Wanted beaglebone, got crazy "end user undertaking" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rocketfire
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 05:50:00 am
content: Hi Guys, this is my first post on the EEVblog forum so take it easy on me.I ordered a Beaglebone from Element14 (Australia) in Australia dollars and paid Australian GST. Because their nearest unit was in their UK warehouse I was asked to completed an "end user undertaking" as a UK customs requirement, part of which is below.We further certify that the goods will not be used for any purpose connected with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or missiles capable of delivering such weapons; that they will not be re-exported or otherwise re-sold or transferred if it is known or suspected that they are intended or likely to be used for such purposes; and that the goods, or any replica of them, will not be used in any nuclear explosive activity or unsafeguarded nuclear fuel cycle activity.Rather than fill out this stupid form I cancelled the order out of principle. Does anyone know where I can buy a beaglebone with having to complete a we-need-all-your-details-to-keep-you-safe form?

author: TriodeTiger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 05:54:08 am
content: Looking at your name, and your refusal to sign this form..I think Dave and Chris mentioned this on the Amp hour once.Aren't there a numerous amount of places you can get them?http://beagleboard.org/buyQuote

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 05:58:52 am
content: It is annoying, but I have some sympathy for sellers who are being cautious. It is not hard to fall foul of the US laws about reselling to the "wrong" people.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/australian-man-indicted-in-us-for-selling-military-components-to-iran/story-e6frg6so-1226285897363This is a one man business selling components who did not realize that a company "Skylife" that he sold parts to was a front for an Iranian company that the US believe is controlled by the Iranian Military.Sounds like the US are particularly worried about any parts that could be used to make missiles.Richard.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 07:42:45 am
content: When are the Americans going to wake up and realize they don,t rule the world. They never have done and they never will. Any item can be called a part that could be included in a weapon system. Does not make it one or mean that it will be used as such.I can remember the case of the British lorry driver who was stopped in Greece, supposedly carrying parts for an Iraqi super gun. The Americans of all people should have known that thick wall pipe is required for deep well oil drilling.

author: rocketfire
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 07:46:28 am
content: Haha, yeah I didn't notice the "rocketfire" connection but good point. Trying to sell a used military night vision image intensifier from a tank* using ebay got me noticed (with a stern message about US laws even though they don't apply to me in Australia) so maybe my name is on a "he's suspicious" list somewhere (being replicated everywhere).I'll work through the sellers list. Element14 were good in that shipping was free, mouser and digi-key ~$40 for shipping, adafruit is out of stock (but cheapest so far).Anyone buying parts for their Farnsworth-inspired doomsday device isn't going to be foiled by a I-promise-to-be-good form, they'd just write any harmless guff on it. It'll be a shame when electronics hobbyists quit for fear of secret service scrutiny. It's the reason I quit my rocket club because the government introduced laws that took away my rights (as a member of rocket club) to privacy.Sigh, and all I wanted to do was tinker with a beaglebone and some weather sensors, guess I'll just wait until the Chinese copy them.*bought from Oatley electronics more than 15 years ago

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 07:48:48 am
content: What makes me laugh is as if a would-be terrorist filling in the form would write "Aw shucks you got me, I was going to use it as part of a nuclear weapon, I guess I can't order it then".

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 09:16:09 am
content: Good thing that Yanks don't use metric thread fasteners in their missiles then, otherwise we are all screwed" We suspect your car is used to transport some of them metric missile components sir! We need to take 'em out."

author: McMonster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2012, 09:32:56 am
content: Oh crap, I bought a function gen from a military surplus company. I'm surely using it to build an ICMB in my basement now.