james_bond_007
Contributor
The Suunto Transmitter is "fairly reliable" with a few annoyances that can render it useless if you're not careful.
I find similar annoyances but under different circumstances.
1) Won't Sync - If I don't pre-synch it ( enter dive mode on computer and turn on tank before diving) it won't synch and says FAIL.
I am suspicious that someone on the boat may be using a similar computer on the SAME channel, as
when I surface, if I change channels, it synchs and reads correctly.
2) Time out - Even if I pre-synch it, as in (1), if it is too long before I enter the water, and I timeout of DIVE mode and ENTER into say TIME mode, I have what appears to be a 50/50 chane of it sych-ing and transmitting the air pressure. Because of this, I cannot trust it and must always carry an analog SPG or risk going back on the bost (abort dive) or diving with the Divemaster's stats.
Surely I cannot dive on my own+buddy (not with a group) and have the confidence that my TX will always work.
3) Can't ffix it once I am underwater - Because of the 'safety features' it does not allow me to re-pair it underwater. I find this annoying, as I would think that re-pairing it and getting SOME reading of air would be better than NONE.
Yes, I dive with a backup analog gauge, but having the SUUNTO S/W PREVENT me from fixing the issue is not the right answer.
4) EST AIR - I DO like the abillityof the computer, when it works, to give me an estimate of my available dive air time, based on my breathing patters from today and a few days prior.