Chris Tate, N6WM, Contesting Champion

DrTeeth

Having to change the DAX issues is like suggesting that I have heart surgery to fix my back. I am staying with Win 7 for the foreseeable future, having given Win 8, 8.1 and 10 a good workout on their own vanilla partitions. They are OSs that seem to be designed to protect the PC operator from themselves.

DrTeeth

Phil,

Maybe that is why so many (myself included) found it helpful to dedicate a fixed IP from your routers/DHCP servers? I also prefer fixed IPs in most of my small network too.

L.Kubis

I don't see why so many have their "knickers in such a tight knot" over the fact that Flex will seeking input from and participating with the contesters!
I see this analogous to some for the auto manfacturers like Honda,Audi and Benz spending time and big money participating in "contesting" events like the Grand Prix and other competitions. They go there to enhance their image and to learn how to make their product better.
So why shouldn't Flex do similarly, it will only make for better products and make our investment better.
Let the guys at Flex run their business as they see fit. So far they haven't done too badly compared to many others out there.
People are still free to vote with their feet if they don't like the direction nor the product, there's lots of choice out there and more becoming available. 


Lloyd
VE3ERQ

Bernie W7DMC

Not a big contester, but happy to see Flex seeking this type of input from the real world of users. I in no way feel left out, much of the result will benefit me also and I know that issues facing us "vanilla" users will also be addressed. Love my 6300, 6500, and Maestro - worked Cook Isl. sitting on my deck watching the stars and water last night.

DrTeeth

Lloyd,
With all due respect, you should familiarise yourself with the 'contest release' v1.6 and see how little benefited non-contesters. It generally enhanced the interoperability of contest software and SSDR. The analogy to the motoring industry only applies to specific cases in computing/SDR radio. Having N1MM Logger work better does not benefit the non-contester. Happy to take this off-forum as it will go way OT. My email on QRZ.com is good if you want to take up the offer.

DrTeeth

Sitting indoors with the **** London weather, dreaming of being able to sit outside at night. Thanks a lot Bernie, LOLZ!

Phil M0VSE

Sorry Guy but I don't consider the most notable feature, a complete re-work of DAX and CAT that appeared in 1.6 to be of no benefit to non-contesters. Adding a single TX channel, Winkeyer emulation (sort of!!) and the ability to add multiple CAT ports tied to separate slices, whilst i'm sure were largely contester driven, surely benefit many users (especially those using digital modes)? 

DrTeeth

I had zero issues using CAT/DAX and I work 99% digital modes. That is why those changes did not register. Thanks for correcting my oversight mate.

Paul Bradbeer

Well said, Kevin!

DrTeeth

Kevin,

Great post and well stated. So true too.

Steve K9ZW

Appointing an unpaid POC (Point Of Contact) for the contest segment of known Flex users is a good thing.

Logically this does not mean they are focusing their paid resources to serve only the contester, at the expense of all other segments of users.

Actually it would on the face of it suggest they are perhaps doing a bit of the opposite, and narrowing the Contester's input by providing a distinct channel.

Opens a huge opportunity for collelessing the contesting users inputs by giving it a POC and standard routing 

Hoping they do the same for a Digital and DXpedition POC for starters.

73

Steve
K9ZW

Jon_KF2E

I think it will be very telling if this is the only POC appointed. I have no problem with the concept. I'll just feel a lot better when the DX POC, GUI POC and digital POC are appointed. 

Time will tell...

Jon...kf2e

Gerald-K5SDR

Let me correct a few misconceptions.  In 13 years of constant software upgrades we themed a single version for contesters.  In the v1.6 release, there is only a single item (OTSRP) that is of unique benefit only to contesters.  All other enhancements are beneficial to the broader community as well.  

In v1.6 we did a complete rewrite of CAT, made major improvements to DAX as well as Profiles, implemented Waveform improvements, and bug fixes/stability improvements.  We have learned that the demands of contesters for ergonomics, productivity, station integration, performance, and stability benefit the entire user community.  If it benefits their needs it is almost certain to benefit others.

I am confident that we will add other POCs as we find the right people for the respective roles.  The qualifications are knowledge of the subject, professionalism, pragmatism, respectful communications, demonstrated helpfulness to others, and respect for the difficult business trade offs that have to be made when serving a myriad of competing requests.

