Board designed, quotes received, numbers crunched, and wife agrees: PMCv2 is now ready for pre-ordering! Customers within the USA may now begin pre-ordering the PMCv2 here (https://audiodane.dandk.org/pmcv2).  Customers outside the USA will have to wait until the PMCv2 is ready, because eBay does not allow pre-orders beyond 30 days.

Thanks for your continued interest in the PMCv2!
..dane

Happy Thanksgiving!  The PMCv2 board and cable designs have been submitted for quotation.  I hope to have cost and schedule estimates in my inbox sometime early next week.  I am looking at building either 100, 250, or 500pcs for PMCv2, depending on how the cost and schedule looks.  Hopefully 500pcs pricing will not break the bank..

The preorder page will go live soon..  a few more days perhaps?  For now I will say February/March 2015 as a delivery date with a “subject to change” clause.  Once I get the quotes back and am happy with them and place the production order, I will update the preorder page (and this newsletter) with a more accurate set of shipping dates.

Preorders will only be accepted for domestic (USA) orders.  International customers will have to wait until I have units in-hand so that I can continue using eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  Speaking of international customers, we had way too many units get damaged during shipping– all international.  We had ONE unit get lost in the mail domestically (still trying to find it, ugh).  Out of 100pcs, I think we’re still within the statistical limits, but I don’t like having units arrive broken.  I will try to find out a better way to ship the next set of units.  International items will likely have an additional level of padding on them.

PMCv2 will have three distinct differences from PMCv1: Size (PMCv2 is slightly larger to protect it in shipping), Connector (PMCv2 will ship with BOTH 2008-2009 and 2010 TV connectors), and the Go/Undo switch is being changed to one that should be less easy to break in shipping.  As for software, the PMCv2 will use the exact same software as PMCv1 as a jumping off point but will add one small feature; that unused switch (switch #2) will be used to optionally turn OFF the LEDs.  Several customers indicated that the LEDs were too bright when all the lights were out and had to cover them up with tape..  PMCv2 will use switch #2 to completely turn off the LEDs.  Functionally, it will operate exactly the same as PMCv1, so no worries there.

cheers,
..dane

I’m breaking radio silence for just a short moment today–

I’m swamped at work and trying hard to not bring work home over Thanksgiving and Christmas.  That is putting a damper on getting the preorder page up.  But speaking of…

I will probably go ahead and call the next units PMCv2 because they will ship supporting both 2008-2009 and 2010 model year units.  Existing customers need not worry– No additional features are being included– I’m just trying to make it easier by having ONE product for sale (2008-2010) instead of TWO (2008-2009, and 2010).

I am working on the combined 2008-2010 model year connector update this week.   Hopefully the preorder page will go live around Thanksgiving.   I want to try and have accurate estimated ship dates before the preorder page goes live so people know when to expect their unit.  I could pretty safely go with February/March 2015, but I’d like to get a more accurate date than that..

Thanks for your continued support and interest!
..dane

Sales Update

Hello everyone!  The past two weeks have been a wondrous ride, the PMCv1 site pegged out at  1,044 hits on 14 Oct 2014!  Since it has stabilized to around double the daily traffic compared to before release..  A very fun time, indeed.  Also, the supported model list has been updated with the feedback that I have received thus far.  I know there are a few PMCv1’s currently in the shipping stage too.

I do want to share with everyone that current PMCv1 stock is down to a little more than a dozen 2008-2009 models and about three 2010 models.  If you’ve been on-the-fence about a PMCv1 until some more feedback has been received, now may be your last chance.

PMCv1 Feedback

I have begun receiving feedback on the PMCv1, and I have not yet received one single complaint.  Hurrah!  Lots of good feedback and discussion is occurring over at AVSForum, and at some good feedback (with pictures!) has been posted to the PMCv1 Feedback Page.  If you would like to provide your own feedback, I and all future customers would appreciate it!

A Poll for Future PMCv1 Customers

As I am nearing depletion of stock of the first PMCv1 units, I am contemplating where to go from here.  I have considered a Kickstarter campaign to produce something on the order of 500-2,000 more PMCv1’s, but that all depends heavily on how many customers are committed to buying.  I certainly can’t afford to produce 2,000 PMCv1’s if only 100 more are ever purchased!  The downfall to Kickstarter are the additional fees that are taken out of the transaction.  Another thought is the good old tried-and-true standby method of accepting pre-orders.  The difference is that Kickstarter won’t charge anyone until the project reaches its goal, but that comes at a cost.  Taking pre-orders means that if I don’t have enough preorders in a set window of time, I have to go manually refund everyone.

