thats exactly how most people are, myself included when I first started making them. You get the hang of it. Some people just think the interface is bad and don't change their approach. I've never sent one out that didn't work and I've never had one returned that didn't work. For the record, only one has been returned and it ended up being the guys PC that was the problem. After one last try (on a different com port and after he had paid to ship it to me and I paid to ship it back) it worked on his PC, but it was too late since he sold it to his buddy and bought the suunto one.
The great Suunto data cable thread (incl DIY)
- Thread starter Former FLL Now MSP Diver
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SMKChef
Contributor
I had trouble on Saturday night after a couple dives, not because of the contacts, but because I forgot to push the "Select" button once I got to the TR - PC Screen. LOL!!! :bonk:
Jamie,
I will be sending in my unit for the upgrade. I would do it myself but for ten extra bucks, you will put the pins exactly where they need to be.
Can't wait to see the finished product.
Jamie,
I will be sending in my unit for the upgrade. I would do it myself but for ten extra bucks, you will put the pins exactly where they need to be.
Can't wait to see the finished product.
I have the pins in and have one together after much thought about how to mount the things and having to slighty modify the pins themself. It turned out pretty good. The pins work smoothly and should allow easy use. I'll try and have a picture of it posted on my site by midafternoon today. Despite their small appearance, the pins are very strong. This interface will also work on the stinger/spyder.
I've been busy and haven't got a pic to post of the new interface yet, but I have tested it and it works perfectly. Very smooth spring action. Works like a charm. To install these, you'll need a tube of 1 minute epoxy. I'll post a picture of their installation also in the help section for those that have already bought a kit. Just email me for the password when you receive your new contacts. This is a tremendous improvement on the design, but you still have to put the DC in transfer mode. Also as a side note, the second interface that was sent back to me was tested today and worked perfectly every time. Seems its another PC problem.
New contacts have been fully tested and work great. I will soon stop selling the model with fixed pins except for the kit form which will still be available. Also, for anyone that wants to upgrade, there are a couple options. I can mail out the pins alone, mail out a new case with pins intalled and you just solder the leads to your pcb, or you can mail the unit back to me and i will upgrade it. contact me for prices. also, i'm working on an interface for mares computers and suunto eon.
Ari
Moderator
I also got your mail. Let me see whan I get home. The hands-free option looks tempting.
Ari
Ari
SA-Diver
Contributor
Here is my version af a Stinger handsfree interface with spring loaded contacts. Costs me about ZAR50.00 to build which is about $5.00.
My opinion - $55.00 for an interface which is not handsfree is rather expensive.
My opinion - $55.00 for an interface which is not handsfree is rather expensive.
are you willing to build interfaces for people? $5 is insane, the contacts i use cost nearly $2 for the pair. People don't have to buy them, but they do. How long did it take you to build yours? can you use your interface hands free with a cobra? don't think so. How hard is it to hold an interface on your dive computer for a few seconds... In my opinion anyone that can blast someone for saving divers a lot of money has too much time on thier hands. How much are you willing to sell yours for? Try and sell 5-10 a week for less than i do and you'll decide to quit soon (thats 10-25 hours a week of my time). Go to radio shack and the resistors will cost you $5 alone. did you consider the cost of making the pcb at all? a kit costs $15 for that or about $8 if you buy the material separately. I guess that wasn't a consideration either. $0.50 for the 5' of cable ($0.10 ft). another couple bucks for the diodes. .69 each for the 3 transistors at radio shack. Heck you can order the stuff cheaper, but then you'll have to pay $6 shipping... How much is my time worth? I spend countless hours replying to emails, going to the post office, updating the website, helping people with problems with their kits. When you add it all up, i have over 2 hours in each interface. It's easy to be a critic. Kinda sounds like an couch coach.
after reading the last post, i did a detailed analysis of my costs. Figuring in my time and materials only (no overhead or wear and tear on my tools, electricity, etc.) the figure i came up with was $52.20. When you take into consideration all my costs ( i have to because i sell them, i'm not making one for myself), you have about $15 ($14.70) in material. I take into consideration everything from material cost to the cost of etchant solution (broken down per board $0.25), the cost of the instructions ($0.30), and the cost of the use of the etch resist pen since they are only useable for so long($0.10). These things aren't free to me so i have to include them. I figured in 1.5 hours for my time ($25.00/hr = $37.50) If you'll check my site, i've adjusted my prices to $50 each. This is more than fair. I also stand behind these interfaces 100%. Repair or replace free...Whats that worth?
I didn't pull some random figure out of my head like other people seem to do. I put a great deal of my time ("free time") and effort into making these for people. If you want hands free, spend several extra hours and make your own on your free time or pay $120 for suunto's. If you want an interface that can be used on both a cobra and a stinger easily (can't with yours or suunto's) then I'll make one for you. Your interface isn't hands free on the cobra and 99% of the people that buy my interfaces use it on the cobra type models, not the stinger/spyder model.
ZAR 50.00 = $6.06 US ...makes a difference... but still wouldn't pay for shipping or the gas to get to the store and back, not to mention the actual material needed. I guess things are just cheaper there. By the way, i've sold nearly 100 kits and interfaces since dec of 2002 to people in europe, asia, australia, canada, singapore, and the US. No one has ever thought the price was too high or really had a complaint about it not being hands free.
after reading the last post, i did a detailed analysis of my costs. Figuring in my time and materials only (no overhead or wear and tear on my tools, electricity, etc.) the figure i came up with was $52.20. When you take into consideration all my costs ( i have to because i sell them, i'm not making one for myself), you have about $15 ($14.70) in material. I take into consideration everything from material cost to the cost of etchant solution (broken down per board $0.25), the cost of the instructions ($0.30), and the cost of the use of the etch resist pen since they are only useable for so long($0.10). These things aren't free to me so i have to include them. I figured in 1.5 hours for my time ($25.00/hr = $37.50) If you'll check my site, i've adjusted my prices to $50 each. This is more than fair. I also stand behind these interfaces 100%. Repair or replace free...Whats that worth?
I didn't pull some random figure out of my head like other people seem to do. I put a great deal of my time ("free time") and effort into making these for people. If you want hands free, spend several extra hours and make your own on your free time or pay $120 for suunto's. If you want an interface that can be used on both a cobra and a stinger easily (can't with yours or suunto's) then I'll make one for you. Your interface isn't hands free on the cobra and 99% of the people that buy my interfaces use it on the cobra type models, not the stinger/spyder model.
ZAR 50.00 = $6.06 US ...makes a difference... but still wouldn't pay for shipping or the gas to get to the store and back, not to mention the actual material needed. I guess things are just cheaper there. By the way, i've sold nearly 100 kits and interfaces since dec of 2002 to people in europe, asia, australia, canada, singapore, and the US. No one has ever thought the price was too high or really had a complaint about it not being hands free.
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