Air/Nitrox Regulator Recommendation?

Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?

I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.

In article <bd634034cdf68f15fad1312385bc7b0a@free.teranews.co m>,
Cisco-Wizard <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:

€ Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
€ regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
€
€ I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.

Any regulator you want.

What sort of nitrox do you use for 180?

--
"We're going to rush the hijackers."
-Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001

In article <be5p28$b2c$0@216.39.146.232>, Jammer Six
<jammer@invalid.oz.net> wrote:

€In article <bd634034cdf68f15fad1312385bc7b0a@free.teranews.co m>,
€Cisco-Wizard <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:
€
€€ Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
€€ regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
€€
€€ I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.
€
€Any regulator you want.
€
€What sort of nitrox do you use for 180?

EAN21?

Cisco-Wizard wrote:
>
> Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
> regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
>
> I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.

Lemme get this straight. Your only requirements for a regulator are:

a. Must handle both air and enriched air?
b. Must be under $250.00?
c. Must be useful for a dive as deep as 180'?
d. Don't care if it works or not in "cold water"?

When you say regulator, do you mean the 1st stage and/or the 2nd stage regulator?

Either way, I'd suggest that the latter 'criteria' (cost most notably) is not
very complete with regard to priority importance for life support equipment in the
least.

Some food for thought...

All regulators manufactured today, are both air and EAN compatible. Breathing
resistance (i.e. how well it breaths) is an extremely important characteristic for
both 1st and 2nd stage regulators, and will largely determine the price. Mating a
high performance 2nd stage with a low performance 1st stage or vise versa isn't
exactly good value either. The poster gives the distinct impression that he/she
would dive as deep as 180'. Which begs to question, why someone wouldn't want the
best breathing, most reliable life support equipment possible for that type of
diving, regardless of what it costs?

In general...
High performance regulators breath the best/easiest but are more expensive.
Lowest cost regs breath like shit - period.

Cost should surely not be the only concern with respect to life support
equipment. If it is, perhaps the individual should consider taking up a less
hostile activity; one in which they can actually afford? Do sky divers go around
looking for the lowest priced parachute as the highest priority?
FOR SALE: parachute, never opened, used once, small stain, cheap... :)

Warranty is another important issue. One is likely to pay slightly more for
regulators which have life-time parts replacement warranty etc. as opposed to regs
with only 1 to 2 year warranty. Even a lifetime warranty from a manufacturer
who's been selling regs for only 2 years doesn't mean as much as a lifetime
warranty from a manufacturer who's been around for 20, 30 or even more years.

Anyways, the list could go on, with "COST" being near, if not at the bottom of
the list. I'd suggest "value" is of far greater importance.

--
Randy F. Milak
~Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No Hard Feelings"!~

Thanks for your kind reply.

I'm going to become Nitrox-certified: I live in NC and there are some
wreck dives off the cost where the wrecks I want to dive range from 150'
to 180', and I need to buy a new regulator anyway, so I am looking for
one I can use on both air and nitrox.

I've made some initial inquires at some dive shops and they've all told
me I need a separate regulator just for nitrox because of the different
density of the gases and I really wanted to get some second opinions as
I'm not certain this is absolutely true.

But I'm am a "conservative" diver and I will not take any chances on my
equipment (or anything else for that matter) and I figured I could get
an unbiased opinion in this NG.

Jammer Six wrote:
> In article <bd634034cdf68f15fad1312385bc7b0a@free.teranews.co m>,
> Cisco-Wizard <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:
>
> € Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
> € regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
> €
> € I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.
>
> Any regulator you want.
>
> What sort of nitrox do you use for 180?
>

Randy,

I'm not a "techie" so your points are well taken. My definition of a
regulator is a single hose first/second stage and I don't mind using two
different brands on each stage if this is realistic.

So let me rephrase my question.

I will be diving about 6 to 8 times a year, so what is the "best value"
air/nitrox regulator what will permit me to breath easy with both gases?

I've done 150' decompression dives with several different ScubaPro
regulators and not had a problem with difficult breathing and I am
planning to become nitrox-certified, and the dive shops I've gone to all
tell me I need to have two different regulators for air and nitrox and
I'm not sure I believe them on this.

The $250 was just a target as you can buy a pretty good air regulator
for this price but I'm not bound to this price. I'll be diving less
than once a month and I'm looking for a recommendation on non-gold
plated regulator that will handle both air and nitrox that will be easy
breathing with air down to about 60' and one that will be easy breathing
with nitrox from about 60' to as deep as 180'.

Thanks.

