This is off topic, but I have to ask as my GeForce's fan is dying.. it's got an Adda AP4512MX-G90 ball bearing fan on the GPU. I need to buy a replacement, but I can't find this damn fan anywhere. I don't really have access to parts distributors.. i found an allied electronics catalog but to no avail. does anyone know where i can get it? i'm in desperate need.. those with parts contacts, i beg of you

thanks

With the turn this thread has taken towards input to the tuner, I thought I should shamelessly plug the thread here :-)

Check out Tennmax

Hi.

Right. A question to put to the general public.

I have had a few hours to work on the tuner build manual, and have got most of the actual electronics bit sorted. There's still the before and after parts to do, but the middle is mostly finished. However...

It's currently a number of documents in different formats, which get merged into a postscript document then converted to PDF. This is in colour, but my original printing method would have produced mono hard copy. See attached file for an example of the PDF output. The component highlighting, which is very obvious in colour, is still noticeable in mono but not as good.

I have had two people so far (out of two I've let proofread it) say that they wished the output was in colour since it stands out more. But, obviously, producing hard copy in colour is a lot more expensive than mono. The suggestion has been made that I should, in fact, not even bother producing a printed manual but just have it available as a PDF for download from the website.

This has a number of advantages, not least of which is the ability to update it and correct any errors. The final file will be, at a rough estimate, 3-4MB in size. Does this, in anyone's opinion, seem likely to cause major offense/hassle/problems/fatwa's, etc? I have to admit I'd prefer to do it this way, but if it's going to cause real problems for a significant fraction of the observable universe I'll have to find another way.

pca

I'm guessing everybody who wants to build a tuner has a (or at least access to a) colour deskjet printer.

So I wouldn't bother making hard copy manuals. The way I see it is it will only take a lot of your time and isn't really necessary anyway.
As you already pointed out it's probably also easier to read when it's printed in colour. So (I'm guessing here) most people will probaly print that .PDF anyway and use that instead if you decide to release it in addition to a hard copy manual. That's what I would do anyway.

So go on, take the easy route for a change. You know you want to!

Manual???
I figured we'd just be working from a picture of the final product. Of course it would be a color picture.....

Downloadable manual is fine by me

PK

PDF is a go for me!

Leave it as a downloadable .PDF. 3-4 Mb is not large - only about 15 minutes on a 56k dialup so I am pretty sure that anyone should be able to get it if that's what you are worried about. Software releases are bigger.

It means you get colour even if you don't have a colour printer since you can just view it on screen (unless of course you are using a B&W monitor...). If we want a hardcopy, then we print it out. I'm sure that most people have or know someone who has a colour printer. And if we're real, real, desperate for a colour hardcopy we can go down to the local copy shop and pay them to do it for us.

I can't really see any problem with a softcopy only. I don't know why you are worried to be honest. I don't think you will cause any "major offense/hassle/problems/fatwa's" by doing this.

Take the easy way Patrick.

If it saves money then I'm sure most people can cope with just using the PDF version. If they want a hard copy then they must know somebody somewhere with a printer...
And as somebody else said, it doesn't take too long to download on a normal modem.

- Trevor

Yep, a PDF would be just fine.

I have a color printer, but I'd probably just use the PDF directly. PDF would be fine.

After looking at the attachment, Building these looks like a ball!! It brings back memories of the Heathkit ham radios and the SWTPC audio amplifiers I built as a kid. Let alone the fact that I'll end up with a superior tuner!!! Yahoo!!

PDF all the way.

Since I was one of the ones initially telling Patrick he should just go online with the instructions, I don't have to chime in with my vote.

But I did want to say that I did Brian's button hack at my computer desk with his web pages up on the screen, and it was a great way to work. Who needs paper?

PDF is better than a hardcopy because as mentioned, you can revise it at anytime and notify customers on your e-mail list of any changes. It is the route I am taking with my boards. Everytime I come across a change that needs to be made, it is very easy to make the change.

Stu

Patrick, you're spoiling us with that manual! I was looking forward to the challenge of matching a poorly printed schematic to a badly labelled board. Did someone change the rules of kit building without telling me?

Anyway, PDF is great. I'm sure that if there is someone unfortunate enough to not be able to download/view/print it, that someone here will help them out.

Whatever the guy who'll be building my tuner for me likes is fine with me.

I think that a PDF version will be the best thing. I'm sure there are some color printers out there for all of us to use if we really want to!

It will also probably be cheaper to download, than for Patrick to copy a lot of color manual, and cheaper is a nice word

TommyE

I agree with everyone.. pdf is a great idea, and it saves you all the extra hassle.

To quote a good friend... Paper is so... so.. twentieth century...

ok, I'm a conformist. PDF!!
Who needs paper?

ROFL! You crack me up

i can´t see any disadvantage with pdf! may be because i am a fan of pdf

Treeware sucks

I'm all for PDF. (especially if it saves money)

HOORAY!

I agree. Paper sux.

Hi all.

Um. It turned out a little bigger than I anticipated. Around 11.4MB pdf, or a 30+MB word (nasty noise) document. I'm not quite sure why it's so big, I think some of my pictures might be a little large.

Anyway, the draft manual is here, (or at least it will be when it's finished uploading) if anyone would like to look it over and see what they're getting themselves into. It's mostly done, although there are a couple of images missing yet.

Any errors, let me know and I'll correct them. Any suggestions of a useful nature, let me know and I'll consider them.

pca

Patrick, that looks awsome. I can't wait to get one of these tuners!

Awesome!

Comments:
I assume we only really need one pair of wire stippers .
You mention silicone/hot glue in the needed materials, but not in the procedure.
Typo in soldering notes? "The tip is made of copper plated, which is plated with iron...."
It might be useful to include a couple of photos of the final assembly stages.

OMG! I cannot wait to build one of these things...

One little suggestion, seeing as we've now got a colour manual (thankyou PDF!) could it be a good idea to colour the components a different colour once you've put them on the board? The constructor could then see, at a glance, whereabouts they are in the manual.