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Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2022 8:20 am
by Conrad_PA5Y
I feel the same way. Last month I said that I would give it one more month, tomorrow would be the deadline but instead I will pull the plug today. I paid with PayPal so I will get a refund via this route if necessary.

73

Conrad PA5Y

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2022 4:17 am
by administrator
Hello All,

Our apologies for the delays faced with the delivery of the Hermes and 10W PA cards,

Both these boards use parts some of which are more than 10 years old and EOL, so we have had to find substitutes and replacements,

This has not been easy given the supply chain issues, however, the current status is as follows:

1. We have a batch of 10W PAs ready
2. Hermes cards are expected to ship from the 4th of October on a first come first serve basis.

You will receive an email from us informing you when your order is in the queue for shipment,

Regards,

Tony,
Apache Labs Support

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2022 3:35 am
by va7qi
Thanks for the update Tony.

I too have been waiting and hoping for at least some comms from Apache Labs. I also have an Andromeda on order which was supposed to be delivered by now, but no update.

We're not asking you to perform miracles given the supply situation, but at least keep us informed with updates regularly. Takes maybe 30 seconds?

Cheers, ....Erik.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2022 6:13 pm
by K1RT
FWIW, the product pages for the Hermes board (https://apache-labs.com/al-products/1022/Open-HPSDR-Hermes-14-bit-ADC-EP3C25-Transceiver-Card-Assembled--Tested.html) and for the 10W amplifier board (https://apache-labs.com/al-products/1004/10W-PA-Board-for-Hermes.html) have been updated again - the updated message highlighted in red on the pages states:

(Note: the 'mode' typo is in the original copy)


Orders commence shipment from 5th October on first come first serve basis, you will receive an email from us once your order comes up in the Queue.

Apache Labs is NOT taking any mode orders for the Hermes Card and the 10W PA.


Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2022 6:18 pm
by Conrad_PA5Y
I am afraid that it means nothing to me and does not excuse the pitiful customer communications throughout. I asked for a refund and to Apache's credit this was dealt with reasonably quickly.

Regards

Conrad PA5Y

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 11:01 pm
by administrator
Hi All,

Just a quick update on the status of Hermes:

The factory has completed a batch of Hermes cards and we are now starting the process to load the Bootloader/Firmware on a batch, this has to be tested thoroughly since the flash memory used originally is now obsolete and this batch uses a newer device which although has been tested in the trial run, we still want to be careful that it is robust with reprogramming several cycles on each board which is time consuming.

We will be in touch based on the order queue as soon as the testing and packing is complete.

Regards,

Tony,
Apache Labs Support

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 3:48 pm
by Ken
administrator wrote:Hi All,

Just a quick update on the status of Hermes:

The factory has completed a batch of Hermes cards and we are now starting the process to load the Bootloader/Firmware on a batch, this has to be tested thoroughly since the flash memory used originally is now obsolete and this batch uses a newer device which although has been tested in the trial run, we still want to be careful that it is robust with reprogramming several cycles on each board which is time consuming.

We will be in touch based on the order queue as soon as the testing and packing is complete.

Regards,

Tony,
Apache Labs Support


Thank you Tony for the update, you are appreciated.

Excitedly waiting !

73 Ken

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 12:31 pm
by administrator
Hi All,

A Quick further update for folks waiting for the Hermes and 10W PAs:

1. 10W PA boards are now ready

2. We had tested the substitute SPI Flash Memory on a batch of boards and found out that the device we were using was not getting programmed on some occasions using the HPSDR programmer, this is a similar situation we had faced when the original Intel Flash EPCS16 device had to be replaced with a substitute a few years ago, after extensive testing we have found that MX25L1606 Flash memory is a 100% reliable. We have switched to this device now and the factory is going ahead with the updated device.

Regards,

Tony

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 1:35 pm
by w-u-2-o
Tony,

Does the new memory IC require any firmware changes?

Does the new memory IC require any specific jumper settings on the board?

Thanks,

Scott

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2022 10:53 am
by administrator
Hi Scott,

There are no changes required either to the firmware or jumper settings,

Regards,

Tony

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 12:15 pm
by IU0QDP
Hi Tony, when is an order placed on June 15, 2022 expected to ship?

Regards,

Carlo

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 2:31 pm
by kg7bz
When is my order that I paid for back in February expected to ship?

August KG7BZ

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 5:38 am
by administrator
Hi All,

You will start receiving your shipping quotes mid week, we expect to ship out the first lot commencing this week.

First production lot is of a 100 units, the second lot will ship in 3 weeks and should cover all remaining pre-orders.

We again apologize for the inordinate delay, but our industry has been facing a perfect supply chain storm!

Thank you for your patience.

Regards,

Tony

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2022 3:18 pm
by K1RT
Just wondering (for planning purposes), since it has been three weeks since the prior status update...

Did the first 100 boards go out as planned?

Will the remaining backlog of orders be invoiced for shipping and shipped this week?

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2022 5:28 pm
by jpwatters
On Tuesday, a Hermes board and the 10W PA arrived.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2022 3:05 pm
by Ken
Hello,

Its good to see the 10E boards are starting to arrive.

I am in the second batch run, however with prior info I thought I would had received mine by now as well
as all of those in the first batch, unless I had missed read something.

Any updates and any reasons the second batch has not received any notices on their arrivals?

