Can anyone comment who has had first hand experience of the reliability of the wireless transmitter on the D9? I would dearly love to get one but I have heard some reports that the AI is touchy. Any personal experiences positive or negative would be useful.
Cherrs, AA
I can comment on the reliability of the Suunto Vytec hoseless computer. My experience has not been good. A little background info: I own 2 Suunto Cobras, 1 Suunto Vytec, and 1 Oceanic VT 3. I have over 1,000 dives on the Suunto technology and know how to operate the equipment. I have had no problems whatsoever with the Cobras and no problem with the Vytec wrist unit but the air integrated feature (the transmitter) has been a nightmare.
I purchased the unit from a local Suunto dealer and have no problem with them. They did everything expected of them. I still like the Suunto program because it computes air usage on each dive and average depth of the dive. The Oceanic does not do this. I am not even upset with Suunto (they eventually gave me a new computer and transmitter which has since failed). There is no anger here, just reporting my experience.
1/26/06 Purchased Vytec from dealer.
3/22/06 Boynton Beach, computer fails to link up twice (dives 543 & 544)
Unit sent to Suunto and returned with replacement transmitter.
9/22/06 Key Largo, at 100+ feet, transmitter fails (dive 739). Computer will
not accept code, Suunto tech support shows me, over the phone,
a different method of resetting computer. This seems to work for
a while.
11/12/06 Devil's Den, computer will not display pressure, will not accept code
(dives 799, 800, 801). At request of Suunto computer is sent to repair
facility in Tampa. As part of the repair the "battery in the wrist unit
was examined" and "a small piece of plastic was found under the
battery in the transmitter".
12/16/06 Key Largo, computer battery chamber floods, computer will not link.
This occurs on dive 802, immediately after repairs and checking of
battery chamber.
1/28/07 Suunto finally accepts the fact that I have a "lemon" and does the
right thing. They send me a brand new computer and transmitter.
7/31/07 Key Largo, new transmitter fails, will not link (dives 995 & 996).
Since this was a replacement computer I am told there is no warranty.
I am currently using the Oceanic. It works but I prefer the information offered by the Suunto. The Suunto computer is great but the transmitter has problems. Again, no anger here, just passing on my experience.