UltraSound 2.1 Upgrade - Updated 4/28

[Roy's Blues]

From Alex @ Ultrasabers.

We are starting on a second run of the USB2 series sound boards, and as always, we try to upgrade functions and features every run. For this next run we are going to be making the following upgrades/additions:

Pulse mode/Lockup will be much brighter than before, putting it on par with other high end boards
Switch bounce circuitry, allowing use of a wider variety of momentary switches other than tactiles
New boot sequence (so you don't have to break connection with the batteries)
Overall optimization of the code for better reliability

Owners of current 2.0 boards, do not fret!

We always stand behind our products and try to do right by you, so, we will be happy to upgrade your current 2.0 boards to the new 2.1 if you so desire.

Now I can't do it for free, but I can do it for cheap. The fee is just $6 per board +return shipping. Yes, six dollars. This offer is extended to TCSS customers as well. I don't think I could have made it any more fair than this.

So here's how the upgrade will work:

On Feb 1st, I will add an item to my website called 2.1 Upgrade. You just add it to your cart, check out, then send your board to me. You will have until Feb 5th to do this. Once I get all the boards here and accounted for, I will send them all to the manufacturer for the upgrade, which should take about 2 weeks. When I get them back, I will return them to you.

If you have any questions or concerns about how this will work, post and I will answer. Please don't post here asking about the ETA on the production run or for specifics on 2.1 features - We have 2.1 boards already and we will be elaborating more on it in a separate thread.

This thread is only for dealing with the 2.0 to 2.1 upgrade. Thanks.


P.S. Bane and Graflex customers will be getting 2.1 boards

EDIT boards must be in Ultrasabers hands by 02/12/09

[Darth Leximus]

Awesome news!

[sekrogue1985]

ahhhh poosh....lol sweet!

[Hasid Lafre]

Now I need to get a us2.0.

[Jedi Ranger]

Oooooo...sweeeeeet!

I do have a question about your posted timeframe, though.

Does the Feb.5th date mean have the board to you by then, or is that just a 5-day window to take advantage of the upgrade offer, and send boards in just ASAP? I live in Canada and don't think I could get a board to you (at a reasonable cost) within such a short timeframe.

[Eandori]

Sounds great, I have 4 boards that I'll be buying the upgrade for and sending to you!

[olesmokey]

This might be a dumb question, but what if I had purchased the Speaker/US board/battery combo from TCSS? Could the board that is apart of the combo be upgraded?

[Jay-gon Jinn]

This might be a dumb question, but what if I had purchased the Speaker/US board/battery combo from TCSS? Could the board that is apart of the combo be upgraded?
Yes, but you'd have to disassemble the unit, and just send the sound board in, without anything else attached, not even wires.

[Roy's Blues]

That is correct.

Ultrasabers will not disassemble a TCSS combo pack or a saber for you to get the soundboard out.

Ultrasabers will only accept bare boards.

boards must be in Ultrasabers hands by 02/12/09

[ThreeQuadFive]

Hmmm

While I appreciate that they are willing to upgrade the boards, what a pain the rear to dissassemble lightsabers to get the board back out and out to them lol.

Figures, I get the thing loaded into my graflex without quick disconnects just before this comes out :)

How about an offer for letting us swap the boards?

[Roy's Blues]

That is not an available option.
No one said you have to send it back, if you are happy with your saber, leave it as is.
This is an upgrade at a ridiculously cheap price.
The easier we make it for the Ultrasabers staff, the quicker your boards will be shipped back.
Are there any other Lightsaber electronics manufacturers that offer a similar deal?
I currently have 5 personal sabers and 5 customers' saber to disassemble.

[ThreeQuadFive]

Easy there partner :)

I know I don't have to send it back, just saying I wish I would have waited to stick it in my graflex another couple of weeks.

Oh well :)

The best news is that when I buy another US the issues are fixed!

[Jay-gon Jinn]

Even with quick-disconnects, all of thei wires would have to be removed from the board. I don't think Alex is going to do a trade-in on this either.....but it wouldn't hurt to ask about it.

