Aladin prime

[Mark Cowgill]

Hi everyone
Just got an Aladin prime wrist computer and Im a bit worried, the user guide that came with it is bigger than War and Peace this is my first computer and I took advice on which one to buy but within my club nobody seems to know how to use one the most popular computers in the club are vypers maybe I should have got one of those, does anyone have an oppinion on the Aladin and do you think I have made a mistake or am I just not inteligent enough to understand the user manual.
Mark

[MattS]

Well there is something to be said for buying the same computer as your regular buddys and the Vyper is a very good computer.

Don't give up just yet though. Have a go with the computer underwater it will probably make a whole lot more sense. A swimming pool or lake shallower than 6m will give you loads of time to work out the displays and experiment with the buttons. You have hours of no-stop time available at such shallow depths so the computer information will not be a critical part of the dive. Dive according to tables until you are fully familiar with how your computer works.

Looking ahead I would also recommend planning on tables for the first dive that is likely to put you into decompression. The display will change as soon as you have a decompression ceiling over you and it's not a good time to discover you have no idea what the previously unseen deco display is trying to tell you.

[cris]

I agree, my wife bought one this Summer.

I have an Aladdin Air (same thing I thought) but am still confused by book.

The instruction book is dreadful, however the Prime connects (infrared) to Laptop v easily so we get all the benefit by look and learning that way.

When will manufacturers learn that books should be written for users not by boffins.

[John Bantin]

The problem stems from having one manual for two computers, the Prime and the Tech. Take a highlighter pen and ink out those parts of the manual that are not relevent to the Prime. You will find it then is very much more digestible.

[Mark Cowgill]

Thanks
Will take all advice on board and I will keep looking for someone who has one as I learn a lot easier when shown you know what its like though when you read a manual you think your the only one in the world who cant understand it . I called in at my local dive shop where I bought the computer and asked if They could give me a quick run through the basics and the guy said didnt you get a manual with it I said yes I did and I also got a bill with it for £220 and left a bit sheepishly

[Andy Wade]

Thanks
Will take all advice on board and I will keep looking for someone who has one as I learn a lot easier when shown you know what its like though when you read a manual you think your the only one in the world who cant understand it . I called in at my local dive shop where I bought the computer and asked if They could give me a quick run through the basics and the guy said didnt you get a manual with it I said yes I did and I also got a bill with it for £220 and left a bit sheepishly

You should have told them you were thinking of buying one but wanted someone to explain how it works first.... They would have fallen over themselves to show you. :D

[Mark Cowgill]

Yes Andy Im learning slowly but surely.

[scubacoach]

In the manual there is a circular schematic showing how to go through the menu's
Spend some time working through those and it should come clear.
I know in the Z range and the ultra's then when those manuals were being produced they went to a guy in the UK to proof read. the same thing happened when the Smart range were produced. I also know he is a BSAC Advanced Instructor.

[craig carroll]

Dear Mark

I have just purchased a Prime to replace my aged Suunto Solutions Alpha. The latter was just so easy to understand. But I am foxed by the Aladin Prime manual.
I note that you have had your prime for over a year now and wonder whether you have any advice or could pass on any hints.
I find that the menu in the button presses do not give the responses that the manual suggests.
Before its first dive I couldn't get it to do anything.

I hope that you will write and assure me that it has turned out to be a very reliable and user friendly device.

Regards

Craig Carroll

[Jan Venter]

My wife and I both have Aladin Prime computers.

Regarding the instruction manual - one confusing point that tok us a while to figure out was the indication of how to press the buttons - it seemed like the manual indicated that you had to press one side of the button by colouring only half of the button, however it actually meant that you should only press it briefly when only half of the button is coloured and press and hold when the whole button is coloured.

We have problems downloading the data from the aladin to the computer through the infrared - during December 2006, my wife's aladin just could not connect to the infrared port, however mine worked perfectly well (on the same computer, eliminating the possibility of something being wrong with the PC). We returned the aladin to the suppliers who replaced it - losing the electronic log of the dives for the trip that could not be downloaded.

After our recent diving trip, my wife's aladin connected without problem, however mine could not connect at all. Now mine is back to the suppliers.

Does anyone have similar problems? Any solutions on how to solve/prevent the problem?

[Mark Cowgill]

Hi Craig
Dont worry the computor is excelent, it is hard to understand at first. here is my tip. throw the manual away go onto the Uwatec web site and click on Aladin prime demo. it is quite a good demo and sets you of on the basics. when you have done that just play with the menus and you will soon understand it.but making sure you dont alter any of the settings by mistake.
Hope this helps.
If you still have problems let me know and I will contact you and try to explain the computor over the phone.
P.M. ME if you need to

Mark

[IainC]

Jan - don't know how pc literate you are, so apologies if this is too simple .. have you checked that it is not simply the first dive computer to be connected to your pc that works? (i.e. reboot pc between attempts)


Iain.

[Swordfish]

I too use an Aladin Prime, and found the manual confusing to start with, but over time and fiddling got to grips with it. I think the manual is rather heavy and complicates matters with sharing the TEC info on the same pages. In essence, to use the Aladin Prime, just strap it on and dive, the display is very clear as to what is going on when underwater. There are no additional settings required to be entered for a new user on a pleasure dive, and the IR link to retrieve the dive data is a joy to use (when it functions). Once you have seen the displays change due to your dynamic dive characteristics you'll soon pick up on the meanings of the symbols etc.

Safer in the first instance though to plan your dive off of tables and use the computer for back up until you are confident you know what it is telling you. Gripes with it? The beep is not loud enough, and if you dive UK waters with a 5mm hood you'll not hear it talk to you unless you wear it like an ear-ring, and I too have had to have my unit replaced after 13 months use with a failed IR port function, it simply died and refused to transfer data. The watch was fine otherwise, but the IR link had gone kaput. Uwatec replaced under warranty so all OK there, but I am waiting for the next time it happens and then I will be making my complaint known a little harder. £220 for a watch which drops functions is not good.

Safe diving!
Swordfish