Universal Rebreather Monitor Review

kkcheo · 7th May 2007, 13:43

Great report and pictures! Thanks - your pics make me want to jump in the water right now!!!!!

Cheers
-Keng

windymiller · 7th May 2007, 14:38

What a cracking piece of kit! Zenobia looks good too!!

Do they do a vr3 that will monitor 2 HP links? I see the brain has links for 2 but also for an extra cell.

I would be very interested if they did one that did this?

How much do they cost?

Soren Thomsen · 7th May 2007, 18:31

As stated before nice report and pictures.

I too find it a very well machined piece of kit that looks bombproof. However I don't fully understand the concept of building a one cell monitor and deco calculator. They allready made that for Inspiration some years ago linking a fourth cell up with your VR3 - I can't see the difference perhaps I'm missing something (remember I'm a newbie). Why make a less safe version that not even themselves use on a Boris and therefor I don't see it as a thru competitor to HH and Shearwater.
IMH a 3 cell version with or without the HP links and even with a solenoid controller is way more attractive - and it's all a question of software that allready exicts..

Just my opinion anyway....

Cheers
Soren

JonnyB · 7th May 2007, 22:53

Stuart, nice write work, very good information.

And thanks for the kind words

/jonny

**Monkey** · 8th May 2007, 01:28

what happens If the HUD locks up? does it stay solid GREEN giving a false impression every thing is OK?

Burrendive · 8th May 2007, 08:48

Quote:

If I am doing a multilevel dive and I am not ready to go to my optimal stop depth will that red LED be blinking incessantly and does it distract you from PPO2 led when flashing?

Yes the Red LED does flash continuously when you have a deco obligation. However its quite a slow pulse and diving in some very low vis caves at the weekend it did not distract me from the green LED. At the lowest HUD setting the LED's do seem to pulse slightly even when solid and I had to turn mine up to about a setting of 4 to eliminate this.

John

rogeringebo · 8th May 2007, 09:23

Hi!
Nice piece of kit!
Anyone know the diameter of the cable of the 3-display housing? (in mm,please)
It looks like it could be a PG7 gland....

Cheers
Roger

colinj · 8th May 2007, 10:42

Great review, Thanks,
I presume my current VR3 will upgrade to the "Spectrum" spec and therefore the option needed on a classic Inspo would just be the brain, the 2 glands and the 1 or 3 cell back-up? I too am new to this but as the classic handsets on mine have been with AP for two months now with an unresolved fault this seems the ideal way forward, any ideas on cost of
1. complete unit as tested
2. Upgrade to a VR3 "Spectrum" plus remaining hardware for 3 cell display plus HUD

Thanks again, excellent stuff

mountain diver · 8th May 2007, 14:17

enjoyed the article.

**Gill Envy** · 11th May 2007, 17:18

maybe i'm missing something, but yes i think you are confused about the concept. the po2 that is listed by the primary is an average of the three cells (very cool!), and each cell reading is also shown on the screen (from what stuart's excellent artickle describes). the secondary also lists the three cells individually (not sure if they have their own individual batteries, like the kiss?). the two systems are in parallel, reading the same three cells and I don't believe there is a fourth cell. If i'm getting it correctly, it's exactly what i'm leaning toward on a copis but with a shearwater and HUD instead. Actually i'd like to split 4 cells evenly between 2 screens but the shearwater can only run on 3 or 1. I'm still looking into weather there is room for a 4th cell in the copis head. If so, I may use the shearwater on 3 and the display that comes stock with the copis on a 4th for comparison but only rely on it in a bail out scenario.

This kind of approach seems to be building on a trend toward including many of the benefits of eCCR's on mCCR's minus the one major pitfall of eCCR's, the electronic set point controller/solenoid. Manual injection leaves the set point controlling up to the most reliable piece of circuitry available- one's brain, and entrains the habit of truly constant po2 monitoring by the diver. with a system like the URM, it may just turn out that this is the perfect balance between the reliability and good habits (and 0% mortality) engendered by the KISS philosophy and the added safety features and conveniences of an eCCR (at least when it comes to recreational and intermediate depths- for the diving I do).

Excelent article Stuart!

g

Quote: (Originally Posted by Soren Thomsen)

As stated before nice report and pictures.

I too find it a very well machined piece of kit that looks bombproof. However I don't fully understand the concept of building a one cell monitor and deco calculator. They allready made that for Inspiration some years ago linking a fourth cell up with your VR3 - I can't see the difference perhaps I'm missing something (remember I'm a newbie). Why make a less safe version that not even themselves use on a Boris and therefor I don't see it as a thru competitor to HH and Shearwater.
IMH a 3 cell version with or without the HP links and even with a solenoid controller is way more attractive - and it's all a question of software that allready exicts..

Just my opinion anyway....