Randy F. Milak wrote:
> Cisco-Wizard wrote:
>
>>Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
>>regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
>>
>>I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.
>
>
> Lemme get this straight. Your only requirements for a regulator are:
>
> a. Must handle both air and enriched air?
> b. Must be under $250.00?
> c. Must be useful for a dive as deep as 180'?
> d. Don't care if it works or not in "cold water"?
>
> When you say regulator, do you mean the 1st stage and/or the 2nd stage regulator?
>
> Either way, I'd suggest that the latter 'criteria' (cost most notably) is not
> very complete with regard to priority importance for life support equipment in the
> least.
>
> Some food for thought...
>
> All regulators manufactured today, are both air and EAN compatible. Breathing
> resistance (i.e. how well it breaths) is an extremely important characteristic for
> both 1st and 2nd stage regulators, and will largely determine the price. Mating a
> high performance 2nd stage with a low performance 1st stage or vise versa isn't
> exactly good value either. The poster gives the distinct impression that he/she
> would dive as deep as 180'. Which begs to question, why someone wouldn't want the
> best breathing, most reliable life support equipment possible for that type of
> diving, regardless of what it costs?
>
> In general...
> High performance regulators breath the best/easiest but are more expensive.
> Lowest cost regs breath like shit - period.
>
> Cost should surely not be the only concern with respect to life support
> equipment. If it is, perhaps the individual should consider taking up a less
> hostile activity; one in which they can actually afford? Do sky divers go around
> looking for the lowest priced parachute as the highest priority?
> FOR SALE: parachute, never opened, used once, small stain, cheap... :)
>
> Warranty is another important issue. One is likely to pay slightly more for
> regulators which have life-time parts replacement warranty etc. as opposed to regs
> with only 1 to 2 year warranty. Even a lifetime warranty from a manufacturer
> who's been selling regs for only 2 years doesn't mean as much as a lifetime
> warranty from a manufacturer who's been around for 20, 30 or even more years.
>
> Anyways, the list could go on, with "COST" being near, if not at the bottom of
> the list. I'd suggest "value" is of far greater importance.
>
> --
> Randy F. Milak
> ~Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No Hard Feelings"!~

"Cisco-Wizard" <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote in message
news:13447c6d651149b4b7f9803e8aa105b3@free.teranew s.com...

Air is nitrox; 21%

There simply is no ntirox mix, other than air, that would be suitable for
that depth, and I strongly recommend you
dont do 180 on air at all, ever.

> I've made some initial inquires at some dive shops and they've all told
> me I need a separate regulator just for nitrox because of the different
> density of the gases and I really wanted to get some second opinions as
> I'm not certain this is absolutely true.

It is absolutely untrue. The issue is, as you may learn (depending upon
agency and Instructor), that with mixtures of 50% FO2,
some materials *may* combust when exposed. What they are doing is the usual
SCUBA shop hype and paranoia regimen that
helps them you shit you dont need or want. If these people are telling you
that you need a different reg because of gas density issues,
they are ignorant, idiots, bald faced lairs or all of the above.

> But I'm am a "conservative" diver and I will not take any chances on my
> equipment (or anything else for that matter) and I figured I could get
> an unbiased opinion in this NG.

Get an Apeks DS4, ATX40, etc.

Scott

In article <13447c6d651149b4b7f9803e8aa105b3@free.teranews.co m>,
Cisco-Wizard <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:


€ I've made some initial inquires at some dive shops and they've all told
€ me I need a separate regulator just for nitrox because of the different
€ density of the gases and I really wanted to get some second opinions as
€ I'm not certain this is absolutely true.

It's bullshit.

€ But I'm am a "conservative" diver and I will not take any chances on my
€ equipment (or anything else for that matter) and I figured I could get
€ an unbiased opinion in this NG.

That's more bullshit.

What you're outlining definitely falls under "taking chances" - it can
be done safely, but not on nitrox, and not with your level of
experience and knowledge.

You don't know which regulators you need, so you're not diving mix. No
one taught you to dive to those depths, that's your own little fantasy.


There is, therefore, nothing "conservative" about your plans. You can
obviously fool yourself, but don't pull that half-baked shit here.
We're divers, and we don't like bullshit.

We need your Old Lady's name. There's only one way to comfort a new
widow.

--
"We're going to rush the hijackers."
-Jeremy Glick, aboard United Airlines flight 93, September 11, 2001

First, the shop is selling you a load of crap.

There MAY be combustion/explosion issues with SOME regs (primarily the lubes
used in some regs) at high FO2s - but you'll never use that kind of FO2
deep, rather, you'll be using a hypoxic mix if anything.

Second, 180' on air is just somewhere north of insane. You really ought to
be breathing a helium based mix at that depth, and not a "light" helium one
either. Narcosis at that depth can kill.

--
--
Karl Denninger (karl@denninger.net) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net Tired of spam at your company? LOOK HERE!
http://childrens-justice.org Working for family and children's rights
http://diversunion.org LOG IN AND GET YOUR TANK STICKERS TODAY!

