Comments on: Dive-computers Reviews – Part One – the Delta-P VR3

By: Why Not to buy a VR3? Or why most of the people give you this advice? - Rebreather World

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:43:13 +0000

[...] If you buy a new one, you might be lucky and it'll be fine or be cursed and it'll never work well. Dive-computers Reviews – Part One – the Delta-P VR3 But in all seriousness, there are much better computers out there now, reliable computers with a [...]

By: VR3 or Suunto Helo2? - Rebreather World

VR3 or Suunto Helo2? - Rebreather World — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:48:48 +0000

[...] VR3 or Suunto Helo2? Good god, neither. Find my review of the VR3 here: Dive-computers Reviews – Part One – the Delta-P VR3 | Thinking Diver You should look into the X1 (Dive computers Reviews – Part Two – the Liquivision X1 | Thinking [...]

By: edasque

edasque — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:21:46 +0000

Because I should not have to send back a computer I paid $1500 for all the way to the UK with a long turn around time so it can work right. Service should be done in the USA, where I bought it and it should be quick. I shouldn't have to pay for overall or minor software updates. It should accept my copper-top US batteries without issues, it shouldn't reboot halfway through a dive or shut off completely. It shouldn't insert phantom surface dives or switch to OC/Air without being prompted, while I am diving a rebreather; all those things that happened to me. While the VR3 works fine for many users and still does, I doubt it still is the best mixed gas deco computer out there. It sure was 6 years ago but longevity does not equate quality. It's the best we had, not the best there is.

"Why would anyone give a fuck about the interface" ? Because if I can't remember from use to use how to do things on it, all other aspects of the computer is irrelevant. If it takes forever to configure my bailout gases, calibrate, change any settings, it's not a good interface therefore not a good computer, that's why ? Is the interface irrelevant in Windows, Mac OS X ? No, it's the most important thing for desktop operating systems. Here you have a device which you have to manipulate often, sometimes in very stressful situation (bailout…), in the water, with dry suit gloves on, in current. The interface has to be stellar, it's a key component. Lots of people like to follow the bouncing ball with the VR3 but with the arrival of Shearwater, Nitek X and X1, they no longer _have_ to.

By: AnneMarie

AnneMarie — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:49:31 +0000

I don't agree – and if you don't send it back, you don't give the manufacturer a chance to rectify matters. The VR3 is still the best mixed gas decompression computer out there. I've used mine for 6 years and it is a solid and robust piece of kit. Let's see how these new supposedly better computers stand up with 6 years of use. PS – why would anyone give a fuck about the interface, it's irrelevant.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:17:42 +0000

Sam and Erick will like this – diving a VR3 is like having your business revolve around a FoxPro for DOS app…. It works sometimes, a little clunky, impossible to integrate into current technologies, and when it breaks, it can take forever just to find someone who understands it enough to get it back running… (i.e. reliable deco planning, 3 cell capability, downloadlogbook; yes, they have software, I can count on one thumb the number of people I know who have gotten it to work….) But, its so old, no one develops for it anymore, and your kinda stuck with it unless you wanna sped mucho bucks (~$1700+) for something equivalent, like a pursuit, X1, or the forthcoming NitekX… (tho the nitekx is rumored to be ~1400)

Personally, I use the conservatism, using the VPM model, I find it still pushes most of the deco at the 15' stop, a la buhlman…. I just wish it would give me more credit for longer mid level stops, like at the Gallery in the Devil's system… (~50 – 60') It's never failed on me, I had one phantom dive while on the surface, but a quick battery reseat resolved it, and the only other 'issue' is it's taken a few drops and 2 lines are out on the screen, frustrating, but still very usable…

By: edasque

edasque — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:57:23 +0000

I think the world of technical divers is divided in two. Those who have never had any problems with their VR3 and those who only have problems with it. On my recent trip to Florida, it decided I was diving Open Circuit on Air on the first dive. After that, I just ignored it, the battery failed after a dive and I just used it as a cable cap.

However, beyond the reliability issues and the UI friendliness, there is one key reason I decided to move away from the VR3. We use it as a backup O2 decompression computer but it bases its (conservative) calculation on one cell only. Should that cell fail or be eratic in any way, you can't use the decompression information. The X1 will soon allow me to monitor cells 1, 2 and 4 on my O2ptima. And that, I think, is key.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:19:20 +0000

After reading Frenchguy's review of the VR3, I have to admit that I do not disagree with his conclusions, however, I love my VR3! Unlike Frenchguy, I bought mine a bit over one year ago, specifically and exclusively to use as a 4th O2 cell integrated backup decompression computer for my Optima Rebreather. And yes, the computer is heavy, it's not easy to use without the manual in hand, it's frustrating pushing the stiff buttons to get through the menus and it is damn conservative. But even with all its shortcomings, with well over 100 hours logged underwater with it, I've never had a single problem with it. Furthermore, it has flawlessly provided me with an extremely reliable backup O2 cell intergrated decompression backup computer for my rebreather.

If I had to replace it today, I probably would buy one of the more modern computers on the market, such as the X, but honestly, the thought of replacing it has never crossed my mind, because it has, and continues to, get the job done!