SSDR V3 Pros and Cons

Robert-KP4Y

That’s weird, I had that product for a number of years and had no issues, even with a super early beta version of the new firmware and software. I’m still on their reflector and everybody is having a blast with minimal issues. BTW, the developers have been resolving these issues immediately. Talking about being nimble with customer request. BTW, have you not heard that Flex users also have problems with their radios and SSDR? Many of these are operator issues.

You may wonder, why then did I move to Flex, two words remote capability! Yes, this is an areas in which Flex has an absolute competitive advantage. I’m saying this in good faith because I know that Flex has the resources and capacity to do much better. However, I was really disappointed to see that they were used to develop an application that only a minority of users will exploit or enjoy.

73,
Robert-KP4Y

Gene - K3GC

If I was willing to go back to buttons and knobs (no way) I would go back to my dearly loved FTDX 5000 - now that was/is a great radio.  It was the LP-Pan add on that introduced me to SDR.

Bill -VA3WTB

Robert, to be fair, I don't own an Anan and I think it;s a wonderful radio. My comments were based on info from a person on this community that is a tester for the Anan group, he has kept me to date as to the progress of the latest version, not being able to use Pure Signal for a time and many things. It does have it's problems as well.

I think what we are seeing is some misinformation about V3. There are many things about it that should apeal to none contesters. But It will take time for people to use it and explore many uses for it, other than contesting.

W2NER

Hey Ken, why did you sell your flex 6600 today?

W2NER

I think V3 was a big disappointment, all this wait for nothing more then a headache.  Oh and by the way, the Apache Labs radios are among the best out there, you just can't be a appliance operator.   If you are. move on because its not for you.   And yes, I have owned just about all of their radios.   Just sold a 7000DLE and may get a new Mark II or a 8000...

W2NER

Sorry my mistake I should have said Steve, WW1SS, why did you sell the 6600?  Version 3 make you dump it?

Ken - NM9P

Whew...I thought I might have done something regrettable in my sleep....LOL

Bill -VA3WTB

Bad dream Ken?

Jeff NJ2US

Jim Gilliam

One of the outstanding features of SmartSDR and Flex is the ability to remote easily. I would have purchased V3 had it the ability to bring up more than one remote on a PC, Maestro, or iPad/iPhone. It would be very nice for the client  to have geographic diversity. If it becomes an enhancement on V3, I will not hesitate to purchase it.


Jim, K6QE

Eric-KE5DTO

Note that you can connect to multiple remote radios with SmartSDR for Windows on v3.0. 

Bill -VA3WTB

Eric, I'm sure I understand,,,how many?

James Charlton

Steve - G8KNC

Robert-KP4Y

Jeff, I totally agree with you. Actually, I'll sell my 6600 and get a used 6500. Then I'll use the remaining cash to get an Anan 7000. Like I said, the Thetis/PowerSDR development team has been been more nimble with customer requests. It's funny because I've been hearing for the last 6 years, hey what if one of those developers retire or even die, who's going  to continue upgrading the platform? Well, they have been around for a long time and they are going strong and more developers are joining the team, including Simon Brown with SDR Console. 

The irony is that they are a bunch of volunteers doing that for free! I had an Anan 100D for more than two years. I loved it and saw amazing new features being added all the time. The only reason I sold it was because it lacked remote capabilities. Hence, that's why I'm planning to keep a Flex in the shack. Again, I totally believe Flex can do much better job. But, they need to start listening to the customers and prioritize SSDR updates accordingly. 

73,
Robert-KP4Y

John WA7UAR

My single/simple Con for the moment:
I’m waiting until the first full documentation PDF for v3 is released: https://www.flexradio.com/downloads/

and in the meantime living vicariously through all the postings by early adopters! ;-)

K5ROX

Still waiting on promised Squelch......a ANF that worked half as good as my non flex radios would be nice.

[Deleted User]

Just tired of all the issues that NEVER get corrected and when Gerald Chimes in it is the same Blah . . .Blah . . . Blah . . . Bugs and issues never seem to get fixed. DO you remember when the last time was that Flex came out with an Update that just addressed the issues everyone is complaining about. I don't . . . Squelch, NB, ANF, DSP, my intermittent network issues and just shutting down. I have a lot invested here and feel this is just BS that nothing gets corrected. Right now I have to connect to a remote site via Remote Hams to have a rag chew with my fellow hams because the noise mitigation sucks. My K3 it mitigates the same noise.Just new features. I don't know if I will still be alive when the issues get corrected. By then the 6xx will be obsolete and the 7xx will be out.

Kuby, N6JSX

Ted VE3TRQ

Just as a counterpoint to the K3 versus Flex noise mitigation mentioned by Steve above, I also have both a K3/P3 and a Flex 6xxx. My antenna is in the attic (HOA) and on 80m I can’t hear a thing with the K3, but with WNB on with the Flex, I have no real noise issues from the house - it is (almost) all suppressed. What this really points out is everyone has different noise, and different radios deal with it differently. That said, I’d love it if the NR on the Flex was better, but the WNB is outstanding for me.

AH0U

I think there would have been a lot less conversation here if the documentation had been issued along with the V3 software.... I’ll wait for the user manual before I make sent decisions

Steve

Dave AA6YQ

Dave AA6YQ

Don Agro

David Hickman

Well @AA6YQ, I guess you have never admin vSphere.  It is normal and expected for vendors to break third party apps every time a new update or patch is out.  

Vmware just released 6.7U2 and as usual it breaks Veeam. Veeam is critical for a production vSphere setup.  In the software world this is common.  

This is also why I never set up my flex to be controlled as smart sdr or flex, I alway use the Kenwood TS-2000 compatible mode.

David Hickman

If you run  digital modes and use a maestro, ipad, or second computer this does make a difference. The settings for the device you are on stays with the device. This alone is nice. Before this, I would have to make a bunch of setting changes every time I switched devices or operating modes.

David Hickman

Well to be fair, 3.0 finally fixed the hissing/dropped audio that would happen randomly about 10-30 minutes after the radio is first booted. I guess the fix is due to a rewite of the audio subsystem.

Dave AA6YQ

NA5RF