[Andy Winterburn]

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I have permision from her-in-doors to change my dive computer. I am trying to justify a VR3 to myself (she doesn't know the cost of that), common sense and cost say that I should go for the Vytec as at this stage I don't and can't afford to do Trimix. However I have been offered a VAT free VR3 Trimix brand new for £550.
I don't want to change again if I go to Trimix, so how many out there still dive with tables and a guage?

 

[Davey Willo]

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I'm fairly sure that there's a greater percentage of Trimix divers that use nothing else but tables, usually using a Palm PDA and some software like DecoPlanner to cut the tables for the dive, infact I've read many a debate on the reasons why NOT to use computers although I'm not totally convinced, I still cannot grasp the reason not to use the technology when it's there.. even our esteemed Andy Hayhurst (Dalesdiver) only uses tables and no doubt as I progress into Trimix with him I'll be shown the light but at the moment I'd like nothing better than a sexy looking VR3 strapped to my wrist...

You've obviously been salivating over Bretts little number eh... me too

BTW Andy theres a few of us turning up for some skill set dives at the Cape next Saturday 4th dunno if you fancy it or not.

 

[Andy Winterburn]

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Dave I would love to, but I have an ear infection just now

,and until the Doc gives me the OK I'd rather not risk it. I'll take a rain check on it for now mate

 

[Rob Evans]

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Go for the VR3 if you can.  It'll handle whatever sort of diving you find yourself doing in the future, and in the way it works and the flexibility it offers it's like nothing else on the market.  Yes, take tables and a timer down with you - you can never rely on a pooter not to conk out on you - but for multi-levelling on big wrecks it's a god-send.

 

[Mark Chase]

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The Vytec is very very good but I only got my one because I couldent justfie the expence of the VR3.

To get the VR3 I would sugest you should be at a level where you are at least doing acelarated deco using high 02 mix stage bottles.

The Vytec shows deco for the gas mix you were diving at that time so for instance when I dived the Mol it showed 49mins deco on air after 25mins on the bottom. Then as I ascend and switch to 50% it droped to 25 and when I switched to 85% it droped to 11min. All in all I did about 33 mins deco in total to clear the computer.

I beleive the VR3 will show you total ascent time bassed on the gas available including all deco mix's. That is a lot more usefull if you decide to overstay your planned bottom time it will give you total ascent time including gas switches. So as long as you have enough spair deco gas you can alter the dive plan on the spot. Yous can do this with tables but there is a limit to how many tables you carrey before it gets silley. I do Plan, Plan +5mins, Plan -5mins, Lost deco gas and bail out mid plan.  

At advanced nitrox level this is very usefull but the full extent of what the computer can do is truley incredabul. Tables are fine but a multy gas computer is lightyears ahead of tables in the safety stakes IMO. Obviously it goes without saying that back up tables and a redundent bottom timer and depth gauge are essential (Unlesss that is you can afford two VR3's. MMMMMMMMMM nice.

Mark Chase  

Problem

 

[Andy Winterburn]

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Thanks for the reply Mark, I have been reading some of the posts on Dnet and alike.
I presume the Vytec doesn't prompt you for gas changes? But other than that I think the Vytec will do what I need for now, the other thing I was sold on was the re-sale value of the VR3 should you need to get rid of it.
BUT,,, I know, I know the Vytec is only £240.

Now can anyone get rid of a conscience? Blasted thing.

 

[Andy Phillips]

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Yeh, put it on plastic with a direct debit to pay the minimum and ignore the bills as they arrive. At the same time start doing the lottery. Tell yourself that WHEN you win you will clear it off.

 

[simon]

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Since doing my ext range course then into tri mix, i have been looking at an all gas computer. I owned a Nitec 3 for some months (wish i hadn't sold it) Bret bought a VR3 for his rebreather it got me thinking, i want one, loked into them price use etc.Came to the conclusion that i want one. Put a post on ukdiver wanting one , got one offered at £550 brand new not been in water. Then it sinks in £550 for a computer on your wrist, and you still dive tables, so im not buying one, just bought another dive timer. sold the worst computer that i ever owned a VYPER CRAP !!. (my opinion)

Hope this helps

Simon

 

[Mark Chase]

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Yes the Vytec DOES prompt gas switches. You set the PP02 for each mix like 1.4 for bottom gas and 1.6 for deco gas. At the depth where the PP02 is met the computer bleeps and the Mix percentage flashes continuly recommending a switch to the richer mix. The three mix options can be switched on and off seporatly so you can dive one or two seporate deco gas mixes without the computer flasing to recomend a change that isnt available at the time.

As I said it is very good and streats ahead of the general compatition IMO but not quite in the Urber Tec VR3 mold.
£550.00 for a computer on your wrist that saves your life and preserves your health whist maximising your diving pleasure dosent seem a bad deel. The computers we are using for this web chat probably cost more and are far less important.

Just a thaught

Mark Chase  

 

[Mr T.]

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Just blagged this from the D-net News Page:

* VR3 DIVE COMPUTER UP FOR BUSINESS 'OSCAR'

The VR3 dive computer has been shortlisted for New Product of the Year in the prestigious Confederation of British Industry awards.

The computer is the first to be able to give both mixed gas and Inspiration closed circuit rebreather divers 'live' decompression profiles while on a dive, as well as the capability of acting as an additional oxygen (ppO2) monitoring device for the rebreather. These innovations have made it hugely popular with technical divers.

