Home » Simpit Discussion » simpits-tech » [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda.
| [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda. [message #478] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 08:29  |
 Gene Buckle
Messages: 1071
Registered: January 2009 |
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It appears that while Beta Innovations is "gone", their products are not.
Recently, it was pointed out to me that many of the old BI product line
was available here: http://www.737yoke.com/products2.html
The interesting thing about this is that the prices are now a LOT higher
than what they were from Beta Innovations. For example, the Plasma-MM2
was original $39 from Beta Innovations and is now $149 from "ACE".
The Electron Flux that I bought for under $400, is now a whopping $1195.
Amazing.
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
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| Re: [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda. [message #479 is a reply to message #478 ] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 08:33  |
Roy Coates
Messages: 438
Registered: January 2009 |
Senior Member |
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On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Gene Buckle wrote:
The difference between an enthusiast and a capitalist is all about decimal
places then eh?
*sigh*
>
> It appears that while Beta Innovations is "gone", their products are not.
>
> Recently, it was pointed out to me that many of the old BI product line
> was available here: http://www.737yoke.com/products2.html
>
> The interesting thing about this is that the prices are now a LOT higher
> than what they were from Beta Innovations. For example, the Plasma-MM2
> was original $39 from Beta Innovations and is now $149 from "ACE".
> The Electron Flux that I bought for under $400, is now a whopping $1195.
> Amazing.
>
> g.
>
> --
> Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
>
> ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
> A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
> http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech@simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page. Thanks!
>
--
Roy Coates.
Dept of Engineering.
Liverpool University.
E-Mail: r.coates@liv.ac.uk
Tel: 0151 794 4862
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------
Lord, If I must have an instrument failure, please let it be the Hobbs meter.
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------
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| Re: [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda. [message #480 is a reply to message #479 ] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 08:58 |
Gene Buckle
Messages: 1071
Registered: January 2009 |
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On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Roy Coates wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Gene Buckle wrote:
>
>
> The difference between an enthusiast and a capitalist is all about decimal
> places then eh?
>
It's entirely possible that he sold the product line to this new outfit,
but somehow I doubt it. He's always had a very combative relationship
with the simulator community. I think it started when he over-committed
on hardware production based on community input and when the sales didn't
materialize, he nearly went under. I suspect he blamed the community for
that and any troubles since. Had he made a smaller commitment in
hardware, I think things would have come out much differently. Had he
spent the time to do the research, it would have become quite apparent
that what the "community" says it will do and what it actually *does* tend
to be two different things when money is involved. :) Another good rule
to follow is "cash in advance". ;)
What kills me is the fact that the BI hardware is so damn *good*. The
only true competition he had commercially was EPIC and that's still a
fantastic platform.
There's some work being done with the PHCC hardware line to bring it
closer to something a non-hardcore geek can handle, which will be good
for all of us.
The good thing about BI going away is the surge in uptake of the PHCC
hardware (http://phcc.varxec.net/wiki/Main_Page for those that aren't
familiar with it) within the F-16 cockpit building community over at
viperpits.org. Those guys have made huge strides in using the stuff that
Manuel Bessler has created. The only down side is that there are not
(yet) pre-assembled boards available. I'm sure it won't be long though.
Even as kits, they're easy to solder up and have no surface mount parts.
I've built some of the hardware, but I haven't had a chance to do more
than smoke test it after assembly.
I'm seriously considering tearing out all the BI hardware support from my
CIM application and replacing it with support for the PHCC serial protocol
and possibly adding EPIC support. Mike Powell's new book has been sent
off to the publisher and he's got a ton of electronic projects that I
could support as well. He's designed a cheap digital to synchro converter
that I've been lusting after from the moment he posted pictures of it. :)
That project is the only way the ADI & HSI in my F-15 will ever operate.
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
_______________________________________________
Simpits-tech mailing list
Simpits-tech@simpits.org
http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page. Thanks!
