ErosTek ET232 Review

I have always wanted a dedicated e-stim unit so I decided to splurge and buy one. I chose the ET232 over the ET312B because the former is much smaller and lighter (3.3" x 4.4" x 1.5" and 0.35 pounds for the ET232, versus 8.0" x 6.5" x 2.5" and 4 pounds for the ET312B) - making it feasible to attach the ET232 to a ponyboy's harness (for example).

Though I was tempted by the additional features of the ET312B, the $500 price tag combined with the large dimensions swayed me in favor of the ET232: the ET-232 is about one half to one third smaller than the ET-312B in every dimension, and at less than 1/10 the weight of the ET312B, the ET-232 is significantly lighter making it feasible to attach to a harness.

While the ET232 can indeed be easily attached to a harness, it isn't a remotely controlled unit (though it could easily be made into one if you're not shy about a little modification) so you will have to either preset the program you want your pony to experience (perhaps to test a pony's ability to concentrate under distracting stimuli), or be near enough to the box to change the stimulation program and/or level. Alternatively, you can use the built in microphone to punish (or reward - depending on the placement of the electrodes and stimulation level) a loud pony.

What's in the Box

In addition to the power box itself, there are two (one for each output channel) 3.5mm (male) plug to 4mm banana plugs. Also included is an AC adapter, a 9V battery, and the user manual.

You will need to purchase a bipolar electrode (or a pair of unipolar electrodes) to get started. However, some retailers will include a complimentary pair of basic electrodes so you can start to have fun right away. Mr. S included a pair of blue elastic electrodes with the ET232. I also ended up buying another electrode: a bipolar ring that fits around the cock and balls.

One thing worth mentioning is to make sure any additional electrodes you buy accept 4 mm banana plugs as input. If they do not, you will need to buy an adapter (or two adapters - as I had to for my bipolar ring). This wasn't an issue because I was in the store and could see (or ask an associate) what I needed, but if I were ordering online, I can imagine missing this and being disappointed that I can't use my new toy when I received my package (though you could probably get any adapters you need from Radio Shack, Fry's, etc.).

It's also probably not a bad idea to get a bottle/tube of electrode gel. It's pretty cheap (less than $10 for a huge tube), and it really does help make good, consistent electrical contact (which can reduce the likelihood of burns, and also deliver a more uniform sensation).

User Interface

The top of the ET 232 (see figure at top right) has 4 dials: two knobs labeled "A" and "B" which adjust the intensity/amplitude of channels A and B. Another knob is labeled "MA" (for MultiAdjust - I'll talk more about this knob below), and there is a central knob, which sets the stimulation mode.

The front panel (see figure at right) of the ET-232 has the outputs for each channel (A and B), which accept 3.5 mm male plugs, in addition to a central plug for the AC power adapter (which needs 12 VDC) and an audio line input as well as an opening for the built in microphone.

Intensity Knob

The intensity/amplitude knob changes the maximum (peak to peak) output voltage. I say "maximum" because most stimulation programs vary the output voltage (among other things) so that the sensation varies with time. The primary exception being the "intense" mode (and to a lesser degree the "thrust" mode), which deliver groups of pulses at a constant intensity.

While the amplitude dials turn very smoothly, I found the subjective sensation to "jump" almost as though it had defined stimulation levels (that were spaced a little too far apart) as opposed to a continuum. I checked this on the scope (using the "intense" mode because in this mode, the pulses are of constant amplitude) and the amplitude does indeed jump by 2.2V ± 0.4V peak to peak (output voltage as a function of the intensity dial - there are no intermediate points in that figure - the output jumps between the measured values (see figure at right for how I labeled intensity levels on the dial)).

I was a little disappointed that the voltage - and thus the subjective intensity - could not be adjusted more gradually (to give you a rough idea, one level can correspond to as much as a 20% change in amplitude at the lower levels). Though this is not the end of the world (and indeed every shock collar I have tested also has distinct intensity levels), I would prefer to have finer control over the intensity of the output.

I tested the peak to peak voltage of individual pulses when varying the amplitude from the first white mark ("zero" setting in figure) to the maximum ("64" in the figure). It appears there are only 64 total gradations in intensity. Moreover, the settings are not spaced evenly on the dial (though the change in voltage between levels is constant). Its maximum intensity is around 150V.

Aside: ErosTek utilized the Atmel ATMEGA8 microcontroller, which has a 10 bit (10 bit = 1024 possible values) analog to digital converter (ADC), so it's not immediately clear to me why there are only 64 settings. Possibly the Vref of the ADC is quite a bit higher than the maximum possible input from their intensity knob, or they're running the ADC at a really high frequency - but these are just guesses on my part. I will examine this in more detail and let everyone know what I find out. Also, I am told that the ET312B, similar to the ET232, only has 64 distinct levels (though it shows a numerical value up to 100 on the LCD, it apparently skips numbers for a total of 64 actual levels).

Although the ET232 is technically rated (according to ErosTek's spec sheet) for a maximum of 80V peak to peak, I measured maximum output as 151.8V (with the electrodes attached to my body, so it's into a reasonable load). I'm inclined to believe my own measurements though I am a little suspicious that my peak-to-peak meaurement is about half of ErosTek's rated 80V maximum - perhaps my body has more resistance than normal, or ErosTek's measurements were defined differently than I expected, but I'm confident in my measurements.