The VR3 is one of only 3 products shortlisted in the New Product of the Year category of the Confederation of British Industry Growing Business awards, and is believed to be the first diving product ever to be honoured in this way.

"We're chuffed," commented Kevin Gurr, who designed the VR3 "especially as it was our bank who nominated us for the award! The VR3 has come a very long way in a short period of time, which is why they put us forward."
Posted: 17 December 2002

 

[Andy Winterburn]

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Thanks to everyone who has posted to this query. I have decided to go for the Vytec after all this, the reasons:
The Vytec will do the Advanced Nitrox/accelerated deco stuff.
The cost of the Trimix gases I think will be (for me) a limiting factor in the number of dives that I would do in that regime when (if) I qualify and go down that route.
In the event that I dived Trimix for the limited number of dives, I could use tables.
And most importantly, the £300+ I save buys a lot of diving

, cor nearly forgot the important thing.

 

[Ammers]

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the vr 3 really is a stunning piece of kit, the o2 sensor calibration software is actually superior to that in the rebreather handsets!!!!   buy one you will never need another computer no matter what diving you do.  I hate the strap that came with it so I bungied it

 

[stef]

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VR3 any day. superb toy. and it fits on the arm chair well.

 

[Ammers]

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Aye man, it comes with a remote control for zooming into the discovery channel during those long sofa dives. hehe

 

[stef]

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now your being silly. it does not have a remote control, it has a wire thing to the back off the chair, any way sofa dives are dangerous, you fall asleep in front of the fire to easily:sofa:

 

[Spike Jackson]

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I'm wanting to get a Vytec at the dive show for doing deep air and nitrox diving with accelerated decompression, ie twin back mounts with 1 or two stages. i am trimix qualified but not trimix-competent (yet) but will be looking at doing some trimix towards the end of next season.

Question - should i get the vytec and use it as depth timer when I go to Trimix level or take a huge breath and fork out for the VR3 now? There is a major jump in cost involved!

Ps please can we refrain from slanging matches about deep air and computers being useless....

 

[Mark Chase]

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The VR3 is a trimix computer and a great bit of kit but I wouldent bother using it for air or Nitrox diving. Its very expensive very big very heavy and has a crap dive log program. It is however the dogs danglys in the world of CCR or Mix diving.

The Vytec has some issues but it is a great bit of kit for Nitrox and accelorated deco diving.

I will try to cut and paste what I did on divernet about the Vytec.

Here we go:

I used the Vytec ever since it was launched in the UK. I use it on 0 safety settings and 100RGB on two and three gas dives with no problems to date.
There are a couple of issues with the unit but there are ways around them:

Obviously any deco dive should be pre planned but on a multi gas deco dive using the Vytec it is essential. This is because Suunto in their infinite wisdom decided to design the computer so it displays time to surface only on the gas being used at that time rather than on all planned deco gasses. This can be very unnerving. On an air dive to 50m for 45mins at the end of the bottom time it will show approximately 209mins Time to Surface

? The actual time to surface using Air 40% and 100% for deco is 61min's but you wont get the reduced info until after your final gas switch. To add to the insult Suunto brought out a multi gas deco computer with no preplanning soft where Doh!


Whilst you can use the unit its self to plan a dive it is tedious in the extreme. As a result I tinkered with Decoplanner until I got approximately matching run times to the Sunnto. In the end with Ascent in runtime and using 10m/min ascent rate I found a 20gf Low and 85 gf High would mimic the RGBM of the Vytec.

So now I pre plan my dives using this on Decoplanner and totally ignore the TTS run times on the Vytec until I hit the 6m stop. Prior to that I run to plan.

It might not work for you, but this is what I do

I do the slow ascent to the 18m or less stops and then do all the stops indicated on my tables until I hit 6m. Then I clear the Vytec and do a 4-5min ascent form 6m. I am 39 slightly overweight and I smoke a bit and drink too much and the Vytec gets me out feeling good using this system.

I now own a VR3 but I still use the Vytec for all non trimix dives. If they altered the display to show deco gas incorporated into the TTS and provided planning soft where it would be the best Nitrox computer on the market. At the moment the despite its shortcomings of size and cost the new VR2 with its integrated TTS, deep stops and soft where back up probably holds that accolade.

ATB

Mark Chase

 

[Helen F H]

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I just got a vytec to replace a buggered steam powered ancient suunto.  I dived with a guy who had a VR2 (not VR3), and it made him do weird stops (which completley BUGGERED my dive plan, i was on a course and had to be to the minute with my timings...).  Thats all i have to say really.  I am yet to dive with my vytec as the weather is pants and i left my weight harness in the back of a mates car which in now in london (me in northumberland).  oops.

 

[Mark Chase]

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Quote[/b] (Porg @ Nov. 08 2003,16:17)]I just got a vytec to replace a buggered steam powered ancient suunto.  I dived with a guy who had a VR2 (not VR3), and it made him do weird stops (which completley BUGGERED my dive plan,

That'l be the deep micro bubble stops then

VR3 does that too. Deep stops a de regour with deco divers and as I say I add my own with the Vytec

Mark Chase

 

[Spike Jackson]

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Thanks for the info Mark. The TTs issue is a concern for me as i do not have regular access to a computer for private use at the moment (spot who's working this weekend -again!) so will not be able to plan my dives properly for the next little while.
Does the VR3 have proper planning info? It really is a crapload to pay for one piece of dive kit.