Screen definition of new Maestro production batch ?

Barry Simpson

Will the new production run of the Maestro have the same uprated screen definition as the 6600M at 1920 x 1200 ?

Tim - W4TME

The current production version of the Maestro does not have the same screen as the 6600M and the 6400M.  We are using the best (sharpest) IPS display available in the 6600M and the 6400M.

W4OCO Mike

Will future productions be upgraded to the higher definition displays?

Tim - W4TME

It is something that we'll consider but are not committed to doing at this time since the Maestro is already in production.

Norm - W7CK

If you ever go through another design change or upgrade to the Maestro, please please consider in-device charging and use a few user replaceable 18650 Li-IO batteries or even better yet the newer and much safer Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4, LFE) batteries.   It is a royal pain to have to constantly be swapping batteries in and out of the Maestro because on-board charging was considered too complicated and/or dangerous.
 

Ross - K9COX

I see

Harry W0LS

Is there a very noticeable difference in the quality of the image of the Maestro and the new displays?
 

Paul Christensen, W9AC

>"Is there a very noticeable difference in the quality of the image of the Maestro and the new displays?"

The existing Maestro display resolution is incredibly sharp. The 6400M/6600/M I saw at Dayton/Xenia seemed to have equivalent resolution with the current Maestro, but a side-by-side comparison is needed -- and no doubt this has been done by the folks at FRS. 

Just a hunch, but I doubt the difference is immediately apparent.  With all displays, there's a point of diminishing returns and varies based on screen area.  It's nice to think that a 35% or even 100% increase in numerical resolution always yields an increase in visual perception.  But that increase is dependent on display area.  There's a point where no matter what increase in resolution occurs, the eye cannot discern the difference.  Also, just because the display used is manufactured with higher resolution doesn't mean the end product utilizes the resolution increase. For example, consider watching NTSC video on a 4K display.

For any manufacturer, you want to use the latest displays and chip sets available to stay ahead of obsolescence and then tout it in a marketing brochure.  So, in this case, it may make sense to increase the M version's resolution as that is the currently available product -- even if the detected resolution is small or even zero.

Paul, W9AC 

Harry W0LS

Thanks Paul....nice assessment of the two displays....

73,
Harry
W0LS

Eric-KE5DTO

Just for tech stats, both screens are ~8".
Maestro display resolution is 1280x800 (~1M pixels).
FLEX-6400M/6600M display resolution is 1920x1200 (~2.3M pixels).

EA4GLI

Minor segway if I may, my maestro takes longer to boot on battery that plugged to dc power? Have any of you noticed this?

EA4GLI

One advantage of the higher resolution is the option to fit more "stuff" in the same real estate.

Harry W0LS

Ok..so the new display has 2x the resolution. So if a person was able to view the displays side by side might that person be disappointed with the Maestro display or would they look very close to the same on the 8" wide screen?

Tim - W4TME

I have a lot of "seat time" with both.  There are some subtle quality differences.  I would not characterize it as very noticeable. 

It should be noted that the Maestro display resolution is 1280x800 whereas the FLEX-6400M and FLEX-6600M is 1920x1200

Harry W0LS

Ok Tim...good info. I have had a Maestro on order since Dec and in light of the new products etc I was curious. At first I was thinking that the new display would be put into the new run since redesign had to be done anyway but I suppose its not that simple...

Thanks...
Harry

Ross - K9COX

Given the age of most hams you won't be able to discern much difference.

EA4GLI

^ LOL

The current Maestro is 190 dpi (dots per inch) and the M series is around 275 dpi so roughly a 45 % improvement. (edited because I had my math wrong)

For context, an Apple Mac Book has a dpi of 225