30 gigs of schematics, all brands and current

Just out of curiosity, what could be in there you'd be interested in. We have no PAL or SECAM units listed they're, all NTSC. There's no datasheets at the moment but, will be. You're in the business of selling this stuff so, from where I'm sitting, you're just looking for a free source of literature to market. Wouldn't sign you up anyway.

Just out of curiosity, what could be in there you'd be interested in. We have no PAL or SECAM units listed they're, all NTSC. There's no datasheets at the moment but, will be. You're in the business of selling this stuff so, from where I'm sitting, you're just looking for a free source of literature to market. Wouldn't sign you up anyway.

I buy manuals from the Web often. How would I have known that you have no PAL. This is the whole problem.

I don't know...my calculations may be wrong, but they say that 5-6 people could upload 2G worth of very large files with a reasonable high-speed pipe in 24 hours...73 people?

Tom

Agreed in part but a couple of points.

I download manuals all the time. The are rarely over 20 MB. Usually under 3 MB.

I'm saying 73 people couldn't have uploaded many files considering they can only upload 1 file at a time and have to enter their username and password for each.

"30 gigabytes of schematics and tech tips for $15". Would you be happy if you paid to receive only a couple of massive mystery files.

So, instead of wasting all THIS bandwidth, how about we each chip in a quarter and someone will sign up and see what's there? :)

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My 2c worth: If you want to promote something on the net, don't use spammer language and capitalization, and do provide some kind of solid evidence of what's really available, not excuses.

Bob

Of course not. I respect the fact that acquiring 30 gigs of anything has its cost. However, I suspect only techs would find 30 unsorted, undisclosed gigs of stuff valuable, even at a rock-bottom price. All the rest of us are basically being told that non-techs need not apply. Ergo, "closed shop mentality."

Yes, I know, and I have used such sites. Those sites are NOT operating as though the general (but interested) public is an annoyance. Kudos to them. I'll bet they make a marginal rate of return greater than $15/person/year.

= closed shop mentality. Strictly speaking there's nothing wrong with that, other than it galls the casual observer such as myself. As you've pointed out, there are business models which are more robust and NOT solely aimed at the "closed shop" of professionals.

Or even $15, which is what the invitation claimed, I thought?

Open access, but not easy access. Cheap bulk-rate access, but not even cheaper, focussed (i.e. per item) access. That's the part that disappoints me. With 30 gigs of stuff as a starting point, a mighty fine, profitable site could be built.

On the other hand, anything that might serve to do a better job than an authorized service centre (which is what I imagine ASC stands for) in distributing information like this cheaply is probably a good thing.

Hell, Google should start "Google Manuals" and get scanning.

I have to wonder when manufacturers will go after all these schematics sites for disseminating their copyrighted works w/o permission (or recompense). They've seen how effective the music industry has been at squelching mp3 trading. It probably won't be long till electronics manufacturers decide it's their turn to act. Much of their investigative work has been done for them already by all these folks so openly supporting copyright infringement on usenet and google, et al.

One reason manufacturers refuse to sell service literature and parts to the average Joe is product liability. If Joe Schmo electrocutes himself while working inside a TV set, for example, and the courts decide the manufacturer acted irresponsibly by providing Joe a means to his end, well, you can imagine how the manufacturer could be hurt financially. Indeed, it could be argued that the manufacturer was aware of the unauthorized online schematic offerings and, because they did little to put a stop to it, thereby contributed to Joe's demise.

I also have to wonder how long it will be until such lawsuits are brought against online schematic suppliers (free or not). Enjoy it while ya can, folks. Lawyers are willing to sue over practically anything, and this area seems to be a largely untapped source of income for them.. so far.

I'm sure some of you are thinking, "yeah yeah, Ray's just another misguided alarmist. I've been downloading schematics online for years and nobody's stopped it yet!" Like I said, enjoy it while ya can..

I signed up (15.00 isn't so much, really). I would judge it to be a potentially valuable resource. Lot's of Toshiba TV manuals, Sony (audio and video), Pioneer late model, Philips, Funai-Symphonic, Sams data sheets, RCA manuals and tips, TV/VCR stuff, some training stuff, lots of stuff I haven't mentioned. Not quite the comprehensive resource that we all would like, but I see the potential here.

I'm going to contribute my collection of HK/JBL and Infinity manuals, recent Denon-Marantz (1998-2004), and many popular Yamaha and Onkyo manuals, about

6 or 7 gig total. Ought to help make the whole thing a bit more worthwhile(and maybe get me free access later?) :-)

Terry's not going to get rich doing this, and I believe such resources are necessary, especially with manufacturer's being the way they are these days. I've been trying to help, by sending people Sony or other manuals etc when they request them, but it does get tedious, and people have been contacting me out of the blue requesting manuals, based on Google searches, I guess. I'm not 100% comfortable with that.

