PHR-803T for about $20

[Maelstrom]

The trick to getting the ribbon and PCB off is to add more solder!! add a big blob until there is enough solder that all three pins are immersed in it. Then all you have to do is heat the blob up, and it melts the solder around all three pins. Then just simply lift while keeping heat applied. If only the first layer comes off, then just do the same thing  

Kenom timed me a few nights ago and I got all the stuff off, from start to finish, in around 56 seconds. Its not too hard it just takes practice and the right technique.

How do you keep the diode cool enough? Or does that much heat not bother it?

 

[styropyro]

I just ordered 3, last time I ordered from geeks.com I had it at my door within 2 days through Fed-ex, if I'm lucky I will have these things next Monday, I can't wait!

 

[hydrogenman15]

I just got some too. They came very fast and I got the LD out no problem.

I am very interested in see how crazy bright it is going to make all my glow in the dark stuff.

--hydro

 

[Glaserfan]

Some useful info for anyone ordering these

First.. the "slow" news.. IF you live on the East coast of the USA, these ship first to a warehouse in Memphis,TN. This doubles shipping time. Also this means your first set of tracking info shows the delivery date to Memphis, not your home..

Now for the good news.

As of June 6,2008, they still have over 500 of these drives in stock! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

The reason I know this is that I called them because of the "bum" traking info that I saw for my order. I was glad to hear of how many of these they have, though

 

[john_lawson]

496 in stock i just manipulated the checking account and ordered four more

 

[Event_Horizon]

I just ordered three. I am assuming that 90mA is the current I should be aiming for?

 

[Midknight]

What driver is everyone using for 90-100mA?

I bet this company is wondering why they sold like 200 of these things in a week. I bet we could have had a hell of a GB... Has anyone contacted the company about doing one?

 

[daguin]

What driver is everyone using for 90-100mA?

I bet this company is wondering why they sold like 200 of these things in a week. I bet we could have had a hell of a GB... Has anyone contacted the company about doing one?

I've use both the Rkcstr and the flexderive with them.

I tried to get a better price with volume. They are the best deal in town already AND they have less than 500 units remaining AND they are selling well at the price marked (probably our own damned fault). They are unwilling to come down. These are refurbished units. They do NOT know if they will be getting more.

Peace,
dave

 

[Midknight]

Ohh, that makes sense.

So out of those two drivers, which is better? And where can I purchase one? And how many mA are they rated at?

 

[happytomato]

I would recommend the flexdrive by drlava. Look in the buy,sell and trade fprum or in his sig.

 

[daguin]

Ohh, that makes sense.

So out of those two drivers, which is better? And where can I purchase one? And how many mA are they rated at?

Search the B/S/T forum for flexdrive. Search the B/S/T forum for rkcstr. You have reading to do.

Peace,
dave

 

[Maelstrom]

[quote author=GooeyGus link=1210732931/120#126 date=1212649470]The trick to getting the ribbon and PCB off is to add more solder!! add a big blob until there is enough solder that all three pins are immersed in it. Then all you have to do is heat the blob up, and it melts the solder around all three pins. Then just simply lift while keeping heat applied. If only the first layer comes off, then just do the same thing  

Kenom timed me a few nights ago and I got all the stuff off, from start to finish, in around 56 seconds. Its not too hard it just takes practice and the right technique.

How do you keep the diode cool enough? Or does that much heat not bother it?[/quote]
Gooey?

 

[Abray]

just a quick question, I've been earing that these are HD-DVD drives, and aren't those actually 415nm? not 405?

Also, are these worth it? I've been hearing alot about the units that die relatively quickly...

Finally, which lens would be the best. somewhere it said that the AR coated acrylic lenses take a BUNCH of power from the diode! Would it be best to just splurge and buy a nice glass lens from Meredith or AixiZ? and along that, does AixiZ even sell glass lenses?

 

[Chad]

Abray - Yes, there is some wavelength discrepancy. I don't know the exact number, but it's not 405nm.
HELLS YEAH, they're worth it! I don't know where you've been hearing about units that die quickly, but if you keep these at ~100mA, you should be fine for quite a while.
Yeah, a glass lens would be best, unless you feel like jumping in on the GB for the 405nm-AR coated lenses.

 

[jayrob]

just a quick question, I've been earing that these are HD-DVD drives, and aren't those actually 415nm? not 405?

Also, are these worth it? I've been hearing alot about the units that die relatively quickly...

Finally, which lens would be the best. somewhere it said that the AR coated acrylic lenses take a BUNCH of power from the diode! Would it be best to just splurge and buy a nice glass lens from Meredith or AixiZ? and along that, does AixiZ even sell glass lenses?

Meredith glass lens - Yes!
AixiZ glass lens - No! Not for blu-ray. The AixiZ glass lenses are great for red, but will give less power in a blu-ray.
Jay

P.S. Yes, AixiZ does sell glass lenses, but thier shipping time is not too good. Get them from Stonetek:
http://stonetek.org/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77&products_id=219

 

[Abray]

Thanks for the quick answers! And about the part with them dying, I may have just been reading that part of this thread with the cracked window problems, sorry!

As for the lens, I only have AixiZ acrylic and one glass (on my MXDL open can red, not going to take it off that!), So i'll probably be jumping in on that AR coated GB. But while we're talking about modules and lenses, can I buy AixiZ modules straight from them? I've never been sure where I can actually get those...