Some advice for Flex Management

Dave AA6YQ

K3DCW

Pat N6PAT

Dave AA6YQ

It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that new features drive new revenue, so new features must be highest priority. While applications must deliver value to succeed, what really drives new revenue is delighted users; they are incredibly effective product evangelists. Nothing dampens user enthusiasm like reported-but-uncorrected defects.

Burt Fisher

This ought to be tattooed or a big sign posted in the Flex lab, "Correct all known defects before releasing new functionality.  I like a woman who takes a shower before putting on the perfume, not the other way around.

Dave AA6YQ

Yes, I was disappointed to see that. "This is not how we have chosen to do things" is not a response.

While a making it easy for users to try new functionality would be beneficial, it's the least of their challenges right now.

Dave AA6YQ

In my experience, the required change must likely come from product management, not engineering. High quality engineers always want to correct reported defects ASAP,  but are erroneously directed to hold off to avoid compromising the schedule for new features.

John KB4DU

I've avoided these conversations, but I believe this is really the issue. Flex is needing/wanting the revenue this version will produce. It was promoted to be available in March, but as most software projects go, the release wasn't ready then, so the rush was on to get it out the door as soon as possible to generate the revenue. I can't think of another reason to release it without documentation. The documentation is always the last delivery. When I was in the business, we didn't release until the documentation was ready. Personally, I don't buy in until the documentation matches the release. I was surprised that the published docs didn't match the changes in 2.3 or  2.4. At a minimum, there should have been change notes, if not changed pages.

[Deleted User]

Yes . . . My User enthusiasm is certainly getting dampened with the lack of bug fixes. They may listen but nothing ever happens with bugs. I only have V3 because I received the free upgrade. I'de be upset having to pay the $199 for just multiflex and broken profiles. 

Russ Ravella

Greg SP7QJF

Joe N3HEE

Gene - K3GC

[Deleted User]

Well I feel the same way. Just watched a video on the Expert Electronics MB1. It seems like an awesome rig and order placed. Flex may be going bye bye for good.

dlwarnberg

Bill -VA3WTB

Not me,,not even cosidering it. What possibly would I replace this great performanc.
And Flex (Eric) has posted over 20 times on the community in the last 4 days. Anything you want to know just ask him when you see him posting.

Burch - K4QXX

Friend of mine has a MB1 and it's nice.  But isn't it only a single ADC radio?  Seems like a whole lot of money for a single ADC radio.  He has had a bunch of issues with it but it sure is pretty to look at.

HCampbell WB4IVF

Bill -VA3WTB

That sounds great Steve, enjoy...

Dave AA6YQ

Simon Nash

Bill, I have the SunSDR2 pro which is essentially the same rig without the PC. I have been using it for around 3 weeks and can honestly say that my Flex 6500 has not turned a wheel. Since. There are several reasons for this, performance is the same for my needs, the software is far more advanced, intuitive and configurable, is far more stable, and the basics such as DSP works.

Dave AA6YQ

There is no less satisfying and no more infuriating a response to a user unhappy with a product's poor software quality than "It's ok with me". Posts like this make a bad situation worse.

Gerald-K5SDR

dlwarnberg

Gerald, as always FLEX IMO is doing a fantastic job.... there are other choices out there I choose to stay with FLEX.

Thanks

Joe N3HEE

SunSDR lets their users run alpha code ! ?  Wow, I bet that's a hoot.  

To be fair, the SunSDR2 Pro is a step down in performance and functionality from the MB1.  15 watts output.  14 Bit ADC. Hence it's much lower price tag.  However, if it works for you that's all that matters   The software interface does like nice.

NA0B

I absolutely agree. Thank you to Gerald and the complete Flex team for bringing much needed innovation to the ham radio hobby. 

Dave AA6YQ

No one doubts your intentions or commitment, Gerald, but in this world we are judged by results. There are way too many reported-but-uncorrected defects in SmartSDR. Your organization is fully capable of expeditiously correcting them, if you task them to do so.

New SmartSDR releases bearing excellent new functionality will continue to greeted with anger and frustration from users until you correct this situation. You can't hire enough marketing people to compensate for the brand damage.

Delight your users, and they will delight you with their product evangelism.

Bill -VA3WTB

Dave, sorry to burst you little bubble, but this is only your opinion, and a few will agree with you,,but there are also tons on the community that are very happy with the determination of Flex.

Thanks Gerald, nice to see you post every now and then.

Dave AA6YQ

Pat N6PAT

Gerald,

Why doesn't Flex provide a free trial period for new releases?

I asked this before and Eric said it's the way Flex has chosen. That's not really an informative  answer.

Most software is offered with a free trial so the customer can decide if it's right for them. Flex does not offer a trial period so if you don't like the new release and revert back to a prior release you're out $199. Look at all the posts from ops where this has happened.

Joe N3HEE

The statement from Gerald is like when Ralphie finally gets his long awaited decoder pin and locks himself in the bathroom to decode his first message from Little Orphan Annie and it turns out to be a CRUMMY advertisement for Ovaltine !!

At least now I am VERY clear on what the issues are at Flex and what to expect in the future.  ****, they cant even meet their own expectations and desires.

I'm very angry !!  

I want to be DELIGHTED !!