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Litco Lottery - 10/20/2002 8:38:19 AM   
sfaust



Posts: 1790
Joined: 9/6/2002
From: Boston, MA, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by rthorne
I do cycle to check capacity on a regular basis. I have the Sirius Supertest to handle that.

I guess the point I was making is that I don't need a single unit that handles everything. The only thing I need at the field is my fast charger and a battery checker (with load). Out of habbit I always charge between flights to be sure I have plenty of capacity.

The issue with Litco is clear, availability is limited. Obviously for the price its a tough combo to beat.

In the mean time I need to go to the garage and cycle my batteries with the equipment that was easy to obtain. We can't fly here in Amarillo today, windy, cold and rainy. :-) [/QUOTE]

Sorry Rich, I just interpreted the line where you said "But since there is no need to cycle nimh (other than the initial charging for a new pack) ..." to mean you just didn't cycle them regularly, and that they were somehow different from NiCads. That peaked my interest, as I always thought they were similar in maintenance procedures.


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       Post #: 51

Litco Lottery - 10/20/2002 8:50:34 AM   
sfaust



Posts: 1790
Joined: 9/6/2002
From: Boston, MA, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Vince


This sounds exactly like the "vapor ware" rumors that were frequenting the rec.models.rc.air newsgroup a number of years ago. Those threats, or rumors never materialized, as these never will. With the advancements in electronics manufacturing it would be very easy to reproduce the Litco cheaper, if you knew what the unmarked chips were and did, let alone the programming algorithms. people only consider the replication of the hardware, and never think of the proprietary programming that runs the thing.

Vince [/QUOTE]

Yes, I heard those rumors way back when. In fact, some of those rumors are still around, with promises and so forth. However, this is an entirely different project by different people, and I personally have seen the progress over time. I haven't see the vaporware ever get to a point that their design put a charge into a battery pack. I have seen this on this project. That takes it past the vaporware stage to something a bit more tangible at minimum.

Could it turn into vaporware? Probably. But at this stage, it seems unlikely. I believe its more of a question of how long, rather than if. The people involved know how to bring a product from design stage to final production and market, having been successful at a much larger scale (which resulted in a $100m company, finally being bought by Raytheon).

I really want an Alpha alternative, readily available, at a reasonable cost. As you said, it wouldn't be hard to do, by someone that has the experience and desire. I believe those two things came together last year. I have faith, and I continue to use the electric prod whenever I can to keep moving things along.


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       Post #: 52

Litco Lottery - 10/20/2002 8:03:17 PM   
Vince


 

Posts: 1650
Joined: 2/2/2002
From: Nederland, Tx.
Status: offline 		Stephen, I hope it does come to pass. There have been many times when my Alpha has not been able to fill the need, like charging four high capacity packs at a time. This has forced me to supplement my need with additional task specific chargers. I really would like to see a new multi channel high capacity charger with the Litco's versatility.

Vince

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       Post #: 53

I dont think Litco has a choice - 10/20/2002 10:21:56 PM   
zero244


 

Posts: 176
Joined: 1/19/2002
From: Mcminnville, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Because they have to sell the units in small lots......so rather get into a huge list of back orders, it has to take a small number of orders on a first come basis. If the person doesn’t come up with the money they have to then go down the list to the next person in line.
I do think it is just a matter of time before a major company comes along with a product that will put some serious competition on Litco. But I don’t think they really care....because from what I hear the guy running Litco is close to retirement age.


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       Post #: 54

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 2:06:52 AM   
Gary Retterbush



Posts: 238
Joined: 3/9/2002
From: Eisenschmitt, AE, GERMANY
Status: offline 		My UI Pegasus 02 will charge/discharge 4 packs at one time at a rate up to 4 amps. It also has a nice interface to my computer and can print out the plots. It does cost a bit more but I don't buy a charger every day. (the last one was 9 years old and going strong when I sold it for half of what I paid for it). BTW, I ordered it when I felt like it and got it 3 days later.

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       Post #: 55

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 2:56:22 AM   
Forgues Research



Posts: 3411
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Glen Robertson, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Roger Neal is the one that promissed to bring a charger to blow away the Litco, called the Compucharger 2000, and he use to have a web site. Now the web site is gone and every hope of his charger also.

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       Post #: 56

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 3:21:18 AM   
Vince


 

Posts: 1650
Joined: 2/2/2002
From: Nederland, Tx.
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Gary Retterbush
My UI Pegasus 02 will charge/discharge 4 packs at one time at a rate up to 4 amps. It also has a nice interface to my computer and can print out the plots. It does cost a bit more but I don't buy a charger every day. (the last one was 9 years old and going strong when I sold it for half of what I paid for it). BTW, I ordered it when I felt like it and got it 3 days later. [/QUOTE]

How bout a website address for this charger?

Vince

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       Post #: 57

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 3:51:15 AM   
Gary Retterbush



Posts: 238
Joined: 3/9/2002
From: Eisenschmitt, AE, GERMANY
Status: offline 		Vince,
The URL is: http://www.u-i-modelltechnik.de/

The site is in German.