W9OY

I might mention in my experience Flex does not "brush things to the side".  They have systematic internal mechanisms to track and prioritize the development of their products.  I think it's a very good idea to engage and coordinate with the contesting community in soliciting station design.  I continue to not be a fan however of radio design by "vote".

73  W9OY     

IW7DMH, Enzo

This is a great news!
Trying to get out the best, for best operators, will bring noticeable improvements for every other users.
I think you are one step away from the perfect contest machine. (I hope you'll appreciate my mock picture)

Good luck!

73', Enzo
iw7dmh

Al_NN4ZZ

Hi Enzo,
I like the spots on the display.  It looks a little like the mockup for spots on SSDR for Windows.   This new feature would be near the top of my list for the Windows GUI improvements.   Since not everyone wants spots ( or maybe just not all the time), there would be options to enable or disable that window pane. 

Regards, Al / NN4ZZ  
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 - HW.................... V 1.6.21.77
SSDR / DAX / CAT...... V 1.6.21.159
Win10

More here:
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/pfskimer_what_is_the_possibility_for_a_smartsdr_dis...

Dale KB5VE

I have been using Flex radios since the early days and at times I have had to wait for improvements I desired and in the days of Power SDR those improvements seemed to always come with some surprised feature so I and many others were spoiled. Smart SDR is a horse of a different color and it has taken me from the time I got my 6500 #50 till about a year ago to realize it. So I feel putting a priority to the DXers and Contesters is a good business move. I personally feel no mater what Flex does there will be a group out there nit picking everything with the Flex brand even to the point of getting into making negative comments about the business future of Flex. So saying this as Flex works to take the advise of this supreme Contester who will talk to this group of nay sayers and try to package their issues for Flex . In real life this is a small percentage of radio buyers and I promise you no mater what flex does it will never turn more than 50% to Flex and I am being very generous. Saying this I still believe it is good and I look forward to those few smart Contesters who jump on board ringing up record points and I am looking for flex to keep turning my radio into the Best Buy in ham radio and true WAN remote will allow me to say I have the radio I have always wanted.

DrTeeth

Dale, it is the operator that makes the radio sing and not the other way around. Just because a Nascar 500 driver can make a certain car fly on the track, it does not translate into the average driver being able to do the same. I think Flex should be able to court the entry-level new ham too, especially as I expect most hams can only buy one rig and not change it if they to not like the colour of the LEDS, LOL.

Walt - KZ1F

Why do folks seem to reference what their radios serial number is as if it infuses them with communications or EE super powers?
I am sure a great contester could use a ts-530sp and get a winning score. And what is this fetish with contests? Is the brand somehow diminished if contesters tend to use some other radio? Is it expected for people on here to have brand loyalty but nobody else???

IW7DMH, Enzo

Hello Al,

periodically the same idea come back, but this time the scenario is a bit different because Maestro offers new opportunities.
I am imaging a multi-op contest station where each operator has a "boosted" version of Maestro. No needs to have individual PCs, or pricey hw interfaces, nor dedicated hardware. Just a small wi-fi data center and your station is ready to operate with a small effort.
A mobile app,or a trivial browser, could also show back statistical/aggregated data and other useful informations. A different (better) world compared to the actual one.

73'
Enzo

Bill -VA3WTB

No not at all Walt. But this is a Flex site all about Flex. I think Gerald could be correct. Contesting puts a lot of stress on the system. When we learn about the needs for high performance the good things trickle down to the common user. This is the direction Flex is going, and they will see it through. And I'm sure the same brand loyalty can be found on other radio brand sites as well.

W9OY

How does Flex not already satisfy the needs of the average Joe or entry level ham?  Plug the radio into a network plug in an antenna and 14V.  Load some software and make a contact.  Need satisfied.  For your $2499 you own one of the best radios in the hobby and it took about 10 minutes or less to set up and get on the air.  In fact the radio in that state already satisfies the needs of world class DXers, not just average Joe's, out of the box just by adding a few of your favorite programs like log books and spotting software, no extra cables or interfaces needed.  It also satisfies the need of the average Joe interested in the digital world, or the need of Joe programmer who wants to write custom software and experiment with his new radio.  Much much need is already satisfied in that 10 minute installation.  Sometimes I think people loose sight of what a piece of gold they own.

