GC2 Megaflash

[andygg1986]

I have a batch of flashes assembled, tested, and ready to go. I have worked with Tretee on the JNPG forum on this design. He is a very skilled engineer with extensive flash design experience and test equipment. Here are the highlights of the new design.
1.) It will definitely work with serial numbers 4200 and above
- This is the point when Foresight started shipping their newest driver circuit board. The new driver can handle more current than the old one. The Foresight Superflash requires the newest driver board because it uses a larger bulb that needs more current to flash. The Megaflash uses less current than a Superflash but more than the old style, so to be safe I am saying 4200 and above.
- If you have a lower serial number and are interested in testing the Megaflash send me a PM for more info.
2.) It comes with a 1 year warranty
- If it stops working within the first year I will send you a new circuit board that goes inside the housing for free. Foresight's Superflash has a prorated 1 year warranty
- I expect it to last several years in a personal-use setting.
3.) The case has been designed to be reusable
- It is 3D printed on a $200k industrial printer for the highest quality print that I could find. It has a matte texture but no visible layers or extrusions like personal printers
- It has a glass infrared filter instead of a plastic one
- The back can be removed to put a new circuit board in
4.) It has a life expectancy on par with the Superflash.
- During longevity testing, we were able to run a bulb for over 2 million flashes which equates to 200k shots.
- Each flash is tested for brightness on a light meter that I built to be brighter than the old design for reliable readings
5.) A complete module costs $150.
- If you bought one of my other designs, I will give you $10 off a new one.
- Please add $10 for shipping to the UK and understand that it will take about 2 weeks to arrive. I can ship faster but cost will go up significantly.
6.) Additional circuit boards for inside will be $100/piece.
- I am going to hold off on selling extra boards until I can get everyone who is interested a complete module

To purchase a flash, please send Paypal to gc2flash@gmail.com. Include your shipping address and forum username in the notes please. I will post when the first batch is gone. I have parts to build more so I will be replenishing my stock as they sell. If you have any questions, please post them below since other people may have the same question.

[Andyman33]

and the warranty does last a total whopping 1 year......

[wbond]

Crap, i'm going to void my warranty.

Oh wait i have an old second hand gc2, i have no warranty anyway. Guess I'll take my chances tomorrow when my new flash arrives.

Can't wait, didn't realize how much i actually want to putt on a sim.

[col forbin]

Wait till they find out people use other software than FSX! Everybody's warranties are voided.............However, you can pay a $1000 SDK fee to use other software, but not recommended as it too could damage your GC2 somehow. I for the life of me don't know how they develop such great LM's, because everything else they do business wise, it would appear that they are mentally challenged.

[andygg1986]

I wonder how many GC2 owners that aren't on golfsimulatorforum are going to search for "unauthorized third-party GC2 flash modules". If they didn't know there was another source for components, they do now.

[Iron Brandon]

Andy, don't let foresight buy you out!

[Ookie]

In the words of Dana White (audio NSFW)

Four words for the s-bags at Foresight: Magnuson Moss Warranty Act

The law in the United States is clear: a manufacturer cannot disclaim a warranty because you modified an item or installed an aftermarket part. Passed in response to the scumbag auto manufacturers refusing to honor warranty on the muffler because you installed an aftermarket radio.

I have come to regard Foresight in very much the same way as Comcast. Both are companies I detest, but I continue to deal with because I have other choice.

So unbelievably sick of these guys...

[HookShank]

Being a noob, how many flash cycles (is it 12 per shot?) will the mega flash do?

My foresight Sports distributor told me the foresight superflash will do 1,000,000 flashes 🤔

[andygg1986]

I expect it to last a comparable amount. I worked with another engineer/simulator player from the JNPG forum to develop it. He had developed flashes before and had a test rig for longevity testing. That was the only practical way to test it since me hitting 100k shots on each iteration would have taken years. If it fails within a year I will replace it for free. I have 6 of them in a simulator business that have been running for 4 months with no problems. Those ones have seen as many shots as an individual would hit in several years.

