Decent nitrox computer, far from perfect.
Written: Apr 26 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Large display, date & time, simplicity
Cons: O2 algorithm
The Bottom Line: Excellent for occasional nitrox use. Below average for multi-day repetitive nitrox diving.
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| tjustice's Full Review: Oceanic XTC-100 |
I want to like this computer. I used the Oceanic DataPlus for a long time and love the intuitive simplicity of both of these nitrox-capable units and the XTC-100 is an improvement on several levels. I appreciate the large backlit display, easy to see and simple to understand at a glance. The log mode is much easier to use on this unit than that of the DataPlus and the date & time stamp is a nice upgrade as well. This unit logs only 10 dives which is no problem if you record your dives diligently.
My main complaint about this unit is somewhat technical. I won't go into great detail, but the O2 algorithm is very primitive and, as a result, excessively conservative under some circumstances. I spent much time studying the behavior of this (and the DataPlus) and have concluded that for multi-day repetitive diving with the optimum nitrox mixes, both of these computers limit your O2 exposure to an extreme and unreasonable degree. I made a very strong effort to communicate with Oceanic technical people to ask them about the algorithm and my observations but I got stonewalled. (They replied several times but would not answer a single question.)
This is a nitrox computer but, in my opinion, intended for and appropriate for light or moderate recreational use. It's very good for that purpose. I suppose that diving two times a day for successive days makes one a bit more "technical" and this computer simply isn't as good for that type of usage. (You know, the sort of diving that made us all want nitrox computers in the first place!) I just don't like my computer beeping and telling me "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!" when I know for a fact that I'm well within safe O2 exposure levels.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
tjustice
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Location: Little Torch Key, FL USA
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
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