BP/W Setup

[Jim Lapenta]

Some feel the STA places the tank too far off the divers back. Throws off the center of gravity. Also some STA's will allow the wing to taco a bit more than having the tank right up against the plate which helps hold the wing down. I've tried an STA and will never use one. Once you get used to setting the system up, for me, an STA has no effect on swapping tanks over doing it without one.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

If I'm not mistaken, the BP/W from Deep 6 has a part to hold the cylinder in place and not need an STA.

 

[ams511]

I've done some research and noticed some of these setups require a STA. I don't like that personally so which setups are out there that doesn't require that? I believe Halcyon does? VDH does not? What others - Thanks! Which have the best inherent roll control?

The ones that come to mind requiring an STA are Halcyon, Light Monkey, and DRIS. If the wing does not have slots for the cam bands then it requires a STA. As Tbone mentions it is optional on the Dive Rite and old style DGX wings. However you can add a soft adapter to help with roll control, if you find it necessary.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

The ones that come to mind requiring an STA are Halcyon, Light Monkey, and DRIS.

Halcyon has been offering wings with cam band slots for awhile. The service department also offers retrofitting older wings.

Both of my Eclipse wings have slots and do not need STA's.

 

[Yellowdog]

Halcyon has been offering wings with cam band slots for awhile. The service department also offers retrofitting older wings.

Both of my Eclipse wings have slots and do not need STA's.

Do you use a stabilizer or not needed?

 

[ams511]

Halcyon has been offering wings with cam band slots for awhile. The service department also offers retrofitting older wings.

Both of my Eclipse wings have slots and do not need STA's.

I know the traveler series wings have slots, but I did not know that Halcyon was selling them separately now. The Eclipse and Infinity systems are still listed with a STA. I did not know they could cut slots into an existing wing. I have an email to them asking the details.

 

[Mr. Sunday]

Do you use a stabilizer or not needed?

I will be using with a Halcyon CF+ so no need for stabilizer. But I do have a OMS soft STA if I want to use with my SS or Alum plates. However the OMS soft STA at 12.5oz really not much lighter than the Halcyon STA at 1lb 2.2oz

For me the only worthwhile gain is by going to the Halcyon CF+ plate with stabilizers. This light setup is only for traveling (Indonesia) as I do prefer to use an STA when possible.

 

[Tournesol2000]

My Zeagle 30# donut wing can’t with STA. Was advised by the store to use it.
I like it for travel (which all my dives are), but I did buy the OMS soft STA. I just have not tried it yet.

 

[Dave616]

.... I did buy the OMS soft STA. I just have not tried it yet.

I would be interested to hear what you think of that soft STA. Please do a review once you put some miles on it.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

STA’s were a bandaid to make doubles plates work for single tanks.
Many or most companies producing plate systems have found ways to eliminate STA’s in an effort to simplify their systems and get the tank closer to the divers back. STA’s also require hardware to attach and the attachment point can also be viewed as a potential PITA point with wing nuts/thumbwheels/nuts coming loose causing the STA to wobble, etc. STA’s are still handy in some cases though, for instance when different wings are used on different plate brands and the slots don’t line up. One thing that has been standardized are the 11” center holes.
If we could somehow standardize slot placement and get all the manufacturers on the same page with that it would be great, but that’s like hearing cats. Each manufacturer needs an edge and something proprietary so I don’t think we’ll see any slot standardization or wobble control standardization any time soon. The ones that will win are the companies that will find a way to make their products as diverse as possible.