SIO cables

[Gunstar]

I think that Best might be down to only Bradley and maybe one assistant these days. B&C might really only be Bruce and Bruce alone any more.

Bradley. Thank's for reminding me, I always forget and want to call him Bruce, but I was aware that that was also Bruce, the B in B&C.

[+DrVenkman]

B&C might really only be Bruce and Bruce alone any more.

 

I ordered something from B&C's eBay store last week - it arrived yesterday with what looked like a personal return address label from Bruce.

[Kyle22]

I have met Brad in person and he is a great guy.

[+David_P]

I met Brad at a TAF AtariFest in the late 90s... think it was the same one where I bought a Sweet '16 from FTe.

[Gavin1968]

Right now it seems to be a beggar's can't be chooser's market, if you don't want to pay a premium on eBay for OEM cables. I'm not meaning to degrade either Gavin1969's or Lotharek's SIO cables. The quality of Gavin's I can say first hand is top-quality and the way I would make them myself, if I had a 3D printer(aside from maybe making the plugs a micron or two smaller in dimension) or sourced other plugs. I just mean a bit tight, a bit loose, cable too stiff; little issues like that are just going to have to be accepted as long as cables and plugs are coming from various small manufacturers, and what they think is best. Some people may prefer Lotharek's stiff cables and some may prefer Gavin's super-tight SIO plugs.

 

MyAtari (B&C Computervisiosns) sells OEM cables on eBay starting at over $20, I assume it's as much direct from their site, which is currently under construction. And other sellers on eBay are the same or higher, plus many 6 or 10 foot cables that cost much more.

 

Best Electronics does appear to have two versions of OEM 3 foot SIO cables for $10 and $12, and I would have ordered from him, except for the fact that I have to order during odd hours (especially out of time-zone) on certain days, by phone, and I always forget. And also, when I do remember, Bruce(?) always seems very busy when I call and I always feel like I'm being rushed through my order, and he expects you to have the catalog number for every item. I would sometimes order a long list of things if it weren't for feeling rushed, but I usually cut the order short due to it. Also, in many cases he doesn't even know for sure if something isn't sold out. He often doesn't remember what the items you are ordering cost off-hand and doesn't give a total for the order assuming it's completely filled. The last two orders I got from him had about half the order filled when they arrived, the rest being out of stock, and I never know what the total is going to be with tax and shipping in the end until I get the order, see what's in it and what I was charged. I don't get charged for item orders not filled, of course. Or, you handle the order through e-mails which can be even more uncertain and take longer and require days of back-and-forth replies. But it's all such a hassle and I wish I could just order on the website.

Did you get my emails? I have sent you a couple with no response. Would be happy to send you new SIO plugs that I printed in ABS and have a much better fit.

Let me know,

Gavin

[Gunstar]

Did you get my emails? I have sent you a couple with no response. Would be happy to send you new SIO plugs that I printed in ABS and have a much better fit.

Let me know,

Gavin

Sorry, I do rarely check my e-mail, maybe once a week sometimes longer. But I am happy with your cables, I only had to adjust one plug. Don't mistake my post you quoted here as being unsatisfied in anyway or that I feel you need to do something more. As it says, there no degradation of your cables intended, I said I felt they were top quality. My post you quoted here has nothing to do with me being dissatisfied, but to another being dissatisfied with someone else's cables.

 

There is no need for you to fix anything. I'm perfectly happy, as I said originally, I just wanted to let you know they fit tight, and in at least my 2 1050's they wouldn't fit at all, but that's the exception, not the rule, and with my combination of OEM cables and yours, it's no longer an issue at all. I don't want you to have to bother, and I don't want to bother either, with exchanging entire cables, or changing out for other plugs. It just isn't worth the bother for something I already sorted.

 

I'm a happy enough customer that I intend to buy a full SDrive Max from you in a month or two.

Edited December 17, 2018 by Gunstar

[fujidude]

What gauge are the conductors in the OEM cables? If the OEM conductors exceed the thickness needed, what minimum gauge do they need to be in order to be reliable at typical cable lengths (1-3')? In order to have the best odds of finding favorable matches, it helps to know the requirements.