Aeris F.10 V2

[Fondueset]

It's here! I've got only one pool session in with it - from which I can report the user setable depth works! I set it for 2 ft and it counted my laps perfectly.

Wet activation has been completely removed - I do not know how controversial that is - Personally I don't mind. The F.10 v2 comes with a data cable and there will be an upgrade program for current owners of the F.10.
(my F.10, by the way, Has been performing flawlessly with almost daily use)

Here is a list of the changes - most of which were taken from suggestions on this site. The F.10 V2 is currently undergoing very thorough testing. I will try to answer questions here.

1. Set Date – changed range to 2010 to 2053.
2. Set SRT – added Seconds, range 0:01 to 30:00 (min:sec).
3. Set EDT – added Minutes, range 0:01 to 9:59 (min:sec).
4. Set RDI – changed FT increments to 1 FT.
5. Set DD 1, 2, 3 – changed FT increments to 1 FT.
6. Set Wet Activation – removed.
7. Set Water Type – added for Depth cal, select SEA or FRESH.
8. Free Mode reverts to Watch Mode – 2 hour after dives.
9. CDT – added reset to previous setting, by S (2 sec) while viewing Status.
10. Dive Mode Activation – changed to at Depth set, blocked in Watch Mode.
11. Firmware Update – added by user with PC Interface cable and software.
12. Elevation – removed graphic from Alternate Displays.
13. Log – added Date of dives.
14. History – added group for last DAY’s dives, totals ever group is now labeled FULL.
15. Set Dive Activation Depth – added by user, for 2 FT (0.6 M), 4 FT (1.2 M), or 6 FT (1.8 M).
16. Dive # Reset – added manual anytime by S (2 sec) while viewing SURF Main, auto at midnight remains.

 

[Kars]

What do the abbreviations mean?

Sounds like they are coming clean, I'm looking forward to other users' reports.

 

[Fondueset]

Hi Kars.

SRT is Surface Recovery Time
EDT is Elapsed Dive Time
RDI is Repeating Depth Interval
DD is Descending Depth
CDT is Countdown Timer

Most of these refer to alarms.

 

[twentytwomonk]

Is it just a software update, or a completely new watch?

 

[Fondueset]

Some hardware changes - though I am not sure what they are.

 

[sgnips]

nice to hear i can upgrade mine
there sure is some innovation in this

a great thing would have been mac software as i now have to restore my pc, but that's not great issue by now

 

[Herup]

Hi Fondueset

That is wonderful news! Have you got an idea what the timeframe and procedure is for the upgrade?

Best regards
Herup

 

[mifil]

Wonderfull, esp. "15. Set Dive Activation Depth – added by user, for 2 FT (0.6 M)..." in respect of pts. 6 and 10. My pool training will gain completly new dimension. The right one. Only question, maybe stupid: will that be normally logged, i.e. with option of transferring whole session to my PC? I really can't believe. After all those years ...

But seriously: why so late this obvious feature ...

Anyway, great, great, great news.

Mike

 

[trux]

Good news, Fondueset. If they are interested that I publish it on the freediving comparative review, they can send me more precise technical details, a photo, manual, date of expected release (or date when released), and the recommended price.

In the past I asked them for some details on the F.10 for the review, but unfortunately they did not bother answering, and I am afraid it may have add to the damage they suffered with the marketing of F.10. A lot of people will not touch the F.10, because they heard about many problems with it, and about the unsufficient level of customer support (at least in some countries). The problem is also that many retailers still have the faulty watches in their stocks, so people won't buy the F.10 even if they heard the problems were fixed (and most did not), because there is still a very good chance they get an old one, and will have to send it 2 or 3 times back before having it fixed.

So perhaps leaving the name F.10 entirely and going for a completely new one, may help them slightly with regaining some of the lost reputation. The computer would deserve it, and it would be pity if it did not sell as it can just because people do mistake it for the old one. Only few people read this forum and are aware of the progress. If you ask among freedivers, unfortunately most have Aeris associated with a faulty computers that all owners had to sent sent several times to the workshop before getting a fix, doubling so the cost for the computer, and about often dissatisfying customer support (at least in some countries). It will not be easy to persuade the people, the watch is now perfect and the customer support will act properly in case of problems. In fact it maight be better if instead of marketing it it under the Aeris brand, they renamed it and sold as an Oceanic or a Tusa computer.

