As we celebrate roughly two years from product design kickoff, and roughly one year from product sales launch, I thought what better way to celebrate than with a price drop? Now there’s no excuse– Get your PMCv2 today, and tell a friend!
cheers,
..dane
As BlackHat USA 2015 and DEFCON 23 are fast approaching, I am offering a limited time offer to anyone who wishes to meet me at one of the conferences for a special price on a brand new PMCv2! What’s the price? Who knows! USD$20? Free? Since these conferences are geared towards encouraging networking, dialog, and learning, I’m not fixing a specific price. Want to just say hi and get a deal? — how about USD$30? Wonna hang out for a while and meet some new people? — how about USD$20? Wonna learn to hack the PMCv2 or teach an old dog some new tricks in coding, security, hacking, … ? — how about free? (hint: it’s not going to be hard to teach me a new trick — I don’t know much!)
I will have a dozen or two with me at the conference.. If you’re interested in meeting up at BH2015 or DC23, drop me a note ASAP!
..dane
Hello Friends!
A lot has happened in the past several hours.. The short version is that I’ve upgraded to a new purchase engine! I know that doesn’t sound very exciting, but here’s what it means to you: Two exciting new opportunities for you to get your hands on a PMCv2 at a discount! As usual, I’m letting you newsletter subscribers know long before anybody else. Hurrah!
Here’s a simple incentive to get more model numbers tested– try a PMCv2 on a yet-untested 2008-2010 model Panasonic Plasma television, provide sufficient proof and feedback, and get half your money back as a way for me to say “thanks!” Find out it doesn’t work? How about a 100% refund? Unfortunately, since eBay has no way of allowing such a discount program, this offer is limited to USA and Canada buyers only. More details (and the fine print) can be found on the PMCv2 product page:
https://audiodane.dandk.org/pmcv2/
It’s summer! (well, almost. A few days away..) I thought I’d kick off summer (and put the new purchase engine through it’s paces) with a little summer sale. Buy more, save more.
Overseas? No problem! THIS sale eBay CAN support. YOU MUST follow eBay’s rules, however, or there’s NOTHING that I can do about it.
Head over to the PMCv2 product page to check out the full details and instructions for eBay customers (and the fine print):
https://audiodane.dandk.org/pmcv2/
Yes! And they’re stackable! (Visit the PMCv2 product page for the fine print.) Unfortunately only the quantity discount is available to customers outside the USA and Canada. (Sorry guys– I’m trying here, I really am!)
Several folks were on-the-fence about purchasing because of how strict my no-returns policy was.. And while it is still strict, I did clarify one detail- if you receive a non-functional unit (doa, or dead-on-arrival), of course I will get it replaced. I’m not out to take advantage of anyone, quite the opposite. I’m really a nice fellow — but I greatly dislike being taken advantage of myself, thus the stringent refund terms and conditions.. Head over to the Terms and Conditions page to check up on the latest T’s & C’s:
https://audiodane.dandk.org/purchase-terms-conditions/
Finally the new purchase engine allows me to automatically subscribe new customers to the PMCv2 newsletter. Of course you can still unsubscribe at any time.
It’s taken me several hours fighting with the web softwares to get all this setup properly, so please let me know if you encounter any errors or find something that just doesn’t look right. I think it’s all setup properly…
cheers,
..dane
Are you interested in the PMCv2 but hesitant because your model is in the “Untested” list? Would a discount help entice you to try one out? I am considering 50% discounts to those customers buying a PMCv2 for models listed as “Untested” so that we can get them properly categorized! Would that help? Let me know (website, AVSforum, or Twitter)!
I’m looking to make a decision in about a week, so your feedback is appreciated.
Hmm, maybe we can update that too. How about refunds will be granted to those units purchased for untested models, as long as the unit is returned in proper working order? (e.g. I don’t give refunds if you run over it with your skateboard!)
I suppose I never directly mentioned DOA (Dead-On-Arrival) anywhere, but I just recently had a customer ask about it. I will never refuse replacement if a unit arrives dead-on-arrival, period. (I may require you ship it back to me, however, so that I’m not taken advantage of myself.) I apologize if any customer has been unclear on that issue.
That’s a good question. I think we can work that out too. eBay items have been updated to no longer require immediate payment via PayPal. Supposedly that allows “counter offers” to be made.. which means you can buy it, not pay for it, shoot me an email, and I can go back and set a discounted price for the item in your cart before you pay for it. I have not tried this yet, so I’m not sure. But I’m sure we can work something out..
cheers,
..dane
The instructions for the updated software v2.2 are now posted and available. All orders shipped on or after 25 April 2015 include the new software. However, since I had already printed off 500 copies of the original PMCv2 installation and operation instructions, I am not including a printout of the updated v2.2 instructions but rather a small strip of paper pointing you to the website for the updated instructions.