[Roy's Blues]

Easy there partner :)

I know I don't have to send it back, just saying I wish I would have waited to stick it in my graflex another couple of weeks.

Oh well :)

The best news is that when I buy another US the issues are fixed!

I just finished the electronics build on my Mace FX with Rebel RB purple, 10 min before the announcement was posted. Felt the same way.


Jay-gon Jinn Even with quick-disconnects, all of thei wires would have to be removed from the board. I don't think Alex is going to do a trade-in on this either.....but it wouldn't hurt to ask about it.

No, on the trade ins.

[Eandori]

This is an upgrade at a ridiculously cheap price.
Well... err... I don't think the wording here really fits the bill. I'm not looking for a FEATURE upgrade, I'm looking to stop the ERRORS with the current board operation. I would not label that an "upgrade" I would label that a bug fix.

Having said that...

I can appreciate how much work it is to make a product for such a limited market like this, and how expensive it can be to make repairs. Everybody wants custom changes and quick fixes, yet they want to pay prices that you would pay to a company making 20 million units. Really does not fit.

No, I think Alex is doing a super job by fixing these boards for $6 and I'm very appreciative of it. Kudos to Ultrasabers for doing it! I'm sure he's not coming out ahead by this round of fixes.

Cheers,

[LordJaivus]

So what would this website be then? I don't see it in your profile.

[Mewgen]

So do we have to remove the TCSS sound assembly before we send our boards in because some of us have ordered them that way.

[Kal El Rah]

It has to be bare, nothing but the US2.0, no wires, mounts, etc.:???:

[Kal El Rah]

So anybody found the link at ultrasabers for the upgrade?

[Mewgen]

Nope. I'd say wait 'til after the Superbowl. Maybe the guys at Ultra are probably watching too.

[Darth Morbius]

Hmmm

While I appreciate that they are willing to upgrade the boards, what a pain the rear to dissassemble lightsabers to get the board back out and out to them lol.

Figures, I get the thing loaded into my graflex without quick disconnects just before this comes out :)

How about an offer for letting us swap the boards?

Uh... That's BASICALLY what is being done... YOu're just paying for Shipping and handling... Sheesh.

[Logan Cade]

Anybody come across the link for the upgrade yet?

[Darth Xusia]

I've been looking for the upgrade link off and on all day. If anyone knows where it is, could you please post it.

[Roy's Blues]

Here we go everyone.

http://www.ultrasabers.com/product_p/2.1%20upgrade.htm

[Darth Leximus]

So just to be certain before I send $200 worth of boards through the mail, the correct address would be as follows...

Ultra Sabers LLC
ATTN: US 2.1 <~~I guessed
980 W. Juanita Ave
Gilbert, AZ 85233

Correct??

[Goodman]

Correct.

Ultra Sabers
980 W. Juanita Ave.
Gilbert, AZ 85233

http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=12253.0

[LordJaivus]

Should we include a copy of our reciept with our boards when we send them in?

[Darth Vane]

ok so i got a question. ultra says they are doing a second run. so can we just buy the 2.1 or do we need to send the boards back? or can we do both? i personaly dont have one YET but it would be nice to know that i can just buy the 2.1 board and dont have to worry about sending back.( yes i am lazy abiut this)

beacuse this will also help with the switch problem seeing as i am trying to realy keep my saber in a resonable budget. ( 18 years old and i still cant find a freaking job! course i also live in michigan wich has the worst employment rate in the U.S.)

[Roy's Blues]

Should we include a copy of our reciept with our boards when we send them in?

That's would be a good idea.


Darth Vane ok so i got a question. ultra says they are doing a second run. so can we just buy the 2.1 or do we need to send the boards back? or can we do both? i personaly dont have one YET but it would be nice to know that i can just buy the 2.1 board and dont have to worry about sending back.( yes i am lazy abiut this)

beacuse this will also help with the switch problem seeing as i am trying to realy keep my saber in a resonable budget. ( 18 years old and i still cant find a freaking job! course i also live in michigan wich has the worst employment rate in the U.S.)

FACEPALM

If you have a 2.0 and want to upgrade it to 2.1, send it in.
When the next run(2.1) is released they will be available for purchase at TCSS(?) and Ultrasabers.

