UWATEC Aladin TEC vs. Suunto Vytec/Vytec DS

Vie · January 10th, 2006, 04:04 AM

I am a little frustrated with the "gauge mode" of my current dive computer and am looking to replace it with something that can at least show elapsed time increments in seconds - stop watch function (that actually works during the dive) and average depth would be nice...

Many divers I've talked to recommended either the UWATEC Aladin TEC Wrist or a Suunto. I just happen to like the larger display of a Vytec compared to a Stinger.

Anyway, has anyone here used either or both of the above? Pros and cons? How are the download softwares for UWATEC and Suunto?

Thanks.

Divbum · January 10th, 2006, 05:02 AM

I use the TEC. Read the manual and you will have less confusion then I did. But it is pretty straight forward in gauge mode, average depth and a stopwatch all right there.
I have no troubles with the interface and I even turned mine slightly offset in the boot -like I would with a bottom timer.
Several guys are decoing based on average depths with no worries.

davy · January 10th, 2006, 09:36 AM

I owned a vytec and now also a aladin tec.

Vytec is very nice, but the buttons tend to be hard to push...
No problem reading the display with the timer in the middle of the screen, and if you remove the screen guard it's even better.
Downloading was not always easy... it's takes a long time, and getting a good contact after a couple of months salt water diving can be "challenging"
But the only downside is the price. and that the stopwatch only runs to 99mins.
All in all one of the best timers around.

I now own a aladin tec.

buttons are much easier to push, but look more fragile... time will tell how they hold up.
the timer (stopwatch) runs for 24 hours instead of 99mins on the vytec.
But I found the display harder to read than the suunto.
You can adjust the contrast right from the computer settings menu, but it's more the angle at which you have to look at it and the amount of light you point at it, but you will get used to it.
downloading via IR is a breeze and you don't need any additional hardware if your laptop has a IR port...
support for palm, mac etc. should be coming soon.

The average depth I'm not to fond of...
It displays the real mean value of the dive, and for some multi level dives it gives a much shallower value then I'm willing to use... like for example with reversed profiles.
It was a nice gadget in the beginning, but now I don't even look at it any more.
Better know what you are doing before using that feature.
It would be much better if the user could start the depth averaging himself by pushing a button IMHO...

the nice thing about the tec is the price...
It's just a little over the price of a vyper and you get a lot more functionality for it, where the vytec is a lot more expensive and you need additional hardware to download it.
But it has a better quality display IMHO and displays a deeper depth (vytec 150m vs. aladin tec 120m IIRC)

I also own a suunto stinger which is also nice because of the timer but over priced for it's purpose. but because of it's size it makes a very nice backup BT instead of a normal watch.
Also owned a couple of D3's which were perfect as far as functionality vs. price, but they are so fragile

I broke 3 of them in 3 years time... the buttons get brittle in cold weather and then break easy when dropped...
(yeah I know... don't drop 'em stupid...

) also the pressure sensor broke on all of them

That's why I went for the stinger instead which is holding up pretty well although I also broke the pressure sensor on that one, but was replaced by suunto.

Mark Chase · January 10th, 2006, 03:14 PM

Cant comment on the Tec as i haven't used one. The Vytec is pretty good in gage mode with a nice easy display and a neat stopwatch function. (which i have to admit it stopped bothering with in the end). Buttons are a pain sometimes and the down load connexion lugs snapped off quickly so i have to hold the down load head in place during the hhhhhhooooo sssssoooooo sloooooo down load but apart from that its good / better than the stinger. I realy like the origional Suunto down load package easy to use and worked well.

HOWEVER I wouldn't be so keen spending all that money on one JUST to use in gage mode???

Id go for the cheaper option.

ATB

Mark CHase

*Brian Allen* · January 10th, 2006, 05:10 PM

I dive the Aladin Tec 2G from Ocean Explorers, and find it perfect for my needs. The timer is brilliant, and when used in computer or gauge mode it gives a good range of info. Download speed is great and the software is a breeze to use. The infra red makes downloading easy and cheap.

I used to use a Vyper (until someone borrowed it), and the downloading did get harder as the computer got older, but other than that i liked it too.

There is one difference tho that could be considered major. As far as I am aware the Suunto's are apparently calibrated for fresh water and the Aladin's for salt water. Obviously their algorithims take this into account when used as a computer, but this could make a difference to you when used in gauge mode as the aladin will give an accurate depth in seawater and the suunto will tell you that you are deeper by 2.5-3%.

