On Mon, 2007-03-05 at 08:14 -0500, Ben Scott wrote: > On 3/3/07, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > When I went to connect it to the CATV line, the F connector popped > > right off the card. > > I found that the manufacturer's own product photos show the slide-on > barrel connector extender I mentioned, so this is apparently "by > design": > > http://www.pchdtv.com/images/image006.jpg > > It occurs to me that I can probably fix it
I did send your original comments on to the manufacturer, and given their past responsiveness, I would expect some type of answer back soon. It is just that they may be less responsive on a Sunday when some people are not at work. If, in the meantime, you would like to return the board and get your money back on the card, please do not "modify" it. I have not cashed your check, and would be happy to return the check to you if you are genuinely unhappy with the board, but any modifications that you might do to it might void the warranty and I would not be able to return it. I would need all the paperwork, CD, box (well, maybe not the box, but the other stuff) too, so I could return the board to the manufacturer. > Why the manufacturer didn't do something like this > themselves, I have no idea. Greater cost in manufacturing. Lack of perception that this would be an issue. There are two issues here: o one is that the barrel sleeve slid off, which could be a defect in manufacturing and not design. This caused a board failure, which you experienced. We have yet to determine whether it was a single unit failure or not. We will see. o the second is that the strain is put on the solder joints of the tuner card, which might be undesirable, but has not yet caused a failure mode that we know of. >Why does everything have to suck so much? Usually economics, but sometimes just oversight. In this case I would lean towards oversight, since I would consider this a premium board, and would be willing to pay a dollar or two more for something ruggedly constructed. Regards, maddog ============================================================================= > From: > Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: > Greater NH Linux User Group > <gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org> > Subject: > Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector > comes loose? > Date: > Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:14:35 -0500 On 3/3/07, Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > When I went to connect it to the CATV line, the F connector popped > right off the card. I found that the manufacturer's own product photos show the slide-on barrel connector extender I mentioned, so this is apparently "by design": http://www.pchdtv.com/images/image006.jpg It occurs to me that I can probably fix it by replacing the slide-on connector they used with a screw-on type. That will at least keep the connector-extender from sliding off the tuner module's connector lug. I might have to file down the points of the screw-on connector to get it to clear the hole in the mounting bracket, but that shouldn't be too hard. That should additionally let me put a couple of nuts on either side of the mounting bracket, for strain relief. Right now, any cable movement is transmitted right to the solder joints of the tuner module, which is Not Good(TM). Nuts on either side of the bracket, tightened down to the bracket, should move that stress to the bracket, where it belongs. Why the manufacturer didn't do something like this themselves, I have no idea. I got this card because their Linux support is supposed to be outstanding, but I'm obviously unhappy it has such a stupid design flaw. This hearkens back to a question I posed a few weeks ago: Which is worse, crappy hardware that's well supported, or good hardware that's poorly supported? Why does everything have to suck so much? -- Ben _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