I'll let you guys know how it goes. Looks like we're going to be repairing a

36 inch Toshiba today using a downloaded manual we otherwise would not have had access to. This one repair WAY more than justified the 15.00 cost.

Mark Z.

I did the same. I think it will be a pretty good value. It already has more than the techassist site and is easier to retrieve stuff. Not as many suscribers to share files yet but I expect he will pull a lot more from the forum.

Le>>

This is encouraging! Already you guys are giving this site credibility, and are supplying much-desired info on what, exactly, might be found on the inside. It still might be of considerably more use to a tech than an amateur, but at least it isn't as much of a black hole than it sounded like even a few days ago. Which is good news.

I just signed up, and can say I was impressed with the amount of data available and the quality. I have found data on the two TVs I am currently working on. The data is arranged by manufacture, and I had no trouble finding the manuals I needed. There looks like a large number of manuals added daily. For $15 it was well worth it, I have already saved twice that.

-- Tony Marsillo Nutmeg Repair

Do you know when the last piece of copyrighted anything reverted to the public domain in the USA? 1923. Not one work has entered the public domain since then. NOTHING. Why not? Because a few big media companies -- most notably those big-time miners of the public domain, Disney -- have successfully lobbied to have the term of copyright extended and extended and extended. For most intents and purposes, there IS NO PUBLIC DOMAIN in the USA.

If you think I'm full of crap, check out 'Free Culture' by Lawrence Lessig -- available as a free download (although I bought the softcover myself, 'cause it's easier to read).

(P.S. I can't really disagree with much else you wrote...)

Disney did finagle their way into extension for Mickey Mouse, that's true. He was due to enter the public domain in 2003. Due to Disney's efforts and the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, they should enjoy profits off him till 2019.

If this holds, it should only bring even more frustration to those seeking service literature. Ergo, for those opposing:

This automatic extension evidently doesn't apply to motion pictures. Noticed all the $1 DVD titles showing up in stores? The makers of this crap have hired specialist attorney$ to guarantee the original material is public domain so they won't be held accountable for royalties. Avoiding royalties is precisely how they can keep the price so low. That so many inferior "masters" of these titles are out there in the public domain also explains the poor quality transfers when compared to transfers from original studio prints. Sometimes, the paperwork wasn't filled out properly to begin with, and these dollar-DVD vultures are taking advantage of that as well.

Perhaps this is not a bad argument for why studios don't really need copyright protection, especially for their old stuff. They have the masters, and can put out a definitive version for a reasonable price before anyone else can. Sort of the Apple iPod business model: make the best product in a market segment, do it before anyone else, advertise that you're the best, and keep on innovating (and reducing the price) to clobber the competition. Isn't that enough of a competitive advantage? Do studios (or service manual writers) really need a legislated monopoly in perpetuity?

This is getting way off-topic, so, although it's enjoyable, I think this should be my last post in this regard.

If you have any PDF manuals and/or schematics that you have downloaded from the Tech Tools Mail list's FTP site in your charged area please remove them. They are meant to be free and not for profit. This includes a lot of schematics for Fluke 9XXX gear and pods. As well as Arium, Data I/O, and others.  

The same goes for all the files from Spies.com and other free arcade data sites. - that is probably your source for arcade monitors for example. Or ones downloaded from Wells Gardner for free in the first place.

John :-#)#

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How damn hard is it too list file names?? Are the files named unknown1, unknown2, unknown3 and you have to dig thru a cluster F*&^ of files to find a model name? If someone see's a schematic they can use, they probably would spend $15 and be happy, knowing they may find another of use. Seems you have more excuses than time to set up a proper FTP./DATA site! With your Pissy attitude, as soon as some constructive criticism or concerned questions are thrown your way, you will pull your pant's up and run to your bedroom and shut down the site. Show us a receipt for the server use for 2006. You said already paid. Tell us how to search this FTP. site. Give a regular subscriber of this news group a trial period. Have some of your 73 members post to this group. I have not seen this post in any other electronics groups. Not much on advertisement? How many members can log in and Dload at the same time? If you can't give a respectable answer with out calling people whiner's, pissee's and leechers. Then this site sounds more and more like a immature teenage punk scam!! Till then, my $ will go towards my Xmas toys.

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 17:24:27 GMT, John Robertson wrote:

Maybe his priority is running his shop and not running his site. He said he set is up as an opportunity for techs to share what they have. It seems that it is just that and quite useful to me. Similar to other sites that have been set up but more files and easier access than some. The trivial charge is very reasonable. He is not in the business of selling the data nor providing it to the public, just helping other techs with a useful resource. If you don't get it or it does not seem like a value to you, just ignore it. You can't expect everyone to operate their web sites exactly to your preference. If he was trying to make a buck it would be different. Lighten up guys. Mark and I joined and if you need a manual just ask.

Leonard