Attack of the big black blob on my blue cricket board...

[drm31078]

So I have been reading posts on all the board upgrades out there for my imp...I decided to look at my board for the infamous white sticker to see if the board is locked. It turns out that the black goo they cover the microchips with had not been put on too carefully when the board was manufactured. There was too much put on such that it covers the microchip along with several other components on the board...a few of the holes of the six hole port, where an ECS cable can connect to, have been "consumed by the blob". I guess the good news is that there is no white sticker.

Am I screwed out of software upgrades for my board if that six hole port cannot be accessed due to the black blob covering a few of the port holes? If so, is there a way to remove any of that black stuff without damaging the board?

Am I out of luck if I wanted to get the ECS or Section 8 board upgrades since they are software uprades not hardware (do they both use that six hole port)? If so, I guess I am getting a WAS board if their website ever gets back online!?!?! Whats the deal with their website?

[ase]

try harmlessly scraping it off with something, just get as much as possible off. thats my only suggestion, because im not 100% sure what "goo" your taalking about. oh and the WAS website is up and running. so is their ramping.

[agentdaffy007]

If it's one of the newer Impulse, it is Epoxy that's covering your chip and the ECS connection. Smart Parts put that on top to discourage people from reprogramming their board. Sorry to tell you but your board is LOCKED.

Ask DATRUPIMPWITANIMP on pbnation.com to help you out, he removes the Epoxy and install ECS for $35 USD.

[drm31078]

really! he will remove the epoxy and upgrade it for $35...hmmm...i dunno...not that i don't trust the guy, but it seems like it would be hard to remove the epoxy without maybe damaging the board?

Is the ECS upgrade just as good as WAS or Section 8? I suppose I would have the same problem with Section 8...so really my only other option would be WAS.

[agentdaffy007]

Dude, he did that upgrade to like 30 people on pbnation.com alone. He's also on this forum. I don't remember his nickname though.

It's your call. $35 for ECS or $150 for WAS. Personally, i went with ECS and i am a happy camper. Works great and ECS Ramping coming out in a week or so. ;)

[speedy2k4]

i think w.a.s. has a little bit better eye aqnd trigger logic, but e.c.s. is still very good. although if you get w.a.s., you don't need to send your gun/board away, and you have a spare board to keep/sell. then again, ecs is cheaper. your call.

[Awhislyle]

hmmm ecs sounds like a good deal, maybe once they come out with ramping Ill look into it

[agentdaffy007]

I don't want to jinx it but my ECS board never chops with my eyes on. The only time i chopped was i took the Eyes off and the battery on the Reloader B was low.

P.S: I've shot over 10 cases of Xball paints, not one chop. :eek:

[speedy2k4]

i've shot 9 cases of various paints with my w.a.s. i've had a few barrel breaks, maybe 1 or 2 per case, but no chops. good stuff either way :)

[drm31078]

so if I send this guy my board he can get the epoxy off and put ECS on without damaging my board for $35? How do I get in touch with this person? Does he have a website? I would like to send him a picture or post a picture. Not sure how to post a picture though.

[Team Chokepoint]

Contact TRUPIMPWITANIMP on AIM.