I just made an interesting (if potentially embarrassing) discovery. Both of my dud Farallon transceivers have a teeny little slide switch recessed into one side. I’m guessing, from the relative ages of things people have posted pictures of in this thread, that it is likely a heartbeat on/off switch. I wouldn’t have discovered it save for the fact that both units have unsealed cases, i.e., some prior owner cracked the plastic welds that hold the clamshells on, so they fall apart if shaken around. The switch is so small and deeply recessed that you can’t tell it’s there with the shell on even when you already know about it. Alas, the two remain duds regardless of the switch position—looks like I’ve quite definitely been had.

Looking on the bright side, I picked up a second Asanté transceiver for about a dollar from the AS-IS bins at Re-PC, and it even works! SUCCESS!