Raspberry Pi Suffers Minor Production Glitch

[btarunr]

In late-February, the first batch of Raspberry Pi shipped out, but a minor production issue soon surfaced. The RJ-45 jack (common Ethernet port) soldered onto Raspberry Pi units were the ones without integrated magnets, leaving these boards without network connectivity. The problem was traced back to a sourcing glitch, and as The Verge writes, is not a difficult mistake to make. To fix the problem, one has to desolder the old jacks, and replace them with new ones. The pin-density of an RJ-45 jack isn't high, and a simple soldering kit is all one needs. The Raspberry Pi team is sourcing as many of these proper RJ-45 jacks as possible to put production of the next batch of these tiny computers back on track.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[KonstantinDK]

For integrated magnets you have to pay more then $35.

 

[Shurakai]

Curious, why do they even make ones without magnets if it leaves a board without network connectivity?

 

[ron732]

Curious, why do they even make ones without magnets if it leaves a board without network connectivity?

I was thinking the same thing and Googled it. Apparently you use a none integrated RJ-45 connector with an external magnetic isolation transformer. If board space is critical you can use the RJ-45 with integrated magnetics.

 

[faramir]

Those are not 'magnets', they are pulse transformers (sometimes also reffered to as 'magnetics', as in devices that use magnetism to function). Jacks with integrated transformers are more expensive and what's worse, each PHY requires a specific transformer arrangement and ratio (regular versus center-tapped, different ratios) so there isn't just one single jack type that would fit every PHY in existence.

Older network cards simply used external pulse transformers to avoid the hassle of getting propper jacks - they are the large black "boxes", like the ones on this photo:

http://www.elec-intro.com/EX/05-13-23/ethernet-card.jpg

 

[Frick]

Older network cards simply used external pulse transformers to avoid the hassle of getting propper jacks - they are the large black "boxes", like the ones on this photo:

http://www.elec-intro.com/EX/05-13-23/ethernet-card.jpg

Aahhhhh. I've been wondering about that.

 

[GSquadron]

All new electronic and electric products lately are being really crappy
I have heard that there are old TV which are 1000x more durable than 3000$ TV of today

 

[cheesy999]

All new electronic and electric products lately are being really crappy
I have heard that there are old TV which are 1000x more durable than 3000$ TV of today

I wouldn't say all, I'd say it's closer to about 40%

 

[Frick]

I have heard that there are old TV which are 1000x more durable than 3000$ TV of today

And I've heard Jesus was gay and that the old crazy president of Haiti was behind the JFK assassination with the help of voodoo.

 

[option350z]

All new electronic and electric products lately are being really crappy
I have heard that there are old TV which are 1000x more durable than 3000$ TV of today

Really? Did you just noticed this? Because if you did many others don't. Electronics today are not built to last. Just like aircraft* cough cough Airbus cough*, they are meant to be something that you buy one year and last for a few years before you are out again to purchase the latest model. Unlike that Zenith radio from the 60's I have that still works, a crappy Samsung LED TV went out on me before that thing. Early model mind you...

 

[camoxiong]

I was going to buy the Pi, but I dont want to in a way

 

[BeepBeep2]

I was going to buy the Pi, but I dont want to in a way

Nice. Very logical thought process you have there.

 

[qwerty_lesh]

All this talk about magnets and not a single Insane Clown Posse refrence, guys I am disappoint :shadedshu

 

[newtekie1]

I have heard that there are old TV which are 1000x more durable than 3000$ TV of today

Of course they are, the old tube style made of insanely thick glass is naturally more durable than a TV of today. But a TV of today is much better than an old TV, and as long as you don't drop the thing you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[BeepBeep2]

Of course they are, the old tube style made of insanely thick glass is naturally more durable than a TV of today. But a TV of today is much better than an old TV, and as long as you don't drop the thing you shouldn't have a problem.

Build quality of today vs then = horrible
Picture quality of today vs then = worse blacks but 8x better resolution

 

[R_1]

Good ol' times. Still remember my 6800. Not as good as i5-2600k, but kicked ass back in the days.

 

[Peter1986C]

nvm