DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
2 weeks 5 days ago #7069
by nzoomed
DIY Geiger Kits discontinued was created by nzoomed
This is sad to see, but given the design is open source, Im wondering how easy it might be to submit this to PCBway or another online service that can let individuals place orders of boards, etc.
The radmon stations in particular will be widely used here so is one project that needs a group to pick up from where he left.
The radmon stations in particular will be widely used here so is one project that needs a group to pick up from where he left.
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2 weeks 3 days ago #7070
by Simomax
Replied by Simomax on topic DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
It is a little sad to see, but then it is always a little sad when something like this comes to an end.
To answer your question though; I don't believe BroHogan's counters are open source. The software/firmware is open source, but I don't believe the circuit design, nor the circuit layouts/PCBs are open source. I can't find anything on the website that either says they are open source, nor any gerber files, PCB layouts or anything that would indicate so. The only thing I can find is a comment on the software page stating the software is open source.
If the PCB was open source you would need the gerber files, or the original layout files for whatever circuit design program was used to create them (so you could produce the gerbers) in order to get a PCB company to produce them. You can't simply send them the circuit diagram and expect them to produce a PCB from it. Maybe you could, and pay them a handsome sum to design the PCB layout again, but then it would differ from BroHogan's original PCB layouts. So in a nutshell, it can't be done, legitimately or illegitimately as the files needed are not available.
To answer your question though; I don't believe BroHogan's counters are open source. The software/firmware is open source, but I don't believe the circuit design, nor the circuit layouts/PCBs are open source. I can't find anything on the website that either says they are open source, nor any gerber files, PCB layouts or anything that would indicate so. The only thing I can find is a comment on the software page stating the software is open source.
If the PCB was open source you would need the gerber files, or the original layout files for whatever circuit design program was used to create them (so you could produce the gerbers) in order to get a PCB company to produce them. You can't simply send them the circuit diagram and expect them to produce a PCB from it. Maybe you could, and pay them a handsome sum to design the PCB layout again, but then it would differ from BroHogan's original PCB layouts. So in a nutshell, it can't be done, legitimately or illegitimately as the files needed are not available.
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2 weeks 2 days ago #7071
by nzoomed
Replied by nzoomed on topic DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
Well if the source code and schematics are published, thats not too difficult to reproduce, it obviously would mean designing a board from scratch and then re-create a new set of gerber files.
It doesnt really even matter if the layout is not the same, the schematic is the most important thing here.
Might be worth asking him to publish the gerber files and CAD files for eagle, ki-cad or whatever program anyway, but its certainly possible to reproduce a working board thats compatible, if i have enough time, i could probably do it myself, but the point it its entirely doable.
It doesnt really even matter if the layout is not the same, the schematic is the most important thing here.
Might be worth asking him to publish the gerber files and CAD files for eagle, ki-cad or whatever program anyway, but its certainly possible to reproduce a working board thats compatible, if i have enough time, i could probably do it myself, but the point it its entirely doable.
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2 weeks 2 days ago - 2 weeks 2 days ago #7072
by Simomax
Replied by Simomax on topic DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
You can't just do that. Just because BroHogan is ceasing to produce his counters, it doesn't make his work a free-for-all. His work is his intellectual property, and subject to copyright. There is nothing to imply that others' may reproduce his work, except for the software. In doing so would be illegal. You would have to ask him for permission.
Last edit: 2 weeks 2 days ago by Simomax.
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2 weeks 1 day ago #7073
by nzoomed
Replied by nzoomed on topic DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
Its a bit of a grey area i guess, but you could make a few tweaks to the schematic and then its not the same circuit.
Also the code is designed for that circuit, but in these cases, the principals of the schematic are in general similar to other work ive seen, this project has already built off the work off others, which he actually gives credit to the others who published some of the design, so its already not 100% all of his work or design.
It really would come down to patent infringement rather than copyright, and i dont see any patents on this design published. From memory i actually recall seeing another kit out there that appears to be based on one of his designs for the standard model.
As another example, I know there are many guitar amp builders that make 100% replica amps of classic Marshall guitar amplifiers with the same design and sell them for a profit, they dont get sued by marshall, and as long as they dont use marshall branding, they can legally sell them.
From what i can tell on his page, is that he is aware others are selling kits based on this design, which naturally he expected, given he published everything for anyone to build from scratch, but at the same time preferred people buy his kits which is to be expected, but he was not stopping anyone else from doing so.
Also the code is designed for that circuit, but in these cases, the principals of the schematic are in general similar to other work ive seen, this project has already built off the work off others, which he actually gives credit to the others who published some of the design, so its already not 100% all of his work or design.
It really would come down to patent infringement rather than copyright, and i dont see any patents on this design published. From memory i actually recall seeing another kit out there that appears to be based on one of his designs for the standard model.
As another example, I know there are many guitar amp builders that make 100% replica amps of classic Marshall guitar amplifiers with the same design and sell them for a profit, they dont get sued by marshall, and as long as they dont use marshall branding, they can legally sell them.
From what i can tell on his page, is that he is aware others are selling kits based on this design, which naturally he expected, given he published everything for anyone to build from scratch, but at the same time preferred people buy his kits which is to be expected, but he was not stopping anyone else from doing so.
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2 weeks 1 day ago #7074
by Simomax
Replied by Simomax on topic DIY Geiger Kits discontinued
Fair enough. Have at it. Let me know where I can buy a kit from you in the future. I'd love another BroHogan counter.
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