Stratologgers Available????

[kjs]

I had several EasyMinis until I decided to sell them because I had trouble hearing them.

I also have a hearing issue with high frequencies... I had a Telemetrum tracker and my wife had to tell me it was beeping... I eventually removed the piezo altogether so NEITHER of us could hear it. I liked the previous Raven because I could hear it - but now rely on the phone display for Blue Raven for continuity and such and that works great. [Full disclosure - I worked with Adrian on some of his products and he knows I can't hear some of them so the phone display is the solution for myself and others... ]

 

[Adrian A]

It’s a little surprising to me that he doesn’t invest in better programming and test fixtures so he can improve his throughput. Maybe he just likes having a scarce product.

 

[Roy-RoysRockets.com]

It’s a little surprising to me that he doesn’t invest in better programming and test fixtures so he can improve his throughput. Maybe he just likes having a scarce product.

This topic has been on this forum since I've been in the hobby. However, the lack of customer support, availability, and outdated software forced me to move on years ago.

 

[bad_idea]

It’s a little surprising to me that he doesn’t invest in better programming and test fixtures so he can improve his throughput. Maybe he just likes having a scarce product.

Could it be that the TARC products take most of the available throughput?

 

[jsdemar]

It’s a little surprising to me that he doesn’t invest in better programming and test fixtures so he can improve his throughput. Maybe he just likes having a scarce product.

I think your comment seems a little harsh, especially for a competitor.

 

[Zbench]

I think your comment seems a little harsh, especially for a competitor.

How are objective facts that everyone agrees with harsh? It was a statement of fact devoid of name calling or any other invective.

 

[cwbullet]

How are objective facts that everyone agrees with harsh? It was a statement of fact devoid of name calling or any other invective.

I think you might be right. I don't see it as harsh,

 

[jsdemar]

I think you might be right. I don't see it as harsh,

I chose the wrong word. It seemed overly critical and unexpected to me, coming from a competitor.

 

[Capt. Eric]

I also have a hearing issue with high frequencies... I had a Telemetrum tracker and my wife had to tell me it was beeping... I eventually removed the piezo altogether so NEITHER of us could hear it. I liked the previous Raven because I could hear it - but now rely on the phone display for Blue Raven for continuity and such and that works great. [Full disclosure - I worked with Adrian on some of his products and he knows I can't hear some of them so the phone display is the solution for myself and others... ]

I have a Strattologger CF in my 4" Frenzy. I'd seen many struggle with hearing the beeping of their electronics, so I added a LED light mounted in the AV bay band that can be seen easily in daylight. Simple to plug into the CF.

 

[cwbullet]

I have a Strattologger CF in my 4" Frenzy. I'd seen many struggle with hearing the beeping of their electronics, so I added a LED light mounted in the AV bay band that can be seen easily in daylight. Simple to plug into the CF.

That is why I use them.

 

[Adrian A]

I chose the wrong word. It seemed overly critical and unexpected to me, coming from a competitor.

John you’re right, my rule is to avoid negative posts, and this one had a negative tone.

I’m just honestly curious and a little mystified. Automated programming/test fixtures are a pain, but seemingly within reach of someone who has made such a successful product.

 

[VernK]

Automated programming/test fixtures are a pain, but seemingly within reach of someone who has made such a successful product.

Do we really know a test fixture is the limiting factor? There could be other things that limit the production rate.

 

[Adrian A]

Do we really know a test fixture is the limiting factor? There could be other things that limit the production rate.

I don’t know and I’m just speculating, but I can’t think of any other explanation, given that this is a well-proven design. Maybe I’m just short on imagination.

The only product I’ve had that was too hard for me to keep in stock was my screw switches. I didn’t feel right charging as much as I would have needed to make all that manual labor seem worth it, so they are out of stock indefinitely. They don’t use typical assembly processes that I could delegate to an assembly house. But getting an assembly house to put together a bunch of well-proven boards with normal components shouldn’t be a big hurdle. All that’s left is programming, testing, packaging and shipping. And then technical support.

 

[Rocketjunkie]

I don’t know and I’m just speculating, but I can’t think of any other explanation, given that this is a well-proven design. Maybe I’m just short on imagination.
technical support.

It's an old design. Have you considered that components might be hard to source? Might need a redesign to use newer components.
People like them because the software just works. Connect, power on the altimeter, and start the software in any order and you will see the altimeter if you have the port selected. No finicky fiddling with connection order, etc. like the RRC3.

 

[kjs]

On the topic of "test fixtures", this one below tested most of the first couple thousand Ravens... basically old style Christmas lights with circuit board attached to yes - a piece of 2x6. I had to calibrate the accelerometer, so each side of the 2x6 was rotated through during calibration. If I focused I could program/calibrate/testflight and package at 20 per hour... (one every three minutes). [I would be programming one while another was testing and I was prepping the small hardware bag and box.]

I'm sure Adrian's setup for the BlueRaven is a little more involved given the additional sensors but for basic baro/accelerometer, this simple setup worked just fine... ... I'm on a different computer now, but on some USB drive somewhere, I probably still have most of the original "manufacturing test flight" data files...

