I don't get what the issue is here, everyone that wants to build their own programming cable can feel free to do so! Everyone who wants to buy that USB cable on ebay and based on what folks are saying, seem relatively happy, feel free to do so! Those who want to buy a $225 OEM cable from harris should also feel welcome to do so. What is productive about this thread besides a bunch of people complaining and whining per usual here on RR...
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Homemade XG-100P Cables on Ebay??
- Thread starter Teotwaki
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Wish I could tell you. The ham mentality is strong in these posts recently. "You can do it yourself for cheaper" but spend said time throwing shade at others instead of doing it themselves. The fact remains that a market exists for such a product BECAUSE people aren't "just doing it themselves". Same can be said for almost every other ham product out there that can be DIYed with a soldering iron and a few bucks in cables and terminations but instead I see mountains of CAT cables, coax, etc
prcguy
Member
The issue I see is the retail price of the OEM cable is a bit much for what you get. The looks of the aftermarket eBay adapter are, well, not pretty but at least they seem to work. The other option is waiting for a used cable on eBay to show up for a good price, which is what I did and another friend just did today. Its not that we are cheap, I can afford just about anything I want but I want the best and if its available for a friendly price all the better.
I see alot of people complaining about looks. Who cares what the thing looks like as long as it works.
I know I know .......That's what she said
I know I know .......That's what she said
No need to go on a Hamophobic rant.
I'm pointing out that you can put together a better quality side adapter than either the OEM cable or the badly and cheaply printed ebay special. I sold my OEM cable. The OEM cable still had mold release flash all along the connector seam lines. The ones I put together are a better made and more flexible option.
And frankly I'm getting quite the chuckle out of defending such an obviously cheaply made and badly printed adapter for $90+
Is this ebay special yours or a partners? Why are you and nikronzo so interested in defending it?
What leads you to think it's badly made? The several people who have purchased and said the opposite? And cheaply printed? It looks a bit rough in the photo, but it looks like a carbon fiber filament in some of the photos, which has a rougher texture. Mine did not look like that when it arrived. And have you ever tried to get professional 3D prints done?
I'd be interested to see your much better, flexible option. It sounds so great the way you describe it.
I've purchased several custom printed flip caps for optics. And they weren't printed from a hobbyist site. They were printed by a company that manufactures custom parts.The quality is way above this and even cost less. By flexible option, I'm referring to how you can modify it, not the material it's made out of.
prcguy
Member
I've dealt with high end plastic mfrs and their take is 3D printing is for prototyping and not something you want for end use. A 3D printed product will not have the strength or clean look that another manufacturing process will have. I would show you a 3D printed prototype plastic snap on cover that is now in production except the 3D printed version broke during my testing and I threw it away. The injection molded version is still in production and selling well.
Yes, that makes sense that a piece of plastic would cost less plastic plus USB connector, pins, and whatever else is inside, plus a person or machine to solder components.
I understood what you meant by flexible... And if you're capable of making your own things, that's great. It would be awesome if we could all make these types of things for ourselves. I think the fact that people buy this instead shows that not everyone can do that. That's capitalism, isn't it? If you can't do it yourself, you pay someone else to do it.
Of course this is the case. The injection molding process is going to create a higher quality part that will hold up to the repetitive use, especially with snap components. But as far as I have seen, it's then a case of economies of scale. The molds have to be fabricated. If there's a place out there that will charge you the same for 1 unit as they would for 10,000 units I would love to know. I create marketing miniatures of product for our sales team to bring along and we're always wanting more stock but the cost of an engineer on the payroll already clicking print in the morning, and cleaning supports in the afternoon comes out cheaper every time we look.
Overall, this was a post asking about the quality of a product on ebay. A few people said it was good, worked, and looked better than the photos on the listing. Now we're on the second page of this discussion going back and forth about building something yourself vs buying. And it doesn't seem like either of you bought one. Someone probably just made one and had some spare components left. Other people bought them. I don't see why all this back and forth is really necessary.
That's just plain weird
Thanks to the actual users of the product giving their honest feedback: adamr, northstarfire, redbeard, KC6ONR etc.
Your efforts are appreciated.
Nikronzo, You are describing yourself when you complain "What is productive about this thread besides a bunch of people complaining and whining per usual here on RR..."
It was a productive thread until you crapped in it. If you aren't an actual user of the product and have something technical to add why do you even bother to be on RR? I didn't say anything inaccurate about the product and I even reposted the seller's actual pictures. I'm a new owner of a 100P and am here to learn more about it as well as performing research before I buy useful accessories.
Your efforts are appreciated.
Nikronzo, You are describing yourself when you complain "What is productive about this thread besides a bunch of people complaining and whining per usual here on RR..."
It was a productive thread until you crapped in it. If you aren't an actual user of the product and have something technical to add why do you even bother to be on RR? I didn't say anything inaccurate about the product and I even reposted the seller's actual pictures. I'm a new owner of a 100P and am here to learn more about it as well as performing research before I buy useful accessories.
Funny!! (and true)
I wanted a cable so that when flashing firmware of any type I don't have to worry about bricking the radio if the Bluetooth Eb/No goes to data hell.
prcguy
Member
I hear a rough finish on the mating connector can cause that......
Mine mates more solidly than the Harris factory cable. The Harris cable I could twist side to side and lose USB connection.
prcguy
Member
I was making a joke about the rough 3D printing process.
Hey Shawn or other users of the cable,
Does the seller provide any sort of written warranty with the cable shipment? That would be good for potential buyers to know. The listing just says they were tested before being sold and buyer pays for return shipping.
Thanks!
You'd have to message the seller, I'm not sure. Mine has been fine so I haven't had the occasion to find out.
Furthermore I'd like to add to the dialog that when someone take initiative to create something useful in the two-way hobby space that is perhaps more functional (and certainly cheaper) than OEM we should all support those individuals rather than kvetch over appearances. This is how 3D printed things look, take it or leave it.
Recently I bought a new device made by a hobbyist called the KFDmicro which is an all-in-one arduino and interface board for keyloading using the previously released KFD Tool software. It didn't come in an enclosure or include any cables but it's much cheaper than buying a Motorola KVLx000 for doing the same thing. Almost simultaneously the KFDmini was also released, a small form factor Arduino Nano with an attached interface board. Both are worth the buy if you like to experiment with encryption on surplus commercial gear.
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I sort of doubt a seller on eBay is going to warranty something he cooked up on his bench and sells on the side, for much more than "it works, you break, you fix". Particularly given how some people treat their gear, just walk around any hamfest or look at a hammy site installation and you will know what I mean.
Is the connector ugly the way it has been presented? You bet. One could hope the seller puts up some more recent photos. Does it work? You bet it does, at about half the going rate for something genuine.
On the keyloading front, the KFD project is robust, supported by the developers, and experimenter hobbyists have been encouraged to try their own builds. That's the fun of open source projects. And those of us who hold Amateur licenses should be doing the same - experimenting, testing limits, exploring, and discovering instead of poo-pooing everything new because it's not old.
I didn't ever bash the seller or the item. The connector _is_ fugly looking, so what. I asked for feedback from owners and funnyman Nikronzo had to jump in with mixed quotes and a useless comment. He got pushback that further polluted the thread. That's life. Not my fault. What I actually said in the first post is quoted here:
I have some homemade printed enclosures and they are overly delicate and just as fugly so I posted legitimate concerns about the Ebay item.
Hopefully you'll start a new thread somewhere about the KDMini & Micro.....
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