Quote: (Originally Posted by
Mike)
Alex - One thing that is confusing me is the cost of the trimix upgrade. You say that you can get the upgrade code just by doing a course, yet you also say that the trimix unit is more expensive.
Does this mean that to go from a nitrox to a trimix unit I'd need to pay BOTH the instructor, AND the manufacturer for the upgrade code?
The whole code locking thing really just seems like a smokescreen to try and make the real cost of the unit look lower. I'm yet to meet a eccr diver who wasn't already doing deco dives, so the majority of the user base will need to pay full price, which seems to be: base nitrox cost + training + trimix course + training (+ full mix course + training). Sounds like a lot of cash...
This depends on the marketing channel and varies from client to client.
The feedback on this will be passed back to the clients and they may reassess their methods. At the moment, our clients like the idea of a firmware upgrade route rather than changing out hardware.
The whole purpose is to get eCCRs into use much earlier in diver's careers: even as Open Water units. Most divers do not do deco.
As regards the costs, the upgrades require an instructor or a card. We fully accept a trimix card on one unit is good for another unit, but the basic training on the unit has to be repeated when doing a swap over.
Alex