So the poll that I am presenting today is to request feedback on where people think the PMCv1 should be headed..  Please be honest and consider carefully before responding.  You MAY select multiple entries (for instance if you are okay with any option) …  If you have an idea for an entry that is not listed below, please feel free to provide feedback at the bottom of the post..

NOTES:

• Delivery date would be set somewhere around 8-12 weeks after the funding period is over.
• For pre-order option, Build versus Refund would be decided at the close of the pre-order window.
• Poll Closed.  PMCv2 expected ship date is February 2015.

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thanks for your continued interest in the PMCv1!
..dane

I did not expect the 2008-2009 Model PMCv1’s to sell out so fast!  eBay would not let me add more quantity to that item after the last one sold, so I had to re-list the item to add more quantity of units.  Below are the latest eBay links for international purchasing:

2008-2009 Model PMCv1: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271636631658
2010 Model PMCv1: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271635439285

..dane

The model list has been updated at the PMCv1 Product Page.  However, I won’t know “for sure” until people leave feedback on the PMCv1 Feedback Page.  Mironto’s DIY website seems to indicate that many of these models have been successfully reset..

Also two new listings have been added for International Buyers using eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  I have limited to 5pcs each because I want to make sure it WORKS before offering more units by this method.

2008-2009 Models: www.ebay.com/itm/271635437386
2010 Models: www.ebay.com/itm/271635439285

Thanks for your continued support,
..dane

Forty (40) PMCv1 units sold on the first day, thanks everyone!  Your packages are on their way!  Now the stress is meeting everyone’s (high) expectations!

International Shipping Update

I am going to setup a few of each model on eBay’s Global Shipping Program.  For now it’s the best option I have to support so many international countries that have expressed interest in the PMCv1.  I have no idea how well this will work though!  I’ll list about 5pcs of each model and see how it goes before adding more..  I will post another update to the mailing list once they’re up.  Hopefully tonight.

cheers,
..dane

I am pleased to announce that over 12 months of work, setbacks, and delays, the PMCv1 is finally available for purchase!  Both PHR (2008-2009) and GHR (2010) model units are now available.  Visit the PMCv1 page for more information.  Also, don’t forget to read the FAQ before buying.  It is critical that you purchase the CORRECT VERSION for your TV!

Thanks so much for your continued interest in the PMCv1,
..dane

2008-2009 Model Year Update

I have 86 units programmed and tested.  I have to heat-shrink the protective sleeve around the circuitry and wrap up the installation instructions, and then the sales page will go live!  Expect another update in the coming days to notify you that the sales page is up.

2010 Model Year Update

I am waiting on a connector to test the 2010 units with but it won’t arrive for a few more days..  2010 model year PMCv1 units should be available early next week.  I will only have about a dozen of them available at first, however.

Thanks for your continued interest in the PMCv1!
..dane

The envelopes and shipping labels aren’t even supposed to be here until tomorrow, but thanks to a super coworker who stopped by after work to help get these things done, we have all 100 PMCv1’s through the basic test (loading the test program), and 18 of those now have connectors loaded and have had passed their I/O test — as far as I’m concerned, 18 units are ready for sale! … almost.

So close!  So close!  What’s next?

I need to work on getting the sale page finished up with PayPal buttons. I also need to get some basic paperwork written to put in the envelope with the PMCv1 units.  (People following this blog may not need it, but it still needs to get done.)  I need to get the shrink-wrap that will protect the little microcontroller from touching anything within the TV after it’s connected.  (I totally forgot that when I ordered everything else from Amazon the other day.. du-OH!)  I also need to setup some sort of feedback page where people can post their experiences for others.  (I will probably have to moderate that page so spammers and trolls don’t take over though..) Thankfully the remaining tasks are each small.  But they still need to get done! I will try to squeeze in a few of these tasks throughout the week, but I can’t make any promises.

Still, we’re close! So close!
..dane