Flex 6000 vertical chassis card cage layout

Alex_KM5YT

I would like to see Flex go to a vertical card cage chassis layout with plug-in boards similar to military gear - to allow "field" repairs, and indicator/diagnostics to permit more trouble-shooting by owners. It would allow pre-stocking of the most trouble-prone sections (boards), and I think would have avoided requiring a return for the PEN upgrade.

I suspect we would have to wait for the 7000 series for something like this to be implemented.
 

Chris DL5NAM

... i am stay in Germany but believe me, i can hear the FRS guy's laughter here. Real loud!

Alex_KM5YT

Do elaborate and share the joke.  Since most military/industrial gear is configured this way - maybe it will be widely appreciated.

Bill -VA3WTB

I hope Steve or Gerald will see your post. It would be interesting to read their response.

W5XZ - dan

there may be issues with cross-talk using a modular assemblies...just a guess..  73, w5xz, dan

Dan -- KC4GO

Just a thought, consider that the military pays for that ability. So a 6700 may now go for $15,000  as a 7700 with all new design...

Dan -- KC4GO 

Alex_KM5YT

Agree with both Dans (W5XZ, KC4GO) - cost would go higher, and yes - risk of cross-talk on the BUS and maybe difficult decisions on how to segment the boards.  I admit I think the Hilberling PT-8000 is "pretty" (pretty expensive, too!). But - eons ago (betraying my era) it used to be possible
to make repairs on ham gear. SMT technology now makes this close to impossible for the marginally
equipped, and board-swapping seems the only approach if it is awkward to ship a unit back to Texas.

Jon_KF2E

Save your box when you buy the radio. You can probably ship it back to the mother ship for less than $50 insured. Lots cheaper than redesigning the radio.

Jon...kf2e

Alex_KM5YT

This solution is not applicable to maritime mobiles and other relatively inaccessible/remote users.

lyndy brannen

If you can have a card delivered to your maritime mobile , relatively inaccessible/remote location , you can ship the radio .

Alex_KM5YT

Will cheerily agree to disagree with you.

John E Blum

why not use a VME chassis and back plane. All ham gear is 30 years out of date with design and software development . Poor software QA and testing , poor written documents, and no bite. SDR 1985-1992 E-systems, package design 1960-1970 , QA and SQA 1960. Extreme costly junk is being sold to ham consumers.

Alex_KM5YT

VME was what I had in mind, but (due to non-involvement of late) wasn't sure if there wasn't something n generations beyond.  I don't know (for ex.) what the nicely-done
Hilberling PT-8000 uses (prob. something German DIN?).

Alex_KM5YT

John - As I read assorted posts, I don't see this issue going away at all!  I see more 
justification - as both functionality and technology advance ... but appreciate that it's
something the FRS techvolk aren't at all keen on!  But I think they should bite the bullet and go this way!  Whether I will be able to afford it is orthogonal!