[time-nuts] ThunderBolt Display - Update

GandalfG8 at aol.com GandalfG8 at aol.com
Thu Sep 12 21:12:48 UTC 2013


Oh dear, was it something you said?
 
 
 
In a message dated 12/09/2013 21:01:42 GMT Daylight Time,  
robert8rpi at yahoo.co.uk writes:

Hi  Adam,
I have copied this to our outmoded reflector. At least it's low noise  and 
high quality.

Sorry but dispite having been a licenced amateur for  35 years, I don't 
meet your 55+ demographic.
I am aware that amateur radio  has an aging demographic. That is why I have 
tutored for the UK licence for 30  years with student ages as low as 10. 

If you paid $3k for 50  double sided PTH PCBs you need to find a new 
supplier.

I HAVE invested  my own money in group projects (not time nuts), in one 
case an PIC driven LCD  display add on for an instrument. I was able to sell 
these on ebay for $75 and  to list/group members for $50. Circuit, source code 
and Hex file are published  and freely available. I also supplied 
programmed PICs on request. So you are  wrong in your statement "I seriously doubt 
somebody like you would" (invest in  making up kits for a group. I do value my 
own time which is why I don't waste  it on email forums full of people who 
have lots of opinion but no  knowledge.

You are correct, I don't contribute much to Time Nuts, I'm  here to learn. 
I have contributed the odd manual PDF (originals purchased and  scanned by 
myself) and some bits and pieces to members off-list.

I also  sell support software on PROM for other equipment, again at 
discount to  relevant list members and with full details available. Many people do 
prefer  to pay me to program devices, but at least I give them the option 
and  assistance to do it themselves.


Don't know what you typed into  google, but when I put g8rpi in the third 
item was an open design for a low  noise high voltage power supply of mine. 
You don't have to waffle on on  youtube to contribute! You seem very fond of 
your voice and face.  



You imply your display is not a commercial product. I guess  its not as it 
does not appear to comply with C-Tick, FCC or CE requirements  :-)


I'm aware of the time and effort required to make webpages,  I've had 
formal training on the subject.
I don't have a webpage, I  contribute directly to specific groups. I don't 
need to boost my ego  online.
Your main website looks like a shop to me. Your other webpage  
http://www.qsl.net/vk4cp/ is "interesting"
Your other "product" the Icom  Multi-send looks a great design, or not. $79 
for a PIC 3 Sil relay a few  connectors and an undrilled case.


On your display, why no  circuit? looking at the pictures it has TWO 28 pin 
Microchip devices. If these  are both MCUs I don't think much of your 
coding skills My display used a  single 14 pin PIC. 

And a rotary SWITCH for mode selection, how quaint  and old fashioned. Also 
why the 3.3V regulator? 

You claim 0.02V  accuracy. Really? I see no voltage reference and if you 
are using the PICs  internal ADC thats only 10 bits so about 0.015V resolution 
for 0-15V input.  With no other errors that's 0.03V (+_1 LSB) at best. I 
guess you could have a  Vref and offset circuit on the other side of the PCB 
though.
Couldn't you  have included your "commander" functionaliy? This would save 
users from the  messing about with programmers that you seem to think they 
hate (yes I know  you said you have supplied programmed chips).

Don't know what problem  you have with engineers, without them you would 
not have much  equipment.
For the record I'm a Chartered Engineer, Member of the Royal  Aeronautical 
Society. I've been a licenced aircraft engineer for 30 years and  currently 
design avionics and systems. That includes work on VH aircraft, this  grumpy 
old engineer may have designed a critical part on the next aircraft you  
fly on!


I did not "initiate a personal attack on somebody," nor did  I say that you 
do not contribute anything (I said you did not contribute to  the Time nuts 
list, by your own admission you don't). I asked three questions.  Obviously 
these touched a nerve.



G'day,

Robert Atkinson  CEng MRAeS  G8RPI.







________________________________
From:  Adam Maurer <misc at vklogger.com>
To: Robert Atkinson  <robert8rpi at yahoo.co.uk> 
Sent: Thursday, 12 September 2013,  13:13
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] ThunderBolt Display -  Update



Robert, I don’t bother with email reflectors, because  they are too last 
century.
email reflectors are ok if you are 55+, but  they do not do anything 
positive to engage the much needed younger  demographic into ham radio.

