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DECOM - Dive Planner, in review.
DECOM is a full fledged dive planning software package. It handles
table generation (dive planning), gas mixing calculation, EAD
calculation, that all so important OTU tracking, CNS clock tracking,
and more in one little itty bitty package that costs next to nothing.
If you use Nitrox, Trimix, O2 deco, or do serious decompression diving
you really should look into a product such as this.
First, the standard disclaimer:
The only way to avoid decompression sickness is to avoid going
underwater. Diving can be a dangerous or possibly hazardous sport.
Decompression diving adds a level of complexity to diving which
increases the likelyhood of a potentially fatal accident.
With that done, let's get on to it.
System requirements:
DECOM is designed for the IBM PC and compatible. It will definatly
run on a 286, and probably will run on an XT. You do not need a 486
powerhorse Windows machine in order to run this package. So, a cheap
laptop will do the job quite nicely. I haven't tried it on any of the
HP "Palm Tops", but was planning on copying it down to one on a test
basis soon.
DECOM will run off of a floppy based system. In "field tests" we had
DECOM installed on a 720k floppy diskette and used this for actual
work.
DECOM is designed to run on a MS-DOS based system. It does work
with Windows 95(tm).
Interface:
The current version of DECOM (6.5) is a simple text based interface
system. There are no fancy menues, or anything else. Just a simple
straightforward list of commands, and choices.
Version 6.6 promises to have a graphical interface, however I am sure
that it will not be at risk of functionality on older systems.
Formula:
DECOM is using the Buhlmann ZHL-16 formula for table generation.
Users can tweak a conservatism factor via a change in the gas
partial pressures. Users can also enter in their own desirable
ascent & SAC rates.
On-gassing:
DECOM handles multi-level multi-mix dives very well. The user only
needs to enter the depth, time, and mix for each level/gas change.
Gasses supported are Helium, Oxygen & Nitrogen.
Decompression:
DECOM will generate deco schedules with the following selection
of gasses:
1) Bottom mix all the way to surface
2) Bottom mix to 20', then O2 for 20' & 10'.
3) Bottom mix to 130', then EAN 32 to surface.
4) Bottom mix to 110', then EAN 36 to surface.
5) Bottom mix to 70', then EAN 50 to surface
6) Bottom mix to 70', then EAN 50 to 20', then O2 to surface.
7) Bottom mix to 130', EAN 32 to 20', then O2 to surface.
8) Bottom mix to 110', EAN 36 to 20', then O2 to surface.
9) Bottom mix to 130', EAN 32 to 70', EAN 50 to 20', O2 to surface.
10) Custom mixture (user defined) for every stop until surface
11) A user defined "Deco Type" which the user can define themselves.
Bottom mix is defined as the last gas you entered in the on-gas menu.
Tables:
DECOM generated tables are real easy to read. Below I have
generated a table for a multi-level dive. The dive is done
on air to 75' for 5 minutes, 100' for 75 minutes, 75' for
5 minutes again. The deco schedule is air with O2 at 20' &
10'.
------ start table -------
Dive done for review
15-Aug-95.
06:30:01 PM.
Depth Time DT TT O2/HE/N2 PpO2 CNS% TCNS% GAS BRate
75 5 5 5 21/ 0/79 0.69 0.9 0.9 16 cf 1.00
100 75 80 80 21/ 0/79 0.85 18.6 19.4 302 cf 1.00
75 5 87 85 21/ 0/79 0.69 0.9 20.3 16 cf 1.00
40 6 93 93 21/ 0/79 0.46 0.0 0.0 12 cf 1.00
30 16 109 109 21/ 0/79 0.40 0.0 0.0 32 cf 1.00
20 14 123 123 100/ 0/ 0 1.61 33.4 53.7 28 cf 1.00*
10 21 144 144 100/ 0/ 0 1.30 11.7 65.4 21 cf 1.00
OTU'S = 278
CNS % = 65.4
TOTAL DECO TIME: 57
Ascent Time : 2
* DIVE HAS EXCEEDED 1.5 PpO2...
TOTAL GAS USED : 428 cubic feet
21/ 0/ 79 379 cf
100/ 0/ 0 49 cf
------- cut table --------
"Table Expert":
The new version of DECOM (6.6) includes a "Table Expert". This
is a feature which will allow you to give a set depth and a range
of dive times, and a set gas mix, and automatically generate a
series of tables for that mix. It's really useful when generating
a series of tables.
Below I have included a set of "DECOM Water Tables" for a depth
of 100' generated by DECOM's Table Expert. As you can see,
these are very easy to read as well. The gases used are AIR
and O2 at 20' and 10'.
----- Start Water Tables -----
Decom Water Tables
Tables for Depth : 100
Tables for Mix : 21/ 0/ 79
Depth Time
65 75 85 95
21/ 0/79
40 3 6 9 13
30 11 14 16 21
100/ 0/ 0
20 10 13 15 17
10 15 17 22 26
----- End Water Tables -----
Gas mixer:
The gas mixer has a set of tools to help you with gas blending.
They include a Nitrox, Trimix, Heliox mixer, EAD calculator,
"Remixer", "Air Top" and Fill Calculator. These are helpful for
those home brew gas blenders.
Technical Support:
I've only had to use Tech Support twice. Both times was due to
"user error". Both times I received an answering machine, where
I left my name and number. I received calls from Ronnie Bell within
5 minutes of leaving messages both times.
Price:
DECOM is priced to sell. Comparable packages sell for as much as
$300 or more. DECOM costs a meager $69.95. Plus DECOM schedules
work and work well. We've tested DECOM on about 75 dives on
different mixes & decompression profiles without incident.
My motivation:
I feel DECOM is a good product. I have been using it for the past
3 months with great success. Priced as low as it is, I feel that
there is NO reason someone who is seriously into mix diving of
any type (Nitrox, Trimix, whatever) should do without this product.
I do not benefit at all from doing this review except in helping
to support a product I believe in.
Version reviewed: 6.6 (beta)
To order DECOM
Send $69.95 to :
Bell Computing
Suite D
808 South Highland St.
Arlington Va. 22204
Virginia residents add $3.15 for the Governor.
FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT OR ORDERING INFO. CALL 703-658-8596
Ken
--
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Ken Sallot "Sallot's law of patches - A person's diving
CIRCA ability is inversely proportional to how
(904) 392-2007 many patches(stickers) they have on their
kens@uf*.ed* jacket(car)"
http://grove.ufl.edu/~ken
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