The new version yet again re-purposes switch #1 (LED on/off switch) into a selection for automatic versus manual mode. Some users have requested the ability to force a manual operation, and others may need it for their particular model television. Because switch #1 has been re-purposed, the default behavior for the LEDs now are to turn off after a few seconds so as to not bother those customers using the device in ultra-dark rooms.
Please find the updated instructions at the link below:
Software v2.2 Instructions
cheers,
..dane
Whew, after three weeks of travel, I am glad to be home! Lots of Gx2x and Vx2x updates to discuss. “Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.” – Inigo Montoya
The Gx2x & Vx2x testing has resulted in a software update that I think some customers will like (and others may not care about), namely a “force reset” mechanism. During the Gx2x testing, I re-purposed the LED switch to enable the user to force the PMCv2 to perform a timer check. However, a small further tweak that I plan to make tonight will enable the user not to just force an MLL timer check but rather an MLL timer reset. That gives you the ability to just go ahead and clear it whenever you want, or leave it in auto-mode and it will operate the way it always has.. (The undo switch remains and will still operate as usual.) I think this will make several customers happy (several have requested such a feature), and if you have an older PMCv1/v2 that you would like updated to the new software, just get in touch with me and we’ll work out the details. This change will remove the option to switch the LED’s between “always on” and “off when idle” (LEDs will be permanently set to “off when idle”). All outstanding orders will be shipped with this new software version.
Despite even the forcing mechanism, the PMCv2 is still not working with Adam’s G25. The signal (“IIC_CONT”) that causes all other models to enter the service mode (per both CLKTMR’s and mironro’s instructions) does not seem to work on Adam’s G25. Whether or not it will work on the GT25, V20, etc, I do not know.
I contacted mironto several weeks ago to see if he had any insight into the Gx2x issue. Unfortunately, he has not received any feedback (positive or negative) from G20/G25 owners either. And he, too, does not have of one of those models to test. As a result, both mironto and myself are at somewhat of a loss regarding how to proceed, and neither of us have any affected models on-hand to test using our lab equipment.
It seems to both mironto and myself that 2011 model years (xx30 model numbers) no longer use the IIC_CONT signal to gain access to the IIC bus that the Panel EEPROM is attached to. We further believe that some Gx2x and Vx2x models from 2010 may have had the 2011 technique applied to them. There must be another mechanism to access the Panel EEPROM, but that mechanism is currently unknown.
Good question! Fortunately there seem to be only a few models affected.. But the issue doesn’t seem to be simply Gx2x and Vx2x models. I have received positive reports (PMCv1/v2 works) from customers with GT20E, VT20, and VT25 models, and I have received negative reports (PMCv1/v2 does not work) from customers with G20, G25, GT25, and V20. The best I can do is provide that information on the PMCv2 product page and let you decide if you want to give it a shot.
Are you willing to try mironto’s DIY method? If so, great! Let us know (here or AVSforum) how it goes!
I hope you will all agree that I have tried very hard to support ALL 2008-2010 models, but since this is just a side hobby, at some point I have to call it what it is and move on. At this point I am marking this as a “Known Issue” and moving on. If at some point in the future additional information is learned that enables a solution for these (few) models, I will post an update.
Now that I’m back from travel, and with this issue closed, shipments will resume this weekend. The software update mentioned above will be rolled into all shipments as of 25 April 2015. If you have an existing PMCv1/v2 that you would like updated to the new software version, let me know and we’ll see what we can work out..
thanks for your support and continued interest in the PMCv1/v2!
..dane
Our fearless Canadian, Christopher, has reported that his PMCv2 finally arrived safe and sound, and is working fantastically on his VT25! Though it took nearly a month to arrive, he indicates that aside from time, everything else went smoothly. Canadian customers no longer need to go through eBay, and may now purchase through website directly using PayPal. Thanks Christopher!
..dane
Is it just me or does it seem everything either piles up at once, or there’s nothing to do?
Work has been quite busy lately, but I did manage to get the customized PMCv2 software prepared this week for our fearless volunteer Adam to test . It’ll ship out Monday, he’ll run the custom PMCv2 device on his TV, and send it back at the end of the week with a log of test results. The PMCv2 will perform 32 different timing tests on reading his panel’s MLL counter and record the results on an SD Card (and some additional data provided by Adam during the tests indicating how the TV responds to the test software). That this phase should only take about 1 week. Hopefully 32 different timing tests will be sufficient!
In about a week I’ll have Adam’s test data, and will prepare an updated version of custom software, this time attempting to clear his panel MLL counter, based upon the earlier test results. More than likely it, too, will have multiple tests and Adam will report back how his TV responds. This phase, too, should only take about 1 week. But the big assumption here is that we gathered enough data earlier that at least one (and hopefully more) timing method(s) work on his TV!