EDITED:
There is no 110v model and there is no plan to make one or to go to English.

Gary

< Message edited by Gary Retterbush -- Oct 21 2002 8:37AM >

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       Post #: 58

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 4:55:59 AM   
doubleloop


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 12/16/2001
From: Sarasota, FL, USA
Status: offline 		After reading all the comments about my observation about the Litco charger, I would like to make my origina point.
IT IS NOT THE CHARGER THAT I FIND FAULT WITH, IT IS THE WAY LITCO DOES BUSINESS.
I am glad to hear that he made plenty of money and is about to retire, the sooner the better. None of the money is mine, And if I must say so, he is a lousy business man for if he treated his customers the way that he wants to be treated, he could have twice as much money. He has a small mind, for all he has to do is put on some extra help to satisfy all the people that want his product. Maybe too cheap to pay the extra salaries, but if he had any foresight he would realize that they would cover his extra expense and also increase the profits for him. But, SMALL MINDS for SMALL PEOPLE!

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       Post #: 59

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 5:11:12 AM   
lennyk


 

Posts: 565
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Port of Spain, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Where's the love ? Why the hate ?

Why do we have to make assumptions that the guy is running
his business with a bad attitude ?

Did it every occur to anybody that the guy maybe has no business sense at all and can only operate the way he does ?

I'm not defending Litco but I can think of many other "businesses"
which turn away people blatantly because of demand on a regular basis.

Can anybody suggest a better method for him to get people in
line to buy his product apart from the twice a year email lottery ?
If he just let people form a waiting list, the line would probably be
very long and most people wouldn't get on or there would be
a big market for the scalpers.

Maybe he should stop the email lottery system and just
auction them on ebay.


Lennard
Orginator of "Litco Lottery" thread

(in reply to lennyk)
       Post #: 60

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 5:14:19 AM   
rthorne


 

Posts: 331
Joined: 1/18/2002
From: Amarillo, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Lennard:

Another reasong maybe to make enough $$'s to support the hobby for him. In other words if he's building chargers all day every day, he can't fly himself.

Just a thought.

The important thing that I have seen in this thread is that the product is NOT taking a bashing, its obvious that Litco has a good product. Its just darn tough to get one.

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Amarillo, TX
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       Post #: 61

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 5:36:30 AM   
doubleloop


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 12/16/2001
From: Sarasota, FL, USA
Status: offline 		lENNARD, IT IS NOT HATE, JUST DISGUST WITH THE WAY SOME PEOPLE TRY TO MANIPULATE OTHERS. I am 78 years young, have been a businessman and an entrepreneur all my life, and if I must say,very successful at it, And I believe it was because I treated everyone the way I wanted to be treated. My products were alway's available to everyone that wanted to buy them. When things got a little slow, I would build inventory, My customers did'nt have to pay 2 or 3 months in advance. When the received the product, then I got paid, no lottery, no lines, no certain times to buy an item and if you missed the time, you had to reenter a lottery. How repugnent and degrading just the thought of it is to me. If anything went wrong with the order or a delay, I would get on the phone with an honest and personal explanation. To me, This is how you do business and if not, the customer should not support you. As long as the money is in your pocket, you are the boss, not the other way around. My lesson for today to you, and regards to everyone. After all, this is not a life or death product!

(in reply to lennyk)
       Post #: 62

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 8:47:27 AM   
sfaust



Posts: 1790
Joined: 9/6/2002
From: Boston, MA, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by lennyk
Where's the love ? Why the hate ?
Can anybody suggest a better method for him to get people in
line to buy his product apart from the twice a year email lottery ?
If he just let people form a waiting list, the line would probably be
very long and most people wouldn't get on or there would be
a big market for the scalpers.

Lennard
Orginator of "Litco Lottery" thread [/QUOTE]

<>

I can't see why he wouldn't just create a backlog list. It doesn't matter if the list is 50 long, or 5,000 long. The maintenance and overhead is not really any different. But for his customers, it would be a major plus.

I would be quite content to know that I could send him an e-mail and get a response with a place in line and an estimated ship date. Even if it was 24 months away, I would be on the list and wouldn't have to try play the lottery game. If I send in the payment on time, I get the charger. If not, the next person in line gets it, and accelerates the delivery for everyone else behind him.

Could you image what it would be like if a restaurant wouldn't take names at the door, and told you would need to return to the restaurant between 5:06 and 5:07pm next Thursday, or you would have to wait another three weeks before you could come back???

Take names, keep a list, ship the units to those that paid as they became available. Quick, fair, and easy for everyone concerned.


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Stephen
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       Post #: 63

Litco Lottery - 10/21/2002 5:53:14 PM   
lennyk


 

Posts: 565
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: Port of Spain, FL, USA
Status: offline 		The restaurant is a good analogy, but do we know what the
reality of the length of the line would be ?

For example seats at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
are sold out several years in advance.

The good thing about a line is you can't really get pissed at
the process since its too simple and based on first come first serve, which incidentally is how the present system works
except you have to remember to wake up for 9am.

(in reply to lennyk)