SmartSDR - Annual Costs - ????

Ken - NM9P

Yes. If you don’t buy V.2 and go straight to V.3, it only costs you the fee for V.3. At present, all the upgrades build upon one another....

Johan _ SE3X

Second that! if Flex would change back to a maintenance fee instead of current system, send me an e-mail .. I will have a 6700 for sale immediately!

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

Ken Hansen

The 21.5% VAT is a tax that Spaniards have imposed on themselves to fund their local government, you can't reasonably expect Flex to offer it's goods at reduced prices in high-tax regions.

Ken Hansen

"that already the flex radios are not cheap, as to have to pay for software and others every year." No, you don't have to pay for software every year (or every other year, or ever). You bought the radio and have a permanent license to use the software it shipped with forever. This is just like a radio from any of the 'big three' radio manufacturers - you buy a radio and it is feature-locked for life. You have the OPTION, if you DESIRE, to UPGRADE your radio for a nominal fee, but it is not forced on anyone. You want Flex to offer continual major improvements after the sale at no additional cost, and (based on a previous comment in this thread) you want Flex to offer their products in your country at lower prices to offset local 21.5% VAT? That doesn't seem like a successful business model.

FRED W9TB

I just have one thing to say to you people crying about the cost of V3. If you can't afford the hobby get out of it.

Kevin

Pretty ugly.

Johan _ SE3X

Agree with you Kevin. Unneccesary and rude. Could use stronger words, but refuse to lower myself to that level. 

Michael Coslo

I fear that this subject has been beaten to death, other than it's entertainment value. Some people demand free stuff, and some understand that if a company is obliged to support people forever, for nothing, that a company providing all this largess will not be in business very long.

It is an old trope to suggest that a dissatisfied person go elsewhere to be happy, but very few people here want a different update schedule,a subscription,  or mind paying for major updates in order to help keep Flex financially solvent.  But I don't know of any other solution. If a person doesn't want to pay for the major updates, but wants the major updates, it kind of makes their path forward pretty obvious. 

These are exceptionally good radios. And I have firsthand experience with other really good radios to make that as a statement of fact. If you want an exceptionally good radio, you have to pay for that quality.

Lawrence Gray

Fred,
Amateur radio has a long history as a hobby that could be enjoyed with a minimum of expense.  Hams have a history of building gear, antennas, etc out of collected "stuff" and getting on the air.  The discussion about the $200 upgrade charge has little to do with being able to afford the hobby and more to do with the individual's perception of the value received from the upgrade.  The comment telling people to "...get out of the hobby..."   is  inappropriate and contrary to the spirit of amateur radio.  Shame on you.

Bill -VA3WTB

EA4AYW, So there you have it, your objections have been heard, how ever the policy of Flex is not likely to change. You are not considering that for Flex, this is not a hobby, it is a business, their lively hood. They pay employees. Perhaps you have know idea how expensive working on SSDR software is, my guess is you don't. None of us do.

You continue to suggest that there is a mandatory software fee each year. This is not true and very misleading, I would suggest you stop saying that so as not to confuse others.

For me? it will cost me over $300.00 to upgrade here in Canada, much more then almost all of you. It is the same for anything I buy from the states.

So, It sounds like you need to make a choice, of witch I can not help you with.

This thread seems un helpful any longer.

Good luck
Bill
VA3WTB

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

Oxford English

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

Matt (K0KB)

On what entitled socialist planet is remote access and multi user a bug fix?

Matt (K0KB)

You just flat out lie to fit your agenda. SSDR v2 came out in July 2017. V3 still isn’t out but by the time it does it will be nearly 2 years.

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

EA4AYW

Oxford English

I do understand what you are saying about the taxes benefiting the country and not Flex. What I am saying is that FRS have no control over whether or not such taxes are levied. If you live in Texas, same state as Flex, then you will pay 6% state tax for any you buy from Flex. Simple fact of life and you wouldn't expect it to be any different.

What I take issue with is that you are complaining about having to pay the tax. I have great sympathy with that point of view. I don't see why I should pay the French Government VAT for a product which was not written/manufactured in France but that is the way that it is and no amount of complaining will get us anywhere. 

So, we agree that the imposition of taxes is something we have to accept.

So, other than that do you think that 200.00 is a reasonable sum to pay for what, hopefully, will be an enhancement to you radio?

Tim

PS, I do not take offence at your reply, and I hope you don't take offence at my original posting or reply. I think that at base level, we actually agree!

Matt (K0KB)

You said it.

KC2QMA_John