First batch of DiscoX v2 devices shipped

The first batch of pre-ordered devices went out this week. It's taken a while to get production up and running, but the revised design makes it easier to assemble the devices while ensuring good build quality, albeit at slightly increased cost.

The first batch of v2 devices left for customers this week. It was a small run of 10 devices — I didn't want to make too many in case of any design flaws in the finished product.

Ten DiscoX v2 devices laid out in two rows of five on a beige carpet, all switched on. Each has a black case with brass screws around the edge, a lit screen at the top showing a bearing and an inclination reading, a square orange trigger button with a crosshair icon below the screen, and four round buttons — up, menu, down and power — beneath that. A black connector gland sits at the bottom end of each case. — All ten devices from the batch, powered up.

Everyone who pre-ordered now has a device on the way or already in hand. Each one was fully bench-tested before it left: compass calibration, laser range against a known distance, and a full charge-discharge cycle on the battery.

Orders placed after assembly started are queued for the next batch, but I'm hoping to soon have enough stock to fulfil on-demand orders.

There were some less obvious issues that came to light around the firmware after the devices were received, namely readings being dropped after a device disconnection and a flipped compass reading. Both are fixed in the firmware currently on the site — if you have one of these devices, update to v2.0.2 from the firmware section.

I've ordered a small stockpile of components and plan to do another batch run before Hidden Earth. I won't be able to make it myself as I'm going to a wedding that weekend, but I'll make sure to send someone in my place with some devices to demo if anyone wants to try them out.