Atomic Aquatics Cobalt Dive Computer

[RonR]

On the bright side, it sounds as if Nick of MacDive is ready to release an update that, among other changes, downloads dives from the Cobalt. I've been using it, and it works. No support at this point for gas switching or multiple tanks, but that is coming.

 

[UW_again]

First I want to thank Ron R for giving us insights and information as to what is what... thanks Ron! I am glad that there is someone like Ron who takes of his time to route our input back to Atomic. I had played with the Cobalt at my LDS and INDEED it is very intuitive. I bought my Cobalt on the 25th of March and dove it on the 27th of March. Ron here is my feed back for you to go with that you've already received. BTW I read every post in this thread :medal: I used the plastic triangle on the strap to attach it with a double ended bolt snap to my left harness 'D' ring which made it convenient to access. I'd like to suggest a strap made out of the two pieces of velcro that way the strap could be relocated to the attachment point at the end of the Cobalt. I found the instrument hard to read in direct sunlight, as are all LCD displays. The incremental settings on the brightness was great, I dove it set on 2 clicks above the minimum and when I bumped up to it's brightest, it was bright enough in the relative darkness of a cave to act as an emergency light! Which it did when my lights both gave out on exiting from the second dive. Along with all the other good input you've gotten, (which when applied to the instrument as updates will much improve the function - hopefully both those and the logbook will be out soon lol!), I would like to add that the numbers in safety stop timer display were a little small for me to see it through my full prescription mask - altho I WAS able to do so, maybe something can be done to make the numbers larger?
On the comparative side, I also wore my Tusa IQ 700 wrist mount DC, which I've had for over 3 years. Both DC were set to conservative. I noticed that the Cobalt logged in a max depth which was 4' shallower than the Tusa for both dives. As was pointed out to me that's only like 2%, but it WAS a difference.
Another thing I had to get used to was the difference in the tank pressure from the time I turned the gas on and then the pressure that the Cobalt recorded as starting pressure - after submerging to 4' I'm guessing. It would be nice to have the starting pressure as well as the start of dive pressure both recorded, but of course only the pressure from the start of the dive and not the initial pressurization would be used to calculate your air consumption.
The only other "issue" that I had was with the screen protector. Understand that this is my first experience with one. Whilst I was putting it on the thing nearly came back off when I was removing the top protective sheet! I had it bubble free until then, but by dumb luck managed to get it back on bubble free! After the dives, the screen protector now has bubbles in it and my buddy who had a Cobalt (until he lost it) said he had the same problem with the screen protector getting bubbles under it after his first dive with it. How about a rigid Lexan protector? Either slides on or is fastened on by small bungees or 'O' rings underneath the instrument (as in the Tusa IQ 700).
Finally I have to agree with everybody that for the price that we paid for this fine instrument there should have been included better protection for both the screen and some sort of soft or hard case to transport it in when it's not in use. Overall I'm very pleased with the Cobalt and how easy it is to use.
Thanks Ron, keep up the good work!

 

[RonR]

First I want to thank Ron R for giving us insights and information as to what is what... thanks Ron!

Thanks.

I would like to add that the numbers in safety stop timer display were a little small for me to see it through my full prescription mask - altho I WAS able to do so, maybe something can be done to make the numbers larger?

There's not much room, but we are looking at that.

On the comparative side, I also wore my Tusa IQ 700 wrist mount DC, which I've had for over 3 years. Both DC were set to conservative. I noticed that the Cobalt logged in a max depth which was 4' shallower than the Tusa for both dives. As was pointed out to me that's only like 2%, but it WAS a difference.

The Cobalt is set to a generic sea water density as to how it converts absolute pressure readings to depth- this was just a decision on our part to not complicate the interface with another option. The pressure reading (which is what all algorithm calculations are based on) is highly accurate, but it might not map in depth reading to another computer that defaults to, say, fresh water density. I don't know if this accounts for what you saw, but you can check the Cobalt's pressure accuracy on the surface by comparing the reading in the System Info screen to a good barometer- we use a local University Atmospheric Sciences department that keeps current readings live online. It should be within a few millibars, and roughly 30 millibars = one foot of depth.

