Hi.

Well, I now have enough tuner orders that I can order a new batch of PCBs and tuner modules. However, there is a slight problem.

The supply of the modules is very slim at the moment. I can't in fact get any of the 3x0197 modules at all for at least a couple of months, but I can obtain a hundred or so of a pin-compatible version, the 3x0131. The major difference is that it doesn't have the weather-band facilities, which are replaced with LW and SW AM modes for european usage.

These are the only tuner modules I seem to be able to get anywhere in the world, so I'm going to have to go for them and pretty quick too. It's a few thousand dollars worth of parts, but I can't afford to let the oppurtunity slip past. To get more after this, I need to place a minimum order of 200 modules (it was 500 but I bitched about this to the point they dropped it down), and at the moment I don't have enough orders to make that worthwhile.

The new modules, in conjunction with the ones I have in stock, will cover (just) all the currently outstanding orders with a few left over. Since the weatherband units are no real use outside north america, what I favour doing is shipping WX ones to the US and canada, and EU ones elsewhere. Does anyone have a problem with this?

pca

The new modules, in conjunction with the ones I have in stock, will cover (just) all the currently outstanding orders with a few left over. Since the weatherband units are no real use outside north america, what I favour doing is shipping WX ones to the US and canada, and EU ones elsewhere. Does anyone have a problem with this?

Works for me.. I would prefer one with a weatherband (living in the US), but I'd much rather just get a tuner rather than nothing..
If you need prepayment, let us know.. Many, if not all, would be glad to pay ahead of time.. (Okay. At least *I* would be..)

Me.

Well I was waiting for the flood of tunerless people to slow down since I managed to snag myself an original tuner but I want another one.

If you want the people to sign up so you know how many to order then I will do so now. Wouldn't mind paying by credit card over paypal though if that is possible.

If anything I would prefer the SW and LW module over the weatherband given that I live in Australia normally (not now though)

I was waiting for all the "tunerless" to order as well. I guess now is a good time to put in my order?

The tuner(s) that I would buy would go in SAABs, and they come with weather band on the original head unit. WB is not critical, but it was there to begin with....

Even though I'm in the US, I'm just interested in the AM/FM tuner alone, so if that frees one up for someone who would like the WB capability, so be it. My only need for the tuner is to listen to the occasional sporting event that I may be interested in.

Rick C.
Order#93

I got my tuner kit today, and it looks great. I cant wait to start assembling it. It was shipped on the 10th and arrived the 13th, pretty impressive for cambridge-to-california.

The wetherband feature is a moot point until something supports it. I just hope something comes along and supports it soon. Once I get mine assembled perhaps I'll be tempted to start on the project.

Matthew

That certainly works for me. As I live across the pond in the US I would prefer a WX capable unit. "Thanks" to those of you that had tuners and waited, that is really very cool.

If I understand you correctly - the first batch (WX) were a grab-whats-available, and this second batch will be too. It seems to me that the situation has been (a) place a large order, or (b) grab what's available, and that situation isn't likely to change anytime soon.

That appears to offer 3 options;
1) Always use the 'grab' mode, and try to assign them appropriately, as you have suggested.
2) Be more patient with the grab mode to try and get the modules you want in the batch size you want.
3) Get 200 people to pre-order. (And, obviously, have confidence that they will all actually pay)

None of those options is optimal - Rocks and hard places spring to mind.

I wonder though...as I understand it, you'd 'only' need about another 90 or so orders to hit the 200 minimum quantity (assuming you didn't take the 100 already on offer). But that's a whole load of cash to outlay on a promise.

I think that you have to do what you feel comfortable with financially. I (and many others I am sure) appreciate the hard work and risk that you have put into this kit. Given the choice between a tuner or no tuner, I'll take the tuner.

Ultimately, if someone has a real problem with this, then their only real option is to wait in the hope that at some point WX modules do become available again in a palatable quantity.