Cheers
Soren

7th May 2007, 13:43	#11 (permalink)
kkcheo New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Working in Laos diving in Thailand Posts: 69	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review Great report and pictures! Thanks - your pics make me want to jump in the water right now!!!!! Cheers -Keng
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7th May 2007, 14:38	#12 (permalink)
windymiller All The Gear, No Idea Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: england Posts: 222	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review What a cracking piece of kit! Zenobia looks good too!! Do they do a vr3 that will monitor 2 HP links? I see the brain has links for 2 but also for an extra cell. I would be very interested if they did one that did this? How much do they cost?
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7th May 2007, 18:31	#13 (permalink)
Soren Thomsen Happy Hippo Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 129	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review As stated before nice report and pictures. I too find it a very well machined piece of kit that looks bombproof. However I don't fully understand the concept of building a one cell monitor and deco calculator. They allready made that for Inspiration some years ago linking a fourth cell up with your VR3 - I can't see the difference perhaps I'm missing something (remember I'm a newbie). Why make a less safe version that not even themselves use on a Boris and therefor I don't see it as a thru competitor to HH and Shearwater. IMH a 3 cell version with or without the HP links and even with a solenoid controller is way more attractive - and it's all a question of software that allready exicts.. Just my opinion anyway.... Cheers Soren
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7th May 2007, 22:53	#14 (permalink)
JonnyB Jonny The Hatch Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Titan Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Megalodon Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweden (Stockholm)/Cyprus(Ayia Napa) Posts: 940	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review Stuart, nice write work, very good information. And thanks for the kind words /jonny __________________ A quote from Crazyduck - In remembering our own Rob Davies. "Outbound flight 777 heavy you are cleared for flight Due west into that warm red Texas sunset You have angels on your wings and divers memories on your six." Rest In Peace http://www.divetekcyprus.com http://www.diveccr.com
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8th May 2007, 01:28	#15 (permalink)
Monkey Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lauderdale By The Sea Florida Posts: 324	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review what happens If the HUD locks up? does it stay solid GREEN giving a false impression every thing is OK?
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8th May 2007, 08:48	#16 (permalink)
Burrendive New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 16	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review Quote: If I am doing a multilevel dive and I am not ready to go to my optimal stop depth will that red LED be blinking incessantly and does it distract you from PPO2 led when flashing? Yes the Red LED does flash continuously when you have a deco obligation. However its quite a slow pulse and diving in some very low vis caves at the weekend it did not distract me from the green LED. At the lowest HUD setting the LED's do seem to pulse slightly even when solid and I had to turn mine up to about a setting of 4 to eliminate this. John
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8th May 2007, 09:23	#17 (permalink)
rogeringebo Done with bubbles Current Rebreather/s: Pelagian Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Classic Kiss Pelagian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 671	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review Hi! Nice piece of kit! Anyone know the diameter of the cable of the 3-display housing? (in mm,please) It looks like it could be a PG7 gland.... Cheers Roger
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8th May 2007, 10:42	#18 (permalink)
colinj New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Uttoxeter Posts: 67	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review Great review, Thanks, I presume my current VR3 will upgrade to the "Spectrum" spec and therefore the option needed on a classic Inspo would just be the brain, the 2 glands and the 1 or 3 cell back-up? I too am new to this but as the classic handsets on mine have been with AP for two months now with an unresolved fault this seems the ideal way forward, any ideas on cost of 1. complete unit as tested 2. Upgrade to a VR3 "Spectrum" plus remaining hardware for 3 cell display plus HUD Thanks again, excellent stuff
(Offline)

8th May 2007, 14:17	#19 (permalink)
mountain diver Silent Lucidity Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: edmonton, ab. Posts: 165	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review enjoyed the article.
(Online)

11th May 2007, 17:18	#20 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Diver Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,208	Re: Universal Rebreather Monitor Review maybe i'm missing something, but yes i think you are confused about the concept. the po2 that is listed by the primary is an average of the three cells (very cool!), and each cell reading is also shown on the screen (from what stuart's excellent artickle describes). the secondary also lists the three cells individually (not sure if they have their own individual batteries, like the kiss?). the two systems are in parallel, reading the same three cells and I don't believe there is a fourth cell. If i'm getting it correctly, it's exactly what i'm leaning toward on a copis but with a shearwater and HUD instead. Actually i'd like to split 4 cells evenly between 2 screens but the shearwater can only run on 3 or 1. I'm still looking into weather there is room for a 4th cell in the copis head. If so, I may use the shearwater on 3 and the display that comes stock with the copis on a 4th for comparison but only rely on it in a bail out scenario. This kind of approach seems to be building on a trend toward including many of the benefits of eCCR's on mCCR's minus the one major pitfall of eCCR's, the electronic set point controller/solenoid. Manual injection leaves the set point controlling up to the most reliable piece of circuitry available- one's brain, and entrains the habit of truly constant po2 monitoring by the diver. with a system like the URM, it may just turn out that this is the perfect balance between the reliability and good habits (and 0% mortality) engendered by the KISS philosophy and the added safety features and conveniences of an eCCR (at least when it comes to recreational and intermediate depths- for the diving I do). Excelent article Stuart! g Quote: (Originally Posted by Soren Thomsen) As stated before nice report and pictures. I too find it a very well machined piece of kit that looks bombproof. However I don't fully understand the concept of building a one cell monitor and deco calculator. They allready made that for Inspiration some years ago linking a fourth cell up with your VR3 - I can't see the difference perhaps I'm missing something (remember I'm a newbie). Why make a less safe version that not even themselves use on a Boris and therefor I don't see it as a thru competitor to HH and Shearwater. IMH a 3 cell version with or without the HP links and even with a solenoid controller is way more attractive - and it's all a question of software that allready exicts.. Just my opinion anyway.... Cheers Soren __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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