Contest is about competition and the contest field is full of high motivation and intelligence and it's learning how to corral and effectively interact with that bleeding edge need that will propel the radio's development.  I don't think anyone at Flex has world class contest credentials and they see a need for someone who is very invested in the contest world to act as a conduit between contesting and the company to make rational decisions.  In naming Chris they acquire expertise of the best kind the expertise of a motivated user who can tap into the greater contest zeitgeist.  The contest need is more complex since it involves interaction with third party software (N1MM+ etc) and hardware and trying to best manage data flow and throughput.  In some sense contesters don't even know what they need, but I believe Flex by listening closely can figure out what they "need" before they "need" it.  It's actually a very interesting engineering problem.

In the end bragging rights, and radio sales goes to winners.  In the end that need will also be satisfied and "average Joe" won't be hurt a bit.  He will just own a better and more valuable radio and acquire some of those bragging rights. 

73  W9OY

VK7WH Winston

Guy, although I disagree with most of your posts on this thread, I had decided not to respond. But comparing a Flex 6000 with a TS530? You must be joking.

I own both, and while a am not a contester and most likely never will be, I will take you on with my 6700 against your TS530 any day.

Best 73 and good luck! Winston

DrTeeth

Winston,

You must have misread a post or two somewhere cobber. I do not own a TS530. In fact, I have never owned Trio/Kenwood gear. I actually have a Flex 6300 and I have said that it is an excellent starters rig. I have done so over those Flex owners here who have not. The Flex 6300 is the best **** for the buck in ham circles at that price. It would be an insult to compare the Flex 6300 to any other rig in the same class.

You must have had a stubby or two more than necessary in the pavilion.

Have some time to dry out, polish your glasses and start again from the top.

Thanks for the smile mate.

Dale KB5VE

I will not get into a he said she said but the only reason I put my number is to show I waited 18 months for my 6500 . I was not happy because I wanted it NOW but I waited, I waited through the growing pains of a very expensive radio vs what it could do! Many of the complaints I hear are people who have owned this radio less than a year. I would have been tickeled to have the flex 6500 of a year ago. I am happy with my radio and when the WAN issue is finished I will just set back and watch others do what ever get want.

So I am not against the Mistroe with Contesters in fact it should give me a few items I can use. I am a District emergency Cordanator for ARES and have put my 6500 in service with the emergency side of ham radio. Service is the only way we can pay the public back for this 212,000,000,000.00 of bandwidth we have the use of.

VK7WH Winston

You are right Guy, I did confuse you name with a post on another thread, for which I sincerely apologise. My only excuse is the I am currently staying with my daughter in Florida and perhaps the 90 degree heat and the high humidity has muddled my 75 year old mind. Thank you for your light hearted response. Next time I will continue to follow a thread and be more careful before I jump in Best 73 Winston ps Shucks, I was looking forward to pitting the 6700 against a ts530!

Walt - KZ1F

OK Winston...
The quote of the TS-530SP was mine. Yes it was and if the fanboys weren't so darn paranoid they'd have been consciously aware of the sentence that occurred in.

It is virtually universally known, except apparently on here, the radio, regardless of manufacturer, is the bottom of the list of important things in contesting and dx and ham radio. Does any of this sound familiar, "a good operator on a bad radio will out perform a bad operator on a good radio" You should have heard that, at least the first time you were studying for your Novice or Tech license. That is not 'bashing" either the radio, which I own (actually both) or the manufacturer. Second to operator is antenna, third is height. then feedline then power THEN radio. On the 530, I worked Tom Christian twice, Christmas Island, Antarctica many times, MiddleEast many times, South Pacific many times, ran HF Packet Radio, had it connected to Heath TNC as well as other TNC, Ran it with a Heath RTTY controller. I ran AMPR on with with PMNOS running on OS/2 on an IBM Microchannel 486. Built and ran it with the Heath Audio Controller which I still have.

It received better with a KLM-KT34XA at 60' than the 6500 on an M2 1730LP7 at 55'. Before people faint from vapors, the KT34XA was a better ant. I'll repeat that for those just regaining consciousness. A BETTER ANTENNA. The only way I could work split on it was to turn the RIT down all the way, 500Hz and XIT up 500Hz. It had tube finals and when a tube went frying part of the circuit board I could repair it. I suspect the 6000 would be DOA, certainly for me to attempt repair.

