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Re: [time-nuts] Ublox F9P multi-band GPS receiver

LB
Leo Bodnar
Sat, Jan 26, 2019 6:11 PM

Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists.  Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support."

I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features.

I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration.  So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need.  When I need features support - I write my own patches.  It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company.

Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along.

Leo

From: Bob kb8tq kb8tq@n1k.org
If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will
likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this
generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab
and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks.

On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis mlewis000@rogers.com wrote:
So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add?

Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists. Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support." I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features. I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration. So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need. When I need features support - I write my own patches. It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company. Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along. Leo > From: Bob kb8tq <kb8tq@n1k.org> > If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will > likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this > generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab > and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks. >> On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis <mlewis000@rogers.com> wrote: >> So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add?
BK
Bob kb8tq
Sat, Jan 26, 2019 6:46 PM

Hi

Having dealt with uBlox as an OEM customer, you are not far off the mark. Even as an OEM, I believe the real attention only really comes once
you get past 100K a month ….

That’s in no way a knock on uBlox. Supporting something like this as a chip is not at all easy. There are lots of in’s and outs to getting it to work.
It was not designed with mass market implementation in mind. The modules are somewhat easier to support, but even there, not trivial. I’m happy
we can get the modules (and the documentation) at all.

Bob

On Jan 26, 2019, at 1:11 PM, Leo Bodnar leo@leobodnar.com wrote:

Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists.  Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support."

I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features.

I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration.  So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need.  When I need features support - I write my own patches.  It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company.

Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along.

Leo

From: Bob kb8tq kb8tq@n1k.org
If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will
likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this
generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab
and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks.

On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis mlewis000@rogers.com wrote:
So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add?


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
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and follow the instructions there.

Hi Having dealt with uBlox as an OEM customer, you are not far off the mark. Even as an OEM, I believe the real attention only really comes once you get past 100K a month …. That’s in no way a knock on uBlox. Supporting something like this as a chip is *not* at all easy. There are lots of in’s and outs to getting it to work. It was not designed with mass market implementation in mind. The modules are somewhat easier to support, but even there, not trivial. I’m happy we can get the modules (and the documentation) at all. Bob > On Jan 26, 2019, at 1:11 PM, Leo Bodnar <leo@leobodnar.com> wrote: > > Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists. Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support." > > I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features. > > I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration. So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need. When I need features support - I write my own patches. It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company. > > Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along. > > Leo > >> From: Bob kb8tq <kb8tq@n1k.org> >> If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will >> likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this >> generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab >> and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks. >>> On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis <mlewis000@rogers.com> wrote: >>> So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add? > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com > and follow the instructions there.
TK
Tom Knox
Sat, Jan 26, 2019 7:44 PM

Interesting, but it may not hurt to speak with UBLOX, anyone aware of Time-Nuts know the group ranges from novices to some of the most brilliant engineers/scientists in the industry and it is well worth supplying product and then monitoring the forum. Already the group has made some very interesting observations.
Thanks to all who have contributed for their posts.

Tom Knox

"Peace is not the absence of violence, but the presence of Justice" Both MLK and Albert Einstein


From: time-nuts time-nuts-bounces@lists.febo.com on behalf of Bob kb8tq kb8tq@n1k.org
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 11:46 AM
To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Ublox F9P multi-band GPS receiver

Hi

Having dealt with uBlox as an OEM customer, you are not far off the mark. Even as an OEM, I believe the real attention only really comes once
you get past 100K a month ….

That’s in no way a knock on uBlox. Supporting something like this as a chip is not at all easy. There are lots of in’s and outs to getting it to work.
It was not designed with mass market implementation in mind. The modules are somewhat easier to support, but even there, not trivial. I’m happy
we can get the modules (and the documentation) at all.

Bob

On Jan 26, 2019, at 1:11 PM, Leo Bodnar leo@leobodnar.com wrote:

Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists.  Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support."

I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features.

I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration.  So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need.  When I need features support - I write my own patches.  It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company.

Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along.

Leo

From: Bob kb8tq kb8tq@n1k.org
If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will
likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this
generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab
and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks.

On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis mlewis000@rogers.com wrote:
So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add?


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
and follow the instructions there.


time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com
and follow the instructions there.

Interesting, but it may not hurt to speak with UBLOX, anyone aware of Time-Nuts know the group ranges from novices to some of the most brilliant engineers/scientists in the industry and it is well worth supplying product and then monitoring the forum. Already the group has made some very interesting observations. Thanks to all who have contributed for their posts. Tom Knox "Peace is not the absence of violence, but the presence of Justice" Both MLK and Albert Einstein ________________________________ From: time-nuts <time-nuts-bounces@lists.febo.com> on behalf of Bob kb8tq <kb8tq@n1k.org> Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2019 11:46 AM To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Ublox F9P multi-band GPS receiver Hi Having dealt with uBlox as an OEM customer, you are not far off the mark. Even as an OEM, I believe the real attention only really comes once you get past 100K a month …. That’s in no way a knock on uBlox. Supporting something like this as a chip is *not* at all easy. There are lots of in’s and outs to getting it to work. It was not designed with mass market implementation in mind. The modules are somewhat easier to support, but even there, not trivial. I’m happy we can get the modules (and the documentation) at all. Bob > On Jan 26, 2019, at 1:11 PM, Leo Bodnar <leo@leobodnar.com> wrote: > > Considering that Ublox won't even sell the stock part unless you are willing to buy 100,000 units I doubt they will listen to anyone representing several dozen hobbyists. Their biggest argument for having 100k MOQ is "we are afraid that you will need support." > > I would say (without much factual backing) that you have to be buying a few millions devices before they will even listen to what someone have to say about additional features. > > I am ready to hear success stories but my official Ublox experience so far was nothing but frustration. So now, when I need Ublox silicon I buy it from Alibaba for $1 (including occasional fakes that have no silicon inside) rather than for $5 from Ublox themselves - because they won't sell 6,000 I need. When I need features support - I write my own patches. It's ironic that the most knowledgeable guy on Ublox support forum is not even affiliated with the company. > > Their products are amazing for what they cost but I'll switch at a drop of a hat when something worthy comes along. > > Leo > >> From: Bob kb8tq <kb8tq@n1k.org> >> If you are a customer who is buying a ton of these a month, give uBlox a call and they will >> likely listen to you as they come up with the next generation. In terms of changes to this >> generation, suggestions are a couple years too late. The silicon is already out of the fab >> and it?s many millions of dollars to re-shoot those masks. >>> On Jan 25, 2019, at 9:58 PM, MLewis <mlewis000@rogers.com> wrote: >>> So if there's someone they'd listen to, it's not too late to see if there's features from the various time-nuts F9P posts that ublox would add? > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com > and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@lists.febo.com To unsubscribe, go to http://lists.febo.com/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts_lists.febo.com and follow the instructions there.