dive tables were designed for (eg. US Navy Divers). |
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