Re: [Fwd: Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?]
On 3/6/07, Jon 'maddog' Hall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I received an answer from the President of pcHDTV. Apparently the sleeve is that way by design. Ah-ha. Neil Schelly had the right of it after all. I can't say I'm overly impressed with the design of this "break-away" connector [1], but I guess it does afford some protection for very little additional manufacturing cost. It is certainly good to know they actually put some thought into it. Given that others have complained about the same thing [2], it might be a good idea for the manufacturer to put a note card in the box saying it is by design. Footnotes - [1] It comes off *too* easy. It also transmits any stress that doesn't pull the connector off (such as side-to-side flexing) into the solder joins for the tuner module. I would much prefer the connector be attached to the bracket for strain relief. That would not preclude the use of a slide-on barrel on the outside of the card for break-away purposes. [2] http://applications.linux.com/print.pl?sid=06/12/19/1627229 http://software.newsforge.com/software/06/12/19/1628229.shtml?tid=75&tid=130 -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
[Fwd: Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?]
Hi, I received an answer from the President of pcHDTV. Apparently the sleeve is that way by design. His letter follows. maddog Forwarded Message From: Jack Steven Kelliher To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose? Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 16:55:03 -0700 Hello, There is an connector on the card that is not attached but pressure fit. This protects the connector mounted on the tuner can from damage if the coax gets pulled. If the connector is not snug we can replace it free of charge we just need an address to send it to. If the connect on the turner broke then please email with their shipping address and I'll send out an new card with return label for the defective card UPS next day. In the past we found a number of returns and problems when people pulled or tripped on the coax and bent or broke the tuner can connector so this design protects it from damage. Thanks, Jack Kelliher pcHDTV, Inc. On Mon, 2007-03-05 at 09:04 -0500, Jon 'maddog' Hall wrote: > 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 > > > > 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 joint
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
On 3/5/07, Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Why does everything have to suck so much? Basically, we all want everything for nothing and demand it be perfect. But we'll settle for it to just not suck :) I'm familiar with the old adage that one can choose any two from good, fast, and cheap. My disgust is that it appears "cheap" has been pre-selected everywhere. (And that one still frequently ends up paying for not-cheap, despite getting cheap.) -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
On 3/5/07, Jon 'maddog' Hall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: If, in the meantime, you would like to return the board and get your money back on the card, please do not "modify" it. Understood. If I break it, I get to keep the pieces. FWIW, the "modification" I was describing is easily reversible: Just unscrew the hypothetical new connector-extender, and slide the OEM connector-extender back on. But I understand that after-market modifications may still void the warranty. I have not cashed your check, and would be happy to return the check to you if you are genuinely unhappy with the board ... Happiness is a continuum. I'm happier than I would be if I had bought one of those Hauppauge HVR-1600-in-a-PVR-150-box units. I'm not as happy as I would be if the connector was secured to the mounting bracket. I'm not so unhappy as to want to return the board. :) Why the manufacturer didn't do something like this themselves, I have no idea. Greater cost in manufacturing. :-P o one is that the barrel sleeve slid off, which could be a defect in manufacturing and not design. Based on the pictures on their website, it appears the slide-on barrel is by design. A Google search for "HDPCTV 5500 connector" finds others complaining about the same issue. Perhaps, as Neil Joseph Schelly suggests, this is an intentional break-away mechanism, but Occam's and Hanlon's razors (not to mention "economics") suggest not. I have had other things not secured to the mounting bracket (RJ-45 jacks on most Ethernet cards come to mind) break loose from the solder joints, which certainly sucks. But I've also had plenty of other things which secured to the card mounting bracket and which held up under strain -- for example, big, thick video cables hanging off VGA cards. So I believe that to be the better option. ... since I would consider this a premium board, and would be willing to pay a dollar or two more for something ruggedly constructed. Yah. That. :) -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
On Monday 05 March 2007 09:04 am, Jon 'maddog' Hall wrote: > 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. I've got a tuner card in my Myth box that is of similar construction where the barrel came out of the tuner module on the card and at first glance really didn't appear to be very well held on. I've come to appreciate this method of connection since I've had my box in places where too much strain was on the cable. I'd rather it broke there, where it's easy to fix than snapping the actual tuner module off the PCI card or something. I'm guessing I'm not the only one whose positioned these with a little too much tension on those wires, especially given how heavy cable coax cable is. -N ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
"Ben Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Why does everything have to suck so much? Because, by and large, everything comes down to minimizing costs and maximizing profits. Even FOSS isn't free of this, there's no money paying for good UI design, so FOSS developers design with ease-of-coding in mind instead. As a result, the end-user-who-is-not-a-geek asks "Why does free stuff suck so much?" Basically, we all want everything for nothing and demand it be perfect. But we'll settle for it to just not suck :) -- Seeya, Paul -- Key fingerprint = 1660 FECC 5D21 D286 F853 E808 BB07 9239 53F1 28EE A: Yes. > Q: Are you sure? >> A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation. >>> Q: Why is top posting annoying in email? ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
