Posts: 648
Joined: 12/6/2001 From: West Linn,
OR, USA Status: offline
MHawker, glad I could help Us West coaster need to stick together. This whole time zone thing is very confusing to me so I always like to help when I can
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Posts: 87
Joined: 2/28/2002 From: Suwanee,
GA, USA Status: offline
Well, I hope he does not relay on this as his sole means of support and has a good day job to fall back on when this product falls off.
I certianly understand the cult aspect and how it creates demand because, at one time, it might have been superior to anything else on the market but:
No Lithium charging - have to know the capacity of your battery, max 12 cells, etc.
There are already superior products readily available save for number of batteries that can be simultaneously charged.
Perhaps the limited supply is because no one thinks it is worthy to tool up a factory to match demand - which is how many anyway? If the actual demand is only a couple of dozen units a year you can not tool up a factory and have any kind of margin left over thus his present mode of operation is quite logical.
Unless there are limited supply parts for this device that limits production - darwinism will displace this product eventually.
They will be good conversation pieces - as you use another charger (better and 1/2 the price) 2 years from now to charge your lithium batteries and have long since thrown your nicads away
Funny how it's always the people who DON't have one that are always bashing it.
In my correspondence with Pete at Litco I get the impression he is way past retirement age, so I don't think he is dependent on sales of the Alpha 4 to eat.
Posts: 243
Joined: 1/19/2002 From: Young America,
MN, USA Status: offline
Funny how there are always people saying he isn't going to make it and in a couple years he will go away (they have been saying this for at least the last 6 years and yet the Alpha 4 is the ONLY charger that no one is willing to part with new or used.
Maybe Harley Davidson will be out of business soon for the same reasons
Posts: 67
Joined: 5/13/2002 From: Brunswick,
GA, USA Status: offline
To Zero244 et al :
You can probably buy three or four Hobbico products for the price of the Litco ( which you will NOT get for $249, by the way) but at the end of the day - nothing compares to this product in reliability or versatility - NOTHING . Echoing the views of others here : if you really want one , you'll eventually get it. In any event , it is worth the wait. The manufacturer has no obvious need to change the advertising or production schedule guys - he makes it and guarantees the quality throughout.....and it is done at HIS pace, not yours. In my view , in today's trade , he is to be commended for maintaining his independance and producing a product that does,completely, what he says it will.
Posts: 87
Joined: 2/28/2002 From: Suwanee,
GA, USA Status: offline
I expected flames and honestly, this isn't a troll response...
>>>Funny how it's always the people who DON't have one that are always bashing it
Was not bashing the unit - just irrational premiums paid and girations undergone to get one ought to be thought through.
What I think is funny is the defensiveness of owners when the demand of these units is questioned. Almost as if the purchase decision needs to be defended
Your Harley example proves my point: Harley owners never need to defend their decision - because they know there will be timeless demand for their bikes because there will be roads and motocycles for a long time.
How will you use your Litgo charger in a 5 years when you swap over to Lithium Batteries or the next tecnhonogy and you find the Litgo can not be upgraded?
I would never change out my Graupner Duo plus either. The interesting point here is that I gladly paid 2x per charge port over the Litgo cost since mine really only charges one battery at a time.
Bottom line: buy one of these things if you want to - I'm certianly not trying to talk any one out of one.
But for heaven's sake think through paying a premium for one; after all, these devices are really only computers that will be outdated eventually. Put the money into a rare coin or some that actually appreciates.
For those of you who have these I am not questioning your decision to obtain one of these so there is no reason to defend your purchase to me.
For those who must have one of these because it is a quest - put an offer out of $1000 on ebay or something and you will have one in a week and get it over with.
For those of you just looking for a charger - become educated on the products available and make up your own mind.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by KatManDEW They are indeed very difficult to obtain, but they make batterymaintenance of many batteries much simplier. [/QUOTE]
Posts: 367
Joined: 2/19/2002 From: Newark,
OH, USA Status: offline
Someone mentioned that the Alpha4 manufacturer is retired, but I can't find that message... I was worried that I would not be able to obtain as many Alpha4's as I wanted, before they stopped being produced, but now, after finally just receiving my second one, I am wondering how many more I will need. The reason? - lithium. The Alpha4 doesn't do lithium, and lithium is gonna cunsume our part of of the battery market. My latest ship uses lithiums on the RX and the ignition, and I have a $69 dual port lithiiium charger dedicated to that ship, so that ship won't be consuming any ports on either of my Alpha4's.....
Lithiums also do not require all the modes the Aplha4 provides. Lithiums have no memory, so they don't need cycled.
I fly glow, gas and electric, so I am aware of, and own some of, the new lithium polymers that are just now hitting the streets. They are creating a giant stir in the e-flight world, and I'm looking at them and wondering how long it will be before I list my Alpha4's on eBay..... I know of one 4 port lithium charger already which sells for $99.
I've been to some flying events with some nationally known pilots in attendance, with a trailer with 40% aircraft in it, and all the airplanes in those trailers are wired to multi port lithium chargers.... The technology is proven for our use, and the technology is getting better, and the prices of the batteries are comming down, and the chargers are cheap compared to a Alpha4.
Rumor has it that NiCd's are outlawed in the U.S. as of January 1st, 2006. By that time you won't find NiMh batteries in much of anything except flashlights, and there won't be a waiting list for Alpha4's
In case you haven't seen any of them, this is a 8.4 volt 1900 mah lithium polymer pack which weighs 3 ounces. I have a 2500 mah pack which is about the same size and weighs 3.7 ounces. 7500 mah packs are supposed to be available in September.
< Message edited by KatManDEW -- Aug 17 2002 3:51AM >
I have also been hearing stories about the demise of NICAD's and NIMH batteries. With the fanatical environmentalism that is going around, I guess it inevitable that it will happen. What are the environmental implications of lithium cells?
Even if NICAD's are outlawed by 2006 it will be another four years or so before they all disappear in use. We have a while yet
All the talk about the Alpha being limited because it can't charge lithium cells got me to thinking. Since the Alpha uses a programmed chip, or a series of them, it should be a relatively simple process to reprogram with a lithium algorithm. If Pete feels so inclined that is.
Posts: 243
Joined: 1/19/2002 From: Young America,
MN, USA Status: offline
[QUOTE]Originally posted by rpsmithii I expected flames and honestly, this isn't a troll response...
>>>Funny how it's always the people who DON't have one that are always bashing it
Was not bashing the unit -
Your Harley example proves my point: Harley owners never need to defend their decision - because they know there will be timeless demand for their bikes because there will be roads and motocycles for a long time. bye [/QUOTE]
Sorry if it sounded like I was talking about you at all, just general statment regarding all those who have bashed the Alpha 4 in the past.
As for the Harley, it's no differnent than all the older Sportsters out ther that need premium unleaded gas. Yes the roads are there, but the fuel they were designed for is not. They get along by rebuilding with hardened valves etc, just as it may be necessary to upgrade or replace the alpha 4 if and when nicads and Nimh are no longer part of our RC vocabulary.
The Litco Alpa- 4 is a mythical beast and does not really exist in captivity.
Well it does exist if your willing to wait or find one Used. I just sold one since I am now using the Miniron Mobil. It blew me away after I used it. 5 outputs, 2 amps instead 1 ammp of the Litco. and its availlable.
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Wanted to Buy - Litco Alpha 4 - 
Us West coaster need to stick together. This whole time zone thing is very confusing to me so I always like to help when I can 
