My new shearwater....

Alan Studley · 10th May 2006, 07:36

Received mine on April 8th. I now have over 1000 mins. on it without a complaint. Started out in the pool, didn't like the low Po2, corrected and happy. To the Ocean accompanied by 2 other computers 1 in the counter lung p port for back up. Other computers matched depth but did not display 3 sensor's ( very nice ). One nameless computer failed. So now for Redundancy?? Dual Kiss display's..yes. Fortunately having a long arm ,,now looking at 5 displays- MATCHING.
Also used in stand alone O.C. mode , nitrox, and trimix. Compared with other divers, computers, times and depth ,,some very long dives. My initial thought on the case was too large,,after diving it for awhile it's not the case any longer so to speak.
I find it intuitive , easy to access buttons, easy to read, easy to calibrate, and it still works,,,so far so good.
Next step a HUD & triple display.. It's not that hard to wire..
Alan

***caveseeker7*** · 10th May 2006, 07:47

Hi Alan, welcome to Rebreather World.

Good to see you here, hope you'll enjoy our little site.

cys · 10th May 2006, 18:08

Hi Alan, Nice to see you here.

Chris

shell-back · 10th May 2006, 19:02

Hello, Alan wondered when you would show up here. Talk to ya soon .

what ever happen to the little one in the alloy case at the Jetsam Booth ?

zbskii · 10th May 2006, 20:19

How does this display all three cell values if it's only hooked up to one cell? Does it go to the shearwater first, then to the kiss ppo2 displays?
-Brett

Ben Field · 10th May 2006, 22:57

Quote: (Originally Posted by zbskii)

How does this display all three cell values if it's only hooked up to one cell? Does it go to the shearwater first, then to the kiss ppo2 displays? Brett

The Shearwater reads all three cells down one cable (or just one cell, or none) according to the manual, seems a very adaptable toy- I WANT ONE!

***caveseeker7*** · 11th May 2006, 00:31

After having a go at Alan's so do I.

Will have to wait bit but it's a very nice cmputer.

silent running · 11th May 2006, 02:40

Hello all, just wondering what the price is on the Shearwater? And would it work with the 8 pin connector on the Prism secondary output? Thanks, -Andy

robinfante · 12th May 2006, 03:15

I got mine last week, and took it for several dives. It is very intuitive, and the stock algorithm tracked very closely to my beloved-if-finicky HS Explorer. On a 170' dive to the Hydroatlantic, with 37 min bottom time/37 min deco, it was three minutes longer than the HSE on CF1. I'm rather bullish on the rgbm algorithm, so that was a pleasant surprise. One of the things I like about the Explorer is that it tracks minutes as 60 seconds long, which my soon-to-sold VR3 emphatically does not. The Shearwater is sort of inbetween: minutes were sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, but the overall 3 minute variation between the two held from when I left the wreck until I surfaced.

While the box itself is robust, the cord seems a little lightweight. I'd prefer to see something thicker, like that on a canister light. Its my first time with a fischer connector, which seems like a neat bit of goods. The rather flaky straps lasted all of one dive before I got some bungee cord and swapped them out.

I may need to send mine back, as the left button does not appear to be working too well, but I accept that. I begged Bruce in vain to let me beta-test, and even being this early I figure I'm sort of a gamma-tester. So long as turnaround is brief I'll be happy.

I found it expensive at $1700-something dollars. The only way I justified it to myself was calling it an $800 dollar computer, since the backup set of displays I was planning on getting were $900 or so.

The jury is still out, but so far, so good.

bgpartri · 12th May 2006, 03:56

Hi Rob,

First, I agree on the straps. They are not optimal. I've got samples of some flat elastic straps that might work better.

The cord is actually fairly strong. It is made for machine tools and stands up well to lots of flexing. If it turns out to be a problem, let me know.

On the left button, a quick push just turns on the backlight. It doesn't take you into the menu. If you just want to flick on the backlight, touch the left button. If you want to go into the menu, hold it for a second or so. After that, quick pushes work on either button.

Thanks for taking the time to report your comments.

