Ratio ix3m Computers

[stuartv]

You don't have to do math at depth, just write down your time at ascent, the math happens at the first decompression stops and you should know roughly what the deco profile will look like before you get in the water, especially when you're in the ocean with nice square profiles

I hear ya. I'm not saying the math is hard. I'm saying that looking at a computer (or even two computers) is easier. It's less of a task load. Maybe a non-issue if the dive is/has been going well. If the dive has gone awry, maybe an important difference?

I like math. I majored in math in college. It's not like I avoid it because I don't like it or am lazy. I sometimes solve quadratic equations in my head to occupy my time. But I also do what I can to minimize or streamline all tasks that I would ever have to accomplish while I'm underwater. With redundant capability where it makes sense and is feasible. Computer or mental arithmetic. It's all just a way of calculating an ascent plan, right? That task seems smaller and more streamlined if I can accomplish it by looking at 2 computers and mentally verifying that they are both saying pretty close to the same thing. Even better if I have the spare tasking capacity to do so and find that the dive computer solution compares appropriately with the plan I worked out ahead of time using Multi-Deco on my laptop (or similar).

 

[tbone1004]

oh, the other reason for identical computers and the big advantage to S/W is how easy the gas switches are, which can get complicated on the real deep stuff so having to maintain two sets of muscle memory isn't high on my list of stuff to go wrong

 

[kelemvor]

But, why would you want identical computers?

I bought two petrel because I wanted two identical computers. I was embarking on some technical training and needed redundancy. I didn't want a backup that calculated decompression differently than my primary. A different model might calculate things differently. Also, you're going to be less skilled at using your backup if it's different than your primary.

If I sell the petrels, I'll probably be looking at two of the ix3m.... that will ONLY happen if they add AI though. Otherwise it's not compelling enough to pay for the switch in my opinion.

 

[stuartv]

I bought two petrel because I wanted two identical computers. I was embarking on some technical training and needed redundancy. I didn't want a backup that calculated decompression differently than my primary. A different model might calculate things differently. Also, you're going to be less skilled at using your backup if it's different than your primary.

If I sell the petrels, I'll probably be looking at two of the ix3m.... that will ONLY happen if they add AI though. Otherwise it's not compelling enough to pay for the switch in my opinion.

My plan is to have two different computers, both with the algorithm (Buhlamnn w/GF) and set the same. Then do everything that I do on one also on the other. I.e. Start the dive with them set the same way. Every gas switch gets done on both. The Petrel is 2 button pushes for a gas switch. The H3 is one. But I digress. If I always do everything the same on both computers, I shouldn't be any more or less skilled with either one. If one dies, I will have no degradation in skill by only using the other as I finish the dive.

And if they are both Buhlmann w/GF, they should not calculate things differently. They should all calculate the same as each other and the same as V-Planner or Multi-Deco or PastoDeco or whatever. As in close enough to make no difference.

Do you carry multiple cutting devices? Are they all identical? Are you worried that you will be less skilled with one than the other, if you ever need to use it?

Do you carry multiple lights? Do you worry that you'll be less skilled with one?

Those things you don't even necessarily use on every single dive. I would use both computers on every single dive. I always use two, now. It's just that one is not a tech computer. I'm not worried about being insufficiently skilled with one computer or lacking muscle memory just because they aren't the same. That said, I'm know I'm still a total newb. So if that really is a legitimate concern, someone please enlighten me.

 

[BoltSnap]

I bought two petrel because I wanted two identical computers. I was embarking on some technical training and needed redundancy. I didn't want a backup that calculated decompression differently than my primary. A different model might calculate things differently. Also, you're going to be less skilled at using your backup if it's different than your primary.

If I sell the petrels, I'll probably be looking at two of the ix3m.... that will ONLY happen if they add AI though. Otherwise it's not compelling enough to pay for the switch in my opinion.

You can have two of the Ratio computers, the standard computer and the watch type. They will both have AI features by DEMA time according to Ratio.

Are you going to have two transmitters on your first stage for each computer?

 

[kelemvor]

You can have two of the Ratio computers, the standard computer and the watch type. They will both have AI features by DEMA time according to Ratio.

Are you going to have two transmitters on your first stage for each computer?

No, for a technical dive I would be using standard SPG. For rec dive, I'll only be using one of the computers (with tx).

Right now I'm using 2x petrel or 1x galileo+tx depending on the dive. If they make with AI then it would be 2xIX3M or 1xIX3M+tx.

 

[kelemvor]

Do you carry multiple cutting devices? Are they all identical? Are you worried that you will be less skilled with one than the other, if you ever need to use it?

Do you carry multiple lights? Do you worry that you'll be less skilled with one?

I do carry 2 identical trilobytes and 2 identical diverite lights, yes. I have a third light that I also carry, and a pair of shears. However, operation of a divelight or cutting tool is a heck of a lot simpler than a dive computer.

I was not trying to push the idea that you must carry two of the same thing. I merely want to carry two of the same computer. I can afford it, and it seems like the best option.

Currently I switch back and forth between two computers depending on the dive I've planned. It definitely takes more thought to remember the menu structure of both the shearwater and the scubapro computers. Neither are particularly difficult to use, but when I switch back and forth, I sometimes forget exactly where various options are and it takes a little time to find what I'm looking for in the menu.

I have carried the dissimmilar computers on the same dive before. Mine don't use the same algorithym, but the results aren't all that different from one another on an NDL dive. I've never carried the scubapro on a dive where I planned deco, so maybe they differ at that point.

Also, I have another motive to get two of these. My wife currently gets the scubapro when we dive together (and I get one shearwater). I'd like us to both be using the same computer, but she doesn't want to give up the hoseless AI. If I got two IX3M, I could sell both shearwater petrel, and the galileo luna.

 

[tbone1004]

echoing what he said
my line cutters are both benchmade 7 safety cutters and I have a pair of trauma shears that I carry
my backup lights are different, but push button on or twist on isn't rocket science.

something as simple as changing gasses on a computer can be two VERY different sequences of button pushes, especially compounded if those are short/long button pushes like they are on some computers. Some cycle down in O2 percentage, others up, buttons are in different locations with different functions, it's like having an Android and iPhone in each hand. Can I do it? Of course I can, but I don't want to find out that I can't if I'm dark narc'd and one computer doesn't switch to the right mix and then the other dies and my deco profile is now thrown way out of whack.

 

[guyharrisonphoto]

You can have two of the Ratio computers, the standard computer and the watch type. They will both have AI features by DEMA time according to Ratio.

Are you going to have two transmitters on your first stage for each computer?

For both the H3 and Ratio AI versions, there are still a lot of open questions. First, the screen layouts on all of them will have to be reconfigured to show the gas info. Don't know how that will look. Also, will it just show gas pressure (ie just an electronic SPG), or will there be a predictive gas use algorithm like most AI computers have to show remaining time before you need to ascent so as to retain a set reserve at the surface? Will be a while before we can really make an intelligent evaluation.

 

[kelemvor]

For both the H3 and Ratio AI versions, there are still a lot of open questions. First, the screen layouts on all of them will have to be reconfigured to show the gas info. Don't know how that will look. Also, will it just show gas pressure (ie just an electronic SPG), or will there be a predictive gas use algorithm like most AI computers have to show remaining time before you need to ascent so as to retain a set reserve at the surface? Will be a while before we can really make an intelligent evaluation.

Excellent points. I'm hoping they do an air time remaining calculation like you mentioned. I guess we'll see when we see, right? It could be like scubapro and the AI is vaporware for all we know today.