SSDR V3 Pros and Cons

Steve

I have started this conversation as a method of understanding how V3 is doing in the real world.
It is NOT for bickering, do that somewhere else please.  If you can define (in a brief manner) what is good and what is not so good about V3 please do so.  Try to keep it in the Pro and Con
format.  Also tell us whether you have stayed with V3 or reverted back to V2.  Please try to keep it short without personal feelings.  This is again meant to be a productive thread for prospective buyers and Flex alike.  Your help is appreciated.  YES some of this information has been stated throughout the community BUT we all need it in one place,  Thanks again.

Ted VE3TRQ

I’ll copy my reply to another thread here,and modify it to fit the “Pro” / “Con” format: Pro: I upgraded to v3 because I wanted the ability to leave the “M” front panel connected while using the radio from other computers, Windows, Mac and iPad. In the mean time, the ability to (relatively) easily go back and forth means I don’t need to sweat it :-) I’ll just stay on 2.4.9 until everything is ready to move to v3. Con: I would have stayed with v3 except for the fact I cannot run the Mac with it until xDax / xCat / dogParkSDR / MacLoggerDX are modified/upgraded to work with v3. As soon as they are, I will go back to v3.

WA2SQQ

HCampbell WB4IVF

[Deleted User]

Larry Loen WO7R

Bill -VA3WTB

Bill -VA3WTB

Both you guys hijacked the thread...ON TOPIC?

Steve

Larry Loen WO7R

What are you talking about?  For me, V3 is all "con".  I see nothing whatever that makes me want to upgrade.  I think that's responsive to to thread title.  I am not bickering -- I am stating my requirements (requirements that Flex has, if they remember, known about for years, but yes, I am just one guy).

Tim N9PUZ

Gary NC3Z

Joe N3HEE

K3SF

Dwayne_AB6A

It's just me using the radio but being able to leave existing workflows running from my primary computer which also accessing remotely from Laptop or Maestro is a huge advantage for me. I will eventually get into contesting but the radio as-is is working well for me.

I do have some software compatibility issues but its to be expected as it will take a few months for 3rd parties to update their software.

AH0U

Con Stayed with V2 until SliceMaster works with V3 but even then reading about V3 from lists, I will stay with V2 as I see nothing in 3 that I would use. Another con is that developing V 3 took resources that could have been used to fix or improve V2 which I use

Gene Duprey

Ed Johnson

Craig Williams

Unless I hear about improvements to "specifications", noise reduction capabilities, or other things that make the TX and RX better I will be staying with V2.x.x. Not a contester.

Robert-KP4Y

And also take a look at the major firmware and software update recently released for the Anan radios. Did I say, it’s free! Granted, the work is being done by volunteers but they haven’t failed to deliver great results in many, many years. They keep lowering the latency more and more, less than 20ms now! 73, Robert-KP4Y

Ken - NM9P

Robert-KP4Y

And also take a look at the major firmware and software update recently released for the Anan radios. Did I say, it’s free! Granted, the work is being done by volunteers but they haven’t failed to deliver great results in many, many years. They keep lowering the latency more and more, less than 20ms now! And, talking about PowerSDR, Flex has failed to incorporate beam steering in SSDR. 73, Robert-KP4Y

Dwayne_AB6A

Its totally normal for the general software ecosystem to take a few weeks or months to catch up to major software releases. DogparkSDR has a good maintenance cadence so I am sure compatibility is just around the corner. 

Bill -VA3WTB

They have had terrible problems geting the latest version to work properly, it has been better than a year to get things working on the Anan. It is not what your making it to be.

When will they have Multi Client? Thin client, Plug and play remote.

KF4HR

Bill -VA3WTB

Ken I love reading things you write,,but man you have got to running out of ink soon...lol

Ted VE3TRQ

Absolutely no offense meant, but you do need to remember Bill, that Ken is a preacher :-)

James Whiteway

Pro: Multi Client (aka: Multi Flex). Lets my app use unused panadapter(s) and waterfalls while running SSDR or the front panel on my M model 6600. Con: DSP functions, ANF, NB, etc. along with several other basic features that have had issues since v1.x, still need improving. The above Con's are the main reason I have not upgraded to v3. Instead, I will wait to see if they.finally receive the attention they have long needed since v1.x , when v2.50 comes out later this year. And hopefully, both v2.50 and v3.x will contain those improvements. Once they do, I'll buy v3.x. Until then, I'll stay with v2.49, warts and all. James WD5GWY

Larry Loen WO7R

On the contrary, the value of the paid-for releases is a _significant_ part of the Flex value proposition.  Each owner will inevitably have to evaluate this to decide whether to stick with Flex as opposed to switching to a K3 or perhaps a 7610 where there is no upgrade discussion of this sort.

Speaking for myself, I would love to stick with Flex.  I have owned one since the SDR 1000 days.  I have a complex enough situation operationally and with hardware that switching would be a pain in the neck.  So, I _do_ care about the value proposition of these upgrades.

On the one hand, if the upgrades contain features most of us like, then the upgrades are probably worth it as our radio is effectively upgraded and made more "like new" over time.  If new releases work out this way for most of us, it is a clear benefit and worth the money.  It is something nobody else in the industry offers.  That is a clear benefit, when it happens. 

On the other hand, if most of what is offered in the release is _not_ a benefit to many/most owners, this is a _significant downside to owning a Flex_.  Yes, you can in theory sit on Version 1 forever if you like.  But, especially if Flex keeps breaking software compatibility between releases, there will come a point (maybe every other release?) where one must upgrade for the sake of third party software.  Many of us use a little or a lot of third party code.  In this scenario, the effective price of the radio is higher than the original sticker price because one ends up ponying up for software that one doesn't really value.  The longer one owns it (in this case) the more the radio costs.

In real life, we hope that at worst, it is in-between for most users.  That said, it has not been so for me.   I did not get much benefit out of V2 (though I am on it) and V3 seems farther afield still.

So, it is critical for us, for Flex, to know if these upgrades are really delivering to the existing user base.  It's tough, because SDRs have _always_ been, well, flexible and delivered to multiple constituencies in a way few radios do.  But, that doesn't automatically make a release interesting to me.

Ken - NM9P

OT:  It is reported that a Methodist Bishop's wife once said to him: "Emerson, you talk too much!"  He replied "But I get paid to talk."  Her retort:  "Don't work so hard for your money!"  LOL

Guilty as charged.....sometimes....But I also believe in being complete and thorough!    

Bill -VA3WTB

Ted, very true,,Lol