MultiAdjust Knob

The MultiAdjust ("MA") knob changes the subjective feeling of a stimulation program. Typically turning the knob clockwise increases the rate at which the program seems to repeat. The user manual does a good job of explaining what the MA knob does for each individual stimulation program, but I'll give you an example below from my own subjective experience (as well as measurements made with the oscilloscope).

As an example, in "intense" mode, turning the MA dial from the leftmost setting through to about the center gradually decreases the time between individual pulses, decreases the number of the pulses per pulse train, and increases the frequency of subsequent trains of pulses. However, after about the halfway point on the MA dial (the ET232 specifications state an approximately 300Hz maximum frequency, which explains this transition), continuing to turn the knob clockwise makes the pulses continuous (i.e. no longer separated into pulse trains, or not modulated by a square wave any longer) and then starts to increase the time between subsequent pulses.

My suggestion is to start out in the "intense" mode (around half way on the MA dial) to decide on an intensity level for other programs. I like this method because the "intense" mode is just a series of pulses at constant intensity (for a given setting of the intensity dial).

Stimulation Programs

The ET 232 has 15 stimulation modes available on the selection dial (including the three audio sensitive modes and the "user" mode):

1. Waves - As the name implies this setting produces a wave sensation with the intensity waxing and waning smoothly and gradually. This is a great mode to use to tease your pony for a long period of time. The sensation is achieved through varying the distance between individual pulses and modulating the pulses with a sine wave.
2. Intense - This setting is essentially groups of pulses (constant pulsing modulated by a square wave) and can produce a very similar sensation as a shock collar by fiddling with the MA knob (subjectively, around "6" on MA dial produces a very similar sensation to a shock collar - the scope verifies this, but the rate of pulse group repetition is higher than with the shock collar I compared against). Within each group, the pulses are at a constant frequency and intensity (varying the MA knob up to about the fifth setting on the dial changes rate at which groups of pulses are repeated (i.e. frequency of modulating square wave) as well as the distance between pulses within the groups).
3. Random - It feels similar to waves, but the frequency of the modulating (sine) wave varies over time. I have not tried this mode for a very long period of time, but if varied fairly gradually (see figure at right) for the time period tested.
4. hiFreq - This mode produces a milder, though similar, sensation to that of a shock collar (or the intense mode of the ET-232). It feels a bit like pins and needles.
5. Climb - The sensation builds from a thrumming to a more intense prickly feeling. The distance between individual pulses is varied.
6. Throb - It actually feels like an even milder version of the hiFreq mode. This mode seems to be entirely amplitude modulated (i.e. only the amplitude of the pulses is varied at a given "MA" setting).
7. Combo - The combo mode combines changes in interpulse distance with changes in pulse train length (similar to changing the frequency of a modulating rectanglar wave).

1. Thrust - This mode is not only varies the intensity of the pulses, but it also changes the frequency and shape of the pulses themselves (the pulses vary progressively from the normal pulse shape (blue) to green to red to aquamarine, and then reverse back through red, green, and back to blue).
2. Thump - Short groups of pulses that produce a sharp, low frequency sensation.
3. Ramp - The distance between individual pulses is varied (the bottom pane of the figure to the right shows three pulses that occur during this mode's variation of pulse width).
4. Stroke - Actually an interesting mode. It can indeed produce a sensation similar to stroking. It appears to achieve this by gradually inverting the pulse shape (the middle plot in three pane figure to the right; the pulse is varied as follows: from blue to green to purple to yellow to red to aquamarine and back) in progressive groups of pulses. This mode seems to be the only mode that does this.
5. Audio soft - The pulsing is modulated by either the built in microphone or via the audio line in. This setting is more sensitive to audio input than the "audio loud" setting.
6. Audio loud - The pulses are modulated by audio input: either via the built in microphone or the audio line in. This setting is not very sensitive to audio input - good for loud noises (e.g. screaming, hard spanking with a crop, etc.) or if you turn up the output from your iPhone, but not ideal for preventing talking.
7. Audio waves - This mode is essentially the same as audio loud, but it also applies the waves program to the second channel.
8. User - The user mode seems to provide an output very similar to that of the hiFreq mode. I'm not sure if that's because the user mode just continues the last mode the ET-232 was set for, or if this is a distinct mode, but either way, there is a definite output in user mode, and it's been nearly identical to hiFreq the couple times I checked it. I have read older reviews (pre-2013) that suggest User mode is a unique mode, so perhaps I have a newer firmware which changed that. Regardless, I cannot replicate any uniqueness to the "User" mode.

For Reward or Punishment

While pretty much any mode can be pleasurable or painful simply by varying the amplitude (and/or the position of the electrodes), Using a pair of unipolar electrodes (one at the base and one at just below the head of my penis) and running in "intense" mode, the sensation can go from pleasurable to way too intense by simply turning the MA knob.

Electrodes

As mentioned above, the ET 232 does not come with any electrodes. While some retailers will include a basic pair of electrodes with your purchase, this is not guaranteed. Thus, you should plan on spending an additional $25 - $50 for electrodes. If you're male, my recommendation is to start with a simple pair of unipolar electrodes (like the blue elastic ones pictured in the figure at the right) that you can attach your cock and/or balls.

I purchased a bipolar electrode (ring pictured in figure to the right) as well, but I was not overly impressed with the sensations produced by it (for pleasure - it works well enough for painful sensations, but requires the intensity setting to be turned up, then it feels like you were kicked in the balls).