Apeks XTX regs

[Rick]

Heard about these regs - anybody got any info on them and what they are supposed to do differently from the ATX range or is it more of the usual marketing bumf

[Graham]

Apparently you can use them Left or Right Handed.
You will probably have to take the gubbings out & swap them round

Graham

[Craig]

Left or right handed use would be excellent. I could junk my crappy scubapro reg and get another Apeks.

[Tony F]

Are these released or just in the pipeline?

[mark - sandman]

I dived with someone who was trying one out.

Nice piece of kit to look at.
Almost the same as the ATX except as said, they do left and right. Exhaust flange is slightly different to take bubbles further away from the facial area.
Buddy didn't think it was any quieter for the different flange, but we'd just come off re-breathers to practice bail out (anything is loud after a rebreather).
The Purge is different to the ATX. I have heard stories from some owners that the ATX purge buttons are susceptible to grit making them stick; they have then had to be taken in for service to free the purge. I know its all down to how you look after your gear and dropping it in the sand is the usual culprit. I may add that I have never had a problem with mine as its treated with the reverence life support gear deserves.
Anyway the different purge set-up prevents this from happening anywhere near as easily. (Nothing is fool proof!)

I think they are due to go on sale spring / early summer next year but don't quote me on this.

[Tony F]

I think they are due to go on sale spring / early summer next year but don't quote me on this.

Thanks Mark, very helpful.

I've been diving singles up to now but am planning a twinset for next year. I had hoped to get new regs too and was intending to buy Apeks, I think it may be worth waiting for these now.

Besides any other consideration the ability to set them up to supply from left or right is useful IMHO.

[Apeks]

The New Apeks XTX regulator is now available, however it will take a few weeks for the dealers to receive these new regs due to demand.

The XTX was created so that it could be converted to be used either left or right handed to allow divers more freedom in how they set their kit up ie; when using twins etc..., please note this conversion can only be carried out by a qualified Apeks service technician.

Another new feature is that the exhaust diffusers are now removable to allow easy exhaust valve inspection/cleaning and come in two sizes, the larger ones have been specificly designed and developed to minimise bubble interference, whereas the smaller exhaust diffusers allow for a more compact regulator when used as an octopuss. These exhaust diffusers will be available in different colours at a later date to enable the diver to personalise or use them for identifying different gas mixes.

more info on all the new design features for this fantastic new reg will be posted on www.apeks.co.uk very soon!!

[mark - sandman]

Don't you think though:

RE Octopus Mode.

I'd be inclined to use the Egress, as its a small & wonderful APEKS Octopus that can be used left or right handed without the need of a qualified technician, has a considerably reduced profile & much cheaper price than an XTX ever will have with a smaller flange. It also has the APEKS cold water reliability & works at depth (tested).

RE diffuser colours

Colour perception change with depth so colour really doesn't matter. I'm also sure that any buddy diver that has run out of gas (at any depth) is going to grab the first regulator they see (training helps but doesn't cure the problem). I don't see how manufacturers think a pink flange will help them realise they shouldn't breathe it at 40m because it could be pure O2.
Don't you think stripy or checked diffusers be better? Sort of serious, but there must be someting better than pink or yellow bits?

[Tony F]

The New Apeks XTX regulator..................

Thanks for the update.

[Diesel]

I bought a couple of the XTX50 second stages and the switch over from left to right handed is a complete doddle and only takes about 1 minute to do with the right size spanner and a dab of 'lube.

If that's requires the 'expertise' of an Apeks technician than I'm bloody glad that I service all my own gear.

Just finished stripping down & re-building a few Apeks first stages tonight (two DS4's and a couple of DST's). Once again, a doddle. Between me & the missus we've got about 10 Apeks regs (2 x DS4, 2 x TX100 and several DST with a mix of TX40/50/100 and XTX50 second stages). If I were to take that lot into dive shop each year it'd be a bloody fortune and anyway, when I'm away diving I need to know that I can fix any issue that might arise.

OK, you need to spend out on a few special tools such as a good ultrasonic cleaner, an accurate inter-stage pressure gauge and the right C spanners to remove the end caps, but otherwise it’s very straightforward for anyone with a reasonable mechanical ability. The only other matter is getting hold of the service kits, but thats not a great problem.

all this crap in the industry about not being able to service your own equipment really annoys me. OK the kit is a life sustaining bit of equipment, but so are the brakes, steering or ANY part of my car and there’s no law stopping me fixing them myself.

If I screw up my regs then I'm the only one to suffer, but if I screw up the safety on my car I could potentially kill LOTS of other people, not just myself.

I'm not doing anyone else's regs only my own, so I'm not commercially in competition with any Apeks service centre, but I'm also annoyed that even if I wanted to pay to do the factory technician course I would not be allowed to do so by Apeks or (probably) any of the regulator manufacturers unless I work for a main dealer.

Anyway, I still believe that the Apeks regs are the best regs available (although I simply can’t see the point of the new digital readout in their latest first stages, it’s something else to go wrong and we all know that water & electronics don’t like each other).