Thanks ted, I had already purchased the 20dB amp with the kit just before you posted, too late to change it! Nevermind, I will probably end up buying a 40dB amp if I need one in the future.
Not sure what I will do about the DSA815 options, mine has bootloader 1.04. Thinking I'll take the risk and modify the eeprom pins on the PCB before my time runs out.
My suggestion is: Don't think about it, Just Do It! I feel that everyone with BootLoader .04 should do it immediately when they get their new DSA815. Otherwise the real RISK is that you may never have access to the Option without spending $2000+ more.
1. Watch the video on the Security Seal Removal.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KGcNS5g9yggHint: If you add some heat from an electric Hair Dryer it will almost lift off by itself. Even if you damage the Seal (unlikely), the chances of ever needing DSA815 a Warranty repair is also very unlikely.
2. Solder U1105 pins 7 and 8 together (It can easily be UNDONE with Solder Wick {and PCB Solder Rosen Cleaner} if you need to do so in the future).
* At this time the possibility of a New Generation Riglol Kegen doesn't look very likely for the newer DSA815 Hardware. * Although maybe someone will take this as a challenge and come up with one(?). But, don't count on it!
We know that the Trial Options count down while the DSA is powered up, and then the Trial Time gets reset where it was, on the next Power ON state. But what if the Trial Options TIME OUT and go to ZERO(?). Does the unit still reset the Trial Options when you Power On again? We hope so, and maybe, but I haven't heard of anyone testing this scenario. In any case; the more time that is left on the options, leaves more room for experimenting, etc. in the future when it may be very critical.
And then when the newer Firmware is released for the DSA815, wait for it to be verified Ok before installing it, to make sure that it doesn’t include a new check for U1105’s normal operation (without pins 7 and 8 connected).