General info

[Robin]

Dear all,

After reading some topics in this forum and going through the website I understand only a little of a open source dive computer. Can you answer following questions:

If you by yourself a OSTC2N is it loaded with some decosoftware? -> I think so
Can I load my own decosoftware with personal algorithm?
Can I make changes to the pre-installed algorithm?

Regards, Robin

[sailor]

Hi,

1. yes

2. yes but quite complicated as you have to write your own code

3. yes, but limited to the CFs ( custom functions ), see HW homepage

Reiner

[Robin]

Thanks for your answers, just as expected.

Is there anyone who can explain the advantages of this computer?
I read the custom functions but none of them really turns me on....

And who is ever going to write his own deco software/algorithm. The testing takes
a lot of time. Besides that, most will be based on Buhlman or VPM like all the other computers in the field.

Why should you buy a HW-computer and not a shearwater/liquivision/etc etc?

[tiefunten]

You should read the upper half of this page: http://www.heinrichsweikamp.com/en/ostc_2n/

Why to buy a HW-computer and not something else: It is a great computer that is much cheaper than other computers that are definately not better, bugs are fixed very fast, there are continuing firmware updates greatly enhancing functionality (and customer-whishes are included in the future versions when possible) - just to mention a few reasons!

[cparsons]

The OSTC2n is a very well made piece of hardware - it costs around half the price of comparable computers, some of which do not offer anything close to the same level of functionality or customisation.

You are able very easily to completely replace the software/firmware in the computer as new functionality is created for it, and there is an active community involved in improving/testing/helping anyone who has one of these computers.

If you have the technical skills and ability, you are able to completely replace the software/firmware with something you have written yourself, or you can customise the supplied software if you wish - all the information about the internal design (electronics) of the computer, all the program code for the software/firmware is freely available and there are many people who are willing to give help and advice at any level to a new user.

I do not know of any other dive computer that you can have such wide access to.

Even if you just buy one and use it with the supplied (and installed) firmware/software it is half the price of it's competitors, very well made, and offers comprehensive functionality.

For me it was an easy decision, and my only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner

Best wishes

[wrobell]

oled screen, bungee mount, very good buttons, pc interface works out of box (on linux, also my friend had no problem on windows, your mileage may vary)

new firmware versions few times a year, reasonable new features introduced on your request, documented hardware and software protocol (the latter great to avoid vendor lockin); does not lock for 24h

good community, great customer support

price

[Jean-François]

Well pretty much everything has been said by the others and I agree with them.

The question you should ask yourself is what kind of diving are you doing.

Tech ? Trimix ? Then the OSTC is the best you can find around because it's extremely well made, lots of features, OLED screen, Great community, awesome developers and price.

If you are only doing some recreational diving (if that I don't think you'd be lurking on this forum ) maybe you can find some other devices that are cheaper and maybe more adapted to the recreational diving.
N.B: the OSTC is working very well for recreational diving too, it's just an overkill of functionalities if you only dive on vacation and within NDL.

I hope this helps.

[Solodiver]

It's open - in my understanding the only unit on the market not running closed software where you do not know what it is doing actually.

[dmainou]

Even if you are never planning to use CCR or go into technical diving these are some of the reasons why I would buy an OSTC computer.

- The screen. Few computers are SOOOOO easy to read.
- It's upgradeable. As algorithms evolve so does your computer. You do not need to buy a new computer to get the latest algorithm. Ask any Suunto D9 owner if they can upgrade to the latest trimix software for free. Long story cut short they cant without buying a new one. If you think algorithms don't change borrow an aladin and a Tec2G and put them side by side on the same dive....
- You don't have to live with the software bugs for long as software is upgreadable.
- Has the same functionality or more than a predator CC stand alone at 1/3 of the price. Same argument can be made about the x1.
-it has all the functionality you will ever need at the 50% of the cheapest suunto or same price as a fairly basic aeris. (prices will vary between countries)

D

ps If the CF's don't turn you on then you are likely to be relatively new to tech diving. At some point in time you'll wish to have something behaving in a certain way and you won't be able to do it with most computers.

For example, the other day a cave diver was doing this dive which required surfacing (inside the cave) for some minutes and then jumping in the water again. He wanted to extend the time before the dive is counted as a second dive in order to have the whole profile as one dive rather than several (surface-in water- surface inside the cave -in water - surface out). He was able to do it by extending the time on that CF.

I don't like the tissue graph displayed whilst diving and turn it off.

It really is like a made to measure suit.

[Dahab Boris]

I agree as per all the above - really nice piece of kit.