HobbyKing is now selling much cheaper versions of some 3DR products:
(*This is an update of my old post which only referred to the two products available at that time.)
The latest addition to the list is especially well-timed because the 3DR Radio Telemetry Kit is currently out-of-stock, making HK the only place to get this item at any price right now. This could bring a welcome change to the tone of the DiyDrones Twitter feed as buyers stop venting their frustration with shortages and simply buy elsewhere.
HobbyKing changing strategies?
Even as HobbyKing is adding more ArduPilot accessories, the MultiWii and MegaPirate autopilots which they were selling are now being liquidated or have already been removed from the site entirely. It is easy to imagine that this pullback is the result of the rather infamous support nightmare they suffered when the entire run of MegaPirate boards shipped with an unworkable voltage regulator installed.
This shift in autopilot lineup could mean that HobbyKing has decided to get out of the autopilot business, sticking with accessories and staying away from complicated autopilots which have so many parts that can fail. A more likely explanation is that HobbyKing just wants an autopilot solution that works, and they're clearing the shelves to make room for something else, maybe ArduPilot, but probably DJI.
Personally, I like to imagine that somebody at HobbyKing is a rabid ArduPilot fan who clones a different 3DR part every time 3DR goes out of stock, just to make sure he can always get his fix.
Your ideas?
Last time I posted on this topic, I was expecting a rather dry discussion of the effect of clone manufacturing on the 3DR business model. That suggestion was rightly ignored, so this time I'll just ask: Do you plan to buy any clone hardware yourself?
For myself, I think my next purchase will be a 3DR PX4 with HobbyKing's telemetry and GPS. Frankly, buying the autopilot feels like enough of a donation to the developers without paying double for the accessories, as well.
Comments
@Klaus, did you get a replacement for your APM clone?
@Asaak:
That is the first discussion question on the product listing page.
You just need to match each signal on the APM (the pinout of the "old-style" 6-pin connector is here and the pinout of the "new-style" 5-pin connector is here) to the same signal from the GPS (those pins are labeled on the back of the circuit board, partially hidden by the antenna); GND-GND, VCC-5v, RX-TX, TX-RX.
The APM instructions say to cut the GPS cable, buy an APM connector, and solder the two together. That is probably the best way, but I think it is too much unless you already have one of those 5- or 6-pin JST connectors laying around or attached to something you don't care about.
I would just make sure that the GPS wires match pins 1-4 of the "old-style" APM connector as described above. (If needed, use a pin to carefully lift the plastic tabs and remove wire terminals from the plug, and push them back in correct order and alignment.) Align the plug with pin 1 of the APM's old-style connector (the 6-pin horizontal connector next to the labeled 5-pin "GPS" connector), cut off any plastic that may bend pin 5, and plug it in.
I'm waiting for the LEA-6H module, despite the greater size and cost. It appears to have a compatible 6-pin connector already installed.
i will never buy a hobbyking autopilot. to run a very precious APM code on unrelaible hobbyking hardware. does not makes sense. this is like disgracing the very respectable APM code. this is aviation. good quality like 3DR gives you confidence in the field.
When the market demands CHEAP, quality and innovation are lost . I feel like I am part of this group of developers also, and am invested in the success of 3DR. When I think of the fun and exploration I have experienced with this equipment, it doesn't seem too expensive. There is a lot that goes into these prices and its not just greed. Quality of materials and processes, worker pay and conditions, government subsidies even.
Chris has to walk a fine line between earning publicity & feeding people. The open source model depends on constantly creating new products. He does what he can by not revealing new products until they're actually being sold.
I have baught that OSD and it keeps on telling me update CHAR set. Then I have to reset the board and then it works. My original (before I burnt it) never did this.
OK Drone I'm sticking to my guns: "without them and their continued support we would not have progressed nearly as far as we have".
They have been willing to produce small quantity high support requirement items with no clear indication of profitability.
Very un-business like and very supportive of our rate of progress.
Without them we would not have got so far as we are now.
And without Michael, Andrew, Randy, Jason, Chris and a host of others we would also be nowhere near where we are now, but we do need a cooperative and helpful commercial environment to work with us as well.
Great example of inappropriate punctuation. I was given an opportunity to make a computer system for the American fur trader most responsible for this many years ago. Nice guy, I said no.
By the way Thomas I worked for Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory many years ago on the Shiva Fusion LASER project supporting and making control boards for the 37 LSI 11 mini computers that controlled each arm of the LASER amplification system.
The single biggest problem we had was Mil Spec IC's that failed to meet their MIL spec criteria.
Ellison, I predate the 20 years you refer to and started with RTL and DTL logic, that was bad enough, even first generation TTL was sensitive as all get out then but then there was first and second generation (4000 series) CMOS.
Without effective grounding you were doomed, wool rugs, forget about it.
Look at a CMOS memory board sideways and it was dead.
The CMOS chip stayed in its little antistatic blob of black foam inits antistatic bag until you were ready to plug it into its grounded board with your antistatic strapped wrist and possibly solder it in with your grounded soldering iron.
Deviation was equivalent to failure, period.
Nowadays things are way, way better.
Modern IC's have really good diode protection on all pins and you have to really go out of your way to find one that isn't very solidly protected.
I have literally, soldered, wire-wrapped and inserted (and troubleshot) millions of IC connections over my life and what we have now is a complete joy to use in comparison with the static nightmares of the past.
I'm pretty sure it is neither hyperbole nor misnomer.
You may disagree with magnificent, (thus hyperbole),
But without them and their continued support we would not have progressed nearly as far as we have and we have considerable dependence on them for or future rate of advancement as well.
They have introduced and supported appropriate and new items for our hobby and stayed in the loop for continued development.
To me that is pretty magnificent.
As for misnomer, I don't think so, mis-punctuation, perhaps.
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