SmartSDR v1.4 Update Posted

DrTeeth

Are we going to get the profile and persistence documentation with this release?

Dave - W6OVP

Ken-

I agree with most of that, but have not suggested it has to be an either/or situation. As new software is developed it is a matter of choosing which features are most important first, and easiest to do, and will have maximum impact on sales. I simply would have chosen a different sequence.

My history with FLEX begins with the 1500, then 3000, then 6300. I don't recall this level of angst among users of the other products, just some routine problems with the hookup etc. But no great dissatisfaction with what the software will or will not do and that seems a major difference. I bought my 6300 from a very active high profile ham who, like several of his friends, dumped it shortly after buying at Dayton. He correctly saw it might be years before it became a mature product. Feedback from dissenting voices like these are not heard here for they have moved on.

My history in Ham Radio begins 61 years ago with a used Heathkit AT-1. Since then I have watched many wonderful companies bite the dust, many of them start-ups with truly groundbreaking products. They didn't listen to their customers, took off too big a bite, got behind the power curve and swerved off into oblivion. I don't want to see that happen again here. (Sorry, my background as a Hi-Tech Marketing Analyst sometime resurfaces.)

I believe there is a large army of NON-buyers just waiting for full featured next generation software to appear, either from FLEX or others. IMHO that interest does not revolve around Remote. While remoting means little to me I will probably play with it if/when comes out. But I do understand it is important to a tiny but vocal percentage of users who breathlessly monitor this forum. Unfortunately, it appears this commitment to Remote (for legal or other reasons) has been a major roadblock in the timely deployment of enhanced and improved software. We know the BIG 3 are watching like a hawk, and every delay gives them more time to plan their inevitable big money attack on this market.

Ham Radio is just a hobby. It is not important like a deadline for the invasion of Normandy. I have been happy with nearly every ham product I've owned and am generally happy with the 6300. But having put my money where my mouth is carries no obligation to conform or ignore other ideas in fear of knee-**** (and just plain ****) reactions.

Best Midwestern Wishes,

-Dave  W6OVP

KY6LA_Howard

LLoyd

My guess is that you are using the TFM Site in Uxbridge for your remote?

While I do not have your extreme weather conditions, I do have the lack of accessibility issue for periods of 3-6 weeks when I travel.  XYL and I will continue to travel as much as possible while we still physically are able to travel.

Your extreme weather issue could be solved by a ruggedized PC build to survive extremes.. not cheap but definitely available.

While my house is fully occupied when we are traveling there is no one competent at the house who could be trusted to even flip a power switch to reboot a computer without totally screwing everything up.

Originally I would call a fellow ham and have them drive to the house to reboot the radios, computers, etc.  But that could become tedious for the local hams.or were just not available when I needed them.. 

Then I tried leaving instructional videos on how to reboot things for the House Sitters... That quickly became a disaster as people can't even follow a video...or were just not available when I needed them.

Bottom Line... if it needs human intervention it will not work


My most reliable solution for remote control turned out to be to use WEMO Internet power control switches to reboot power to computers, 6700 radio's etc etc. Yes there are lots of better internet  switches out there but there is an easy to use WEMO app for my Iphone in case i need to reboot.  I use DDUTIL to control my SteppIR and Rotor.  I use the Expert 2K-FA Amp App to control my Amp.  Tower is on a wind alarm system and automatically retracts in the winds exceed 25MPH... (Only happened once in 10 years).  Power.. my station easily runs from 24-36hrs from Batteries - with a feed from regular mains and a backup generator...Tower retraction motor has its own power supply.

I have been running this configuration for more than a year.   Yes I have had to reboot it more than once when I was remote.. But that only takes a couple of minutes. 

Biggest issue so far was remembering to turn off MS Automatic Updates.
Other than that it works great... lots and lots of Q's  Even get superb audio reports using a $26 Logitech Bluetooth Headset via iPad Remote...

As I said previously, not as neat as a Native Solution but a totally viable interim one until V2.0 finally arrives...

DrTeeth

And all you would have to do is fly me over and I'd look after things for you. I promise I would not enjoy the California weather too much so you would not have to work that hard to boot me out.

KY6LA_Howard

Maybe we could trade house sitting tasks some day...

BTW... its finally raining (after 3 years no rain) again

L.Kubis

My remote site is not on the TFM Skihill but at a nearby Marina, Howard.

I am going to reconsider all alternatives including resurrecting the 5000, I used at my home in Australia and dumping my 6500 as it looks like it's going to be a long road for that radio. The 5000 works nicely and has excellent audio.

