** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

For those of you unfamiliar with the term 'feeler', it basically means that this is a pre-GB. The item I am trying to gauge here is the LPM-1 from Andover Holography. The original sale thread can be found right here:

http://holographyforum.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=41327&sid=d35608cf98077495822265bc02982312

With out own local review available right here:

http://www.laserpointerforums.com/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1184498206

Mug shot:


The item has since been upgraded with glass optics as opposed to plastic and can now measure up to 1 Watt!! This meter, as many owners here will testify, is the best money can buy for this price range. Like the expensive meters offered by the 'Big Boys', this meter has a plotting feature which allows you to connect the meter to your computer (through serial cable) and plot the measurements. It has a very small form factor and is guaranteed for accuracy and free of defects. Also, Andover Holography can also easily upgrade the software on the item as more features become available... FREE!

So, on to the prices already, right?

The price as of right now, with a minimum order of 5 units, is the original price with a 15% discount. Shipping will be extra to ship the unit afterwards from me to your address, which should only be a few dollars.

At this price, an excellent meter with all these features can be had for a very attractive price!

Current prices (will be updated soon):


Overall... $210 for a meter, range extender, and shipping. This is the original price of the meter by itself! :

Hope to hear from a lot of people so we can knock the price ever further down;
DDL

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

Here's your chance folks -- You see a lot of us (advanced snobs  ;D) using this meter for posting results of new buys and new builds.  
Tony produces a good product and backs it up.
I've said many times "Do the Science" get your meters so you know where you are at. This is one of the meters.

Mike

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

im very interested
but itll depend on my financial situation when the group buy actually happens
but chances are im in for one

Will there still be that 30 day waiting period thing?
that's just weird and bad business

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

MTL --

I've been in the electronics business years ago. It's hard to buy materials to produce product in advance when you're a small company. Get the orders, order parts and wait for delivery --- then build.
I think Tony is doing the best that he can in a specialized market with limited buyers. THIS AIN'T CHINA !!!!

Mike

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

hahahaha touché hemlock

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

Is there an option to get display with backlit? Can the price be further discounted? Original group buy in CPF for 10 of these unit cost $150 + $16 ND8 Glass Filter + $10 backlit. If we can reach this minimum quantity, is it possible to get the same price? If they can do this, I'll be all over this amazing deal...

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

oo ooo i like that price!

Well... I'm glad I'm getting some responses in regards to this GB. I really didn't expect to get much feedback. But I must tell you guys, I have been debating the price with Tony and negotiating as hard as I can. We all need to realize the amount of work that goes into making these units. He has told me several times that his main issue with making these is the time it takes to make each unit. The calibration process, it seems, is the most difficult and time consuming.

As about the back-lit screen, I think all of the units already come with a backlit screen, and I will ask him to make sure and report back. Therefore, these are comparable to the original GB price in the following terms...

Original GB had 10 guyers at $160 a piece with a back-lit screen, these are 160 a piece for 10 or more, 170 for 5 or more.
The attenuators he is using require much work to calibrate, and his exact quote on this is as follows:

On attenuators:
The cost of the attenuator is determined by my labor to get an individual calibration for each one. However, experience has shown they have a very consistent distribution, so I can save the calibration labor if you are willing to accept lower accuracy.

The entire group can go either way, but all must choose the same option:

For 10% accuracy spec, $20 each.
For 5% accuracy, $34 each.

Click to expand...

I honestly urge everyone to go for the 5% accuracy only because it would make sure that the measurements are in fact up to par all the way and that the results are as accurate as the original units.

As about the RS232 cables, these can be home-made by whoever wants to make them, and thus he doesn't get much orders for them. As such is the case, he is keeping his price firm on the RS232 cables at $35 a piece.

I hope we get enough interest to get this up and running. This is seriously an opportunity for many of us to attain a meter that is well worth the price and can stand up to what it claims. We have all seen videos of this in action and all the reviews show that it is definitely THE meter to have. The plotting feature is not available in the low-end laser power meters, such is the case for the LaserCheck from Coherent at $335 before shipping as well.

This will soon be converted into an official GB once there is enough interest. As of this very moment there is only 2 people, including myself, that I know will for sure be in on this buy. If you would like to confirm your bid on one of these and help make this GB get off, please feel free to PM me.

Please stay tuned for any further updates as they will appear on here as they happen;
DDL

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

Daedal, thank you very much for your elaborate explanation. I believe the complication in the calibration is because it is need to be calibrated separately for each color spectrum, is this correct? Or ND8 filter behave and attenuate the same amount of light accross any spectrum?

I also feel that these are the "Must Have" meter unit considering the price, accuracy and feature, compared to ANY unit currently on the market.

So count me in for these group buy, for 5% accuracy. Hopefully we can reach 10 unit, and shipping cost is not adding bigger hole in my pocket
Also, the datalogging cable if Tony still sold the "do it yourself kit" for $15 as per original group buy. Let me know when you are ready to proceed.

Thank you Bernhard. I appreciate you being a part of this. So far I have had an excellent turnaround considering it's been on here only a very short time...

--DDL

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

Are they with glass Range Extenders rather than the plastic ones that melted over 100mW?

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

I believe that price are for ND8 glass extender, since the original one are only $10 and it is plastic.
Tony has upgraded those filter to glass since original group buy on CPF, and now it should be able to withstand up to 800mW as per his update in those CPF thread (http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/showthread.php?t=153251).

Count me in on this GB ! also going for the 5% accuracy.

I have to say, that i can only make the payment by the end of this month. (salary injection).
Also, is this item also being shipped abroad ? and at what extra expenses?

Great deal though ! Keep me informed

Re: ** FEELER **  LPM-1 Group Buy

Hey Daedal

Nice work.

I would be very Interested if you dont mind sending it to england?

Cheers

xgeek said:

Are they with glass Range Extenders rather than the plastic ones that melted over 100mW?

Click to expand...

I apologize if I forgot to mention it earlier, but they do come with the glass attenuators and they extend the range past the 100mW and up to 1 Watt.

These come with the back-lit screen already included in the price.

Thanx;
DDL

I do not mind shipping it to anywhere. Once I finalize everything and turn this into a GB, I will be letting you all know how much shipping will be. I am willing to ship world-wide, but only as long as the item is insured and tracked. If you would like me to ship this item to you outside the US, please let me know what special accommodation you would require (such as declared value for VAT, custom forms I may need to fill out... etc.. etc..) via PM and I will make it happen.

Thank you all for your cooperation and support with this.

--DDL