Thank you for the response but I have no intentions on diving doubles or getting into that type of diving any time in the near future. I bought the Ranger because I like the buoyancy characteristics of a back inflated BCD vs. the jacket style with my heavier steel tank, and it was on sale at the time for $510 out the door at my LDS.
As for the regulator, I'm not sure exactly what you're referencing. I bought my Atomic B2 because I wanted a quality regulator for a reasonable price ($600ish) back when I first got into diving in 2008, and at that time I was diving the Oceanic Probe LX jacket style BCD. Then, a couple years down the line I decided I no longer wanted a jacket-style BCD, bought the Ranger as mentioned above and haven't looked back since.
Maybe it's my lack of experience but I don't at all see the comparison between the two pieces of equipment. My course has always been to comfortably have fun recreational diving. The reason I bought a pony tank is because I have always wanted to be self-reliant and maybe do an occasional solo dive.
Later on down the line I might look into some basic wreck courses but nothing really serious that warrants the "tech" name. Been diving 6 years now and those views haven't really changed.
An easy breathing reg, tanks with negative bouyancy/plenty of air, a well balanced BCD, and now a little extra air in case things abruptly go down hill fit my intentions fairly well.
---------- Post added June 18th, 2014 at 02:15 PM ----------
50-90 is the average range with 60-80 being a little more common off the coast of Palm Beach, FL. That's not to say I haven't been 100-120 a dozen times and I figured the extra gas could pay off in those situations.
I didn't want anything smaller than a 19. Compared to the 19cf, the 30cf is 3/4" taller and just under an inch wider in diameter. The weight didn't really concern me as I assume it won't be very burdensome underwater. As for the gauge, I think I agree and I'm likely going with the Dive Gear Express button gauge shown on the previous page. I like the clean face.
Trade me for a 19cf if my theories don't play out?
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