[Darth Vane]

ok ok sorry i was just a little oblivious this morning. lol

[Darth Morbius]

So just to be certain before I send $200 worth of boards through the mail, the correct address would be as follows...

Ultra Sabers LLC
ATTN: US 2.1 <~~I guessed
980 W. Juanita Ave
Gilbert, AZ 85233

Correct??

No need for the ATTN line, but yeah that's the address I am sending $3,451.00 Worth of sound boards to. :lol:

[Goodman]

Geez DM/T, you are a beast!

Mine barely top $1k...

[morpheus1977]

man I thought I had alot with two LOL

[Lord Dottore Matto]

Geez DM/T, you are a beast!

Mine barely top $1k...

mine are only 2/3 of DT's!:rolleyes:

[Jay-gon Jinn]

No need for the ATTN line, but yeah that's the address I am sending $3,451.00 Worth of sound boards to. :lol:
Wow...how did you insure those? The USPS only allows $500 for insured value?

[Darth Morbius]

Wow...how did you insure those? The USPS only allows $500 for insured value?

I'm shipping them in separate boxes. ;)

[Spaznick]

WOW DM thats some crazy Saber Bling!;) I only have one, but seriously this upgrade is much apreciated!

[Eandori]

Anybody get their board back yet?

[Kal El Rah]

They are going out the end of this month.

[Drake MoonStar]

Do you think they will give those late to the upgrade another chance to send theirs in?

[Kal El Rah]

I don't think so, the were very explicit that nothing after the 12th would be accepted.:cry:

[Jedi-Loreen]

Ultra wanted to send all the boards that were going to get the upgrade, back to the manufacturer at the same time.

[Roy's Blues]

I just got off the phone with Alex and I have an update.

About 300-350 boards were sent in for the upgrades :o

The deadline to send them in was 02/12/09
The boards were unpacked and prepared for shipment.

The shipment was held for almost a week, due to some stragglers :-\

The upgrade process is as follows
Chip is soldiered from the board
Placed in tray
Reprogrammed
Soldier to board
Board is flashed.

Not very magikal http://www.fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=15679.msg251027#msg251027

As they are being finished they will be shipped out in batches to Ultrasabers
As they arrive at Ultrasabers, they are sorted and repacked into anti-static bags and mailed out.

All this for 6.00!

Once we get word that they are coming in an announcement will be posted.

[swear000]

dude this is the funniest thing I read in a long time (besides a book from a comedy writer):

All wrong.
It's magik. we take a Comodore 64, a windows 98 server and an iphone and set it in a stone circle. 6 virgin nerds chant the windows xp manual from start to finish while sprinkling ground up Nvidia cards. The US 2.0 are then placed on a custom tray made entirely of Overlord hilts. Novaconception then asks for a blessing frOm Uncle George.
Once this 12 day ritual is complete, a legion of the 501st in full dress accompanies Darth Vader and the Emperor to inspect the upgrades.

---from the fx-sabers.com forum

thanks for the link!

[Eandori]

Agreed, a wonderful fix for $6. Thank you!

Looking forward to getting my boards back.

[Eandori]

Anybody get their board back yet?

[Jedi Ranger]

I am wondering if there is going to be any rhyme-or-reason to what order Ultra decides to send boards back to people.

[Kal El Rah]

I have been wondering the same thing, hhmmmm.

[Novastar]

I am wondering if there is going to be any rhyme-or-reason to what order Ultra decides to send boards back to people.This might be splitting hairs a bit, lol... I mean... sure, SOMEONE is going to be the "last" one to get boxed up, and SOMEONE is going to be the first... but I imagine that even if they ship 50% of them on (let's say) a particular Tuesday and then the other 50% on Wednesday...

Seriously. How long would it be between you receiving yours and person X receiving theirs?

Also--we might imagine that since they tried to get them sent to Ultra all at once... they'll fix them all at once (as stated)... and send them BACK all at once.

Now, I don't own a single US board... but... I don't know--it makes sense to have patience and realize that Ultra is probably doing what he can to get them done. Can't be any "fun" for him, either, lol. :)

[Jay-gon Jinn]

I think right now, it's out of Ultra's hands, and in the hands of the manufacturer.

