$90 USB cables???

[wealthychef]

I just wanted to know if I'm the only one who thinks it's completely insane that a cable to connect a VT3 dive computer to a PC is $90. :confused: What makes these cables so pricey? I know there is supply and demand, yada yada, but really, it can't cost more than $15 to make these things, can it? :shakehead:

[Bubbletrubble]

I can empathize. Suunto marks up its PC download cables, too.

You could be patient and try to buy a used cable. That's what I did.

[fppf]

Well, excluding the clip part that attaches to the computer its all standard parts.
Just a standard Serial to USB converter (they flash a code in the USB chip to make it come up as "Oceanic") a standard cable.

The cost to make the clip is a little coin. Injection molding setups can be 10's of thousands, so it really depends how many they sell.

But to answer, its diving related, price gets doubled, tripled, or higher.

[buddhasummer]

I just wanted to know if I'm the only one who thinks it's completely insane that a cable to connect a VT3 dive computer to a PC is $90. :confused: What makes these cables so pricey? I know there is supply and demand, yada yada, but really, it can't cost more than $15 to make these things, can it? :shakehead:

You are probably right, perhaps even less, but I guess the problem is "we" cant make them for $15. So I take it you are not a "wealthy chef";)

[fnfalman]

First of all, I thought that the cable is included? My Aeris Elite T3 is the same thing and it came with the cable.

Secondly, don't bother to download like me. Voila!!! No problem, no hassle. Hehe.

[DiveMaven]

Same here....my VT3s came with download cables...

[AquaExplorer]

Do not get me started on the ridiculous price of what is in essence a freaking USB cable.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I believe they are using the custom cable as a hardware lock on the s/w. Essentially in their mind, you are paying $90 for the cable and license for the s/w. With the need for the cable, they don't have to worry about people sharing the s/w with all their buddies on the internet.

They always have the option of adding blue tooth or IR interface to a computer which would be a real nice feature, but then they would loose a nice revenue stream.

[SkimFisher]

It's crap is what it is. The download kit for my Epic came with it. But Dive Rite wants $165 for the download kit for my Nitek Plus - which is ridiculous. That's never gonna happen.

[Hatul]

I just wanted to know if I'm the only one who thinks it's completely insane that a cable to connect a VT3 dive computer to a PC is $90. :confused: What makes these cables so pricey? I know there is supply and demand, yada yada, but really, it can't cost more than $15 to make these things, can it? :shakehead:

You might want to check on Ebay if someone is selling these at lower price.

Adam

[AbyssalPlains]

Um, what rock have you been hiding under? Welcome to capitalism.

:D

This has nothing to do with supply and demand. A USB cable can't cost more than 50 cents to produce. The only reason the manufacturers charge so much for them is because they can.

Perhaps someone more savvy in electronics than I am can answer this: I was wondering if you could simply jury-rigg the part that attaches to the computer and solder it onto a standard USB cable?

[fppf]

Um, what rock have you been hiding under? Welcome to capitalism.

:D

This has nothing to do with supply and demand. A USB cable can't cost more than 50 cents to produce. The only reason the manufacturers charge so much for them is because they can.

Perhaps someone more savvy in electronics than I am can answer this: I was wondering if you could simply jury-rigg the part that attaches to the computer and solder it onto a standard USB cable?

Yes you can, you just need to be able to change the USB identifier to match the oceanic one so the driver will use it. There was a web site out there somewhere of guys doing this a while back.

[emoreira]

Yes you can, you just need to be able to change the USB identifier to match the oceanic one so the driver will use it. There was a web site out there somewhere of guys doing this a while back.

It would be nice to know how to do my own download cable for my VEO 180NX. The PDC costed US$ 195 + taxes and the price of the cable is US$ 90, almost 1/2 of the value of the PDC. Sound ridiculous and even bizarre.
However It's not so killer interesting for me to see my dive profile in my computer after the dive. I can live without this.

[Grover48]

Uwatec wants $150 for an IR connector. I bought one on line, delivered for less than $15.

It is all part of the great American ripoff.

[Bubbletrubble]

When I initially bought my Suunto Mosquito computer, I didn't think it was worth it to buy the $75 download cable...so I looked into alternatives. Eventually, I bought the ReefNet Sensus Ultra (http://reefnet.ca/products/sensus/) Dive Logger for tracking dive profiles. At the time it cost $115 for the dive logger + download "base." It costs much more now ($170). One advantage of using it is that, if you ever decide to upgrade your dive computer, you won't have to buy another expensive proprietary cable. Multi-platform software is provided as a free download, too.

[ScubaMarc]

On a slightly different rip off, how can a dive computer cost a $800+, when they can use a off the shelf window ce unit that cost less than $100 then add the extras like waterproofing/gauge and the dive software(this is and should be expensive, but many dive computers uses the same algorithms).

FYI: iphone hardware cost $179 to produce.

