MOTM

At 1:55 PM -0800 01/29/02, Tony Karavidas wrote:
>
>I think companies are all over the map in this area. I've given out
>schematics on a need to know basis, but most people really don't need to
>know this info.

Needing to know, and wanting to know, are two different things.  Many of
the people who build motm are interested in electronics and like to know
how their modules work.  I'm not just buying a modular, I'm buying an
education  :)

>I've worked for several pro audio and consumer audio companies, and if the
>company is small and does't have a repair network, then all defective
>products must come back to the factory for repair anyway and in that case,
>what's the point in releasing schematics?

Why should it have to come back to the manufacturer??  There often isn't
time for that.

>I personally like to have them for things so I can fix them, but when there
>is custom programmable logic involved, I can't do repairs on that anyway.

Logic rarely breaks, but other parts do.  I've had to replace LED's, LED
drivers, pots, switches, jacks, output amps, backup batteries, power supply
parts, etc., on many devices that used microprocessors.

Furthermore, if a product depends on custom programmable logic, then there
is little risk of someone stealing your design.  Otoh, I have spoken with
people who have said that they wouldn't buy a UEG or another UEG partly
because it doesn't come with schematics.  If it had the schematics, then
maybe I could add a little daughter board to generate triggers or debounce
the switch.

>Maybe when I retire, all this stuff will be released in the public domain.
>In the meantime, I'm here to fix anything that may break. (Which is less
>than 0.20%)

Encore makes excellent products, but it's still a one-man company.  What if
you're abducted by aliens or go into the witness protection program??  :)
If Paul S. is in a propane explosion or there's a mechanical bull incident,
I already have the schematics and parts list in case something breaks.
Even if I couldn't fix it myself, I could give them to a more qualified
technician.