In case you haven’t noticed, ham  radio is literally dying of old age.
Do you honestly think younger people  with smartphone these can get 
interested in these 1990’s text based email  reflectors?
They want something more engaging these days.
I’m sorry (for  you) that your demographic fails to appreciate this.

I posted  about the display because it was suggested by another ham (who is 
a  timenuts member) that I might be able to help others with a solution.
Quite  a few timenuts members now have this display, and they absolutely 
like  it.

The fact that you have this expectation that everything will  be served on 
a 
silver platter for nothing, and obviously place ZERO value  on your own 
time to 
develop something like this, don’t automatically  assume everybody else is 
the 
same.

Would you put up over $3k  of your own money to kick start a production run 
of boards with no  guarantee they will all be sold, let alone get your 
money 
back.
I  seriously doubt somebody like you would.
But people like you are quick to  shoot down those who do take risks.

If you want to tinker and  develop something, great.
Others can be time poor and just want the  opportunity to purchase a ready 
made solution.
People like me fill that  void.

I must say, you come across as a typical grumpy old ham who  expects 
everything for nothing.
And, are you familiar with the term  “Tall Poppy  Syndrome”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_poppy_syndrome

If  you had bothered to spend a few minutes to find out, you would have 
come  
across my ThunderBolt Commander project.
PICAXE code is there,  suggested Veroboard layout is there, schematic is 
all 
there.
Whether  you have one of my displays or something else, I couldn’t care, 
and 
it’s  freely available to any ThunderBolt user, and many have found it  
useful.
I’ve even supplied pre-programmed PICAXEs free of charge to  those who have 
contacted me that do not have the ability to do  this.
Have you done something like this recently for fellow  hams?

And you have the nerve of publically saying I do not  contribute 
anything.
If you could let me know what ThunderBolt related  projects you have shared 
and made available.
My Google searches are not  finding much at all.

And what have you made available to the  wider ham community?
I can’t find your website.
You do have a website to  openly share information, don’t you?

If you go to vk4ghz.com,  which was only launched 2 months ago, you will 
see 
how much info I share  on projects.
Being web illiterate, you may not appreciate how much time it  takes to 
take 
photos, Photoshop them, and write things up.
Of course, I  could just do what the typical grumpy old man does, and not 
publish  anything on the internet... and just moan about others on some 1990
’s  
email reflector.
I don’t wish to stereotype, but this is all too common  for hams in the 50+ 
demo.

I still can’t find much from you on  the internet though?
Perhaps Google is broken.
Why won’t YOU share  things and contribute to the broader community?

I also run a ham  radio forum, with almost 2,000 members.
It’s relatively large for this  region, and many non-VK members have stated 
how useful it is.
It has  literally cost me many of thousands of dollars to run over the last 
 
decade, and the pitiful donations have never covered the running  costs.
So again, what have you done, and how much have you contributed back  into 
the ham community?
Have you personally spent several thousand of  your own Pounds helping 
hams, 
and creating a community.
Probably  not.
People who whinge about things not being free aren’t usually the types  to 
help others. 
They consume, they don’t  contribute.
Period.

Next time you initiate a personal attack  on somebody, try and do a bit of 
basic research first to see how much they  may have put back into the 
community 
before trolling for  supporters.

If you honestly think sending a few emails within a  closed email group has 
helped the wider ham radio community more than I,  then I salute you.

I see you haven’t contributed one post on the  Audi-sport forum since 
joining.
Why is that?

You haven’t  contributed anything to the Aviation Forum either since 
joining.
Why is  that?

“I'm a professional engineer, electronics by training but  have also done 
systems, mechanical and robotics.”

We have all  heard the jokes about “engineers”.

So if you want to start some  public debate on how much we have both 
contributed to the wider ham  community, I’m up for it.
My digital footprint is out there, and the time  investment back into the 
hobby can easily be appreciated.