In article <de0d25282e4f309fa918fce5628bf65c@free.teranews.co m>,
Cisco-Wizard <timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:
>Randy,
>
>I'm not a "techie" so your points are well taken. My definition of a
>regulator is a single hose first/second stage and I don't mind using two
>different brands on each stage if this is realistic.
>
>So let me rephrase my question.
>
>I will be diving about 6 to 8 times a year, so what is the "best value"
>air/nitrox regulator what will permit me to breath easy with both gases?
>
>I've done 150' decompression dives with several different ScubaPro
>regulators and not had a problem with difficult breathing and I am
>planning to become nitrox-certified, and the dive shops I've gone to all
>tell me I need to have two different regulators for air and nitrox and
>I'm not sure I believe them on this.
>
>The $250 was just a target as you can buy a pretty good air regulator
>for this price but I'm not bound to this price. I'll be diving less
>than once a month and I'm looking for a recommendation on non-gold
>plated regulator that will handle both air and nitrox that will be easy
>breathing with air down to about 60' and one that will be easy breathing
>with nitrox from about 60' to as deep as 180'.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Randy F. Milak wrote:
>> Cisco-Wizard wrote:
>>
>>>Anyone have a recommendation for a regulator that will handle both
>>>regular air and nitrox for a street price of under $250?
>>>
>>>I won't be diving below 180' and don't do cold water dives.
>>
>>
>> Lemme get this straight. Your only requirements for a regulator are:
>>
>> a. Must handle both air and enriched air?
>> b. Must be under $250.00?
>> c. Must be useful for a dive as deep as 180'?
>> d. Don't care if it works or not in "cold water"?
>>
>> When you say regulator, do you mean the 1st stage and/or the 2nd
>stage regulator?
>>
>> Either way, I'd suggest that the latter 'criteria' (cost most notably) is not
>> very complete with regard to priority importance for life support
>equipment in the
>> least.
>>
>> Some food for thought...
>>
>> All regulators manufactured today, are both air and EAN compatible.
>Breathing
>> resistance (i.e. how well it breaths) is an extremely important
>characteristic for
>> both 1st and 2nd stage regulators, and will largely determine the
>price. Mating a
>> high performance 2nd stage with a low performance 1st stage or vise
>versa isn't
>> exactly good value either. The poster gives the distinct impression
>that he/she
>> would dive as deep as 180'. Which begs to question, why someone
>wouldn't want the
>> best breathing, most reliable life support equipment possible for that type of
>> diving, regardless of what it costs?
>>
>> In general...
>> High performance regulators breath the best/easiest but are more expensive.
>> Lowest cost regs breath like shit - period.
>>
>> Cost should surely not be the only concern with respect to life support
>> equipment. If it is, perhaps the individual should consider taking up a less
>> hostile activity; one in which they can actually afford? Do sky divers
>go around
>> looking for the lowest priced parachute as the highest priority?
>> FOR SALE: parachute, never opened, used once, small stain, cheap... :)
>>
>> Warranty is another important issue. One is likely to pay slightly more for
>> regulators which have life-time parts replacement warranty etc. as
>opposed to regs
>> with only 1 to 2 year warranty. Even a lifetime warranty from a manufacturer
>> who's been selling regs for only 2 years doesn't mean as much as a lifetime
>> warranty from a manufacturer who's been around for 20, 30 or even more
>years.
>>
>> Anyways, the list could go on, with "COST" being near, if not at the
>bottom of
>> the list. I'd suggest "value" is of far greater importance.
>>
>> --
>> Randy F. Milak
>> ~Impotence: Nature's way of saying "No Hard Feelings"!~
>

On Sat, 05 Jul 2003 21:42:45 GMT, Cisco-Wizard
<timbritt@cyber-wizard.com> wrote:

>Randy,
>
>I'm not a "techie" so your points are well taken. My definition of a
>regulator is a single hose first/second stage and I don't mind using two
>different brands on each stage if this is realistic.
>
>So let me rephrase my question.
>
>I will be diving about 6 to 8 times a year, so what is the "best value"
>air/nitrox regulator what will permit me to breath easy with both gases?
>
>I've done 150' decompression dives with several different ScubaPro
>regulators and not had a problem with difficult breathing and I am
>planning to become nitrox-certified, and the dive shops I've gone to all
>tell me I need to have two different regulators for air and nitrox and
>I'm not sure I believe them on this.
>
>The $250 was just a target as you can buy a pretty good air regulator
>for this price but I'm not bound to this price. I'll be diving less
>than once a month and I'm looking for a recommendation on non-gold
>plated regulator that will handle both air and nitrox that will be easy
>breathing with air down to about 60' and one that will be easy breathing
>with nitrox from about 60' to as deep as 180'.
>
>Thanks.

You've done 150' deco dives and you're asking these questions??
Who dragged you to 150' ?
You need to seriously re-think what the hell you are doing, or as
Jammer says, leave us your old lady's number. You're luck to be alive.

Laser

P.S. Let me know how that reg breathes nitrox at 180' or should I ask
the emt's?