Just got mine today too matthew... that checklist is nuts! So well put together. Thanks again Patrick!!! I can't wait to start soldering!

printing manual now...

which are replaced with LW and SW AM modes for european usage

What does the european mean in there? Does that mean that there are no LW and SW transmitters elsewhere in the world or that only Europeans use LW and SW bands?

I'm a little confused.

Georg

I'd agree with Shonky, here
I have a tuner so have been holding back to let the tunerless masses become enlightened before ordering mine.

I'd take a SW/LW/MW tuner over Weatherband anyday.

And I'd order *at least* 1 more tuner module.

So between me and Shonky you're 1% of the way to the next batch sized order of tuner modules.

I haven't placed an order currently, but plan to shorthy (too many expenses lately, but a tax refund should help that).

As far as what tuner type I would like, AM/FM is my only need. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

AM/FM works for me!

LW and AM tuner works for me.
But what about the software player's compatibility ?

.....in God we trust.

[league of gentlemen] We'll have no weatherband here!! [/league of gentlemen]

Cheers, Sim

Your order number is 73 (waiting patiently )
Order placed at Mon 3 Feb 2003 8:27 am

Yes, definately - do it, go get patrick! I have to have a tuner....

Adrian

..yeah, I've emailed you patrick (And I wrote a message here), I'm about to go to australia, I won't be back until the middle of april - and wont be able to organise payment from the other side of the world, can I send you a cheque now (I'm in the UK!), I don't want to miss out on my tuner! (#82 in the queue!)

Please respond!

Adrian

LW and SW AM sounds good to me being in the UK

My order number is less than 50 so would i have to wait some time for my tuner if it had the eu module.

C.

In reply to:

---

But what about the software player's compatibility ?

---

Well, at the moment the extra bands on the tuners are not really relevant, since there isn't any software support for either WX or LW/SW. I just wanted to mention it.

pca

I've been delaying ordering until tunerless people have theirs, but I'm in for 1 or 2 tuners. Don't need WB just AM/FM and Sony stalk control. (As long as it has a Motorola connection or adaptor)

We'll probably put weatherband support into the next trunk release (i.e. post 2.0).

How about putting a check box on your order page asking the user if they want WB with a default of "No"?

That way the WB people may have a chance (me being one who wants one)

Also I believe aviation frequencies are close to the WB frequencies. Perhaps they would pick up air traffic too?

I've been waiting until tunerless people order too. I will be ordering two when the time comes, I don't need weatherband.

LW and AM tuner works for me.
But what about the software player's compatibility ?

Not an issue. And if it ever was, we (Patrick & I) could do some message mangling in Hijack to fix it.

Cheers

I plan on buying one too. Just waiting for everyone else to get theirs because I am not in a hurry. I don't know what weatherband is but it sounds cool.

I would be happy with either unit as I mainly want FM.

I am living in the USA at the moment, but could well return to Blighty in the future, so either will be fine.

And NO, that doesn't mean I need two

I was lucky enough to order tuners for both my MarkII empegs when they became available (acutally didn't order an empeg until they were available). In my area (southern california) most radio stations are owned by one of nine companies, which offer about four formats. The best stations are actually on AM here. I did have a european spec radio at one time with the sw/lw and there is some interesting stuff to listen to here on those bands. I would buy two tuner kits to gain these bands, provided the player software supported it.

Thanks for listening!

Larry

In my area (southern california) most radio stations are owned by one of nine companies, which offer about four formats.

In my area, central North Carolina, there probably aren't but about nine radio stations total. This list, while probably accurate, lists stations I can't even begin to pick up on any radio. Probably half of them. But it doesn't make any difference, because they all suck.

[league of gentlemen] We'll have no weatherband here!! [/league of gentlemen]

Is that.. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

Sorry. Offtopic.

Me.

We'll probably put weatherband support into the next trunk release (i.e. post 2.0).

Is weatherband something that can be detected with a software query to the tuner module? Seeing as how some of the factory units also might have had weatherband...