Thanks for your comments and sharing your experiences!

Cheers!
Lloyd
VE3ERQ

KY6LA_Howard

The issue is that we all got spoiled by the Roadmap and the fact that miracle of miracles Flex made all the early update releases close to on time...

People started to expect new releases all the time so they are now expressing dissatisfaction when they do not get a regular release..

i disagree with you about Remote in that I believe that it is a untapped market especially since most hams today live in antenna restricted communities...

OTOH.. you may have a point about finishing the 1.5 Science Projects ASAP because lots of hams just want to Operate and unlike me do not enjoy the Bleeding Edge.

KM6CQ - Dan

Hi Lloyd,
If your 6500 is in excellent condition, I would like to offer you a top wholesale price for it. Please contact me privately.

73,   Dan  KM6CQ

Rick Hadley - W0FG

Ever notice how the guys across the pond seem to be so impatient.  If they were in that big of a hurry, why didn't they just go ahead and whip ****, instead of waiting for us to come and do the job for them. ;-)   ...OK.  Sorry for that.  I just finished watching "Sons of Liberty" on History Channel, and I'm also remembering Gen. Longstreet's line to Col. Freemantle from "Gettysburg".

Steve W6SDM

Things that make me impatient: 

1) Waiting for the key to the restroom at a filling station when I really, really have to ****. 
2) Waiting for my XYL to finish applying her makeup when we're already five minutes late.
3) Waiting for the fire trucks after I've called 911.

Things I don't mind waiting for:
1) Software that makes an already great radio even better.

Dave - W6OVP

Hello Howard-

Indeed, sometimes a breakthrough simplification of a complex application like Remote can attract a new crowd of users and create it's own market. It's a long shot IMHO, but we shall see.

While I do not have a serious use for it like you do, I would not mind being able to sit in the living room and watch football on the big screen TV while controlling a 6000 and working DX on the iPad. But I spent too many years on the bleeding edge to enjoy the agony and ecstasy of a tough installation. .

Wish I still lived in San Diego so I could see your fine setup when are at home. Your installation is a role model showing what can be done Remotely with the 6000 series.

Best 73

Dave - W6OVP (Former San Diego)

L.Kubis

The radio is in excellent condition Dan as it's spent it's life in the box it came in. It's one of the early Signature series.

I'm hanging onto the 6500 for the time being until my networking experts and I can decide what to do at the remote site and which radio to use. For the time being the old Omni07 keeps chugging along.

Thanks for the offer. 

Lloyd
VE3ERQ

KY6LA_Howard

Drop By Any Time... It's incredibly easy to spot my house

Any and all Hams are automatically welcome PLUS I have a dedicated **** fridge and dedicated Wine Dispenser to make the visit less stressful

EA4GLI

Reminds me of this video http://youtu.be/1SmgLtg1Izw 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SmgLtg1Izw

EA4GLI

When people "complaint" about the Flex software release delays.... what are they using as the baseline? Which company is the model for doing software releases?

I recently started researching radios to work amateur satellites. Interestingly enough, there is very little available in the market for a VHF/UHF full duplex all mode radio. Currently being made, I could only find the Icom ic-9100 and Kenwood ts-2000. Big difference in price between the two, so I focused on the Kenwood. Researching pros and cons I found out that the TS-2000 has a birdie on RX on one of the down-link frequency of a popular satellite. The radio has been available for 15 years, people have complaint about this particular issue for almost all those 15 years and Kenwood has done exactly 0 to fix it. If you read about the radio on eham, it still gets a high score, and people actually use converters to bypass the issue.

So there you have it, a company with a product that is popular, that has an issue voiced by the users and has done nothing to fix it. I couldn't find a forum post where the CEO/Owner of Kenwood has addressed this problem, or even acknowledged it, and even less engage the customers with a discussing of the matter.

My point here is that I really do not understand where is the basis for bashing Flex when I believe they are light years ahead of the competition on product and customer relationships.

We are very very lucky to be part of the development process.

Microsoft decided to launch Windows 8 without listening to the users, and that really back fired. Look at how they have turned around and are now really focused on customer feedback for the deployment of Windows 10.

I think Flex is doing something in amateur radio that you hardly ever see done, which is to truly listen to the users, allow us to vent and complaint, but ultimately be part of the development.

By being constructive on our comments here, we do not only help Flex get a better product to us, but we can be part of this creation, be part of what lays ahead in this road map of Software Defined Radio.