 

[cwbullet]

On the topic of "test fixtures", this one below tested most of the first couple thousand Ravens... basically old style Christmas lights with circuit board attached to yes - a piece of 2x6. I had to calibrate the accelerometer, so each side of the 2x6 was rotated through during calibration. If I focused I could program/calibrate/testflight and package at 20 per hour... (one every three minutes). [I would be programming one while another was testing and I was prepping the small hardware bag and box.]

I'm sure Adrian's setup for the BlueRaven is a little more involved given the additional sensors but for basic baro/accelerometer, this simple setup worked just fine... ... I'm on a different computer now, but on some USB drive somewhere, I probably still have most of the original "manufacturing test flight" data files...

View attachment 686549

I love the idea. It would be a good product for someone to make a universal testing board. It would seem like a simple design. You could swap out wiring harnesses for the specific altimeter.

 

[troj]

I love the idea. It would be a good product for someone to make a universal testing board. It would seem like a simple design. You could swap out wiring harnesses for the specific altimeter.

A universal tester will only go so far - I suspect in the setup that Kevin showed, he's injecting a "test flight" into the system and watching for the board to behave correctly. The injection process is likely different for each (for those that support it), so something universal quickly becomes complicated, as well as needing specialized knowledge about each altimeter.

 

[cwbullet]

A universal tester will only go so far - I suspect in the setup that Kevin showed, he's injecting a "test flight" into the system and watching for the board to behave correctly. The injection process is likely different for each (for those that support it), so something universal quickly becomes complicated, as well as needing specialized knowledge about each altimeter.

I should be more specific. It is a good idea for users to do a ground test and altimeter. I often do this in a vacuum.

 

[Zertyme]

It's an old design. Have you considered that components might be hard to source? Might need a redesign to use newer components.
People like them because the software just works. Connect, power on the altimeter, and start the software in any order and you will see the altimeter if you have the port selected. No finicky fiddling with connection order, etc. like the RRC3.

Based on the units I've had, the design has been updated over the year with newer components.

 

[dhurstell]

All that’s left is programming, testing, packaging and shipping. And then technical support.

That sounds like a lot of work and I'm glad I dont do it =P

 

[troj]

Based on the units I've had, the design has been updated over the year with newer components.

Not surprising - between the fabs in Taiwan being taken out and COVID, a lot of parts availability has changed. I know more than one person who's had to do product redesigns in order to pivot to parts that are available.

 

[cwbullet]

If I get my 2 units, I will post comparison photos.

 

[mrwalsh85]

Looks like it's not a repeat today.

 

[Adrian A]

On the topic of "test fixtures", this one below tested most of the first couple thousand Ravens... basically old style Christmas lights with circuit board attached to yes - a piece of 2x6. I had to calibrate the accelerometer, so each side of the 2x6 was rotated through during calibration. If I focused I could program/calibrate/testflight and package at 20 per hour... (one every three minutes). [I would be programming one while another was testing and I was prepping the small hardware bag and box.]

I'm sure Adrian's setup for the BlueRaven is a little more involved given the additional sensors but for basic baro/accelerometer, this simple setup worked just fine...

View attachment IMG_0165.mov

 

[StreuB1]

View attachment 686647

Adrian.......what in the sam hell you have going on over there?? Is that DMB playing with a miniature BDSM device on display!?!?

And WHYYYY is the video horizontal but rotated 90°!?!?

 

[Voyager1]

It's an old design. Have you considered that components might be hard to source? Might need a redesign to use newer components.

All those components are available as far as I can tell.

The availability of the SLCF, or any other PerfectFlite product for that matter, is quite academic over here. Looks like they don’t ship their products to this part of the world these days. Any item that goes in the basket results in a message stating that the item(s) can’t be shipped to that address.

I requested confirmation of this through their contact facility, but never received a response. Perhaps others over here have had better luck?

 

[BEC]

Not surprising - between the fabs in Taiwan being taken out and COVID, a lot of parts availability has changed. I know more than one person who's had to do product redesigns in order to pivot to parts that are available.

There are at least two versions of the Pnut hardware with two different onboard cell charging connections, and the FireFly changed battery holders relatively recently. So changes have happened. I can't speak to Stratologgers as I don't have any of those.

 

[Adrian A]

Adrian.......what in the sam hell you have going on over there?? Is that DMB playing with a miniature BDSM device on display!?!?

And WHYYYY is the video horizontal but rotated 90°!?!?

Sorry about the video rotation.

This is how I get the 6 orientations needed to calibrate all the Blue Raven accelerometers before shipment. The +/- 32G accelerometers don’t really need calibration but the +/- 400G ones do.

 

[StreuB1]

Sorry about the video rotation.

This is how I get the 6 orientations needed to calibrate all the Blue Raven accelerometers before shipment. The +/- 32G accelerometers don’t really need calibration but the +/- 400G ones do.

My failed attempt at being funny.

 

[kjs]

@Adrian A - yes that puts my 2x6 to shame... :-D I knew it would be impressive!!