10th May 2006, 07:36	#11 (permalink)
Alan Studley KISS REP Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: calif Posts: 5	Re: My new shearwater.... Received mine on April 8th. I now have over 1000 mins. on it without a complaint. Started out in the pool, didn't like the low Po2, corrected and happy. To the Ocean accompanied by 2 other computers 1 in the counter lung p port for back up. Other computers matched depth but did not display 3 sensor's ( very nice ). One nameless computer failed. So now for Redundancy?? Dual Kiss display's..yes. Fortunately having a long arm ,,now looking at 5 displays- MATCHING. Also used in stand alone O.C. mode , nitrox, and trimix. Compared with other divers, computers, times and depth ,,some very long dives. My initial thought on the case was too large,,after diving it for awhile it's not the case any longer so to speak. I find it intuitive , easy to access buttons, easy to read, easy to calibrate, and it still works,,,so far so good. Next step a HUD & triple display.. It's not that hard to wire.. Alan
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10th May 2006, 07:47	#12 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,555	Welcome Hi Alan, welcome to Rebreather World. Good to see you here, hope you'll enjoy our little site. __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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10th May 2006, 18:08	#13 (permalink)
cys Customise Me! Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S. California Posts: 210	Re: My new shearwater.... Hi Alan, Nice to see you here. Chris
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10th May 2006, 19:02	#14 (permalink)
shell-back I do all my own stunts Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Dolphin Ray Azimuth Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: middle of US Posts: 475	Re: My new shearwater.... Hello, Alan wondered when you would show up here. Talk to ya soon . what ever happen to the little one in the alloy case at the Jetsam Booth ? __________________ The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge. ----Daniel Boorstin Billy Beal SDITDI IT #3507 RBW FIGJAM commitee member
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10th May 2006, 20:19	#15 (permalink)
zbskii I have a diving problem. Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 143	Re: My new shearwater.... How does this display all three cell values if it's only hooked up to one cell? Does it go to the shearwater first, then to the kiss ppo2 displays? -Brett
(Online)

10th May 2006, 22:57	#16 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,774	Re: My new shearwater.... Quote: (Originally Posted by zbskii) How does this display all three cell values if it's only hooked up to one cell? Does it go to the shearwater first, then to the kiss ppo2 displays? Brett The Shearwater reads all three cells down one cable (or just one cell, or none) according to the manual, seems a very adaptable toy- I WANT ONE! __________________ Know your PPO2, Pre-breath, Use checklists, Validate cells at 6mtrs, Use pure O2 at or near surface, Use a BOV, Don't dive Solo, Change Slime and Cells as recommended by Manufacturer and RTFM! Beware Fridge Suck! www.hugsac.org.uk
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11th May 2006, 00:31	#17 (permalink)
*caveseeker7* Who loves ya, baby Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Too far from Neverland Posts: 5,555	Re: My new shearwater.... After having a go at Alan's so do I. Will have to wait bit but it's a very nice cmputer. __________________ Cheers Stefan "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.!"
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11th May 2006, 02:40	#18 (permalink)
silent running Mature mouth breather Current Rebreather/s: Prism Topaz Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: U.S.A. Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,873	Re: My new shearwater.... Hello all, just wondering what the price is on the Shearwater? And would it work with the 8 pin connector on the Prism secondary output? Thanks, -Andy
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12th May 2006, 03:15	#19 (permalink)
robinfante I have a smoking gun Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Prism Topaz MK 15.X Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mountain lakes nj Posts: 157	Re: My new shearwater.... I got mine last week, and took it for several dives. It is very intuitive, and the stock algorithm tracked very closely to my beloved-if-finicky HS Explorer. On a 170' dive to the Hydroatlantic, with 37 min bottom time/37 min deco, it was three minutes longer than the HSE on CF1. I'm rather bullish on the rgbm algorithm, so that was a pleasant surprise. One of the things I like about the Explorer is that it tracks minutes as 60 seconds long, which my soon-to-sold VR3 emphatically does not. The Shearwater is sort of inbetween: minutes were sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, but the overall 3 minute variation between the two held from when I left the wreck until I surfaced. While the box itself is robust, the cord seems a little lightweight. I'd prefer to see something thicker, like that on a canister light. Its my first time with a fischer connector, which seems like a neat bit of goods. The rather flaky straps lasted all of one dive before I got some bungee cord and swapped them out. I may need to send mine back, as the left button does not appear to be working too well, but I accept that. I begged Bruce in vain to let me beta-test, and even being this early I figure I'm sort of a gamma-tester. So long as turnaround is brief I'll be happy. I found it expensive at $1700-something dollars. The only way I justified it to myself was calling it an $800 dollar computer, since the backup set of displays I was planning on getting were $900 or so. The jury is still out, but so far, so good.
(Offline)

12th May 2006, 03:56	#20 (permalink)
bgpartri CEO-Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Titan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 423	Re: My new shearwater.... Hi Rob, First, I agree on the straps. They are not optimal. I've got samples of some flat elastic straps that might work better. The cord is actually fairly strong. It is made for machine tools and stands up well to lots of flexing. If it turns out to be a problem, let me know. On the left button, a quick push just turns on the backlight. It doesn't take you into the menu. If you just want to flick on the backlight, touch the left button. If you want to go into the menu, hold it for a second or so. After that, quick pushes work on either button. Thanks for taking the time to report your comments. __________________ http://www.shearwaterresearch.com Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
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