Just a word of advice to anyone considering an IR extender from Electric Dog Ventures:

I placed an order on 7-3-03 for their IR extender product and despite numerous requests to the company they have not shipped my product nor responded to any e-mails as to when I could expect delivery. I will admit they have not charged my credit card yet but I think it's a poor business practice not to answer customer inquires especially from customers who have ordered your product. Does anyone else have a similar experience with this company? Should I cancel the transaction? Are there any other alternatives to this product?

Does anyone else find it odd that Palm is advertising on our Dell Axim site? Have we sold out already?

While I agree that it is not "fair" for you guys to not get any answers from Electronic Dog Ventures (EDV) regarding your orders and/or the hold up, I still would vouch for the PDA-ir. You have to think about one thing....there is no possible way that a company could make a living just by selling this little PDA-ir unit. Dane Houston (owner of EDV) is a lawyer, and I'm sure he is just very consumed in his "real job" at the moment. Providing PDA-ir cards is just a side-job for him, and he is just doing it to benefit the PDA remote community. Have there not been times in your careers (especially in the law field) that you have not been so consumed in your job (both locally and travelling) that you did not have any spare time to spend on your "hobbies"??

Again, I am not saying that it is "right" for EDV to not respond to e-mails, but they probably have not even been read yet.....even though it has been a long time since you sent them. I still appreciate that Dane and others associated with EDV provide the PDA community with such a great product....in their SPARE time. It would be great, in my opinion, if Dane could possibly sell the patent to a company that would be able to concentrate on the production/distribution of this product.....but that is a choice that he has to make on his own in the future.

The reason I am able to say all of this is because EDV does not charge your credit cards until the product has shipped. Therefore, there is never a guarantee that it will ship at a specified date up front. If your card was actually charged up front, then it would be a completely different story. Another thing I wish is that Dane would put up a disclaimer on the EDV website stating that there are no guarantees on reasonable shipping times, because the PDA-ir unit is just a "hobby" of his. While this might not solve the problem, it would at least give customers a warning up front.

I have been trying this weekend to get in touch with a couple of my contacts at EDV regarding this issue. If I hear anything back, I will let everyone know ASAP.

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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I would continue the order, and not cancel the transaction. I feel that the PDA-ir/PDAwin combo is far superior to any other PPC remote solution in existence.

The only "decent" alternative to the PDA-ir is the UltraMote CF IR Extender. However, you have to use the UltraMote software with their extender. Their software does not even come close to comparing with PDAwin, as it has far less features and does not support Pronto CCF files.

Also, Palm is not directly advertising on Aximsite. It is just part of an advertising program that is being tested at the moment. You'll also see a few other ads pop up on it every now and then that will make you wonder.

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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Thanks for your response. I am in the mortgage business so I can relate to being busy. I am looking forward to my IR arrival. I think a message stating it's a hobby and not an income would be approporiate. I'll hang in there. Please keep me posted on any new developments. Do you have any suggestions as to what software pkg to use with it?

- Don't do business with anyone who hasn't seen the Godfather and don't trust anyone who dosen't like Sinatra-

PDAwin's TV Remote Controller is the only software that works with the PDA-ir. It is an excellent piece of software, and allows for almost unlimited customization. If you are familiar with the Philips Pronto line of touch screen remotes, I'll tell you that the PDAwin software is pretty much an emulator of the Color Pronto. It even allows you to use Philips Pronto CCF (custom configuration files) in the software. For lots of information about Philips Pronto and/or CCF files, visit Remote Central. They have lots of information about creating your own CCF files using ProntoEdit software. Then you can simply take the CCF that you create and send it over to the Axim...and open it in PDAwin. Remote Central also has lots of premade CCF files that you can play around with to fit it to meet your needs. It is a great little program. If you have any questions about CCF files and/or ProntoEdit, there are some forums at the Remote Central website. You can ask ProntoEdit questions in the Pronto Forum, and any PDAwin questions in the PDA Remote Forum. Or you can ask questions here....but for ProntoEdit questions, there are a lot more knowledgeable guys over on their forums.

Hope this helps out a little. Good luck with everything, and I'll keep you posted if I hear back from my contacts at EDV.

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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Deftech... You should definately get a kickback or at least some KUDOS or ATTABOYS from EDV.

I know of DANE and DAVES abilities in the electronic world and have been following their posts on google news groups. They have always been helpful when time allows.

If you do get through to your contacts, maybe ask them to put some sort of autorespond message into their email system as well. This might help ease us anxious buyers.

I'm sitting patiently awaiting my PDA-ir to arrive. I've designed an entire home automation system arround the pdawin software and DANE's PDA-ir, so I hope it comes soon.

Funny though, I spent close to $1000 on home automation and ir equipment and I'm at the mercy of a $25 extender... Go figure.

My solution... I bought a powermid transmitter/receiver and have it plugged in next to my chair. It works, but it's cheesy... Wait that's another thread. MMMM Cheese.

L8r,

Greg

I have also had some intrest of this in the past. I appreciate letting us know of the delays is service.

I think I will keep the $25 then and save it for a good deal (if I can find one) on a full PDA and use that with the remote software and PTVL TV listings.

Also, you (or anyone else) might want to check out my old solution, before EDV came out with an Axim-compatible PDA-ir unit. I feel that it is a better solution than Powermid, but it was a little quirky sometimes. Here is the link to a page I put up back in March: Click Here For Link.

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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Thanks for keeping me in the loop on this. I think I will wait as opposed to installing a giant tumor on the top of my Axim. LOL

- Don't do business with anyone who hasn't seen the Godfather and don't trust anyone who dosen't like Sinatra-

Hey Deftech, how many more posts do I need to get rid of my newbie status?

- Don't do business with anyone who hasn't seen the Godfather and don't trust anyone who dosen't like Sinatra-

Post Counts:

0-20: Newbie
21-200: Member
201-400: Super Member
401+: Elite Member

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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Deftech,

Thanks for the info... I took a look at this, or a similar product, but like you said, many others found it quirky...

There are a few other solutions out there two, but for $20 on ebay, the powermids seem to fit the budget until my PDA-ir comes in.

Thanks again for all your input.

Greg

Once I get my IR extender does anyone have any comments on using a screen protector when my axim is acting as my home theater remote? I would think that my fingers are less abrasive then the stylis.

- Don't do business with anyone who hasn't seen the Godfather and don't trust anyone who dosen't like Sinatra-

I personally use a Brando Workshop screen protector. You can find a review in the Staff Reviews section. It does not hinder the use of my Axim as a remote at all. The main thing that I would be worried about with using fingers on the screen....is the oils from my skin might eventually have an effect on the screen in some way. I don't know if this would happen, or if it would happen anytime soon, but I just want to play it safe.

Jordan M. Wigley
Aximsite.com
Email: jordan AT aximsite.com

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Thanks man, just went and purchased one. Think this product will really ship?

- Don't do business with anyone who hasn't seen the Godfather and don't trust anyone who dosen't like Sinatra-