I do most of my diving in the sea so therefore the Aladin is the perfect choice for me. As i'm not ratio deco trained i don't know what allowances are made for fresh/salt water but i assume that the ratio's are worked out based on pressure and not depth. Seeing as seawater gives a 1:1 relationship for pressure vs depth, i suppose that a seawater calibrated computer could make better sense from a DIR point of view.

from Scubapro:
Dear SCUBAPRO UWATEC Dealer

Further to the review of the UWATEC computers in this months (January) Sport Diver magazine, I should like to clarify a few issues that have surfaced.

Firstly, the reason for the Aladin Prime and Aladin Tec reading shallower than the rest of the computers on the test is because they are SALT water calibrated and not FRESH water calibrated like the rest of the computers on the test. The tests were carried out in freshwater hence the discrepancy. The saltwater calibration results in a difference of 2.5% and will thus give a greater difference at deeper depths.

The reason they are saltwater calibrated is that the majority of divers are diving in the sea and not freshwater. There are no safety issues involved as there is a large safety margin built into the decompression algorithm, which has had more exhaustive in-water testing than any other algorithm on the market.

davy · January 11th, 2006, 11:28 AM

it's possible to switch the uwatec aladin tec to salt/fresh water setting straight from the computers settings menu to fit your needs.

*Brian Allen* · January 11th, 2006, 12:06 PM

Thanks for that, just checked my manual and you're right. It's also got an automatic altimeter that looks quite useful too.

I know the Tec has an average depth readout in gauge mode, does the suunto?

davy · January 11th, 2006, 12:30 PM

No, the suunto doesn't have an active avg. depth readout...
only in the logbook after the dive...

That's why I initially bought the aladin tec, to have something to cross check my math with...
But after a couple of dives I stopped bothering.

January 10th, 2006, 04:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Vie(Offline) Loner at the ball... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Krung Thep, Siam, mostly Posts: 189	UWATEC Aladin TEC vs. Suunto Vytec/Vytec DS I am a little frustrated with the "gauge mode" of my current dive computer and am looking to replace it with something that can at least show elapsed time increments in seconds - stop watch function (that actually works during the dive) and average depth would be nice... Many divers I've talked to recommended either the UWATEC Aladin TEC Wrist or a Suunto. I just happen to like the larger display of a Vytec compared to a Stinger. Anyway, has anyone here used either or both of the above? Pros and cons? How are the download softwares for UWATEC and Suunto? Thanks.

January 10th, 2006, 05:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Divbum(Offline) "It's always an adventure..." Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midwest Posts: 30	I use the TEC. Read the manual and you will have less confusion then I did. But it is pretty straight forward in gauge mode, average depth and a stopwatch all right there. I have no troubles with the interface and I even turned mine slightly offset in the boot -like I would with a bottom timer. Several guys are decoing based on average depths with no worries. __________________ Safe Diving, Greg www.shipwreckadventures.com 815.378.8152

January 10th, 2006, 09:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	I owned a vytec and now also a aladin tec. Vytec is very nice, but the buttons tend to be hard to push... No problem reading the display with the timer in the middle of the screen, and if you remove the screen guard it's even better. Downloading was not always easy... it's takes a long time, and getting a good contact after a couple of months salt water diving can be "challenging" But the only downside is the price. and that the stopwatch only runs to 99mins. All in all one of the best timers around. I now own a aladin tec. buttons are much easier to push, but look more fragile... time will tell how they hold up. the timer (stopwatch) runs for 24 hours instead of 99mins on the vytec. But I found the display harder to read than the suunto. You can adjust the contrast right from the computer settings menu, but it's more the angle at which you have to look at it and the amount of light you point at it, but you will get used to it. downloading via IR is a breeze and you don't need any additional hardware if your laptop has a IR port... support for palm, mac etc. should be coming soon. The average depth I'm not to fond of... It displays the real mean value of the dive, and for some multi level dives it gives a much shallower value then I'm willing to use... like for example with reversed profiles. It was a nice gadget in the beginning, but now I don't even look at it any more. Better know what you are doing before using that feature. It would be much better if the user could start the depth averaging himself by pushing a button IMHO... the nice thing about the tec is the price... It's just a little over the price of a vyper and you get a lot more functionality for it, where the vytec is a lot more expensive and you need additional hardware to download it. But it has a better quality display IMHO and displays a deeper depth (vytec 150m vs. aladin tec 120m IIRC) I also own a suunto stinger which is also nice because of the timer but over priced for it's purpose. but because of it's size it makes a very nice backup BT instead of a normal watch. Also owned a couple of D3's which were perfect as far as functionality vs. price, but they are so fragile I broke 3 of them in 3 years time... the buttons get brittle in cold weather and then break easy when dropped... (yeah I know... don't drop 'em stupid... ) also the pressure sensor broke on all of them That's why I went for the stinger instead which is holding up pretty well although I also broke the pressure sensor on that one, but was replaced by suunto. Last edited by davy; January 10th, 2006 at 09:40 AM.

