Liquivision X1 vs NiTek X

[scoupland]

I am interested in purchasing a Liquivision X1 but am wondering whether to wait to see the Dive Rite NiTek X. Has anyone had the opportunity to test the NiTek X, or know what to expect from it vs. the Liquivision X1?

[Gary]

I'm liking my X1 so far. I'm running Vplan-live at +3 conservatism and find it giving me less deco then a Nitek 3 with the same gases and profile. It's got deeper stops built in due to the VPM algorithm. Since I have both computers I do the deepstops for Vplan and then the longer shallow stops on the Nitek as well. I did this anyway even before I got the X1 (but since the X1 replaced my single gas bridge I don't wait for that to clear anymore.)

I haven't seen much on the Nitek X so far. It should be quite a bit cheaper then the X1. I've never been all that attracted to Buühlmann with gradient factors but I suppose you can put whatever factors you want in to get the profile you want. If you are framiliar with gradient factors that might be a plus. There is some running development info on the Nitek X:
http://www.diverite.com/blog/category/diverite/nitek-x/


I like the ability to change the OS on the X1. It would be possible to swap back and forth between VPlan-live to GAP RGBM to any other 3rd party algorithm or even program and load up my own software into the X1 and dive it. I haven't seen any plans for anyone to offer a gradient factor algorithm for the X1 and I really don't see why anyone would want to.

For CCR it looks like the X1 is going to have a lot more capability with CCR setpoints, 2 sets of bailout plans and they are prototyping a multichannel O2 sensor and CO2 sensor input to the X1.

downloaded data VPlan live PC software has a lot of pretty graphs and data but not much of a dive log feature yet. I believe there is a plan to expand this significantly in the future. I imagine the Nitek X will build off the PC software that was available to the earlier versions which has a lot more capability for logging text, tank pressures then currently available in the vplan-live.

Despite concerns I heard about the batteries for the X1 I like the rechargeable battery system. screen display is nice and I like the tap functionality instead of buttons. operating system upgrades are easy. The battery can last for many weeks unused but probably better for divers that are diving frequently, so they are hooking up to the computer frequently for data downloads, charging and OS upgrades on a regular basis.