Air integration means that your computer, in addition to calculating your decompression status, has information about your gas. That can be as simple as just reading out the tank pressure, or as complex as trying to calculate your remaining air time. To do this, a computer must have a way of receiving the tank pressure, and that means either being connected to the high pressure hose, or having a transmitter on the first stage that sends those data to the computer.
Putting the gauge on an HP hose means your depth, dive time and deco status are also there. Either you have to pull the gauge up constantly to check those things, or you have to secure the gauge and hose somehow across your chest where you can see it. Both approaches have downsides.
Using a transmitter makes you dependent on the ability of the transmitter and gauge to sync. This can be affected by a lot of things, including some you might not expect, like the output of certain lights. Most people who use transmitters use a backup pressure gauge as well, because of the issues with failed sync.
The advantage of air integration is that you only have to look in one place for depth, time, deco status and gas. For very new divers, having the "air time remaining" might be useful, but for most folks who dive a lot, it doesn't take long to have that as a gestalt (which may not be accurate to the second, but is good enough to keep one quite safe). In addition, air integration means your gas usage is included in the download, if you log from your computer, and it's easy to follow your air consumption rate, because the logging software will calculate it for you.
Air integrated computers are more expensive -- the transmitter type significantly more so. I bought one when I got certified. I went to a wrist computer (non AI) within a few months. A simple pressure gauge has been quite enough to allow me to keep track of my gas, and I like the computer on my wrist, where I can easily see it all the time.
Putting the gauge on an HP hose means your depth, dive time and deco status are also there. Either you have to pull the gauge up constantly to check those things, or you have to secure the gauge and hose somehow across your chest where you can see it. Both approaches have downsides.
Using a transmitter makes you dependent on the ability of the transmitter and gauge to sync. This can be affected by a lot of things, including some you might not expect, like the output of certain lights. Most people who use transmitters use a backup pressure gauge as well, because of the issues with failed sync.
The advantage of air integration is that you only have to look in one place for depth, time, deco status and gas. For very new divers, having the "air time remaining" might be useful, but for most folks who dive a lot, it doesn't take long to have that as a gestalt (which may not be accurate to the second, but is good enough to keep one quite safe). In addition, air integration means your gas usage is included in the download, if you log from your computer, and it's easy to follow your air consumption rate, because the logging software will calculate it for you.
Air integrated computers are more expensive -- the transmitter type significantly more so. I bought one when I got certified. I went to a wrist computer (non AI) within a few months. A simple pressure gauge has been quite enough to allow me to keep track of my gas, and I like the computer on my wrist, where I can easily see it all the time.