 

[Fondueset]

Hi Trux,

First let me say I don't have any business relationship with Aeris - I'm not an authorized rep or anything - so my thoughts are my own.

I do think they had infrastructure problems with their support. They are a small company and like many companies in the current business environment - they are running lean.

Another aspect was the nature of the two problems. Aeris was never able to duplicate them and not all watches had them. They needed to get hold of a watch with the problems and follow through with that one unit - which they finally did - but even then they couldn't duplicate the static issue and had to guess!

(for the record - there were two problems. One was a static discharge issue - and one was a firmware problem with the battery use algorythm - it reported the battery low too soon)

There are also quite a few people out there who are happy with their F.10s and I've personally seen Aeris go way out of their way to get a replacement gauge to an international customer under very tricky circumstances. My own F.10 has been rock solid.

Personally I think putting out a public request for suggestions and feedback here on DB was a tactical error. Firmware suggestions got mixed up with bugs and contributed to a culture of complaint. They'd have been better off keeping users at arms length, like most companies, and taking feedback from a carefully selected few.

This post is long - I'll start another with more details about the V2.

 

[Fondueset]

The F.10 V2 is not just a firmware upgrade - there are hardware changes.
Aeris will be offering a deal for existing F.10 users but I don't have any details yet.

Another interesting change - Wet mode is gone. The watch is now activated by depth. It begins tracking dives when you exceed the activation depth (set by you) but the display will not change untill you press the button.

All the dives recorded are uploadable - pool laps too

More as I get the chance to try stuff.

 

[trux]

Yes, Fonduset, I agree absolutely. The issues were relatively minor, and the computer offers more features than most others. I always tried explaining that, and was advocating the F.10 everywhere. Despite it, its reputation is greatly dammaged. And I can tell that it is true especially on the French market, which is without doubts the biggest market for anything related to freediving. The forums there are filled with dissatisfaction and complaints about the way the returns were handled, about the lenght before the problems got fixed, about the number of returns with no change, and about the cost induced, and time lost. So I am afraid it will be very difficult for Aeris to regain the confidence, and as I told I believe they may better change the name or even use another brand of theirs to get over it.

I know you are not in a business relationship with them, but apparently they do communicate with you (which is not the case with me), so perhaps they might be interested in knowing what the community thinks about Aeris.

 

[Fondueset]

I'm letting them know
I think it's why they are subjecting this version to more intense testing.

There will not be any bug reports in this thread - the whole purpose of a beta is to provide the manufacturer with input before the product is fully released.

This is also not the place for firmware suggestions. I'm taking the position of testing it as it is - to make sure what's there works as advertised.

 

[Claudio]

That's great new Fondue... thanks for posting! Are there any outside differences on the V2? In other words, is there a way to easily identify V2 from V1?

Also, what firmware number your new V2 version came in?

Cheers,
Claudio

 

[Fondueset]

Only the color of the insert that labels the buttons - also 'mode' is 'stop' on F.10 v2. Revision is 2A.

 

[twentytwomonk]

I love that you can change between fresh and saltwater modes. I hate having to do that much math when I'm diving!

And I'm really excited about the pressure activation. I wear my dive watch daily, and between showering and working out, I have to take my watch off way more than I'd like to in hopes of putting off expensive battery changes.

 

[Claudio]

Only the color of the insert that labels the buttons - also 'mode' is 'stop' on F.10 v2. Revision is 2A.

Thanks for the answer Foundueset! Could you post a photo of the new dial for us?

Regards,
Claudio

 

[Fondueset]

Still waiting on the photo - but a Correction:

The gauge no longer has wet mode.
This means You must manually put it into free mode before diving - it will then activated dive mode at the depth you have set.
This was done to prevent Free Mode from activating when you don't want it to.
Should make the battery life even better (it's already pretty good on F10V1)

Testing has been going well - I really like the shallow activation depth for pool work.

 

[Herup]

Just got a response from Oceanic Europe. The V2 gauges will, according to them, be available from February 2012.

Looking forward
H!

 

[freespirit]

What...!? February 2012...???