[Shadeslinger]

True. They'll come along sooner or later. The Ultra team can take as long as they need. I'm not worried about a time frame, especially when it's for a $6 upgrade I volunteered for. ;)

[Obi-Ben]

How many will be left over for the UltraSound-less to buy?

[DJMoonbass]

obi ben have you heard of the Crystal Focus soundboards?

[Roy's Blues]

The unsold TCSS US 2.0 stock was sent back for upgrading. Once they come back in they will be available in the store again.

There will be a another run of US 2.1 in the near future. As to it's size, that has not been determined.

[Obi-Ben]

obi ben have you heard of the Crystal Focus soundboards?

The holy grail of soundboards? Of course I have!

[Jedi-Loreen]

obi ben have you heard of the Crystal Focus soundboards?

What does that have to do with this thread?

We told you in the Shoutbox last night that those are very difficult to obtain.

The UltraSound boards, while they don't have as many features, are still nice boards. And easier to get a hold of.

[Obi-Ben]

And easier to get a hold of.

I'll soon find out how easy. I just hope they don't sell out in an hour.

[Jedi-Loreen]

I think they were gone in something like 34 minutes, last time.

You never know how big a batch will be, since they are all hand made.

[Roy's Blues]

They will be available here and on the Ultrasabers website. These are upgraded 2.0 boards.
When the offical newly produced 2.1 boards are ready to go, both sites will most likely have a pre-order set up before the the boards were released.

Just like last time.

Really, stop fretting about it.

[Count Malik]

sweet!

[Obi-Ben]

People are fretting about it because the supply is likely to be much less than the demand. There isn't enough UltraSound to go around, so someone is going to be left at the end without a board, and none of us want to be that guy.

[Malaki Skywalker]

People are fretting about it because the supply is likely to be much less than the demand. There isn't enough UltraSound to go around, so someone is going to be left at the end without a board, and none of us want to be that guy.

Ultras going to order another batch you know, Roys or Morbo chime in here?

[Roy's Blues]

The unsold TCSS US 2.0 stock was sent back for upgrading. Once they come back in they will be available in the store again.

There will be a another run of US 2.1 in the near future. As to it's size, that has not been determined.

quoting myself from the previous page.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/Nailbunny375/facepalm-1.jpg

*throws up hands and runs from thread.
See you when I have some real updates to post on this topic. Otherwise, it does not exist.

[Eandori]

Boards coming soon?

[Dann]

Yeah I'm totally down for one as soon as they're ready.

On an aside, I also need 2 replica Graflex clamps. Hope they come soon as well.

[Kant Lavar]

Just calm down, folks. They'll get there when they get there. Believe me, I'm as eager to get my hands on them as anyone else, but bugging folks for information that they probably don't have yet won't make them come any faster. Ultra, Jango, and the rest of the UltraSabers crew know how much we want these boards in our greedy little hands, and I'm certian that as soon as they hear back from Nova Conceptions, they'll start heading out to all sorts of places across the wild expanse of the internet to get the word out, and Tim will post once he has stock in.

"Control, control, you must learn control!"

[Eandori]

Silly me, I thought 4 months to get a soundboard that works as advertised was a long time :)

[Obi-Ben]

Silly me, I thought 4 months to get a soundboard that works as advertised was a long time :)

Damn, I saw this thread had an update, but it's just Eandori getting my hopes up for nothing.

[Kal El Rah]

Same here.............................................. ..........:sad:

[Eandori]

Muahahahaha! (evil laugh)

[Master Dru-Er]

D'oh :cry:

[Kant Lavar]

http://rumsey.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/khaaan_2.JPG
EANDORIIIIII!

:cool:

[Kureigu]

Muahahahaha! (evil laugh)

*Kureigu shakes his fist angrily* :)

[DJMoonbass]

I'm still waitin. I've got 600 put away for a few cfs and us s

[Lord Maul]

No new updates yet guys. When Roys hears something he will let us all know.

[Eandori]

Seriously now, this is really a LONG time to wait for a repair. Can we get a deadline please?

