Why should I not buy...

[RobbieS]

Instead of asking what I should buy, why should I NOT buy an Apeks Quantum?

2 mix gas switching, user repacable battery at a good price.

Any reasons?

[Bottle Maker]

I bought a Quantum when the first came out it went wrong the supplier changed it for another one that went wrong, the supplier changed it to another make of computer. One of my club mates who had also bought a Quantum had simular problems.

I believe the new ones are now reliable but that is why I would not buy another.

Graham

I

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by RobbieS

Instead of asking what I should buy, why should I NOT buy an Apeks Quantum?

2 mix gas switching, user repacable battery at a good price.

Because if your going mix gas switching techie the yellow side will get you in the end and a Quantum doesn't do CC.

<manical laughter>

[RobbieS]

So I might as well get a VR£ now then.










By the way, I haven't finished my Sports Diver yet!

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by RobbieS

Instead of asking what I should buy, why should I NOT buy an Apeks Quantum?

Because it is an OC dive 'computer' and I personally don't believe that OC really warrants a dive computer. Most dive 'computers' are actually just doing a table look up and quite frankly you can do that yourself.

If you are going to buy one you should buy two.

A basic BT is cheaper and even more so if you are buying two of them.

So in terms of functionality I don't believe anyone needs them. In terms of money there are cheaper and arguably better solutions.

If you really want a 'computer' that will actually calculate a mixed gas deco schedule then try the X1, Shearwater or VR3.

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by RobbieS

Instead of asking what I should buy, why should I NOT buy an Apeks Quantum?

2 mix gas switching, user repacable battery at a good price.

Any reasons?

They're a bit conservative on the NDLs in the 20ish metre region. Compared to a Suunto, they'll go into deco earlier, though once in deco, they don't clock it up very quickly.

The buttons went on my first one after about 15 months. Sent it back to Apeks and got a new one by return of post, so wasn't complaining.


Jason

[Fiona]

OK VR3 blar, blar, blar

Robbie as this is probably your first computer and if you think it is a good buy then buy it. Just because it will do two gas switches doesn't mean you have to use the function.

[Scubee]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

Because it is an OC dive 'computer' and I personally don't believe that OC really warrants a dive computer. Most dive 'computers' are actually just doing a table look up and quite frankly you can do that yourself.

If you are going to buy one you should buy two.

A basic BT is cheaper and even more so if you are buying two of them.

So in terms of functionality I don't believe anyone needs them. In terms of money there are cheaper and arguably better solutions.

If you really want a 'computer' that will actually calculate a mixed gas deco schedule then try the X1, Shearwater or VR3.

A the risk of a floaming, I am going to disagree with you.

As a newish (he says he hasn't finished Sports Diver yet) diver, then at some point, the length of time he spends underwater will be determined by his NDL, not the gas on his back. Therefore, he will want to maximise his NDL, so a computer, which may only look stuff up on a table, but it is applying an alogorithm based on accurate information. Using tables and a bottom timer, you have to assume a square profile. If the type of diving someone does is a triangular profile, or multilevel diving, then a bottom timer is much too conservative.

For example, assuming a no deco dive, on a bottom timer, I could go to 40m, but my NDL is 9 minutes. I would then have to ascend directly to the surface. If however, I had a computer, i could go to 40m, stay for a minute, come up to, say 38, 36. then gradually work my way up to a depth which I would be happy that my £40 dive was value for money. If I monitered the information i was getting from my computer, I could easily stay well out of deco.

Sorry, Rob, but that is basic stuff taught on an OW course. Of course, it isn't necessairly appropriate for deco diving.

[BJ]

Advice here reminds me of the time when I was considering buying a Renault 4 Van. My friend Michael Green said I should just buy a Rolls Royce because I would eventuaslly buy one anyway!!!

[RobbieS]

Ok cheers guys (I think!).

I understand the benefits of being familiar and competent with using a bottom timer and tables (I haven't just been guessing for the diving that I've done so far!) and equally I understand the profiling accuracy of a computer. Something that wasn't mentioned was multiple dives - when doing OW lesson 4 at Vobster I used the tables and timer - first dive was fine obviously - come the second dive with a coupe of hours interval I only had 8mins no-deco dive time. Obviously with a computer this would have been very different.

So I do get it, but in terms of which computer to get I was looking for opinions on the Quantum because I always believe in getting the best kit that I can afford and at £140 I can't see a better purchase because it will carry through me through the nitrox and deco procedures training that I plan to do in the non too distant future.

I probably won't be getting one until I'm qualified as a soprts diver anyway just looking for advice on the decision.