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At 1:47 PM 3/1/96, Michel Therrien wrote: >First, thanks for commenting my message. > >Now, serious stuff: Your conclusion seems to be irrational... you just >confirmed earlier that the unit is badly designed and is not reliable and >your saying that you would not consider making a technical dive without it. It wasn't my intent to confirm that the unit is badly designed or not reliable. I did have a problem with the first unit I recieved, which had been damaged in shipping, however that unit was promptly replaced by Buechat and I've had no problems with reliability since. I don't believe it is a bad design either. It is difficult to use at first, but after the initial period (where the computer trains the user :) it becomes reasonably easy to use. >My opinion is that for technical dives, we must use equipment that we are >pretty sure will not fail during the dive. In the case of that device, it >seems to be obvious that it may fail, most certainly if you have another >problem (like the one you mentioned). What I do is assume that any piece of equipment might fail, and have contingency plans. If the computer fails I really don't care; it's useful when it doesn't fail. I dive tables. [snip] >The other one, a Beuchat Maestro Pro (manufactured by >Cochran Consulting) was still 10-15 feet off even after being returned >several times to the supplier. I should have mentioned that I have a Maestro Pro too, but replaced the wrist unit with a Nemesis II display after my orignal was stolen. I've never had any depth problems, and have compared it with both my analog gauges (which I take on all dives) and sunto solutions worn by other divers. The readings have always been +/- 1 foot. >The design of the gas switch feature seems to be completely erroneous... I >would not trust that for any of my dives. You certainly need to understand exactly how it works before you use it. I don't feel it's erroneous and have used it many times. It's very useful if you're diving on tables and using the computer as a guide when your actual profile varies from the plan. Here's an example. Two weeks ago I and some friends did a scallop dive that was planned with minimal oxygen decompression (1, 4). I'm not particularly comfortable with oxygen at 20' (lack of experience perhaps). When I arrived at 20, the nemesis told me I had a 2 minute air stop, and an 8 minute air stop at 10. Thinking quickly, I finished the 20 on air, ascended to 10, switched to O2, and completed the stop in 4 minutes. Maybe not the best example, but it illustrates my point; the computer allows you to replan. I think that the way the system works, it errs on the safe side. If I switch to a deco gas, and the computer doesn't credit me with the switch for 30 to 60 seconds, how can it bend me? It's not giving me credit for the switch until I've already been on the favorable gas for a period of time; I'm offgassing more efficiently than the computer thinks I am. If I follow the machine, I will do *more* decompression than I need to, not less. >On the positive side, the Maestro Pro screen layout is fantastic... when its >working. The case and the wrist strap seems to be rugged enough. I also >like the blue color around the screen '-). I agree, I really liked the MP wrist unit. The strap on the Nemesis II is too short and I have to cinch it down uncomfortably tight over my dry suit. Of course the display layout is identical. If Mike is reading this, I'd like to buy a longer strap :). Regards, Scott.
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