Once these two rounds have occurred (successfully), I will contact those reporting Gx2x incompatibilities and see if they are interested in returning their PMCv1/v2 for a free software upgrade.. Customers will have to cover the return shipping to me, and I’ll cover the return shipping back to them. I think that’s fair.. Once again I will be unable to guarantee that it works, but of course I am not planning to spend all this time and effort for nothing..
Almost A MONTH AGO, another fearless customer agreed to try out PayPal’s shipments-to-Canada. I don’t know if it’s been typical or not, but it JUST cleared customs at the border, some three or four weeks after I put it in the mail.. Whew.. Hopefully it will arrive this week. However it all works out, I’ll send out another email soon to notify Canadian customers of their options.
Thanks to everyone for their continued interest and support in the PMCv2!
..dane
Several customers outside the USA have received their PMCv2 units this week, some are reporting success, some success but recommending that I update my instructions, and some failure. I wanted to capture them here for clarity..
It seems that some models work a little differently than others. Here in the USA, when you plug in the TV, the TV powers up into standby mode, but does not turn on. It seems that some non-USA models operate a little differently. If you have a non-USA model and your TV turns all the way on when you plug it in (and see a picture on the screen), then the PMCv1/v2 instructions won’t exactly work right.. Below is a small tweak to the instructions for those customers:
These instructions should work for some non-USA models where the TV does not always remain in standby mode when plugged into the wall outlet. This has been the case on a V10B model so far.
I am nearing completion of some test software to help figure out the timing problems on the Gx2x models. Interestingly, as already mentioned, I have a confirmed success on a GT20E. However I also have confirmed problem report for G25, GT25, and G20. I will keep everyone posted when the test device is shipped to Adam for testing. Thanks Adam!
I have received several emails in the past two days from customers outside the USA that are reporting the PMCv2 is not working. But in their cases, unlike the Gx2x model issue reported above, they are indicating that the PMCv2 is on with a solid green light, and when they go to turn on the TV, the PMCv2 LED turns off and the TV’s front LED begins blinking. Resolution is to remove the PCMv2 device and turn the TV off and back on (by holding down the button on the front of the TV. The remote control doesn’t work when the TV’s front LED is blinking). This *could* be the same problem as the issue that we’re seeing on the Gx2x models (and I hope it is), but I can’t be for sure yet. Customers indicating this issue have the following models: G20E, V20E.
I’ll be honest, I wondered that myself. In an effort to maintain (unnecessary) transparency, I’ll say that as of today I have sold almost 200 PMCv1/v2 units, and I only have about 11 cases that I have not been able to resolve with a few simple email exchanges (some were simply misunderstood instructions). That’s about 5% problem ratio. Now, that’s about 5% more than I would like to see, but still that means around 95% of all PMCv1/v2 customers are happy with their restored black levels. That makes me feel good. And hopefully I can get that all the way back up to 100% soon.
cheers,
..dane
There are several Gx2x model customers having trouble with the PMCv2. Even more interestingly, one GT20E customer has reported success. Either way, I am trying to figure out how to move forward to continue expanding the number of supported models.. My current plan is detailed below.
The first step is to gather more information. One PMCv2 customer with a G25 has volunteered to run some tests for me, so I am working to assemble a custom PMCv2 device that logs information to a microSDCard. I am re-working the software on that custom PMCv2 device to try out lots of different timing measurements on their set, trying to read the panel EEPROM at various times during startup, and logging the results. I won’t be actually trying to clear the EEPROM data at this time, just read it..
Once the the volunteer attaches it to their set and turns their TV on and off a few dozen times (the more data the better), then they’ll mail it back to me for analysis. Hopefully I will have at least one method that works, and from those choices I will modify the software yet again with several methods of attempting to reset their black levels. If one (or more!) of those options work, then I’ll have the solution(s) for the Gx2x models.
I like options. And I installed TWO switches on the PMCv1/v2 devices (even though I only needed one) because hey, two is better than one, right? Well now I wish I had installed THREE.
As I look to offer choices to customers of different models, the customer needs a way to choose which option they want to use. As I posted on AVSforum, I am currently considering several options, each with their own set of pros and cons. For the sake of information sharing, the options that I am considering are listed below. Keep in mind that these options are subject to change at any time, and depend heavily upon the results of the data gathering phase described above.
Every option has its own set of pros and cons. Above are a few options that I am considering. Maybe other options exist that I haven’t thought about. My goal is to settle on a single software update moving forward for all unsold PMCv2 devices, and offer software updates to existing customers on a case-by-case basis.
any thoughts or comments?
..dane