F4v3 Pixel Controller

[mikeh565]

I am looking to expand my show.  I am interested in the F4V3 controller.   Is this controller retired?  Or will there be any more available for purchase in the store?

[mikeh565]

Bump,  since I got no response I will re-state my questions.

I have had a show for many years and am looking to expand it.  I don't need 16 ports in one spot or 48 that I have to add extras boards to make work.  I am looking at the 4 port board to add to one area of my display.  I will handle the upgrade I am planning and take some load off of one of my bridges.  

I see that they are out of stock, but my questions is are they discontinued?  Is there a chance they will be available for order this year?    I have access to another purchase, trying to decide where to place budgeting funds.

[k6ccc]

Everyone is fighting supply issues.  As long as the parts become available, there will either be F4v3 or F4v4 controllers available (maybe depending on WHAT parts are available.  Even David (who build them) does not know what parts will be available and when.

[mikeh565]

Thank you for the reply.  That is what I was needing to know.

[darylc]

If parts become available they will be prioritized into F16v3/F48 controllers.  I wouldn't expect any F4v3's in 2022.  [added later - note: F16v4/F48v4 require different parts]

Perhaps consider using a receiver based solution for locations needing few pixels.

[Christmasdisplay100]

I dont get why f4v3 were discontinued as I have 4 of them and they are superb used with full expansion on smart receivers my quick calculation makes it 28 ports total split across 1024 pixels for each port makes 12000 pixels in total across all 12 ports which is nearly 50000 pixels on my whole setup of 4 x f4v3s more than I'll ever use but who knows

[k6ccc]

Most likely being replaced with the F4v4.  Maybe depending on parts availability, there could be another production run of the F4v3 controllers (don't hold your breath for that), and I am going to assume that once the F4v4 controllers are being used by people, at least some F4v3 controllers will become available on the used market as people upgrade.

[darylc]

There are no plans for a F4v4.  If suddenly the global IC shortage goes away, F4v3's will be produced.  Don't hold your breath for any 4 port controllers in 2022, instead perhaps look at running receivers off of F16v3 or F16v4.

[JonB256]

There are no plans for a F4v4.  If suddenly the global IC shortage goes away, F4v3's will be produced.  Don't hold your breath for any 4 port controllers in 2022, instead perhaps look at running receivers off of F16v3 or F16v4.

Yes, I see the 4 port Diff Receivers as the way forward rather than controllers like the F4v3. Those 4-port controllers that have Expansion connectors will still be useful in a "Diff" world.

Then again, those "I don't use any CAT5" yards won't like this approach.

[jnealand]

As one of the "I don't use an Cat5" crowd I can say that I have not even looked at an F4 and that would not interest me.  There is a reason I have 6 F16s in that they are part of my insurance plan and potential growth plan.  Even though I have a couple of F16s using less than half the ports, I have in my 15 seasons of animated lighting seen a few controller failures and I like being able to have spare ports as part of my insurance plan.  And even though I do not plan for them I do have a couple of receiver boards that I have used a couple of times to replace a controller that was giving me problems and to give me 20 ports when I ran over the 16 port limit of the F16 (that one was not in the yard, but on my front porch).  Now I have two F16s on my Front porch and I still only have 3 open ports - Damn roof props.  One good thing for me in this time of no chips and no controller availabilty is that I do have plenty of expansion available in my controller roster although I may end up having to use a receiver or two. sigh.