flex 6400 / 6600 boot up time

mlstutler

One of the complaints I have seen from others is the lengthy time it takes for the 6300/6500/6700 to boot up.   Does the 6400/6600 use a SSD and how long does it take to boot up. 

W9OY

Why is this a complaint?  Since a FPGA basically boots from scratch every time it boots, the boot time is related to the complexity of the system, which means a little slower boot time means more features.  Would you rather faster boot and less features?

73  W9OY

Richard Kemp

I'm not sure of this, but I have been told that the 6300/6500/6700 runs a self diagnostic program every time they boot up. I would imagine that adds some time to the boot up Time.

Bill -VA3WTB

I have not seen it as a real problem, unless you are in some kind of hurry or something.

mlstutler

The anti Flex crowd uses that as one of the minuses the Flex has. I can't say that I know the architecture of the FPGA,  but my pc with a SSD boots up in 20 seconds.   I assumed the long boot up time was due to  hard drive latency.   I still would like to know how long the 6400/6600 takes to boot up. 

mlstutler

Sometimes I am in a hurry to chase DX.   If I am in a hurry I use my 590.  If I am not in a hurry I will run the 6300

Mike VE3CKO

Mine is on 24/7 so I don't notice it but when I do reboot, I see there is a precise sequence of events and no self-diagnostic going on which I know is a only a good thing.

mlstutler

I am not a fan of leaving the radio on 24x7. 

Bill -VA3WTB

a lot of people do leave them on all the time, there really is no down side to it other than wearing out fans.

mlstutler

Unless you want to run remote,  I see no reason to leave it on.   Not only would I have to leave the Flex on,  I would have to leave the 1KFA on as well.   Turning it off saves in energy costs and also the equipment is not **** in dust.  

I  think that even with the diagnostics a Flex with a SSD would boot considerably faster. 

mikes3

I was amazed the first time that I powered up my Flex-6500!  I now have an ANAN-100, which is READY, as soon as it is turned on.  So, yes, the startup (boot-up) time for the Flex-6400M is indeed a factor.  (In my example, I go to the radio desk, turn on the radio and at that point, I must wait for the Flex-6500 to allow me to use the app to run the radio.)  If I left the Flex on at all times, this would not be an issue.  (-IF- I left it on...)  73!  Mike, K0JTA

George KF2T

Don't believe there is an HDD on board. The architecture of the 6000-series is pretty substantially different than other radios, as it is not actually a radio until the FPGA is set to make it one. Even then, it's a radio server, with more complexity than an SDR that does some (or all) of the processing outside the chassis. 

Faster boot time? Sure, would love it. Think we're probably pushing the state of technology with what we have now.

W9OY

The 2 architectures are pretty different.  I like my Flex better than my Anan so I'll spend the extra 45 seconds.

73 W9OY   

mikes3

45 seconds is all it is?  I thought that my (no past) 6500 took more time.  Also, I was an early adopter, with "almost beta" firmware and software, by comparison to my ancient 6500, SN 22, as I recall.  -K0JTA-

Rick WN2C

I timed my 6300 the other day and it took 65 seconds. I do not care if it takes 65 seconds. I am not missing any dx that I know of until I get the radio on.

KY6LA_Howard

DDUTIL can control ur SPE Amp. So the Amp is no excuse. I run remote much of the time My station runs 24///365 My 2K-FA gets turned on remotely when needed. Radio power consumption is minimal on receive.

Clay N9IO

My Acom amp wants 150 seconds of warmup so it's all good with me.
Non issue in my mind.

KY6LA_Howard

Totally different architectures. Anan is just a front end to the bulk of. The radio in your external computer. Flex is the radio server itself Not sure a few seconds boot up time would make much difference on catching DXunless you are running a superstation that. Gets them First call.

mlstutler

If you are using compromised antennas,  every second counts.   Try breaking a pileup with a 1/4 wave vertical. 

mlstutler

Thanks for all your comments.   FB on how you guys operate.   Maybe Tim can update this on Tuesday. 

Gene - K3GC

OMG I just checked the boot time of my 6500.  It took a minute and six seconds.  I can not tolerate this.  I must get rid of this slow dinosaur.
Really, guys, if this is the most that we can find wrong with the Flex it must be a pretty good radio.  VBG

George KF2T

It took a while for my HT37 and HQ129x to warm up enough to even stay on one frequency. My phone takes about a minute to boot up. My coffee and toast take a few minutes. My "instant" oatmeal takes a couple of minutes. Even violinists and pianists warm up their gear for a bit. I'm good with my rig's performance, and don't mind giving it a minute or two to get ready.

mlstutler

I guess this thread has touched a nerve.   I was hoping to get some useful information to see if the new series of Flex radios might have a quicker boot time.   I am disappointed that instead of just answering the question I am getting scolded over such a minor nuance. 

