I'm guessing (wildly) that FCC certification has failed?

[ghawkins]

If good things had happened since the last update on August 22nd I guess that'd have been announced?

So I'm guessing bad things have happened?

For lack of information I'm guessing one of:

• the final hardware for FCC certification has not shown up for some reason.
• the hardware has shown up but failed FCC certification.
• you've burnt through the pledged money and realize you can't deliver everything without incuring a serious loss.

The first problem is the least serious one. The second quite an expensive problem but still not the end of the world. Even for the third I'm sure something can be done.

Even if the project has serious issues it's better to be open about them than stay silent.

The BLEDuino project is a good example.

Despite ultimately delivering they lost an awful lot of goodwill in the process - and not, I think, primarily because they were a year late but becasue they were so bad at handling communications.

Everyone knows Kickstarter projects often involve people who are doing this kind of thing for the first time and it's human nature to be over optimistic about time lines etc. And unexpected delays and problems occur even for the most experienced Kickstarter Creators.

I think you'd be surprised how forgiving people are prepared to be if you make mistakes, whether they're not really your fault or even if they're stupid and entirely your fault.

But people can only be forgiving if you're open about what's going on.

Lack of communication just leaves people to assume the worst (as I am in this posting).

Tell people what's happening and people can help out suggesting where to go from here.

I know FCC certification is very expensive. But if you've failed presumably it was something small, given the preparatory work put in in the hope of ensuring success, and presumably they've told you clearly what needs to be fixed to pass next time.

If submitting for FCC certification a second time means the finances no longer add up then explain this.

Similarly if for any other reason things don't add up anymore explain this.

People know they're taking a risk backing a Kickstarter project - a lot of them fail.

But if you're open maybe your backers can work with you to get over any last hurdles, or if things have really failed help you salvage and/or deliver as much as possible, e.g. software, schematics etc.

If it's a cost thing maybe things would still be possible if e.g. backers agreed to all, irrespective of their pledge, accept just 2 flutter basic boards (without even breakouts or cables)?

I don't know if Kickstarter provide an advice service for Creators in need of advise in problem situations? It would seem a sensible thing if they did.

Dissappearing from sight is the worst thing for your reputation, being open about problems can only help.

If there are just simple delays behind the current lack of visible activity then this message is completely OTT but without information people don't know where things stand.

And if you're being silent just because you're working round the clock to finish up software etc. then that's the worst thing - you're losing goodwill for no good reason.

Just take a few minutes to say something to your backers.

I hope I'm completely wrong in my guessing - but either way if things are going great or terrible please be open and communicate regularly about it.

Best wishes (I mean it!),

/George

[TMiller51]

Great post George. Just sending out a quick tweet now and again @FlutterWireless would make me happy at this point.

[taylor]

Hi!

Man, I really haven't been communicating, you are right. I've been scrambling to work and I hate writing updates because they take away from the work I feel I am already so late on. I think I've said that a million times and I know it makes no difference - I absolutely need to update you guys. I get really stressed and don't like looking at the comments when I don't have any good news to share, so I was delaying until I had a bit more to say. But I will just tell you what is happening now so you know what's up. It would be probably another week before I had any other news anyway.

But no, actually, FCC cert hasn't failed. I'd have updated with that for sure. Instead, there was just a stupid layout error with the last batch of boards that prevented me from moving forwards. I switched to a USB connector that was easier to source, and when I changed the footprint I neglected to do anything to keep the middle copper layers from pouring underneath it. The plated slots for the connector's tabs went straight through the ground plan AND the 3.3v plane, shorting them together. I assembled one board and notched out those slots to eliminate the short, and everything else works great. I ordered a new batch of boards and they have already shipped out.

While I wait for those boards I have been working mostly on code, and I also made a few more shields that I will be ordering soon (updated RC shield, a shield with a proto area, a shield just for making quadcopters, a shield with room for two stepper motor drivers, and a few other experimental shields). The shields were quick to make (and somewhat therapeutic for me because they are simple) and will help with making some promo material to boost sales once we pass FCC and start taking more orders.

This week has been all code, and the new PCBs should be in by the end of this week. I still have code to finish but perhaps I will work on an update today also and/or instead...

Sorry I keep taking so long to update. You are right that I am losing goodwill for no good reason. I guess partly I feel like nothing matters until I deliver but of course that isn't true and I need to stop believing that. I really appreciate all the comments and generally agree 100% with what you have said.

But I am still on track to deliver real hardware. If we have trouble with FCC that could be an issue but no matter what you will get all the source files etc. I just don't want to release anything until we get approval that the design is good all around.

Thank you for the support even though I have been lagging. I am not handling this project well and I wish I would have better understood this stuff when we launched our project. It has been a wonderful learning experience but that means less if everyone hates me.

I suppose I should put off the code work for now and just push out a formal update. Thanks again.

[ghawkins]

That's a super update - thanks for taking the time to write it

Hope you don't feel I forced you into it by positing the worst case scenario? If so then sorry.

You say:

It would be probably another week before I had any other news anyway.

Tthat makes it sound like you think the contents of the message you just sent aren't soooo important.

But actually the content is really good and interesting. It gives people insight into how things are going and builds personal connection with the community - the information about the PCB errors make people see you as a person and not just as anonymous "project"

And it reassures people that things are alive, happening and moving forward.

Just thinking about that BLEDuino project again - even though it was prety clear the guys behind it were trying really hard I think a lot of people actually grew to hate them (yes I know that sounds strong!) because their failure to handle communication made it look like they were ignoring their backers and people couldn't see what, if anything, was happening (even though it all worked out in the end).

I'm sure failure to communicate enough is a common mistake in all areas not just Kickstarter projects

Thanks again for a cool update and good luck with all upcoming work. Look forward to more updates - hearing about the process, hiccups and all (and not just the major milestones reached) really does interest people (and reassures).

/George

[ghawkins]

PS I wouldn't get to worked up about negative comments (or messages like mine!) and definitely don't start thinking things like "everyone hates me". You're doing something amazing - creating a cool product.

You've got 1,598 backers and only a few annoyed comments so far. There'll always be a few unreasonable people - complaining too much about a project being delayed I think is generally unfair (it's par for the course on Kickstarter). I'd like to think complaining about lack of communication (like I did) is a bit fair as it looks to be kind of avoidable

As a suggestion I'd say it'd be good to update at least once a week. Nothing fancy - e.g. just announcing the arrival of the boards is something people'd like to hear. And then later a few notes about any further issues you have with them (or a report that their perfect) and of course report when things head off to the scary FCC! Just split things up into regularly little chunks rather than saving them up forever because you feel a single item doesn't add up to sooo much.

Sorry if that sounds pushy - they're 100% just suggestions, not demands

[jet_flyer]

Thanks for the update. I know it's hard to break away from the project for a bit but I too would rather have smaller (seemingly) insignificant updates than a monthly big one. If you need help with updates I bet there's someone that could help (I'm not a pro but I could even help if anything). On a personal note I myself am following how the development is going closely cause i'm planning on starting a project in the next year or two myself, keep up the great work