Mares Icon HD Net Ready Reviews and Dive Experiences

[Pumuckel57]

@Pumuckel57
A wireless update via the icon itself sounds very science fiction, as the data exychange is limited to tank pressure and battery level.

Hi Zoranb,

MARES marketing uses the bidirectional communication of Icon NetReady and Transmitter as one of the major arguments to have the "best" communication solution in integrated computers. The result was the high power consumption of battery power causing the battery drain. So I guess the concept not only includes pressure and battery level, but also sending data to the transmitter.

Uli

 

[zoranb]

True, but the bidirectional communication is limited to the icon itself . The radio architecture suggests the transmitter just blindly sends data when pressurized. I don't think the transmitter is able to recieve any useful data if any at all. I don't think the transmitter actually "knows" it has been paired.

Mares' idea of networked equipment is too futuristic for these days. Sure some day it will be nice for the sensors in my suit to send the temperature and the salinity data to the icon, for my BCD to display the volume of air inside it (and adjust the amount based on the accelerometers in the equipment to make me neutrally buoyant). I kinda liked the idea that a dive leader would know the tank pressure of everyone in his group, but the suggested idea itself makes no sense when you realise that the range of the transmitter is just 1,5 m.

BTW, my transmitter still refuses to pair with the icon...

 

[Pumuckel57]

Mares announced to start upgrading the transmitter software! But it is just possible to be made by the resellers. Think they need to plugon the transmitters to a special interface to upgrade. So we need to visit our Mares Shop. Ask for exchange of battery. May be they do. Because my NetReady got an shortcircuit caused by that crummy connection clip, they had to replace the board. I've got a new one and they put in a 2800 mAh cell.

 

[Leet25]

Purchased June 2013 used for two dives then quit--paid return, getting ready to leave on third trip since buying--not taking a charge again---seems like I have a very expensive paper weight --How do I talk to at someone at mares, I can not seem to get thru---so far I have 13 dives since buying only worked on two--Did I waste my money

 

[Hatul]

Purchased June 2013 used for two dives then quit--paid return, getting ready to leave on third trip since buying--not taking a charge again---seems like I have a very expensive paper weight --How do I talk to at someone at mares, I can not seem to get thru---so far I have 13 dives since buying only worked on two--Did I waste my money

I had a bad experience with it when it first came and returned it. In your case it's under warranty and they'll fix it. They have a center in the US. You need to find the phone number.

 

[Naboodiver]

Well, it has been a while since I have been to the board. I started this thread and really loved the Icon HD (without the transmitter). I was thrilled when the Net Ready Transmitter arrived. It worked well at first but on a dive to Grand Cayman 2012, it stopped working on the second dive the 3rd day. I had heard of issues with this version one model eating up battery power. So thinking ahead, I brought a spare battery. I replaced it and the rest of the trip it functioned without any further issues.
When I got back, I saw where Mares was exchanging the transmitter with a new version that does not turn on until under pressure and therefore would not eat the battery. So, I sent it in for a replacement.

Now it is October 2013 and I headed to Bonaire for my big dive trip of the year. First dive was ok but that was the last of it. The next dive of the day, 20 minutes into the dive the pressure reading went to zero (actually 663 psi) then back to actual psi and repeating that cycle throughout the dive. This kept happening the next two dive with variation of flip flop to actual psi to zero. The rest of the week this continued. Some dives it set at zero the whole dive. I was so unhappy. I had to rely on my console the whole week. I tried changing the battery, repairing, etc. Nothing I tried helped. It is on its way back to Leisure Pro. This is my last straw with this computer. If this occurs again upon the return, I am done. All my ScubaPro fanboy friends gave me hell all week that their Galileo Sol work all the time and without issue. I guess I will have to join them if this is not resolved this time. I can no longer recommend this computer and will have a $1,200 backup computer.

 

[Naboodiver]

Update: I received a call from the Mares Service Center today. Yes, my transmitter was defective. Rick Trap, service center rep, was very nice and explained the issue. He told me that they were sending me a new Transmitter at no cost (mine was no longer under warranty). He apologized for the issues that I encountered. He said he would send my computer and new transmitter in a couple days after he did a few test dives with it to insure there were no further issues. He also said that if I had any further issues to call the center direct and they would make it right. My hope is that I will finally have a functioning and never to fail again dive computer that I can rely on. Time will tell. I have to say Mares appears to take their customer service to heart.

Rick also told me that there is a very exciting ICON HD Net Ready software upgrade coming soon but would not elaborate. He also said he was sending new pairing instructions with my return. He said this new transmitter has a different pairing procedure. I found this a little puzzling. Sounds like Mares continues to change this transmitter's design. I guess I will have to wait to see what the new procedure is about.

 

[Cateri55]

Just purchased a new mares icon HD, brought it down to Cabo.went to pair the transmitter to the wrist, no luck. Multiple attempts failed. What to you guys recommend? Get rid of it and buy an Uwatec? Or gives Mares another chance. I am really disappointed so far.

 

[Naboodiver]

Just purchased a new mares icon HD, brought it down to Cabo.went to pair the transmitter to the wrist, no luck. Multiple attempts failed. What to you guys recommend? Get rid of it and buy an Uwatec? Or gives Mares another chance. I am really disappointed so far.

Before you ditch it and go to ScubaPro's Galileo, try this. The transmitter needs to be connected to the first stage HP port and then to the air tank and under pressure before you start the pairing process. If it is not under pressure, it is not transmitting. Make sure you are pairing with the distance between the transmitter and computer of no more than a finger's length distance (3 inches). Perform the pairing process: Settings, Set Dive, Gas Integration, Pair Devices, select G1. Good luck.. Let me know if this solved the problem.

 

[Omisson]

Just purchased a new mares icon HD, brought it down to Cabo.went to pair the transmitter to the wrist, no luck. Multiple attempts failed. What to you guys recommend? Get rid of it and buy an Uwatec? Or gives Mares another chance. I am really disappointed so far.

You must connect the hose to a first stage and get pressure in it before paring.

I have three transmitters and have been using the ICON for two years- I love it.

---------- Post added March 3rd, 2014 at 09:24 PM ----------

Update: I received a call from the Mares Service Center today. Yes, my transmitter was defective. Rick Trap, service center rep, was very nice and explained the issue. He told me that they were sending me a new Transmitter at no cost (mine was no longer under warranty). He apologized for the issues that I encountered. He said he would send my computer and new transmitter in a couple days after he did a few test dives with it to insure there were no further issues. He also said that if I had any further issues to call the center direct and they would make it right. My hope is that I will finally have a functioning and never to fail again dive computer that I can rely on. Time will tell. I have to say Mares appears to take their customer service to heart.

Rick also told me that there is a very exciting ICON HD Net Ready software upgrade coming soon. I guess I will have to wait to see what the new procedure is about.

I hope this is the rumored Trimix upgrade- extension with 16 tissue compartment algorithm-! Wouldn't mind it receiving 5 transmitters either!