Trouble with Datamax Pro Plus

[RonC]

It was working fine last summer, but now it will not boot up. Just a flash of 8's and then blank. I put in a new battery, but no help. This is about the third time I have had a problem with this unit. The Factory has been OK about fixing it, but the down time is a drag. I would like to know if this particular computer design is prone to problems so I could just cut my losses and look for a better one. Any information on these units would be welcome. Thanks , Ron

[charlesml3]

It's not passing it's self-test. Your only choice is to send it in for repair.

Sorry man. That's an older computer. It might be time to look for a new one.

-Charles

[RonC]

Wonder, who makes the most reliable computer available. I like the idea of the remote air-integrated type , but mostly want something that works. Ron

[DivingCRNA]

Try using a pencil eraser to clean the contacts on the computer and the battery. When I had one of these, this had gotten to be a chronic problem for me as well, and this was the solution.

The current was in the battery, but did not get to the computer.

I just replaced my Datamax pro plus with a Zeagle N2Ition and spg...

[cmburch]

Oceanic has an excellent upgrade policy. I flooded or the battery corroded my last computer and the LDS gave me a good trade-in value to upgrade to a newer computer. I might upgrade this year to hoseless.

[RonC]

Grouper, I'll clean the battery contacts. Thanks for the tip. Guppy, I've been thinking hose-less for a while too. I would like to know how dependable the different brands are.

[keyshunter]

Originally Posted by RonC

Wonder, who makes the most reliable computer available. I like the idea of the remote air-integrated type , but mostly want something that works. Ron

If the manufacturers would release their repair percentage (fat chance), I bet that the most reliable would be the low end Suunto (Gekko and Vyper). But, whether Suunto, or Pelagic, or Uwatec, etc., the more "features" that are added to a computer, the greater the probability of failure.

[charlesml3]

I haven't seen anything to indicate which computers are any more reliable than any others. I have hundreds of dives on my Pro Plus. It looks like hell and has always been hard on batteries but it works. I'll eventually replace it with a Pro Plus II.

I really don't think there are chronic problems with any brand of computer. It's an electronic device in a very harsh environment.

-Charles