Panther X - Legitimacy of Hotspots, Financial Loss, and Onboarding

Hello!

Recently, Panther X has been struck with a suspension for 12 months. Panther X was suspended for supposedly enabling institutional gaming. They have the ability to reduce their suspension to 6 months, but currently have not followed through with supplying evidence. What is most surprising, is that the gaming is so obvious!

I spent less than a minute on the Helium Explorer and found obvious evidence of gaming on the Helium Network. Here is what I found!

Panther X Hotspot on Helium Explorer:

https://i.imgur.com/VVMmfCi.png

Panther X Hotspot Gaming Evidence [Same hotspot, proof of gaming]:

https://i.imgur.com/ffYgsNQ.png No, maker difference btw. LOL!

I am absolutely appalled by the fact that there are so many hotspots from Panther X which are blatantly GAMING! It is so hard to believe that Panther X has taken the time to prevent and reduce the amount of "gamers" using their hotspots. The legitimacy of currently asserted Panther X hotspots is simply so minimal. What am I supposed to expect when Panther X has not even followed through with the request, from over a week ago, to view all sold Panther X hotspots [AS OF June 24th, 2022]!?

How does this correlate to any sort of financial loss, well let me tell you my story. In late April, I ordered 16 US915 Panther X2 hotspots and 4 EU868 Panther X2 hotspots. All I wanted to do was deploy some hotspots in Europe, while I am studying abroad, then setup the rest back in the USA when I go back home over the summer. Well, seems like this summer will be such a bummer for me. Not just me, but my younger brother and father who wanted to join me on this project. Due to this inconvenience, I lost lots of money and most of all a fun family project. This also applies to everyone who has purchased Panther X hotspots, but simply cannot onboard them. The amount of users who purchased the brand new Panther X2 paperweight is astounding. It is very sad to see such a helpful business, from my experience at least, turn into this. It really angers me that so much was lost. It is hard to believe that this issue will be resolved anytime soon, especially with how Panther X is treating this now.

When will we finally be able to onboard our Panther X hotspots? When will be able to make use of our now brand new paperweights? No one knows. Due to the irresponsibility of Panther X and "gamers", hundreds, maybe thousands, of users are stuck with this issue. At this very moment, I cannot guarantee when already purchased hotspots will finally be able to onboard. The only thing we can do is suggest possible ways for current non-onboarded Panther X hotspot owners to finally onboard.

Ideas for onboarding non-onboarded Panther X hotspots:

  • Verification of hotspot owner! Review current hotspots, review past history(past hotspots on deny list or not), and location(is the customer purchasing a hotspot from a "gaming" prone location?).
  • Allow onboarding for any hotspot delivered and purchased before June 1st.
  • Have Panther X be transparent about the issue and follow through with request to move forward with the trial then hopefully get onboarding for Panther X re-enabled.
  • Allow a community effort to determine already current Panther X hotspots which are "gaming" by releasing a list of suspected hotspots.

​

Finally, do not blame Panther X for customers/companies "gaming". Blame the ones who decide to abuse the network. Panther X is at fault for enabling institutional "gaming" and lacking a sufficient way to abolish that. Please hope that Panther X works out this whole ordeal and figures out this issue. Do not target or harass anyone who is apart of this whole ordeal. As a community, we should figure out a way for Panther X and for Helium to reduce the amount of nonlegitimate hotspots. Also, to figure out ways to improve security on the Helium Network! Panther X is currently working with others to try to get legitimate hotspots up which have not been onboarded, finally onboarded.

I hope current and future makers will not encounter this type of issue and all of us, as a whole, will find a way to diminish any "gamers"! I am deeply sorry for anyone currently in this situation. Sorry for the ones who spent hundreds to maybe thousands on Panther X hotspots. I very much hope this is resolved as soon as possible.

Good luck!

- Justin

​

Note:

Please, if anyone has any solutions to get already purchased hotspots onboarded... please share! Also, please report any nonlegitimate Panther X hotspots!!!

https://www.crowdspot.io/ <- report here!