Another thing I had to get used to was the difference in the tank pressure from the time I turned the gas on and then the pressure that the Cobalt recorded as starting pressure - after submerging to 4' I'm guessing. It would be nice to have the starting pressure as well as the start of dive pressure both recorded, but of course only the pressure from the start of the dive and not the initial pressurization would be used to calculate your air consumption.

Do you mean the difference in pressure after the tank cools from being submerged? Or the response time to give a tank pressure- which will be improved in the firmware update? The "starting pressure" recorded in the log would be the pressure as of the start of the dive.


Thanks for the other suggestions, they are all thing being worked on.

 

[vladimir]

The retailer is scrambling to help me and while I have not seen anything from Atomic directly, no replies to either of the two e-mail addresses that I have supplied. Ron has told they have tried and so I don't really know what is wrong with that side of things. Per Ron they are standing by to help if the retailer cannot. And so based on Ron's inputs which I have no doubt are correct; the people at Atomic are trying their best to provide the good support that we expect from Atomic.

I am glad I purchased through Scuba Toys. I'm also very happy and grateful to Ron for shepherding this thing along so as to help ensure a good outcome.

I am glad to see you edited this post. Maybe check your spam folder for Darcy's emails. I would have a lot more restraint and wait until I'd exhausted all the normal channels for grievances before I publicly criticized a company.

 

[UW_again]

Thanks.



There's not much room, but we are looking at that.


The Cobalt is set to a generic sea water density as to how it converts absolute pressure readings to depth- this was just a decision on our part to not complicate the interface with another option. The pressure reading (which is what all algorithm calculations are based on) is highly accurate, but it might not map in depth reading to another computer that defaults to, say, fresh water density. I don't know if this accounts for what you saw, but you can check the Cobalt's pressure accuracy on the surface by comparing the reading in the System Info screen to a good barometer- we use a local University Atmospheric Sciences department that keeps current readings live online. It should be within a few millibars, and roughly 30 millibars = one foot of depth.

 

[UW_again]

Thanks.



There's not much room, but we are looking at that.


Do you mean the difference in pressure after the tank cools from being submerged? Or the response time to give a tank pressure- which will be improved in the firmware update? The "starting pressure" recorded in the log would be the pressure as of the start of the dive.


Thanks for the other suggestions, they are all thing being worked on.

THANKS Ron!
I guess I'll have to check next time to see what the psi is before and after I enter the water and also note what it is as I reach the 4'-5' depth to check tank cooling and start of dive tank pressure

 

[UW_again]

Thanks.



There's not much room, but we are looking at that.


The Cobalt is set to a generic sea water density as to how it converts absolute pressure readings to depth- this was just a decision on our part to not complicate the interface with another option. The pressure reading (which is what all algorithm calculations are based on) is highly accurate, but it might not map in depth reading to another computer that defaults to, say, fresh water density. I don't know if this accounts for what you saw, but you can check the Cobalt's pressure accuracy on the surface by comparing the reading in the System Info screen to a good barometer- we use a local University Atmospheric Sciences department that keeps current readings live online. It should be within a few millibars, and roughly 30 millibars = one foot of depth.

Thanks for the other suggestions, they are all thing being worked on.

So the pressure reading for the depth is set for sea water? The Tusa was set for fresh water, that would explain the difference

 

[Michael Anthony]

I am glad to see you edited this post. Maybe check your spam folder for Darcy's emails. I would have a lot more restraint and wait until I'd exhausted all the normal channels for grievances before I publicly criticized a company.

Yes you are right.

...and I was / am checking the spam folder regularly. Still nothing from Atomicaquatics.com. Ron helped. Scuba Toys helped. And even though I could not see it, I was told Atomic Aquatics was involved and ready to get more involved if needed. And so again, you are right.

 

[UW_again]

Also FYI I didn't hear the low gas alarm, but then I didn't hear the dive time alarm on the Tusa either, could be because I was wearing a hood?

 

[RonR]

Also FYI I didn't hear the low gas alarm, but then I didn't hear the dive time alarm on the Tusa either, could be because I was wearing a hood?

Very probably. The alarms are not very loud, it's something we are working on improving. In my experience wearing a hood makes it pretty hard to hear anything but your own breathing!