[spdustin]

Somewhat related: FLIR sold a handheld model back in 2013—the E4—that had the same electronics and sensors as their high-end E8 model. The E4’s firmware was originally unencrypted, so some enterprising folks quickly figured out how to turn the 80x60 E4 (~$1000) into a 320x240 E8 (~$6000). As in, functionality, resolution, and performance were indistinguishable between a modded E4 and a retail E8. They didn’t even bin the larger sensors, they literally just used flags to determine the capabilities that would be exposed to the end user. I still have that camera. :) Hackaday article from that time: https://hackaday.com/2013/11/04/manufacturer-crippled-flir-e...

[ericpauley]

Not nearly as cool, but rigol’s 1xx4 series had similar bypassable firmware restrictions. For a broke college student being able to get a 100mhz 4-channel scope (the class equipment was only 2 channel) for a few hundred bucks really simplified a lot of labs. I suspect the firmware protections were purposefully weak knowing it would gain cred with budding EEs.

[StrangeDoctor]

I was able to do the same thing in 2023 with a new retail E4.

[reaperman]

I’m curious if this still the most cost-effective option for most hobbyists, 10 years later. If so, wow. Impressive that FLIR had a >10-year lead that persists through today.