Arctic fox vs Escribe- cheaper boards and near DNA performance?

[conanthewarrior]

Hello everyone, yesterday I received an Istick Pico from a forum member as I lost my original one, and it came pre loaded with Arctic fox. The project has unfortunately shut down now but you can still find what you need to install the custom firmware on your compatible mods and also the Arctic fox monitor which works similarly to escribe on your computer to hook it up.

I had completely forgotten about arctic fox, even though I have it installed on two Cuboids, an RX2/3, and I believe my RX200 although I don't currently have 3 married batteries to test either that or my DNA200 version of the same mod.

I was genuinely blown away by all the features Arctic fox gives to these cheaper mods (cheaper compared to one with a DNA board), what you can set on the mod without having to use the computer, and just how well it performs for TC.

Onto my DNA powered mods- 3 out of 4 of my DNA200's either arrived dead or the board failed within a few weeks. Evolv was great here, and payed for me to ship the mods to the USA and back to have a board replacement, and since then they have worked fine. Have others had issues with boards from Evolv like me, or have I just been really unlucky?
My SMY DNA75 is still working, but I accidentally managed to pull the positive wire off of the 510 connector when replacing a battery spring, but a quick solder will fix that and that one was my fault.

On the cuboid for example, with arctic fox it shows the balance/voltage of the cells in the mod whilst charging, so I know that they are within a safe range to use together, just like I could with Escribe and a DNA board mod.

I am really just posting this being blown away by something I had forgotten about, arctic fox.

I am currently using a Ti 01 build in a Jaybo Bambino RDA on the Pico, a simple 7 wrap 26G 2MM ID spaced coil, set to 250C and the temp protection/control works just as it should and if I wanted I can vape the cotton dry without getting a dry hit- something that was once only thought possible on the better Evolv DNA boards, or the higher end Yihi mods.

So does anyone remember Arctic fox or still use it?

It is also a massive shame that the project has closed, but luckily as I said you can still get it if you search enough- I had to dig pretty deep to find a version of Arctic Fox monitor for my M1 pro MBP, but once I found it and installed it it is working with all the mods perfectly.

It just goes to show what a cheaper board in a mod can actually do with a bit of work behind it, and makes me wonder what other mods are probably more than capable of giving a great TC vape that you can set up as you would in Escribe.

So vapers who use TC, what is your opinion on Arctic Fox if you remember it or use it, and also your opinion on it VS Escribe and DNA mods?

 

[John R]

Pods and disposables seen off most JWEI development https://www.jwei.com/about.php a conglomeration of Joyetech, Eleaf, Wismec and Vaal. The move of the group to STM32 boards killed future development of Arctic Fox due to end users having to deconstruct the mods to flash the firmware onto the mods. Shame really, the AF firmware and associated toolbox demonstrated that the chipsets were very capable for their time.

 

[John R]

Still got an iStick iPower left after you guys hoovered all my other AF capable mods, lol. It's the silver one in the middle of the image.

 

[conanthewarrior]

Still got an iStick iPower left after you guys hoovered all my other AF capable mods, lol. It's the silver one in the middle of the image.

View attachment 361736​

At least you still have one capable of it mate.

I didn't realise they all moved onto the STM32 boards, that must have been during my break from keeping up on things. Its a shame you had to deconstruct the mod to flash the board.

And yes, it shows just how capable they was vs the Evolv DNA boards. I have both the Wismec RX200 and the Wismec reuleaux DNA200, and with arctic fox makes me wonder why I spent like 3-4 times the price for the DNA mod.

 

[John R]

It's just easier to go with a DNA board tbh. At least they're still around.

 

[ripe_plantain]

I have both the Wismec RX200 and the Wismec reuleaux DNA200, and with arctic fox makes me wonder why I spent like 3-4 times the price for the DNA mod.