Hope everyone who has received their boards are enjoying them on the air or at least enjoying their
project on building them into any enclosure they may have chose.

73
Ken
WB4AM

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 2:32 pm
by K1RT
The silence has been, um, deafening.

Yesterday I sent order status inquiries directly to Apache Labs.

I have been (mostly) patient so far - and will not be holding my breath waiting for any response(s)...

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2022 2:53 pm
by K1RT
The response to my order status inquiry was that my order will be shipping in the next lot which will ship in approximately 3-4 weeks.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2022 4:01 pm
by n1ig
The page for the Hermes and the 10w PA have this notice on it:

Orders commence shipment from 5th October on first come first serve basis, you will receive an email from us once your order comes up in the Queue.

Apache Labs is NOT taking any mode orders for the Hermes Card and the 10W PA.


But it is still possible to add both items to the cart.

So are they still available to order?

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:09 am
by va7qi
Any updates on the Hermes 14-bit run? ....Erik.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:37 am
by K1RT
va7qi wrote:Any updates on the Hermes 14-bit run? ....Erik.


Still waiting here - on Jan 24 I sent an email requesting a status update for my orders (two Hermes cards, one PA card).

The response that I received back on Jan 26th was, "The cards go into production next week, we will ship ASAP they are ready, apologies for the delay".

I have not heard anything since then, but as the saying goes, "hope springs eternal".

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 3:34 am
by K1RT
Small update here - on March1 I received an emailed invoice for $70 shipping charges for a single Hermes board ordered on March 23, 2022.

I have not received the board yet, nor have I yet been invoiced for my order for a second Hermes board dated June 24, 2022 nor for a 10-watt PA board ordered on July 24, 2022.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2023 6:19 am
by phaselocked
K1RT wrote:Small update here - on March1 I received an emailed invoice for $70 shipping charges.........


Same here, exactly. Except I only ordered one Hermes board and a PA. Previously, I'd seen where they were going to bill shipping at "actual" and combine the PA and Hermes boards into a single shipment.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:49 pm
by IU0QDP
Dear all, I received my Hermes card via FedEx today, I think I will receive the PA card later.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 1:09 am
by phaselocked
My board arrived today by FedEx....seven days after payment of the 70 USD shipping charge. US Customs opened it for inspection which probably slowed it down a bit. I received only the Hermes board. The PA that I ordered was not included, despite previous statements that shipments of Hermes and PA would be grouped together. Perhaps because it was ordered at a separate time? Incidentally, I received no notification of shipment method or tracking number.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:40 am
by Ken
Hello All,

I would like to bring goods news to the table as well.

My Anan 10E and what I think is the PA board had also been delivered today at 2:34 pm.

I opened the box and there were what looked like two boards individually bubble wrapped with one having two transistors
or mosfets placed in a very small clear bag taped on top. I am not sure what they are as I have not unwrapped any of them as of yet.

Big thank you to Apache Labs and a thank you out to Tony for his communications.

It has been a long ride with lots of talk going around, but Apache Labs is following through with their orders.

Again Thank you.

Ken
WB4AM

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2023 12:56 pm
by K1RT
Received my Hermes shipment on Monday - as others have noted, it came via FedEx with no prior shipping notice.

Pored over the schematic and the board, checking jumper settings, figured out where to patch in 13.8V, and set up the board in my home electronics lab (not sure if this thread is the right place to include these pix - if they are too big I can resize them):

IMG-1537.jpg
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IMG-1536.jpg
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I happened to have the exact Hammond enclosure that is recommended for mounting the Hermes board (I got it for free a few years ago, minus one panel):

IMG-1534.jpg
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IMG-1535.jpg
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I have a preliminary 'quick-and-dirty' Thetis install - the screen shot shows a strong RTTY signal just above 4 MHz (MARS?):

rtty.png
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Dealing with various start-up issues (network, audio), but I have friends who have in-depth Thetis experience who will help me to address them.

-RT-

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2023 11:25 pm
by KE8UZF
The Hermes 14 arrived here about 3 weeks ago. This week I have mounted and powered it with 13.8V from ups
Yesterday installed linhpsdr on one computer (Fedora36) and SparkSDR on the main computer (Fedora32).
The link-local and router-switch connections are working with help from tcpdump to set the firewalls.
Also set up an X11vnc server so that the portable computer can log in to operate the main desktops via wifi.

Tested on 30m ft8 all day and good, now testing wspr.
The Hermes manual is very good.
I wasted 2 hours with audio Jack connection.
Found that SparkSDR can turn its audio off when other controls are changed.
This causes Jacktl to disconnect the cables!
I did not notice the little red X on the SparkSDR control.

Now... I have to finish the linear amp I am building.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2023 11:14 pm
by phaselocked
Anyone else still waiting for their 10W PA board?
It seems to have disappeared from the website and support is completely unresponsive to emails.

Re: Special Production Run Hermes 14 bit.

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:36 pm
by artgreenberg
phaselocked wrote:Anyone else still waiting for their 10W PA board?
It seems to have disappeared from the website and support is completely unresponsive to emails.


I am as well. I placed the order on 9-July-2022.

The last response I received from support was on 23-April-2023. Subsequent inquiries sent on 20-July and 8-September have not been answered.

Today I sent email requesting a refund. Wish me luck.

Art
WA2LLN