Yeah, I already got a coupla ’36es, so unless a new Q8 is a real game-changer, I don’t really “need” another one.
Barry - it's been asked by others:
Is this Anduril Q8 using a custom configured version of Anduril specifically for the Q8?
ToyKeeper has special Q8 configuration files to support the Q8, tailored for the Q8. If you got the Anduril Q8 firmware from TK for the Q8, then she probably gave you the correct version.
I wish that flashlight dealers were willing to take trade-ins when new models come to the showroom.
Yes, it was from ToyKeeper.
Ok, cool!! Thanx Barry 
Well, sort of. I maintain a Q8 build for my own use, but I did not know sofirn was using it. I also haven’t done production-quality testing on that build, like measuring and adjusting the thermal regulation. It’s probably fine, but it could potentially respond too fast or too slow when hot, which might make its runtime graph bumpy.
Thanks aren’t necessary… but the license (translated: zh-cn, zh-tw) does require some other things which don’t appear to be satisfied:
- A message somewhere prominent stating that the product uses copyrighted code released under the GNU Public License v3 (GPLv3).
- Information about how to get the exact source code used in the product. If it is an unmodified version, a link to the upstream code works.
That info generally goes on the product page and/or in the included paper manual. Ideally both:
- The license applies to anyone who distributes the code in a compiled form, which includes companies who sell products based on the code. In other words, it applies to every vendor and reseller. So it’s a good idea to put the information in a printed manual which ships with the product, because that means the vendor doesn’t have to know or care about the license.
- Even if the license info is in the manual, it is a good idea to include the license info on the original manufacturer’s product page too. This allows people to verify the license is being fulfilled, which means I don’t have to bother you with messages like this one.
Could sofirn add the necessary info to the product page and/or manual?
SOFIRN would love to add the info to product page or to the manual when new batch is made. I need to confirm, which is the exact information need to be added?
Add this link? The GNU General Public License v3.0 - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation or some paragraph of it?
SOFIRN uses unmodified version, engineers are not able to modify any NarsilM or Anduril firmware, they are busy do their own job.
Would you please tell what the “necessary info” is? Or anyone else help me understand it fully and correctly?
Sorry for my limited understanding.
Thank you.
I was gonna buy a Q8 from Sofirn, but the coupon they have listed on the product page doesn’t work anymore.
This coupon is dead, even though it’s still listed on the products page.
Received the BLF Q8 Anduril light today, with the diffuser. Quality seems all there, as usual for the many Q8's I've bought and sold/gave away. This one is brighter than the classic Q8's, measurable not that noticeable, about 150 lumens more with bypasses. I took an older Q8's battery assembly and ran it on the new Q8 Anduril and it fit and ran fine.
The difference in LED's/optics though has some pros and cons. Didn't measure throw, but the new light has a well defined hot spot while the older models have got some blurriness in the hot spot definition - this seems to be an improvement. However the tint -- the new Q8 Anduril clearly has a green halo around the hot spot while the old Q8's have a nice white blend. Side by side it's very noticeable. The new LED's sure do appear to be the classic XPL's, not XPL2's. I got a Q8 with XPL2's so know what they look like. I can't see any differences in the reflector or glass. The glass still is non treated, no color, and the reflector cups appear to be same size, same shape from what I can tell by eye.
Without any direct testing, the new XPL's appear to be more like W2 binned 3C's, possibly 2C's or 2B's. The difference is just too great to be a bad batch of 3D's. We picked 3D's specifically because of their superiority over 3C's because of the green in 3C's.
The tint is certainly a big disappointment, specially when the light is listed as having 3D's, and Sofirn seemed to do such a great job in sourcing that tint over the years.
Also what was weird is the light is stamped with "BLF Q8 Anduril" but still comes with the two Narsil manuals, one for folding up into the tailcap. It definitely is running Anduril though.
Barry - any ideas about the LED's?
Those questions were all answered in the comment just above yours.
For unmodified versions, the link is: ~toykeeper/flashlight-firmware/fsm : files for revision 492
The necessary info is listed in points 1 and 2 in that post — a message that the product uses copyrighted code published under the GNU Public License v3 (GPLv3), and a link to the source code.
The place to put the information is discussed below — ideally in both the paper manual and on the manufacturer’s page for the product.
They should be the same except UI. BLF Q8 Anduril has the same emitter, I don’t know if wrong emitter chosen. I will check it.
The manual is a mistake made by warehouse staff. They might confused sometimes, we have BLF Q8, sofirn Q8, now BLF Q8 Anduril, SP36, SP36 BLF Anduril
I put this imformation down below in description:
The product uses copyrighted code released under the GNU Public License v3 (GPLv3).
To know about the exact source code used in the product, please go to
https://tiny.cc/TKAnduril
Is it correct?
sorry if I didn’t understand it correctly again.
Thanks Barry for getting back and looking into it!
Thanks!
I know it can seem strange at first, including a license notice with the product… but it’s getting more common every year as more products are made with free software. At least it’s easy to do and costs no money.
Does anybody know where I can purchase the needed equipment to flash Anduril on my BLF Q8 (currently on NarsilM) and update the Anduril of my Sofirn Q8 and LT1 Batch 1?
Also would be nice if emitters were replaced with XPL-HI 5000/4000k or LH351D 90CRI 5000k.
how about 9pcs LH351D 5000K 90CRI to make a Q8 Pro 10000 lumens, with charging port, compatible with QC3.0 charger and PD fast charger？
A flood monster!
What sets the Q8 apart from the big floody lights is two things:
a) the price. It is relatively cheap for a light with this output, and you get a robust quality flashlight
b) it is relatively throwy. Because the 4 XP-L’s (or XP-L Hi’s in the Sofirn Q8) are driven hard, the hotspot is pretty bright, not far from some dedicated throwers even.
What happens if you make it 9xLH351D is that the dies are larger, the reflectors are smaller, and the individual leds are driven less hard. In other words: it will be a very floody flashlight, and there are already many of those. But if the price is good it will still be attractive compared to other floody 10K lumen lights. and the 90 CRI of the LH351D makes the light quality stand out too.
To maintain a bit of throw you could also consider an option for 9x SST-20 leds (my preference would be 3000K 95CRI). You get a bit less light but a brighter hotspot.