Umm, because Evolv have a real warranty and replaced or repaired your 3 that died.
Evolv has a dedicated user forum for end users.
I had a Joyetech Evic Mini and they screwed me around for 3 solid weeks, until I gave up out of frustration and beat it to death with a sledgehammer. My SDNA75 actually fit into my Mini's rubber case.
You do realize Arctic Fox was a complete copy of Escribe in the beginning. Smart dude and should've sold it to JWEI, but they wouldn't purchase it.

I've used the Evolv service twice. Once I had a loose board that fell on the ground. Standing up I flattened the USB connector. They replaced the board. I still have a LV 75C (21700) can't remember the name, that wouldn't fire. They found poor connections and repaired it. And they're still doing firmware updates for old boards, like Session Mode way back to the DNA60, IIRC just about the time of AF's demise.

To be fair, I do still have an OG Pico silver/grey that looks as good as the day I bought it but the battery cap threading is starting to wear. That was the last JWEI product I've ever bought.

 

[conanthewarrior]

Umm, because Evolv have a real warranty and replaced or repaired your 3 that died.
Evolv has a dedicated user forum for end users.
I had a Joyetech Evic Mini and they screwed me around for 3 solid weeks, until I gave up out of frustration and beat it to death with a sledgehammer. My SDNA75 actually fit into my Mini's rubber case.
You do realize Arctic Fox was a complete copy of Escribe in the beginning. Smart dude and should've sold it to JWEI, but they wouldn't purchase it.

I've used the Evolv service twice. Once I had a loose board that fell on the ground. Standing up I flattened the USB connector. They replaced the board. I still have a LV 75C (21700) can't remember the name, that wouldn't fire. They found poor connections and repaired it. And they're still doing firmware updates for old boards, like Session Mode way back to the DNA60, IIRC just about the time of AF's demise.

To be fair, I do still have an OG Pico silver/grey that looks as good as the day I bought it but the battery cap threading is starting to wear. That was the last JWEI product I've ever bought.

Thats very true- they were as helpful as possible with the ones that had board failures and repaired them as quickly as they could with the transit time to the USA and back.
Also very true about the dedicated forum, they helped me out the other day.

Sorry to hear about your Evic mini and them screwing you around for 3 weeks, what did they do during that time period to mess you around? I forgot that I also have an Evic VTC mini with AF.

I also realise Arctic Fox was a copy yes, I am just really impressed what boards at the time could do if they actually had people behind them willing to put the time in, essentially what Evolv is doing with the DNA boards. I never knew there was the possibility for JWEI to purchase it, they really missed a golden opportunity there didn't they!

That was very good of Evolv to replace the loose board where you flattened the USB connector. Also its very good they found the loose connection in the LV 75C and repaired it for you.

I have never tried session mode, I have been away from vaping for a good few years and also the forums so have not kept up with things, what does this offer?

This was more of a ramble I went on comparing the two together lol, not a I hate Evolv thread, far from it- my DNA mods are amongst my favourites with the customisation possible with Escribe, and the temp protection/control is definitely the smoothest I have experienced. I was just rather pleased with what a few mods can do when they have some people who actually think and can create something cool do so, and shows what is possible.

Shame to hear the threading is going on the battery cap to the Pico. They are cracking little mods.

EDIT: I guess you could kind of compare it to owning a Mac as I do, compared to owning a Hackintosh when they were a thing. You could get the Hackintosh to do what the Mac did for less money, but if things went wrong, as they did, it was on you to fix it, whereas with the Mac you were covered by Apple.
I chose a Mac over a Hackintosh as although it was possible to get the same performance for less, I didn't want to have to do the work involved just to be able to use my computer. Used Mac's exclusively since 2010, main reason being Logic is mac only- a lot of people think Macs are very overpriced, which I can't deny, but they just work and also you take the hit on buying the machine for being able to buy pro grade apps at much less of a cost than a similar piece of software that would run on windows.

 

[ripe_plantain]

Sorry to hear about your Evic mini and them screwing you around for 3 weeks, what did they do during that time period to mess you around?