Another point I would like to make. PowerSDR has already defined our expectations and it is difficult to look at SmartSDR without looking for some of the features we had on PSDR. I am one of those users that went from PowerSDR to SmartSDR and was disappointed with the lack of features I became accustomed to use. But, I also have to admit that after using SmartSDR for over a month now, when I go back to PowerSDR I become frustrated with things I can do in SmartSDR that I can't do on PSDR. We, hams, are hard to please!

I would like to add my voice to those that praise Flex and I hope that the criticism doesn't discourage Flex from doing things right, the way they have been doing them until now. Good luck with the release of 1.4, I look forward to it and many more to come.

Salvador
8P9EH
EA4GLI

DrTeeth

At least we were there from the start rather than turning up late, hi hi.

American 'history' is so slanted, hi hi.

DrTeeth

...often used in prose like the Q-code.

Toodle-pip

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Guy,
I use the CW abbreviations also when conversing with other hams and sometimes with "regular people"  too (mainly on twitter, text messages, etc).   Been doing it for so long it's easy to forget which ones are more universally recognized.  

CUL. Al / NN4ZZ

Ted_Spiegel_NX6C

About the "tea dumped into the harbor".  Terrible waste of good British Tea.  

Stan VA7NF

I considered it more of a ham abbreviation of Hee as in a quiet chuckle.

Peter K1PGV

Things I don't mind waiting for:
1) Software that makes an already great radio even better.

Fixed it for you.

With that small change, I nominate W6SDM's post, above, as "Best Post of the Week"

Peter K1PGV

Steve W6SDM

Maybe it was a waste of tea...  but let's not forget about that little incident in 1812 where the Brits **** near burned down the White House.  Not even ISIS has attempted that. 

Ken - NM9P

Actually, according to one source I read, the telegraphic laugh we now know as "HI" was actually the railroad American Morse (Continental Morse) "HO" where the 'O' was two dits spaced further apart than an i, but closer than two e's.  It was distinctive in the rhythm of the old morse clicker.  When radio operators adopted the International Morse code, the "HO" became "HI ."

Technically, using morse/CW shorthand and Q Signals on phone is not "proper" procedure, but it has become "common" procedure on the ham bands.  Procedural prosigns, shorthand and Q signals have become part of the "amateur jargon" or "hamspeak."

Dave - W6OVP

...the telegraphic laugh we now know as "HI" was actually the railroad American Morse (Continental Morse) "HO" where the 'O' was two dits spaced further apart than an i, but closer than two e's...

THE RAILROAD TELEGRAPH

I'm not sure if the above is true, but the original Railroad Morse was my first code language. I learned it at age 8 or 9, (during WW2), taught by my Rock Island Railroad telegrapher father. He set up a key and sounder on a board with a battery and we would practice sending to each other after school. When he retired from the RR he became a "full time Ham", XTRA class, and enjoyed very high speed CW QSO's with other retired telegraphers using their "old" code on the ham bands. (Yes, it is legal).

The RR code was soon found to be unsatisfactory for radio use due to the odd spacings involved in the letters O and C and R and Y and perhaps others I've forgotten. With the new element of static crashes and quick fades and other interference to radio communication the RR code dropped too many characters. Wired telegraph OTOH is rock solid except for those rare times when lightening will strike somewhere along the line and add a click or two. But on those occasions all stations along the line heard that error so the last few characters were simply resent.

While the radio folks were at it, the numbers and punctuation in RR code are totally illogical. So the new Radio code eliminated funny spacings, funny lengths such as for the letter L, and totally reorganized the numbers and punctuation. This is the new code we use today.

-Dave  W6OVP

IK6DLK Fabrizio

Last day January ... no trace Smart SDR V.1.4

KY6LA_Howard

https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/smartsdr-v1-4-update

IK6DLK Fabrizio

Only words ......

Nick - W2NER

I agree with you, don't promise what you can't deliver.  It has been close to 4 months of open words.

Peter K1PGV

I don't fault them for taking their time, I do fault them for setting dates

Try writing software some time. I mean real, complex, software with multiple subsystems that interact.  There are virtually no software projects that ship on their original schedules.  It's a *lot* more complex than fixing computers or changing your oil.

Mostly you guys really just should stop whinging about this.  Do you think it somehow helps?  That Flex will get all motivated by your negative feedback?  What do you hope to gain?

Steve W6SDM

The stuff coming out in 1.4 didn't exist a year ago.  This is invention, not assembly.  Stuff happens when it happens.  Sure, sooner might be for fun but stuff has to get invented first.

Imagine if the Wright Brothers had their first flight a hundred years sooner.  The South would have likely won the Civil War and the guys up in Canada would all be using W or K calls.