[keyshunter]

On a slightly different rip off, how can a dive computer cost a $800+, when they can use a off the shelf window ce unit that cost less than $100 then add the extras like waterproofing/gauge and the dive software(this is and should be expensive, but many dive computers uses the same algorithms).

FYI: iphone hardware cost $179 to produce.


Marc,
The scuba market is MUCH smaller than the iphone market. There is much smaller number of manufacturers watching from the wings ready to jump in on perceived profitability.

But, that doesn't mean that there are not some really interesting manufacturing games in scuba. Take, for example, Atomic regulators. The B2, with brass first stage, retails at around $725. The T2, with titanium first stage retails at around $1550. Some people will pay approximately $825 more to have approximately $40 (including manufacturing waste, but not reduced by the cost of the brass it replaced) worth of titanium in a first stage. Manufacturers love to take advantage of the fact that some people, as granny used to say, "have more money than brains".

[reefraff]

I believe they are using the custom cable as a hardware lock on the s/w. Essentially in their mind, you are paying $90 for the cable and license for the s/w. With the need for the cable, they don't have to worry about people sharing the s/w with all their buddies on the internet.

They always have the option of adding blue tooth or IR interface to a computer which would be a real nice feature, but then they would loose a nice revenue stream.

Or you could do what ScubaPro has done and use an oddball IR beam that won't work with most dongles...then sell the special dongle for $100.00.

[Grover48]

Or you could do what ScubaPro has done and use an oddball IR beam that won't work with most dongles...then sell the special dongle for $100.00.
I bought a generic IR unit off the net for less than $15.00 and it works for my Aladin Prime and my Aladin Tec.

[adm3745]

I Got a $3 dongle for my tec 2g and it works perfetly on my tec 2g as well.

[reefraff]

I bought a generic IR unit off the net for less than $15.00 and it works for my Aladin Prime and my Aladin Tec.


I Got a $3 dongle for my tec 2g and it works perfetly on my tec 2g as well.

It took me three tries to find a non-SP dongle that worked with mine. Cost me $10 at Tiger and it works like a charm so they are out there.

[wealthychef]

You could be patient and....
Sorry! No time for that! Gotta go! :auto:

[wealthychef]

Just a standard Serial to USB converter.
So I can buy it somewhere else cheaper?

[wealthychef]

I take it you are not a "wealthy chef";)

You are correct, sir. I am neither wealthy nor a chef, it turns out. LOL

[fppf]

Try Ebay for starters.

Other then that, unless your an electronics engineer it gets really deep on how to make one of these.

[wealthychef]

First of all, I thought that the cable is included?

Nope, not in every kit. I got my compuer brand new for $400, but no cable.



Secondly, don't bother to download like me. Voila!!! No problem, no hassle. Hehe.

True, but I'm a geek

[wealthychef]

Iin their mind, you are paying $90 for the cable and license for the s/w. With the need for the cable, they don't have to worry about people sharing the s/w with all their buddies on the internet.

They always have the option of adding blue tooth or IR interface to a computer which would be a real nice feature, but then they would loose a nice revenue stream.

The software license is a nice angle. I'm a computer scientist -- I guess I should get into the driver-writing business! Hmm.

[wealthychef]

You might want to check on Ebay if someone is selling these at lower price.

Adam

Yeah, I did that and there were zero for sale. Patience isn't my strong suit -- if I had waited a month or so I might be able to save a few bucks, but I'm diving on the 6th so f-- it.

[wealthychef]

Um, what rock have you been hiding under? Welcome to capitalism.

:D

This has nothing to do with supply and demand. A USB cable can't cost more than 50 cents to produce. The only reason the manufacturers charge so much for them is because they can.

Perhaps someone more savvy in electronics than I am can answer this: I was wondering if you could simply jury-rigg the part that attaches to the computer and solder it onto a standard USB cable?

You are a man of contradictions, I can see. "They charge so much because they can" is the DEFINITION of "supply and demand," silly. If nobody bought them, then they either would stop making them as their profit would fall below what it's worth for them to supply or have to adjust the price.

[wealthychef]

Yes you can, you just need to be able to change the USB identifier to match the oceanic one so the driver will use it. There was a web site out there somewhere of guys doing this a while back.

No link? I don't even know what to google? It turns out I thought I bought this cable already but haven't, so I'm interested in cheaper alternatives if they exist.

[wealthychef]

Try Ebay for starters.

Other then that, unless your an electronics engineer it gets really deep on how to make one of these.

It almost sounds like they are delivering a valuable product for a price that matches market conditions. Damn that capitalism! Outsmarted again? Well, the only weapon available to me is research. I am not hearing any alternatives, so I guess I'll have to buy the OEM cable.

[fppf]

No not really.
It just involved taking a standard Serial to USB adapter and changing the ID field in the processor. But you need to remove the chip off the board and have the tools to flash it.

I think there was a site http://www.divecable.com (http://www.divecable.com/) he had oceanic stuff before, but not now. Maybe drop the guy an email.