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The third generation BTC Spectre Mk3 delivers a whole new level of power, durability, and innovation for AEG enthusiasts seeking the highest performance upgrades for their builds. The Mk3 comes packed with an unparalleled number of features spanning a decade of community requests including several that are first of its kind, such as multiple mod ports with 20+ input/output/serial functions for even greater creativity with AEG builds. Over 99% of the firmware memory has now been utilized, double the code size compared to the previous generation, in order include as many features and safeguards as physically possible. This includes functions to maximize product lifespan (memory wear‑leveling), security enhancements (password hashing), and numerous QOL improvements. The full list of changes and additions can be viewed using this comparison table.
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No expense was spared when it comes to the durability of the Mk3, in which every known design weakness from prior generations has been revised and/or reinforced. The logic board is now sealed with mil‑spec conformal coating to protect sensitive components from static discharge during handling, moisture in the environment, and internal grease/metal specks. Components which cannot be coated, such as the board‑to‑board connectors, have been equipped with additional surge suppression diodes to protect any exposed pins during separation of the boards.
All pin connectors that were previously surface‑mount have been replaced with custom‑made through‑hole connectors that are virtually immune to breakage from the stress of heavy recoil. A custom manufacturing process was also devised so the through‑hole connectors would have non‑protruding solder joints. Not only does this allow the board to sit perfectly flat against the gearbox shell, but also prevents any risk of puncturing the newly added polyimide film insulating the solder pads from the gearbox shell.
Despite the added expenses these new safeguards will come standard on all planned gearbox variants of the Mk3 with no increase in pricing. The intention is to design an over‑engineered product that will reduce the majority of repair/warranty requests, thereby allowing the improvements to pay for themselves in the long term. The warranty has also been extended to a lifetime warranty as a testament to the durability of the product and commitment to prolonging its lifespan to the fullest extent.
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Both the select‑fire and gear cycle sensors, which were previously mechanical and prone to accidental damage, have been replaced with more reliable solid‑state optical sensors. These new optical sensors are virtually indestructible under normal use and, being analog by design, allows users to calibrate the sensitivity to support a wider range of gearbox tolerances. Every sensor is also equipped with daylight filters to prevent ambient light from interfering when diagnosing a gearbox outside the AEG.
Unlike gear sensors that detect cycles by counting the number of teeth passing by, the Spectre is continuing its tradition of sensing via the sector gear's cutoff cam. Due to optical analog inputs being much slower to process than mechanical digital inputs, they inevitably struggle to keep pace with teeth counting at extreme fire rates. This is where sensing via the cutoff cam excels because: (a) the cam is located near the center of the sector gear where its angular velocity is 4x slower than the teeth, (b) only needs to sense one cam per cycle instead of 16 teeth per cycle, and (c) is sheltered from grease flung by the teeth. These benefits provide a detection method that is significantly more reliable than other existing methods, and also frees up CPU clock cycles to give other tasks a speed boost.
Exempt from the optical conversion is the trigger which is retaining its mechanical tactile switch. Going fully optical isn't always the best option as it would result in losing the short‑travel and crisp tactile trigger pulls the Spectre is often sought for. Mechanical switches also have the advantage of drawing no power while released, whereas an optical trigger requires repeated battery drain to keep the LEDs on standby for trigger pulls. Based on these factors and the tactile switch's proven record of durability in the previous generation, keeping the trigger mechanical was the clear choice.
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Not only has the program memory has been utilized to its full capacity, but the same applies for the hardware as well. Every usable surface of the PCB has been populated in order to fully integrate Bluetooth, USB, and dual mod ports all into a single module. This eliminates any installation issues that may occur due to lack of space or excess clutter and is more cost‑effective. Integrating the Bluetooth/USB also enables stats to be transmitted in real‑time, even while the AEG is being fired.
The dual mod port is the newest innovation for providing hobbyists with the means to create unique AEG builds without having to develop custom circuits. These mod ports include the most frequently requested I/O functions such as inputs for sensors/switches (eg: ammo‑sense hopup), basic power/signal outputs (eg: pulse‑on‑shot), and advanced serial outputs (eg: all input states). For those who are interested in designing their own add‑on circuits, the mod port also includes "TX passthrough" which enables using the BTC smartphone app to create/save/load custom UART serial data to transmit directly to any attached circuits. This effectively shares the Spectre's wireless Bluetooth/app capabilities with the attached circuits so they do not need to implement their own.
And lastly, the increased capability also extends below the PCB surface. The upper/power board consists of four layers of 4oz/ft² copper plates, each four times larger in thickness compared to the industry standard of 1oz/ft². All four layers are interconnected in parallel to effectively form a larger 16oz/ft² copper cross‑section to handle the increased current throughput of the new and more powerful FET chips on the Mk3.
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