Sent receipt, then they wanted something off the box, then video proof of issue, internally sent it to another group that wanted all that detail again plus more. All with a 12 hour delay minimum between emails. Finally "send it in" and IF THEY find an issue I'll get to pay for return postage. That's when I gave up.

they found the loose connection in the LV 75C and repaired it for you.

Looked at it, a Mirage.

session mode, I have been away from vaping for a good few years and also the forums so have not kept up with things, what does this offer?

For weed smokers. Set timer, hit fire button and let go of button. Like Red Panda branch from AF.

Used Mac's exclusively since 2010

Dude, early 80's here. UNIX programmer. Went from SE30 to their first Laptop, to their 'PowerPC' line, to their 1st desktop MacPro, Power MacBook Pro, to their Intel Core i7's that I'm typing on. (Late 2013). None ever died. Still in use the MacPro, 2 MacBook Pro's at ancient OS (11.7.1) need to do that to be able to make infrequent kernel. changes.

 

[conanthewarrior]

Sent receipt, then they wanted something off the box, then video proof of issue, internally sent it to another group that wanted all that detail again plus more. All with a 12 hour delay minimum between emails. Finally "send it in" and IF THEY find an issue I'll get to pay for return postage. That's when I gave up.

Looked at it, a Mirage.

For weed smokers. Set timer, hit fire button and let go of button. Like Red Panda branch from AF.

Dude, early 80's here. UNIX programmer. Went from SE30 to their first Laptop, to their 'PowerPC' line, to their 1st desktop MacPro, Power MacBook Pro, to their Intel Core i7's that I'm typing on. (Late 2013). None ever died. Still in use the MacPro, 2 MacBook Pro's at ancient OS (11.7.1) need to do that to be able to make infrequent kernel. changes.

That does sound like they messed you around mate, and I don't like the "if they" find an issue with the mod then you pay for return postage, they should have covered the cost of postage and also sent you a new mod.
I had better customer service with SMOK when my X-cube II failed after a few months, they took the mod, sent me a replacement, and also included the broken one in the parcel with the new mod.

I will check out the mirage, as I don't have any DNA 75C mods (or any colour DNA mods for that matter, they was just becoming popular before I became less active).

I'm not familiar with the Red Panda branch of AF, or also why you would need a feature to fire it for a set time without pressing the button. It must be for OCD users who want an exact 3-5 second puff every time they vape.

Oh sweet, you program UNIX? I would love to learn code but where there are so many languages to learn I would not know where to even start!
My first Macbook pro from 2010 still works, I know that came with Snow Leopard but not sure the latest OSX version it is running.
My intel core i7 from 2013 failed a few years ago, it worked perfectly for my needs but had a logic board failure. I still have it as I want some data from the SSD, which unlike newer models is luckily not soldered to the Logic board.
Where that one failed I bought a new M1 Pro 14" Macbook pro when it was new, and it is still more than powerful enough for my needs- I never get any system overload errors like I did in projects with my intel based models.

I don't even think the 2010 model could handle 8 tracks of software instruments in the end without a system overload error, but I still keep it as it works. I imagine if I chucked a SSD in there it would actually be pretty fast, albeit on an older version of MacOS and also an older version of Logic, but if I could make music on it then with what I had I am sure I still could now.

 

[ripe_plantain]

I will check out the mirage

Nothing special. INNARDS ARE PLASTIC, but it is 21700 battery mod.

I'm not familiar with the Red Panda branch of AF

Many weed smokers like to heat and bake it for the terpenes. So they set a timer and let it sit there. A minute later they'll inhale.

Oh sweet, you program UNIX

UNIX till the birth of Linux, but at the heart of ever Mac (to this day) is BSD which is very close to Linux. Usually scripting languages like Pearl or even Python. I have an old Golf GPS where we can upload files for courses, so in 5 lines of Pearl I decoded their data, so I can create my own and load onto it. Here's an example of a golf course 5 minutes away they turned into a subdivision. H is hole number, c is center of the green

They turned this

Into this.