HS Explorer vs VR3

sensor330

I love your VR3 Dave.

Andy Del

I'd say think again. From my first ever dive with a VR3 I felt 'crappy' post dive, and often with niggly elbows / knees. The only way around this was to modify the profile it gave, by folowing the deep stops, then going to a VPM table (or anything else I guess) until I caught up to the shallow stops on the VR3. Then I'd clear the VR3. This seems to work, but I got the doing this, so got the VPM iteration - that's the one which runs VPMB and their own Buhlmann wrap on the last stop - which equals VPMB/E+4. Do I got to do 2 dives for the price of one, and giving everyone else on the boat the .

The rumour is that the new 2007 version of software gives shorter stop times. And bugger me! The runtimes in the diveplanner mode are shorter! Not as short as say VPMB, but shorter. Havea look.

Original VR3 V.5. 75m 20 minutes 80 minutes TTS

54m 1 minute (23)
51 1 (24)
48 1 (25)
45 1 (26)
42 1 (27)
39 1 (28)
36 1 (29)
33 1(30)
30 1 (31)
27 2 (32)
24 3 (35)
21 3 (38)
18 5 (43)
15 5 (48)
12 7 (55)
9 9 (64)
6 34 (98)


New software V.2007 75m 20 min 1.3po2 15/55tx 67minutes TTS

45m 1 (24)
42m 1 (25)
39m 1 (26)
36m 1 (27)
33m 1 (28)
30m 1 (29)
27m 1 (30)
24m 1 (31)
21m 3 (34)
18m 4 (38)
15m 4 (42)
12m 6 (48)
9m 8 (56)
6m 31 (87)

Vplanner VPMB+2


75m (20)
51m (22)
51m 0:36 (23)
48m 1:00 (24)
45m 1:00 (25)
42m 1:00 (26)
39m 1:00 (27)
36m 1:00 (28)
33m 1:00 (29)
30m 1:00 (30)
27m 2:00 (32)
24m 2:00 (34)
21m 3:00 (37)
18m 3:00 (40)
15m 4:00 (44)
12m 5:00 (49)
9m 7:00 (56)
6m26:00 (82)

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Drmike

same old same old

post a poll to get a clearer view. Going through the archives youll see a repetative story told by the same few vocal people with the same bias

Most owners/ex owners (of HS) say they are crap but Joe loves his and says the VR3 is crap

A few owners say HS is good - but theres likely 1000x that amount of VR3 owners not responding. You need a poll to get a balanced view

All I know is VR3s are far more popular/numerous and I suspect theres a good reason for that

What deep divers are using HS explorers? - any? Certainly all the people I dive with/know are all using VR3s

From my personal perspective I have 2 (VR3s) and they havent let me down. (which is more than I can say for HS which died on dive 1)

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jradomski

First mike,
I never sad I have never had any problems with the Explorer (I have had 3, lost pressure xducer, flood after upgrade, and lost the display after my Rebreather ended up on top of my computer for a 2hr boat ride).. My comments have always been balanced.. I have had some problems but far less than I have had with the two vr2s that I owned.. I always acknowledged that Gene had problems in the past delievering a reliable computer, but once you got one you didn't give it up.. Most of the people that get a reliable one wount part with it for anything and for good reason.. the display is much more readable than the vr3, generates a better deco schedule, and is easier to use..

I never called the vr3 crap, I just said I had alot of issues with the two that I owned and have seen others with similiar problems.. Most of the problems (intermittent lock ups) that I saw have been fixed by the newer battery cap , except for the buttons that really suck..

My biggest gripe with the VR3 was the shape of the deco curve, and I wasn't going to pay $1000 to upgrade a computer that was advertised as the last computer you'd ever have to buy.. If another real RGBM computer came out I would give it a try as well..

as to deep divers.. I know several that have been to 150m in open water with them..

At this point I THINK the HS is reliable but Hydrospace has an uphill battle to get over the bad press.. Some of the failures were his fault, but others should have never reached consumers. I know of a batch of 50 that were recalled from a certain reseller before he even received them but deceided to sell them anyway knowing the batch had a problem and would have a 100% failure rate... IMHO it took too long to isolate the case issue which was the cause of most of the problems, but I understand why it was so hit or miss..

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ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

paulraymaekers

june 2006, canyon expedition egypte, diving 100/120 m
8 divers on rEvo

at the start on the boat:
6 VR3, 3 HS Expl, 2 HH, 1 cochran 20 HMC, 16 rEvodreams :-)
(and lots of bottomtimers)

after 9 days, end of the trip
what was still working..
3 VR3, 1 HS Expl, 1 HH, 1 cochran, 16 rEvodreams..
(and the same amount of bottomtimers)

all the rest, blocked, flooded, pressure sensor crazy, dead after batt change..

so seems they all have some issues...

paul

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silent running

Hello FTF, no offense, but anytime you have a comparo question about different products, try the RBW search feature. You will see that this subject has been covered many times and it can make people cranky to rehash this stuff over an over again. In fact, there was another thread on this subject recently enough that I thought it was the same one and only chimed in now.

A better question might be:

What's the latest user impressions of VRs and HEs? Computer manufacturers frequently update/change their products so there's always some new development which might affect your choice.

As for making a choice btw the VR3 and HE, I've had both and am one of the rare people who has not had a major issue with either. I switched from a pre VPM VR3 to an HE primarily because I was taking my tmix course and prefered the RGBM alg. Another reason I switched was because I bought my VR used and neither Delta P nor their local rep were very helpful in dealing with upgrades and even minor fixes, like a new battery cap. My unit was not one of the old pot metal looking ones and came from someone who was a friend of the designer. It had been back to the company 2 times for crapping out, but worked very well during it's time with me.

I also bought my HE used, sent it back to the manufacturer for a $100 all inclusive update, had it back in 2 weeks and have had no issues with it at all during the last 100+ hrs. I know of several people diving tmix with HEs, some in the 150M zone who are happy and unbent.

Things to consider, IMHO:

-Which algorythum makes the most sense to you?
-HE is lighter but bigger.
-User interface on VR is marginally more easy to use.
-HE buttons don't pop off but are a bit hard on the hands. Unless you have to BO or change SP a lot, this should not be an issue.
-I was done with deco obligations on the HE a full 20-30 minutes earlier than my non VPM VR3 buddy on long deco tmix dives. I still spent the time shallow with him as he's my buddy. But it's nice to know I could've gone up if I needed to.
-The HE backlight is not so hot, but if you are diving in low viz or night without a light or 2, you are a dope.
-If you are buying used, stick with the unit in your country of origin or as close to it as possible as customer service will become an increasing pain in the ass along with customs issues. No matter what you think/hope, you will have to deal with the manufacturer at some point.
-Gene is accessible, very knowledgeable and nice.

Happy trails, -Andy

mverick

When I lost part of my screen. I had that new upgraded connector. Couple dives after that it flooded.

jradomski

you definately had bad luck.. since it completely flooded, in your case I wonder if the loss of part of the display on the newer connector was an indication that moisture was present... but its something we can never know..

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Joe Radomski
CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer
ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10

All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.

Eliot Danner

A very good point, Ill keep it in mind for next time.

/E

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Eliot Danner
CCR Instructor

This post may be up to 80% accurate...the remaining 20% is speculation.

Mike king

I have one of the first explorers and have had only one problen with it. it has been very good on all my dives. I have at least 500 dives on it . for the proce of a VR3 I can buy 2 Explorer just my 2cents worth
Mike