[killphil]

I wouldnt hold your breath. The US boards are usually VERY slow in contruction/repairs. Nothing against Ultra or anybody, but every production run has exeded deadlines to almost 100%. I can see why they aren't gonna even bother giving an ETA on these, as more than likely, it would excede that anyway.

Like I said, not digging on anybody, just stating the track record.

[Novastar]

Yup... sometimes this whole DIY Saber thing can live up to Han's lovely little quote in ROTJ on Endor:

"Good luck... ... ! ...

...
...

... yer gonna need it!"

That being said... I've been having trouble getting ahold of Alex on a completely separate issue, but... ah yes... memories! :) :p :D

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

It's a secret plot to teach us all Jedi Patience...which comes in handy in this hobby...MTFBWY...

Overlord Overlord where is my Overlord,
oh well I won't complain,
at least, afterall, I didn't order,
the long awaited Bane!

lol

[Jay-gon Jinn]

Seriously now, this is really a LONG time to wait for a repair. Can we get a deadline please?
I don't think this is just a repair issue that's taking so long....I don't have any information for sure, but I'm guessing the repair/upgrade is going to be done along side another full production run of the 2.1 version of the Ultrasound...and my guess is, that this just isn't a priority order for Novaconcepts. Even 500 more versions of the 2.1 board is a relatively small production run even when combined with the 350 or so that went in for the upgrade. I personally sent in 6 of them to get upgraded, but I'm not going to complain about how long it's taking..they'll get here when they get here....

I agree though, that some kind of information on the progress would be appreciated.

[Strydur]

I am in the same boat with you all. I was told that they where done or almost done though so hopefully soon.

[Spaznick]

Believe it or not I actually had a dream that the US2.1 came in the mail and when I opened it turned out that it was airbrushed on the back with a small smiley face (like in the Watchmen movie) WTF! Anyway, just thought someone out there might get a kick out of the dream…….

[swear000]

That is hilarious. I had a similar dream where the ultrasound came back and was more powerful than a Crystal Focus and it made all the Crystal Focus owners envious.

[LordCyric]

Ok, now you guys are making me crazy, I see there's an update to the thread and I get all excited until I read that nothing new has happened.... GRRRRR

[SpectreT65]

Spectre's Prediction on hearing anything about our US cards - October.


2021.

...and what we'll hear is that there's been a slight delay at the manufacturer. :D

[Jase Kala Maris]

I've just started humming really loud swinging my sabers around now...

[sithlordfaust]

hopefully thay come back soon before all my tax return is gone. I would like to have 1 or 2.

[Kal El Rah]

hopefully thay come back soon before all my tax return is gone. I would like to have 1 or 2.

Dude put $130/$250 etc. in an envelope and have your gf/wife (if your married) hide it till they are available....

[Spaznick]

Wife with $$$ = new shoes and no US2.1:(.........

[Kal El Rah]

Wife with $$$ = new shoes and no US2.1:(.........

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,, true that, maybe why I divorced my 1st wife..................

[Roy's Blues]

The boards have shipped from Nova Concepts and are on the way to Ultrasabers!

[JediMasterDak]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!:p:p:p:p:p:D:D:D:D:D:o:o:o:o:o

[Kal El Rah]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!:p:p:p:p:p:D:D:D:D:D:o:o:o:o:o

So sometime next month, now to start project #2.:cool:

[JediMasterDak]

I wish:(

[Darth_DevilGuy]

thank god

[Kant Lavar]

Out-frakking-standing!

[master roar]

does anyone have a ultrasound or hasbro toy/fx board they will trade or sell for cheap? i dont have much money but i really want to put sound in my saber

[Jay-gon Jinn]

does anyone have a ultrasound or hasbro toy/fx board they will trade or sell for cheap? i dont have much money but i really want to put sound in my saber

I regret to inform you that soliticing sales on this forum is prohibited. The Ultrasounds are stocked in the store here, so there will be some available to purchase, but they aren't exactly "cheap."

