maestro needs a power LED

Stan VA7NF

There is a significant delay between pressing the power button, mainly to turn it on but also on power off, such that the user does not know if the press was recognized.
There should a power LED that immediately flashes during startup and shutdown then solid on once power is fully established, and off when powered down.

Scott Russell - N1SER

I agree. There is no indication when the button is pressed that the unit is doing something. Seems a simple item that was missed in design.

Jay Nation

Stan

Great Idea!

I figure you already know this, but just in case you or anyone else haven't figured this out yet, …

To power on the Maestro consistently. 

Press and hold the power button for 5 secs, a count of 5. or until you see the black display screen brighten which is an indication that it has powered up the display screen, and is then proceeding to boot up, you may not be able to see much difference between the unpowered black and the powered black. 

So yes a separate LED indication would be a better indication that it's now ok to release the power button. I could get by, if it would just beep after a 5 sec press when the display powers up.

To turn it off.
All it takes is a single quick, but firm push on the power button.

On mine, which was likely part of the first production run, so maybe yours is different. The power button has a sort of rocking action IOW I seem to always aim the press the right side edge of the button. The button does have a tactile click, and I can feel the click stronger on the right edge.

If you can't detect any rocking, or click, then ignore the previous paragraph.

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Bill -VA3WTB

Good idea for next generation Maestro.
In the mean time, perhaps they can do something in the firmware to have a spot on the display blink when pressing the power button.

Stan VA7NF

Agree Jay - You have V1 with the power button on top and a slight tactile feedback.  I have one of these, but my club has a V2 with the side power button and no tactile feedback.

Since this V2 Maestro is used by many people there is a need for a positive feedback rather than the learned process of watching the screen or back-lit buttons.

Bill, any indicator on the startup screen would be good; that is, if any software is booted up enough to drive the screen.

Bill -VA3WTB

That is why I mentioned the firmware level, only the the Flex engineers would know this.
Otherwise it would wait till the next generation.

Sergey KN7K

Current Maestro (both ver 1 and 2) can be updated by FW with backlit flashing on/off on any or all buttons on the front Panel that have a backlit during power up or power down. Of course if electronics getting signal from the built in tablet it will not work. Sergey, Kn7k

Bill -VA3WTB

Perhaps Flex will comment on that as they are the only ones that would no for sure.

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Perhaps I should manufacture a small interposer cable for both the 12 volt power adapter,
and the battery compartment USB, that senses current flow with a comparator and lights up
a little red power LED module on a short wire with sticky tape, so you could put it anywhere
around the Maestro case :-)
That would permit having a real power LED to know it is "ON" and drawing power, but
without opening the case and voiding your warranty.

I could call it the Edison/Tesla Maestro Energy Annunciator Option.

Kickstarter Campaign anyone?

Cheers,

Neal

[Deleted User]

How about a circuit to charge the battery when it is plugged in to 12 volts

K1UO Larry

Steve... How about letting this thread run on its own merit!   Post your concern/idea so it can have its own platform.   Both ideas have merit.

Ronald Panetta

I too would like an indicator and have resorted to Jay's approach (count to 5). In daylight or high ambient light environments, the backlight is not visible. Meastro V2 in my case, 73, Ron WB2WGH