EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Equipment without Service Manuals

Maybe what we really need is a medical equipment version of FixYa!

well I think that must of the things that we try to do in this kind of forums an in our daily work is try to help one to an other, some ones doit with their knowledge some others doit with information an so
and at the end of the way, the result of our eforce is the health of some one (that maybe you will never meet) ant that has no price

may be we coul do a kind of library like the ones in the IEEE were we pay some anualy fee to gain access to it and this fee could be use in some way to contribute with the companys that bring the information

more deep we could make this manuals in a Flaspaper format that could be readed onsite (this is a way to avoid the printing an sale of this material)

well just some ideas I hoppe that I could explain the original intention.

Regards

P.s. I beg your pardon my English is not so good

Have a great Day

Diego Gonzalez

I believe that most of us agree with your noble sentiments, Diego.

I personally agree with what you're saying about printing out onto paper, too. I have a number of printers surrounding me here, and do you know what, I hardly ever use any of them. Actually, most of them are for sale, and the "pile" is slowly going down (thankfully). In fact the only time I use a printer at all is when I need to test out a software routine that calls a printer!

And yes, I think we have explored the issue of "doing things for free" quite thoroughly on the forum recently, and it is commonly understood that it's very difficult (if not impossible) to provide any sort of half decent service without it being funded somehow. In fact (in my experience) the actual funding often comes from the pocket of same guy who is doing the work!

Huw can no doubt remind us of discussions that took place when this website was in its infancy (in the days before I started coming on here), and I believe it was decided that the site would not level subscription charges at its users, but is instead supported by sponsors.

All well and good you might say, but I doubt that any of those sponsors would be happy funding a "manuals service". Just look at who they (the sponsors) are.

No Diego ... this website is probably not the answer as far as manuals is concerned. But I agree with you that some sort of subscription by members would need to be charged. Why not?

But meanwhile, what about Medi-Server?

It does appear that MediServer has been abandoned(?) unfortunately...

Yes ... that's how it appears. I haven't heard from "my friend" for a while, either. As you know there was a time when he was very active here on the forum. Do you have any idea what the story is here? Perhaps he has other, over-riding, commitments. Maybe he's lost interest. Or maybe he's been "warned off"! Anyway, let's hope he's OK!

But, meanwhile ... all this brings out a few points, does it not?

1) Medi-Server has given us a good example of "how it can be done"!

2) We need people who will stay the course. Personally, I have "volunteered" (more or less) a number of times. But I reiterate now, once again, that this is not something I can do by myself. Resources are needed. Hosting. A website. Expenses to be paid, and all the rest. And simply man-hours to do the actual work. Yes, it would be nice if (as in the case of Medi-Server) people uploaded donated .pdf's, but someone still has to run the thing. Frankly, without funding, I just cannot do it as things stand. Does anyone else fancy getting involved?

3) I would like to see something more than a simple repository of .pdf files, on a "take it or leave it" basis. I would prefer something a bit more proactive aimed ultimately at a comprehensive (if illicit) collection of .pdf manuals for use (that is, downloading) by subscribers. Illicit? Only in the sense of the usual moans and groans about copyright, "objections" (whether real or imagined) from manufacturers, and all the rest. That's why I mentioned, in an earlier post, an "offshore" location. Belize is one that I've heard about, for instance ... there are probably others "closer to home", as it were (anyone who knows about these things, please pipe up - by PM if you like)!

4) We have had many instances of guys coming on here, making a lot of noise, and then disappearing. No further comment on that one!

One of the problems which i think you have mentioned before Geoff, is having the current version of the manual on the site, remembering that the current version version may not be relevant to the device you have. If you recall the Cardiunny ECG Recorder, we had 7 revisions of the manual to suit recorders purchased at different times.
Maany companies will not supply service manuals unless you have attended a service course and I know of one massive company that inculded a proviso on the courses that you will not impart info to those who have not been trained.

By the way, I am not opposed to letting those technicians who cannot attend those courses for various reasons, including lack of funds or distance, from having manuals. Better they have manuals than fumble through with potentially lethal equipment.

Absolutely! For both their own sakes and for that of their patients!

"Helping people to help themselves" is today's mantra!

In my mind's eye, those techs in need of these manuals are those who are indeed both distant and lacking in funds. A brief review of the many appeals made on this forum bears that out readily enough.

Do you think that the "massive companies" give a damn about people who lack funds (to buy their equipment)? Probably not.

In fact it's those companies that you may have in mind that are also the biggest gougers ... that's probably why they became so er, massive!

If we don't give them the manuals, then the "massive companies" will probably inform them that they have to change boards or other expensive items, if not change the whole machine. Spare parts boost the companies profits and don't they know it.

Hi all and sorry for my absence! (very busy with work! Also learning Jazz Guitar ;))

I actually handed this site over to a member of this forum some time ago! Geoff was right in the "over riding commitments" comment!
I did renew the server deal for another year to try and keep it afloat! The other problem was some PDF files got "corrupted" through file transfer but I did originally post a link on the main page to the "Foxit" app which opened all "flawed" files. (Linux does strange things sometimes).

If anyone is interested in taking over "Mediserver" please contact me on eddie@eddie-hughes.com and I will see what I can do!

Regards to all

Eddie