January 10th, 2006, 03:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mark Chase(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent England Posts: 905	Cant comment on the Tec as i haven't used one. The Vytec is pretty good in gage mode with a nice easy display and a neat stopwatch function. (which i have to admit it stopped bothering with in the end). Buttons are a pain sometimes and the down load connexion lugs snapped off quickly so i have to hold the down load head in place during the hhhhhhooooo sssssoooooo sloooooo down load but apart from that its good / better than the stinger. I realy like the origional Suunto down load package easy to use and worked well. HOWEVER I wouldn't be so keen spending all that money on one JUST to use in gage mode??? Id go for the cheaper option. ATB Mark CHase __________________ The only DIR Inspiration diver in the village

January 10th, 2006, 05:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brian Allen(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London & Plymouth Posts: 593	I dive the Aladin Tec 2G from Ocean Explorers, and find it perfect for my needs. The timer is brilliant, and when used in computer or gauge mode it gives a good range of info. Download speed is great and the software is a breeze to use. The infra red makes downloading easy and cheap. I used to use a Vyper (until someone borrowed it), and the downloading did get harder as the computer got older, but other than that i liked it too. There is one difference tho that could be considered major. As far as I am aware the Suunto's are apparently calibrated for fresh water and the Aladin's for salt water. Obviously their algorithims take this into account when used as a computer, but this could make a difference to you when used in gauge mode as the aladin will give an accurate depth in seawater and the suunto will tell you that you are deeper by 2.5-3%. I do most of my diving in the sea so therefore the Aladin is the perfect choice for me. As i'm not ratio deco trained i don't know what allowances are made for fresh/salt water but i assume that the ratio's are worked out based on pressure and not depth. Seeing as seawater gives a 1:1 relationship for pressure vs depth, i suppose that a seawater calibrated computer could make better sense from a DIR point of view. from Scubapro: Dear SCUBAPRO UWATEC Dealer Further to the review of the UWATEC computers in this months (January) Sport Diver magazine, I should like to clarify a few issues that have surfaced. Firstly, the reason for the Aladin Prime and Aladin Tec reading shallower than the rest of the computers on the test is because they are SALT water calibrated and not FRESH water calibrated like the rest of the computers on the test. The tests were carried out in freshwater hence the discrepancy. The saltwater calibration results in a difference of 2.5% and will thus give a greater difference at deeper depths. The reason they are saltwater calibrated is that the majority of divers are diving in the sea and not freshwater. There are no safety issues involved as there is a large safety margin built into the decompression algorithm, which has had more exhaustive in-water testing than any other algorithm on the market. __________________ ...dive planning again ... GUE fundamentals and Halcyon Equipment Online www.ocean-explorers.co.uk Last edited by Brian Allen; July 26th, 2007 at 08:15 PM.

January 11th, 2006, 11:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	it's possible to switch the uwatec aladin tec to salt/fresh water setting straight from the computers settings menu to fit your needs. Last edited by davy; January 11th, 2006 at 11:42 AM.

January 11th, 2006, 12:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brian Allen(Offline) GUE Instructor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London & Plymouth Posts: 593	Thanks for that, just checked my manual and you're right. It's also got an automatic altimeter that looks quite useful too. I know the Tec has an average depth readout in gauge mode, does the suunto? __________________ ...dive planning again ... GUE fundamentals and Halcyon Equipment Online www.ocean-explorers.co.uk

January 11th, 2006, 12:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 275	No, the suunto doesn't have an active avg. depth readout... only in the logbook after the dive... That's why I initially bought the aladin tec, to have something to cross check my math with... But after a couple of dives I stopped bothering.