[App_rpt] Just Placed an order with DMK Engineering

Tue Mar 25 16:14:41 UTC 2008

Just an update, a few days after receiving the URI, I got a second
smaller package with the USB cables.  I was impressed, most vendors
cut costs buy not providing USB cables (I hate that).  Another thumbs
up for DMK.

Thanks,
Steve Totaro

On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 4:22 PM, Steve Totaro
<stotaro at totarotechnologies.com> wrote:
> Just to give an update, I received my three URIs last Friday.  The
>  packaging was great (and I even got a page from the LA Times ;-)
>
>  The units are very well made and the labeling complete with pinout is
>  brilliant!  No docs to lose or lookup.  Overall, I am very impressed
>  with DMK (communication needs improvement as I said earlier) but I am
>  very happy at this point.
>
>  Now to get these units into production.  I will followup with more
>  details in a new post.
>
>  Thanks,
>  Steve Totaro
>
>
>
>  On Fri, Mar 7, 2008 at 9:03 PM, Steve Totaro
>  <stotaro at totarotechnologies.com> wrote:
>  > 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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