And  if you honestly think 50 hand built units is some “commercial product”
, 
we  need to redefine some terms.
And I’m hardly about to get rich by this,  BTW.
Do you have any idea how time consuming it is to manage a project like  
this?
I could have just ignored the on going requests to make another  
batch.
Some guys have been waiting since last December for more units,  and they 
appreciate the value adding.
Do you understand that  concept?

In fact, the next time I tell somebody I can’t be bother  helping them, I 
will remember your callsign, and your nasty public  email.
G 8 Really Pathetic Individual.
Easy phonetics to  remember.

WB6BNQ obviously has issues in allowing free  enterprise, which is a bit 
strange for a Yank.
A 5 second search  reveals that WB6BNQ is a member of “the Island of misfit 
hams”  forum.
https://forums.hamisland.net/member.php/914-WB6BNQ?tab=activitystream&type=a
ll&page=7
Guess  what?
No posts. No contributions. No effort spent in sharing things  there.

He’s also a member of the PICAXE forum, but guess  what?
No posts, no contributions there  either.
http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/member.php?10054-WB6BNQ
Just  another hypocrite.
I should contact the relevant administrators and suggest  he be removed 
from 
a lack of postings.

You two make a great  pair.

I could on and on, but it’s rather  pointless.

I could have also easily CCed this to the TimeNuts  reflector, but I am not 
going to stoop down to your level.
Both you and  I know how much you HAVEN’T done for others, and that is 
enough for  me.
Although very tempting, I don’t need to put you down and question your  
moltives on a public resource.

So what circuits and code can  you make available to me?

If you could spend a week or so in  taking pictures, creating web content, 
writing up manuals, and doing  videos, that would be great.
Not to mention, I’d like you to spend several  months in R&D at 
absolutely no cost to me as well.
I’d also like  you to subsidise the postage costs to me, even though a 
round 
trip to the  PO is about an hour, and I could have spent this time doing 
something  else.
Can you also give some units away at ham  conventions?

What else can you do for me, for absolutely free,  because I place no value 
on your time and expertise, Mr  Engineer.

How many other people have you pre-judged, and  questioned their motives in 
public?

If you and WB6BNQ want to  remove me from the TimeNuts forum, you go for 
it.
No skin off my nose  at all.
It just demonstrates how petty people like you really  are.

Enjoy your hobby.
A very sincere  73.




From: Robert Atkinson  
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2013 4:22 PM
To: Adam 
Maurer ;  Discussion of precise time and frequency 
measurement 
Subject: Re:  [time-nuts] ThunderBolt Display - 
Update
Hi Adam,
If you "do  not normally monitor this email reflector" or contribute 
to it, why are  you using it it promote your commecial product?
Are you going to make the  circuit and code (or programmed MCUs) 
available to list  members?

Robert G8RPI.

From: Adam Maurer  
<misc at vklogger.com>
To: time-nuts at febo.com 
Sent: Thursday, 12  September 2013, 6:56
Subject: [time-nuts] ThunderBolt Display -  
Update


Hello all

An update:
ThunderBolt 
Display  started shipping over a week ago.
31 out the 50 have already been  
sold.

I have made a video on the display, and you can see a working  
example here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSSZ6BcggBo

Any new  
orders for the  “jumbo” sized green and standard sized inverted blue  
variants will incur a 2 week wait, as these LCDs are only ordered in  
as-required.
I do have a number of standard sized green units available  for 
immediate shipping though on a first-in basis.

I am away for 3  weeks in 
October, so if you want a display sooner than later, you should  consider 
placing 
an order in the next few days, as it take 2 weeks for the  LCDs to 
arrive.

For more information of this device, please refer  to:
http://vk4ghz.com/thunderbolt-display/
You will find the 
latest  revision of User Guide and Tech Supplement PDFs available as  
well.
PayPal is welcome on the proviso I receive the full amount and  you take 
care of any PayPal fees, if applicable.
(This changes from one  region to 
another)
One way to avoid fees is to make sure your PayPal  account has funds 
in it, and never draw upon other accounts (especially a  credit 
card).

Once these are gone, they are gone, and 130 units  will be out 
there in 12 countries (so far).

I do not normally  monitor this email 
reflector, so please email me directly, if you want to  obtain a 
ThunderBolt 
Display.


Cheers,
Adam,  
VK4GHZ
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