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0 pointspeterburkimsher5y ago0 comments

This is the exact reason why I didn't see through my plan to build and sell the EspUSB (a very small ESP board that fits inside a USB-A port).

I got 3 units built for myself by PCBWay at a cost of $77. I got quotes of ~$500 for 100 units from Elecrow and Makerfabs, but didn't know what to do with the other 90.

Although I really want this great little gadget to be easily available, I can't afford $10,000 for FCC certification, and therefore I have no solution.

If anybody wants more details, email espusb@gmail.com and we can chat about it on there.

0 comments

alacombe5y ago

> I can't afford $10,000 for FCC certification, and therefore I have no solution.

That's not how it work. You start by selling them, prove the concept, and when you have the money, you sort out certifications & whatsnot.

You won't become a unicorn if you think about doing everything _by_the_book_ from day one.

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

I have enough legal trouble just trying to get a work visa. I'd rather not risk criminal charges, deportation, or worse for a hobby project.

iancmceachern5y ago

I wonder how the folks that sell on Tindie get around this... https://www.tindie.com/

tesseract5y ago

There are various exemptions for subassemblies and other non-end-user products. Those may not always apply. However, in practice, a product that's sold in small quantities and does not in fact emit egregious electromagnetic interference is unlikely to attract enforcement attention. So a fair bit of skirting of the rules does go on.

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

Based on the PAL project and WiFi capability, I think the ESP8266 does emit electromagnetic radiation. Whether it's interference or a feature depends on your perspective.

antoniuschan995y ago

What about using a pre-certified module (eg. Wroom-02 or wroom32)

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

Because it won't fit inside a USB port any more.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointspeterburkimsher5y ago0 comments

This is the exact reason why I didn't see through my plan to build and sell the EspUSB (a very small ESP board that fits inside a USB-A port).

I got 3 units built for myself by PCBWay at a cost of $77. I got quotes of ~$500 for 100 units from Elecrow and Makerfabs, but didn't know what to do with the other 90.

Although I really want this great little gadget to be easily available, I can't afford $10,000 for FCC certification, and therefore I have no solution.

If anybody wants more details, email espusb@gmail.com and we can chat about it on there.

0 comments

alacombe5y ago

> I can't afford $10,000 for FCC certification, and therefore I have no solution.

That's not how it work. You start by selling them, prove the concept, and when you have the money, you sort out certifications & whatsnot.

You won't become a unicorn if you think about doing everything _by_the_book_ from day one.

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

I have enough legal trouble just trying to get a work visa. I'd rather not risk criminal charges, deportation, or worse for a hobby project.

iancmceachern5y ago

I wonder how the folks that sell on Tindie get around this... https://www.tindie.com/

tesseract5y ago

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

Based on the PAL project and WiFi capability, I think the ESP8266 does emit electromagnetic radiation. Whether it's interference or a feature depends on your perspective.

antoniuschan995y ago

What about using a pre-certified module (eg. Wroom-02 or wroom32)

peterburkimsherOP5y ago

Because it won't fit inside a USB port any more.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse