Maestro WAN Progress

ka7gzr

Mr./Ms. Flex,

Any progress to report on WAN development for the Maestro?

Jim

ka7gzr

Ernest - W4EG

If there any they would have been posted by now!

Tim - W4TME

WAN development is slated for SmartSDR v2.0.  We are currently working on 1.8.

ka7gzr

Thanks Tim. Just checking.

Is a 1.9 planned before a 2.0?

Burt Fisher

When I was a teacher we had an applicant to teach A+ certification, he said he was "working on getting his certification", I told him I was "working on becoming a quarterback for the Patriots."  "Working on it" means little.  I am not trying to pin you down, but how about a year 2.0 would be available,  2018?

Steve K9ZW

"No Soup for you Burt!"   You don't get WAN for asking "are we there yet?" too many times!

But the rest of us will get native WAN with v. 2.0 when it is ready.

Realistically it will be ready when it is ready, with FRS not owing anyone a date - that is unless they want to throw one out.  And realistically you too will be able to get version 2.0 with WAN at that time.

I think we can all agree that it is really pretty awesome to have radios that we know major features are in the works!  We also can agree that anticipation plays to differing tastes.

73

Steve K9ZW

KC9NRN

Until you get your certification you are in fact working on it. Just like studying for a test, you're working on it until you have completed it. Some things we can give a hard time and date on and some we can't.

Sadly WAN has been promised since last year and looks to have been bumped down the road a few times. Many people bought the Maestro because of promised remote capability, including me. Knowing that 2.0 will cost me adds another $200.00 to the cost of something I believed would get sooner than later.

Having second thoughts about buying the Maestro now, not about owning one, just about owning one sooner than later. 

Just thinking out loud, haven't decided yet.

Bill -VA3WTB

WAN has never been bumped down the list, it has been on target for a long time. They said when It will be out a long time ago. V2.0 has been the time for a long time.

Steve K9ZW

Some basic truisms:

• If a product that is evolving doesn't meet your needs, consider waiting.

• If the manufacturer hasn't put a date/timeline on hardware/software launches, there then is no actual schedule.

• If they do and the actual delivery is earlier/more-inclusive than promised be sure to be as quick to congratulate them as you are with complaints when they hold back a launch for quality-control reasons.

• If it doesn't pass quality-control well enough to launch at feature, trust them that its just isn't ready. 

• Those engaging in endless "are we there yet?" and chastisement (at time rather aggressive) are largely the reason that the Roadmaps for SmartSDR development are no longer shared. 

• Unless you factually know the reasoning behind a decision you simply really cannot speak to what the reasons are, now can you?

• If a product doesn't work well for you and you think something else will fit better for you, fair enough - but that usually is never a generalization (those who don't like a particular radio seldom cannot sell their radios, meaning what didn't work for one must somehow work well enough for another.)

• If you really think you can run a business better than the leadership of any existing business, you can always go into competition.  What, no stomach for it?  Perhaps it is that you deep down know you have only a fraction of the facts considered in making a business decision when armchair quarterbacking? 

• If you really want to see a feature suggest it in a clear fashion, and let it be considered.

• If you really want to hear something from the source, go to the source.  They may be willing to talk in advance of the date they are willing to into print, provided your purpose is for your private understanding.

• If you go to the source for the intent of reporting/blogging/distributing information you need to be upfront with them when asking for information.  Misuse of information provided for personal edification by unexpectedly moving it to a public context sharply damages the trust that allows for those personal discussions to continue to happen.

• Don't forget the Golden Rule - if you do use it to reflect on what a situation might look like from the others' positions in a conversation that you can often gain an insight into what the reasons could be for what you are being told/not-told.

• In the end remember we are the product consumers and need to pay a fair value for what we buy if we expect the seller to be able to support our purchases. 

• If you are not interested in a continuing learning process, perhaps a radio ecosystem that is constantly being made smarter and fuller in features is more of a challenge than you want. 

• And YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) is very true in a hobby like ours.  What works for one doesn't always work for another, even if the product is performing the same in both cases. 

73

Steve K9ZW

Tim - W4TME

Probably.  TBD.

Jim Best

Thanks Steve. Someone had to say it..73

Walt

Thanks, Tim  - that's all I needed to know, Was hoping for a few more features for the radio as it sits on (under) my desk before the big 'remote control' thing.

But that's just me. Really like the radio.

Cheers

Tim - W4TME

Other than major new versions like 2.0, we do not plan ahead for point releases.  We are working on 1.8 and when that is done, we'll decide if a 1.9 is needed.  So this is why I cannot make any definitive forward-looking statements on new software beyond what we are actively working on.

KC9NRN

I watched a video where Gerald said next year, and that was a video from last year but anyway at this point it doesn't matter, I didn't save the link and who knows maybe I heard wrong. We're told 2.0 and thats that.. We'll see how it plays out.

Walt

Cool - I know what programming is and happy to wait it out.  Having a ball with the 6500.

Cheers again !

Walt - KZ1F

OMG! Why don't we just say 2020. We'll see it on or before 2020, unless it gets delayed.

Burt Fisher

You are right Steve, I can sell out, the thought has crossed my mind. I knew when I bought all the features were not there what fooled me is I didn't think Maestro would stop development of 2.0 I don't think it is asking too much to narrow it down to a year when 2.0 is expected.
Maybe I can buy this and come back in a few years when 2.0 is available and save $200?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaWmFoLp9Bc