[App_rpt] Just Placed an order with DMK Engineering

[Steve Totaro]

Thanks for giving me an update.  I suggest you use some form of
automation to keep your customers in the loop.  I am pretty sure USPS
does this as it is the norm for online stores and even small time Ebay
shops (USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, Airbourne....)

I appreciate the work you put in and as well as Dingotel, because
without copying Dingotel, this product would most likely not be
invented yet.  (Sure hope they don't have a patent on it but they
probably do or it was assigned to some other company because
www.dingotel.com appears to be gone, well that is an totally different
issue...)

Thanks again, I will give feedback on the list ASAP
Steve Totaro

On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 7:39 PM, David Kramer <dkramer at dmkeng.com> wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
>  Your order for 3 URI's shipped yesterday via insured USPS Priority Mail.  In
>  the future we will try to do a better job of sending out confirmation
>  emails.  Thank you for the suggestion.
>
>  Regarding your comment about ~$10 modified FOBs...  if you can use one of
>  these I encourage you to do so.  It will certainly save you money.  You
>  should know the differences however between those devices and URI.
>
>  First of all, the FOBs are made in gazillion quantities which helps drive
>  the cost down.  We built an initial batch of 100 URIs so we don't have quite
>  the same magnitude scale.  Secondly, the cheapo FOBs consist of a sound
>  chip, a plastic housing, connectors and not much else.  In order to make it
>  work with Asterisk/app_rpt you have to attach a few components to some very
>  tiny surface mount pins, something not easy to do.  Here is what URI
>  provides that you don't get with the FOBs:
>
>  RF filtering on all I/Os
>  3-pole high-fidelity low-pass active filters on both audio outputs with
>  connections for AC or DC coupling
>  Optional high output drive capability 2X gain amplifier
>  AC and DC coupled options for audio in
>  Provisions for connector-mounted EEPROM intended for storing configuration
>  data
>  Circuitry for PTT, CTCSS, and COR connections
>  3 user programmable I/Os
>  RoHS compliant product
>  USB cable
>
>  In 100 piece quantities, the components alone cost more than twice what a
>  single USB audio FOB costs from geeks.com.  That doesn't include the bare PC
>  board, component assembly labor, housing, machining, final assembly, and
>  test.  Each URI must pass an extensive array of tests.  If one of the filter
>  capacitors is just slightly out of tolerance the unit is rejected.
>
>  When all is said and done DMK makes only a few dollars profit on each URI
>  sold.  This also does not take into account the initial product design and
>  development, first revision beta units that were given away for evaluation,
>  or any of the setup and tooling charges that were incurred.
>
>  I state this not to garner sympathy, but to let you know that we offer URIs
>  to the amateur community at a price that benefits the community far more
>  than it enriches us.  I wish you success with your project.
>
>  David Kramer
>  DMK Engineering Inc.
>  310-544-1222
>
>
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: app_rpt-bounces at lists.illiana.net
>  [mailto:app_rpt-bounces at lists.illiana.net]On Behalf Of Steve Totaro
>  Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 10:49 AM
>  To: Asterisk Repeater Controler
>  Subject: Re: [App_rpt] Just Placed an order with DMK Engineering
>
>  My question is how long does it take to ship and arrive?  Are these
>  things made to order?  (on the slow boat from China).  Seems like I
>  have been waiting too long and absolutely no communication.
>
>  I ordered three on March 3rd.  The only email I got was a receipt from
>  PayPal.  No order confirmation or shipping information.
>
>  For paying $14.95 for shipping I would expect UPS 3day or grounds and
>  a tracking number the same or next day of the order.
>
>  $209.85 for 3x ~$10 modified FOBs, there enough markup room for a
>  little customer support I think.
>
>  Payment Details
>  Item Price:             $209.85 USD
>  Total:          $224.80 USD
>  Buyer:          steve totaro
>
>  Thanks,
>  Steve Totaro
>
>  On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 1:30 PM, Nevada Amateur Radio Repeaters, Inc.
>  <w7aor at narri.org> wrote:
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > Just Placed an order with DMK Engineering. Where are instructions found?
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