 I used that radio for over 30 years. How many of you honestly think the 6000 series will be even remotely runnable in 30 yrs. Before the vile builds up in your throat, how many think the last OS required to even listen to a 6000 will still be around in 30 years, or even a computer than is X86?

People are so overheated with this constant "my radio can beat up your radio" it is sad to watch it.

I get the whole brand loyalty thing but you don't help the rational discussion of radios by constantly ridiculing people that may happen to not share your zeal for one particular radio and one particular manufacturer. To be honest, on that vid Burt referenced, at different times I thought each radio had the better reception. As I've said before, for the 6000 series to be an outstanding radio all the others don't have to ****. And, in fact, they don't.

Dale, I waited for over a year for my 6500 as well.

W9OY

I think Walt lubs him some TS530.

ctate243

Hi everyone I was operating the CQWPX CW Contest over the weekend when this was announced, I just wanted to take a moment to thank Steve and Gerald for their vote of confidence  as a Champion on issues important to the contesting community.  I am humbled and honored to have been asked to take on this volunteer assignment.

For those who dont know alot about me, I am an avid and regular participant in Radiosport.  It is my true passion.  Although W6 is a challenging location to contest from, I still occasionally manage to find my way into top 10 rankings on any number of contests, often winning on the division level west of the Rockies and occasionally even better.

 I am the technical manager and team member at Radio Oakley N6RO, a west coast superstation with 2 CQ Contest hall of fame operators(N6RO,K3EST) , a former ARRL antenna manual editor(N6BV) and a well known DXpeditioneer(WA6O) amongst numerous other great operators and elmers.I also am a founder of the K6LRG hilltop contest station, an awesome mostly remote contest site on a 2000 foot hill in the East SF Bay.

 I have served as a board member, Vice President and Contest Chairman as well as President of the Northern California Contest Club.  I have served as a contest manager for the NA Sprint SSB, both with NCJ and was part of a core team that put the new SSB sprint in the books as the most participated event of its type ever.

Along with contesting I like playing regular ham radio as well.  Contesting has made me a competent operator in CW, SSB and RTTY and the skills I have learned have helped me in all aspects of the hobby.  Many of the suggestions I make regarding contest features for the flex 6000 may be suggested with that in mind, but apply to many many other aspects of the hobby including DX operation, CW operating excellence and Digital mode interface and operation amongs many other areas.  

I am also an avid DXer,  5BDXCC + all 3 WARC bands, 1500 challenge, and Member of the Northern CA DX Club and NCDXF contributor. 

That's kind of my story.

My personal opinion is that I think the flex 6000 series ecosystem along with its Maestro and SSDR interfaces are the current radio technology that represent the future of contesting and DXing both on site and remote, multi-op and single op and I absolutely love the platform.  I have had a tremendous amount of fun having the privilege to add value to this top performing radio platform as an Alpha tester over the last year. 

I can tell you that IMO,  the flex management, development and support team is an extremely dedicated and competent group of professionals that form the back **** of a radio eco-system that is a winning and top performing platform.  This level of commitment is extremely important to competitive radio operators who invest vast amounts of time, money and resources on our stations.  I for one consider myself fortunate to be part of the SDR revolution, and I hope you all do as well.

I will do my best to serve the flex Contesting community along with the entire general flex 6000 community to add whatever value I can, relay what feedback I can through networking with you and others I know in the contest world who have either chosen the flex platform or are considering it who run into problems, challenges or have new and innovative ideas that can improve the platform along with my own experiences and suggestions.

I appreciate all of your feedback, and if you have any questions or need assistance, I am happy to help in any way.  A number of folks have messaged me already, and if you would like to reach out, get a status update on something, make a suggestion or whatever feel free to drop me a line and I will do my best to get back with you as soon as possible.  I am good on QRZ.com.

This is great technology for our wonderful hobby.  Lets have some fun using it and making it better.  thanks and sorry for the long winded note.

Chris
N6WM

VE6KWA

Chris, that's quite an amateur radio resume'  Well Done !  ... and thank you for your time dedicated to advancing the Flex platform.   A high performance radio optimized for contesting will benefit all Flex owners. (Just Don't tell Burt)