Why do we use solid state amps now.    One of the main advantages of solid state amps is a quick start up time.   I know that was one of the reasons I got one.   If you don't care about warm up time then why purchase a solid state amp.    

In a perfect world I would love to hear that the boot up time for the 6400/6600 is quicker.  I don't expect perfection,  I would just like to have my cake and eat it too.

mikes3

Yes, indeed.  You had said, "I guess this thread has touched a nerve."  Some of the responses have been almost defensive, rather than offering a more logical response to what is simply "the way it is." 

I had "missed" the way I had normally enjoyed an on-air session, when I had to wait for my Flex-6500 to be ready.  My IC-7300, TS-590 and even (gasp) my ANAN are pretty much ready to go, when they are powered on. 

I do like Flex, do not get me wrong!  I have had the SDR-1000, TWO of the Flex-1500's, a Flex-3000, TWO of the Flex-5000 and lastly, the Flex-6500.  And I am considering the Flex-6400M.  So, I have enjoyed the Kool-aid, obviously.

Also, I am not a DX-er; I enjoy chatting, some net activity and the like.  I have no desire to be able to connect to some location that is important to some.  If and when I connect to a DX station, I want to learn what he sees out his window, and so on.  We exchange this sort of nonsense, as opposed to the guaranteed 5-9, after a couple of "AGAIN??!!" requirements.  We all have our desires, I guess.

73;  Mike, K0JTA


Mike VE3CKO

If you don't care about warm up time then why purchase a solid state amp.   

Though warm up time was a factor, it dwarfs the real reasons I purchase solid-state amplifiers. No tuning, easy auto-band switching, no tubes to replace. Saying that I also have an Alpha 87A and replacement tubes are not cheap and yes there is a warm up period. Which is why the Alpha is my amp of choice in the winter months to help heat up the shack.

Ned K1NJ

   Hmm...  6500 vs. 1.9.13.89  boots in 50 seconds.   Turn on when I get
up.  Then I get coffee.

                   Ned,  K1NJ
                 

Burch - K4QXX

This is a strange complaint to me.  If you have an Anan that boots up instantly, was your computer already on when you turned on your Anan?  I have a solid state drive in my computer and it takes about 20-30 seconds to boot.  I turn on my Flex before I turn on the computer and by the time I enter my password into my computer the flex is a few seconds from being on.  Are we really complaining about a few seconds?  On the other hand, my tube amp has a 3 minute warm up and I usually only turn it on when I need it and that 3 minutes seems like eternity when listing to a DX station that I want to work!

Bill -VA3WTB

I read all the comments and I don't see anything were a nerve was touched by anyone. But I have seen most people see the start up time on the older Flex radio's never seemed an issue. Remember the boot time on the 3000 1500 and 5000 were only due to how fast you computer booted.

As you know,,we really have not much time  if any time with the new radios, so we don't know..After Tuesday lets see if Tim says anything about the boot time.

Michael Coslo

I'm not certain how we would know how long boot takes since they aren't out yet.

But if the people who hate Flex Radios are reduced to complaining about Boot Time that means they don't have much left to complain about - Hopefully they aren't using a Tube amplifier. My 6300 takes 48 seconds, and the Alpha 9600 takes 180 seconds. Give the people who hate flex that info.8^)

Michael Coslo

Is there a reason you don't just turn it on and leave it on? 

Michael Coslo

My 6300 boots in 48 seconds. I'm not certain of the operating needs of different people, since my radio is booted whenever I'm in the shack.  But if immediate access is an absolute priority, and the radio must be turned off when not in actual use, The Flex radios are a non starter. Along with Tube amplifiers, especially the Alphas which have a three minute warmup, and a number of other radios like the 756 Pro's which also have a boot time. Tuning can also be an issue. 

AFAIAC, there aren't many cases where the 48 second boot time of the radio is relevant. If there is a desire to keep the radio turned off except when planning to transmit as soon as possible, even the boot time of the computer is critical. From a dead stop, it taks 1 minute and 27 seconds to log in, then boot Windos, then load SmartSDR CAT, Dax, and SSDR on my computer.

And given that over time, Windows computers take longer and longer to boot, I see the need for immediacy either as adapt to the situation, or get a radio that boots immediately, and don't use a computer with it.