[mthunt]

Foresight makes amazing products but their leaders definitely sit around the boardroom table and say “How can we increase our margins in this market”

[Andyman33]

which all companies do. however their business practices are becoming nearly backhanded and lying. changing what their salesmen are saying. going round about way to have a new FSX18 which is a new "engine" --cough bullshit cough-- and now trying scare tactics...

[Ookie]

Agree 100%. The goal of a business is to make money. It is when dishonesty become involved that there becomes an issue. Between the nonsense with FSX 2018 being a "new" product to the installation of an aftermarket part voiding a warranty, it's clear they they have crossed that line.

[gnomike]

Don't forget things like telling me that since I bought my GC2 second hand, I have to spend $500 to "register" with them before I can service my unit with them, or even buy replacement parts like the flash! Seriously. I don't like blatant cash grabs

[col forbin]

Hi Andy,
I was wrong on my GC2 serial #. It is A5486, so your megaflash should definitely work correct? Do you have any left and if so, I just have to send $150 to the info provided on the first page. The email from Foresight made me look into this, so in essence it backfired on them. I am way out of warranty their warranty and don't want to pay $500 down the road. Thanks in advance!!!

[andygg1986]

Yes you will have the newest flash driver board so it will work. It has worked in all of the older serial numbers too but the sample size is still pretty small. You can send the $150 to gc2flash@gmail.com and I will ship it out the same day via priority mail as long as the payment come before 4pm central. Please include your shipping address in the PayPal notes as well.

[col forbin]

Thanks Andy!

Payment sent

[mmlincon]

Guys, here's the deal. Keep your working Foresight flash around. If you need to send your GC2 into Foresight for any type of repair and they find an after market flash in there they won't help you. Rightfully so too. Lot's of vendors require that you use their tested equipment. That's not that unusual.

The warranty statements are a bit laughable though. Really? Ah, your 1 years warranty expires long before your old flashes wear out. Losing warranty isn't really the issue, it's getting support if your unit fails for some reason.

I think having this cost effective third party option is great, just be aware of what I said above.

[col forbin]

I like how they use the word genuine to describe their flash. If my GC2 ever needs repair, I would definitely put the Foresight flash back in before I sent it. I am definitely out of warranty, and $500 is way too much.

[mmlincon]

Which is exactly why something like this comes about. Over priced items open a market.

[Ookie]

Hi Andy,
I was wrong on my GC2 serial #. It is A5486, so your megaflash should definitely work correct? Do you have any left and if so, I just have to send $150 to the info provided on the first page. The email from Foresight made me look into this, so in essence it backfired on them. I am way out of warranty their warranty and don't want to pay $500 down the road. Thanks in advance!!!

Have to love the Streisand Effect!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

[wbond]

Just got this flash last night, installed it today and hit a few shots. Seems to work just fine on a pre-apple GC2 unit. I think my unit is around a 2500 number or so. Less than a 1/3rd of the foresight price, thanks again.

[andygg1986]

Glad it is working for you!

[kinitex@gmail.com]

I have an old 1170 GC2 which I believe has a flash that is slowly dying. Has anyone under the recommended 4500 with the assumed older circuit board done at least a couple 1000 shots with this mega flash yet? What is the worst case scenario here, the flash dies quicker on older boards, or the stronger flash stresses the board to the point of ruining the circuit board itself?

[andygg1986]

I have sold some to people with older GC2s but I can’t say for sure how many shots they have hit. The worst case is that the flash stresses the flash driver board inside the GC2. My flash won’t stress it more than a Superflash but eventually the flash driver boards wear out. Really it is the main transistor that switches the current to the bulb that wears out. I can usually repair in a day and have repaired 4 or 5 of them for other people. I have seen them wear out with both the old style flash and megaflash. It used to be that foresight would sell you just a driver board but I have been told that they stopped doing that. Another member was generous enough to give me a spare broken driver board so hopefully I have a chance to repair that soon and then do an exchange program for a nominal fee. I think now foresight charges $100 to repair a driver board but you have to send in your whole GC2 and pay the registration fee if you didn’t buy it from them.