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 > > 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/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
On Mar 3, 2007, at 11:12 PM, Ben Scott wrote: So I just got myself a new pcHDTV 5500 card for MythTV. I purchased a pcHDTV 5500 a year ago. I also have the same connector. If they had to extend the connector out, I'm surprised they didn't use a threaded extension. Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
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/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
On Mar 04, 2007, at 22:03, Travis Roy wrote: Also, its one of the few, if not only, HD cards that doesn't look at the broadcast flag. Erm, sorry, but that's just not correct on multiple levels. The broadcast flag was shot down, and I'm not aware of any cards on the market today that actually have support to look for it, and certainly none of them do anything with said broadcast flag, since it isn't sent by anyone... There are at least a dozen HDTV cards on the market right now that work under Linux and will happily ignore the broadcast flag if it somehow gets resurrected. On Mar 4, 2007, at 9:59 PM, Thomas Charron wrote: pcHDTV is the Linux HDTV card. www.pchdtv.com, the only manufacturer I've heard of which released Linux drivers with no Windows drivers. This is also incorrect. They have Windows drivers too (CD image that ships w/the card linked below, not the directory on it containing Windows drivers). But they *are* the only ones who build their cards with Linux in mind, and worry about Linux support before Windows support. http://pchdtv.com/downloads/CD_pcHDTV_2006-v2.0.tar.gz On 3/4/07, Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "Ben Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Can other owners of the pcHDTV 5500 confirm their card shares this > (ahem) "feature"? If so, any ideas on improving the attachment, so > that a poorly aimed mouse fart won't knock it off the tuner module > again? Who's the manufacturer of this card? I'd like to know so I can avoid them... -- Jarod Wilson [EMAIL PROTECTED] PGP.sig Description: This is a digitally signed message part ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
Also, its one of the few, if not only, HD cards that doesn't look at the broadcast flag. On Mar 4, 2007, at 9:59 PM, Thomas Charron wrote: pcHDTV is the Linux HDTV card. www.pchdtv.com, the only manufacturer I've heard of which released Linux drivers with no Windows drivers. On 3/4/07, Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "Ben Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Can other owners of the pcHDTV 5500 confirm their card shares this > (ahem) "feature"? If so, any ideas on improving the attachment, so > that a poorly aimed mouse fart won't knock it off the tuner module > again? Who's the manufacturer of this card? I'd like to know so I can avoid them... -- Seeya, Paul -- Key fingerprint = 1660 FECC 5D21 D286 F853 E808 BB07 9239 53F1 28EE A: Yes. > Q: Are you sure? >> A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation. >>> Q: Why is top posting annoying in email? ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ -- -- Thomas ___ 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/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
pcHDTV is the Linux HDTV card. www.pchdtv.com, the only manufacturer I've heard of which released Linux drivers with no Windows drivers. On 3/4/07, Paul Lussier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "Ben Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Can other owners of the pcHDTV 5500 confirm their card shares this > (ahem) "feature"? If so, any ideas on improving the attachment, so > that a poorly aimed mouse fart won't knock it off the tuner module > again? Who's the manufacturer of this card? I'd like to know so I can avoid them... -- Seeya, Paul -- Key fingerprint = 1660 FECC 5D21 D286 F853 E808 BB07 9239 53F1 28EE A: Yes. > Q: Are you sure? >> A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation. >>> Q: Why is top posting annoying in email? ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ -- -- Thomas ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
"Ben Scott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > Can other owners of the pcHDTV 5500 confirm their card shares this > (ahem) "feature"? If so, any ideas on improving the attachment, so > that a poorly aimed mouse fart won't knock it off the tuner module > again? Who's the manufacturer of this card? I'd like to know so I can avoid them... -- Seeya, Paul -- Key fingerprint = 1660 FECC 5D21 D286 F853 E808 BB07 9239 53F1 28EE A: Yes. > Q: Are you sure? >> A: Because it reverses the logical flow of conversation. >>> Q: Why is top posting annoying in email? ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
Re: pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
Ben, I have not checked my card yet to see if this is indeed the situation, or if yours was just a "defect in manufacturing", but I will send your email along to the owner of the company that makes the board, for both input to their design/manufacturing process and/or for a replacement board if it is a defect. maddog ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
pcHDTV 5500 card - Connector comes loose?
So I just got myself a new pcHDTV 5500 card for MythTV. When I went to connect it to the CATV line, the F connector popped right off the card. Investigation found that the actual tuner module (soldered to the PCB) still had an F connector lug, but that said lug was apparently extended (by the manufacturer) to reach past the mounting bracket with the addition of a male-to-female barrel connector (which is what had come loose). I was able to slide said barrel connector back on, but it appears that the only thing holding it on is good luck. Can other owners of the pcHDTV 5500 confirm their card shares this (ahem) "feature"? If so, any ideas on improving the attachment, so that a poorly aimed mouse fart won't knock it off the tuner module again? -- Ben ___ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