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| Re: [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda. [message #481 is a reply to message #480 ] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 09:28 |
Roy Coates
Messages: 438
Registered: January 2009 |
Senior Member |
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|
On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Gene Buckle wrote:
Never mind all that. What fries my onions is that here in the UK we pay
in UKP what you guys pay in USD. So a $100 I/O card for you costs us more
like $160 for the same thing.
Thank God for Leo Bodnar !! :-)
> On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Roy Coates wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Gene Buckle wrote:
> >
> >
> > The difference between an enthusiast and a capitalist is all about decimal
> > places then eh?
> >
> It's entirely possible that he sold the product line to this new outfit,
> but somehow I doubt it. He's always had a very combative relationship
> with the simulator community. I think it started when he over-committed
> on hardware production based on community input and when the sales didn't
> materialize, he nearly went under. I suspect he blamed the community for
> that and any troubles since. Had he made a smaller commitment in
> hardware, I think things would have come out much differently. Had he
> spent the time to do the research, it would have become quite apparent
> that what the "community" says it will do and what it actually *does* tend
> to be two different things when money is involved. :) Another good rule
> to follow is "cash in advance". ;)
>
> What kills me is the fact that the BI hardware is so damn *good*. The
> only true competition he had commercially was EPIC and that's still a
> fantastic platform.
>
> There's some work being done with the PHCC hardware line to bring it
> closer to something a non-hardcore geek can handle, which will be good
> for all of us.
>
> The good thing about BI going away is the surge in uptake of the PHCC
> hardware (http://phcc.varxec.net/wiki/Main_Page for those that aren't
> familiar with it) within the F-16 cockpit building community over at
> viperpits.org. Those guys have made huge strides in using the stuff that
> Manuel Bessler has created. The only down side is that there are not
> (yet) pre-assembled boards available. I'm sure it won't be long though.
> Even as kits, they're easy to solder up and have no surface mount parts.
> I've built some of the hardware, but I haven't had a chance to do more
> than smoke test it after assembly.
>
> I'm seriously considering tearing out all the BI hardware support from my
> CIM application and replacing it with support for the PHCC serial protocol
> and possibly adding EPIC support. Mike Powell's new book has been sent
> off to the publisher and he's got a ton of electronic projects that I
> could support as well. He's designed a cheap digital to synchro converter
> that I've been lusting after from the moment he posted pictures of it. :)
> That project is the only way the ADI & HSI in my F-15 will ever operate.
>
> g.
>
>
>
> --
> Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
> http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
>
> ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
> A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
> http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
> _______________________________________________
> Simpits-tech mailing list
> Simpits-tech@simpits.org
> http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
> To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page. Thanks!
>
--
Roy Coates.
Dept of Engineering.
Liverpool University.
E-Mail: r.coates@liv.ac.uk
Tel: 0151 794 4862
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------
Lord, If I must have an instrument failure, please let it be the Hobbs meter.
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------
_______________________________________________
Simpits-tech mailing list
Simpits-tech@simpits.org
http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page. Thanks!
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| Re: [simpits-tech] Beta Innovations resurfaces...kinda. [message #485 is a reply to message #484 ] |
Mon, 06 July 2009 09:46 |
Gene Buckle
Messages: 1071
Registered: January 2009 |
Senior Member
Administrator |
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|
On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Roy Coates wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Jul 2009, Gene Buckle wrote:
>
>>> Thank God for Leo Bodnar !! :-)
>>>
>> No doubt. I've heard nothing but good things about his input boards.
>> There is one of them that is functionally identical to the Plasma-MM2
>> that's very nice and priced under $40.
>>
>> I should get one and write up a review of it one of these days.
>
>
> I've just ordered one - will let you know how it plays out.
>
Ahh, cool. Thanks.
g.
--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://www.scarletdme.org - Get it _today_!
_______________________________________________
Simpits-tech mailing list
Simpits-tech@simpits.org
http://www.simpits.org/mailman/listinfo/simpits-tech
To unsubscribe, please see the instructions at the bottom of the above page. Thanks!
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