[Jedi-Loreen]

Please read the Forum Guidelines, master roar.

http://forums.thecustomsabershop.com/showthread.php?t=7360

[sithlordfaust]

cant wait.. well yes I can .. Ive gotta wait for the yoda DIY chassis anyway

[Darth Xusia]

Sweeet!! Can't wait to reinstall it!

[LordCyric]

*Does the I'm gonna buy a new soundboard dance*

[Obi-Ben]

ZOMG, an update to the US2.1 upgrade thread that's not a profound disappointment!

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO now THATS what I call good news! :-)

[Darth Demens]

the boards have shipped from nova concepts and are on the way to ultrasabers!

squuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeee!

[Kureigu]

*Does the I'm gonna buy a new soundboard dance*

*joins in*
Odd how this coincided so nicely with the white P4 coming back into stock....my Jedi senses are tingling!

[chaos]

Thats excellent news, I can't wait till I have mine back.

[totuss]

great news ,finaly i will be able to get saber no3 back up and running again :)

[Eandori]

FANTASTIC!!!

Any ballpark guesses on when we get our boards back?

[samurai_rob]

SWEET! They should be here just in time for my birthday! ;)(Hint, Hint);)

[Spaznick]

My Nipples Burn with antisipation!!!!

[Onli-Won Kanomi]

FANTASTIC!!!

Any ballpark guesses on when we get our boards back?

Wouldn't it be cool if it was May 19? ;-) ;-)

Well it will be a happy day whenever it is!

[Strydur]

I got mine back so sometime this weekend some might hit the shelves.

[Novastar]

Puhhh-ritty cooool. :)

[Revan]

sweet

[Dann]

So just to get this straight, there will be "some" stock for new buyers?

[pceptimus]

Well hopefully i will get my DOA board back soon :D

[Obi-Ben]

I didn't see any for sale this weekend, did I completely miss it?

[Jedi-Loreen]

No, Tim hasn't put them in the Store yet.

[Kant Lavar]

And if you look, he said "might."

Personally, I'd wait until I had all my stock back before I opened it up for sales, mostly to avoid any "but why can't I get any? It's not fair!" type problems, but it's Tim's store.

[Spaznick]

have any of the smaller prders shipped yet?

Thanks

[Novastar]

lol @ "prders"... like "pwned", hahahah

[Spaznick]

just noticed that LOL

[JediTom]

I have received my Sound Card / speaker / battery holder and it is in my saber and working great. Thanks Tim.

[SpectreT65]

Anyone else still not receive their upgrade yet? I think I've shown a great deal of patience and calm here, the one episode of snarkiness aside, but it's been over five months and still not a peep, and I don't have any contact info over there to email someone to ask what's up. It's frankly pretty frustrating.

[Kal El Rah]

You me and a bunch of others are still waiting, the answer received from ultra is , you'll get it when we get them in, In other words they are waiting for more to come back from the manufacturer after upgrading.:cry:

[DizzyKungFu]

I'm sure that Ultrasabers will give the bigger orders preference, so that means us poor saps with only 1 or 2 boards sent in for upgrades are at the bottom of the list. :(

[Kal El Rah]

yuppers...........:(

[Logan Cade]

Wonderful....

[Spaznick]

ughhh, I have waited for sooooo long. Well what can ya do, but wait some more.:(

[FenderBender]

ughhh, I have waited for sooooo long. Well what can ya do, but wait some more.:(

We're with ya;)

[Kal El Rah]

5 Months and counting.......................................... ..........:(

[Strydur]

I wish I could help you guys out..I am still missing 3 myself.

[totuss]

omg omg omg, /bounce ,just got a 'your order has shipped' email.
a single US2 from UK. so keep your chins up ppl ,they are getting thro them slowly :D

[Kal El Rah]

Just got my notice in my email, now lets see if it gets here:rolleyes:

[Baena]

Really? Cool! That's hopeful that the singles are shipping... Little by little.

I hope my order ships soon. :) Until then... I shall be patient. ;)

[Jedi Ranger]

Still no notice for me. :(

Kinda relieved that Tim is in the same boat as some of us still.

[Kal El Rah]

Got mine in the mail today, lets see if it works?

[beggarsoutpost]

Got mine yesterday....