I think I want my IC-7610 back!

Huskerbobe

From the conversation on this list and my own problems with the Maestro and the Flex 6400, I think I want my IC-7610 back.  My Maestro looses connection with my 6400 way too much, and at the exact time I want to transmit or check into a net.  I am going to try the LAN cord direct between the 6400 and Maestro.  However, doing that I loose my internet access and updates until I change it back to do so.  Had my Flex 6400/Maestro for about two months and if I knew what I know now, I would not of made the change and spent the money to do so!

Sergey KN7K

David Decoons, wo2x

mikeatthebeach .

Try V2.49 less disconnects than version 3

[Deleted User]

Kevin J. Darrah

The more experiences I have with my 6400... The more I wished I would have never bought the **** thing either. 

Joe N3HEE

To be fair, we won’t know about how well the K4 will work until the end of this year at the earliest. Elecraft has a long way to go with K4 software development. I am watching Elecraft closely. BTW- The new Yaesu FTdx-101D has confirmed transmitter overshoot problems. I own a 6600M and feel that even with it’s many flaws the radio is ahead of the curve compared to recent competition. No a Flex fanboy by any means. Just an educated consumer.

Steve

Dan-N7HQ

K0FLY

Mike-VA3MW

Welcome Dan, and now you all know who he is! 

As the genesis of the HF radio (and all radios) continue for years to come, using TCP/IP (aka, you LAN and WAN) are all becoming a key part of your station evolution.  It doesn't have to be, but it is the logical progression. 

The LAN network is no different than your Microphone and your Antenna system now and has become a key part of any station. 

Look in the review mirror when you first got on HF and what you may (or may not) have known about RF and how an antenna works.   We do this to learn about things since it is, just cool.  And you get to geek out your friends.  I know all of you have friends who think you are the smartest person around and have no clue on what you do.  Stand proud!

Just about every staff member who knows what a NIC card is has been dialed into a customers home to work on the network and help our customers get to the next step.  All of us (hams) have have learned that it is easy to get a LAN network to work, but it takes a bit more effort to get it to work well.  Streaming HF data requires a network that works well or connections drop (this is not Netflix).

While a home network is sort of out of FRS's control, we have spent thousands of man hours helping out our customers with their network.  There is only so much of the communications layer we can control.  And in many many cases, we have Teamviewered in to make that leap a little easier because you are our customer and we want you to be successful and maybe teach you a few things along the way.   We do that because we know you will actually love the experience and be able to use HF radio in even better ways.

To the original poster - I do know who you are, but I have Mayor power on this group, we are happy to help, and I know that Tim has been working with you.  There are ways to have you Maestro cabled to the radio and still have internet access.  Sadly, WiFi is sometimes not our friend since it can be considered a party line when it comes to HF communications.  Is it possible that a small Network switch from Amazon may help you out? 

You have no idea how much we wish WiFI would work as well as our ISP says it should.

Never Stop Learning.    -- one of many phrases I say.

Mike 

Bob- W5TX

Plenty of opportunity for RF to get into LAN cables in most stations particularly if running hi power. My station is a long way from ground which is even more susceptible to RF issues. I solved them all by using optical cabling. Relatively inexpensive (<$50) and problems disappeared. Computer inside of radio box helps (MB1) no cables required but with reduced capability. The Flex 5000 was similar. Don’t know where most of processing occurs (radio/computer). Too early to tell about Elecraft 4 which is still mostly a paper radio until it delivers next year or whenever. Most of us are still in the learning stage of integrating radio etc into a LAN and the WAN/internet where hardware is in general not hardened against RF. Learning can be both fun and sometimes frustrating. Bob

Robert Lonn

The MB-1 is made in  RUSSIA,, I dont think so!!!! I will stay with the FLEX USA version and the Software and normal hours of support... 6600M going strong after  one year...
Robert

Bill -VA3WTB

Back to an 7610,,ouch!!!

David Decoons, wo2x

MB-1 last software update April, 2018.

Huskerbobe

I am still using v2.49 as that is what came with it.  With all the discussions on V3 problems I have not even thought about touching that yet.  I have read several possible solutions in this thread, that I am going to try.  I will report back when I get time to try them.  Thank-you, Bob

Tim N9PUZ

Huskerbobe

Dan, thank-you for reaching out to me.  We first had a ISP problem with getting some ports open. Michael helped me with that and it has been fixed.  After that it seemed to work ok for a few weeks.  I have not upgraded to v3, still running v2.49.  I have had problems the last few weeks, but yesterday during the morning nets the Maestro paused several times.  I was not able to transmit when that was going on.  Finally the Maestro shut down twice.  At that time I shut the Flex 6400 and Maestro down and finished the net with my old Icom IC-7600.  After I turned the 6400 on, waited for it to get booted up and then turned on the Maestro.  Same problems.  So that is why the frustration.  My post was obviously written out of frustration, and I apologize for that.  No changes have taken place that I know of between when it was working ok and when it wasn't.  I have not put any additional equipment on to load down my LAN.  Could the 6400 and/or the Maestro been trying to upgrade?  Could my LAN just be overloaded with other traffic?  Not to likely as I am the only one here in the mornings.  I have also noticed when I use my iPad over my network I get dropouts, but when I use it over cellular, they are much fewer.  I hope my problem is LAN and not Flex, but everything else seems to work fine on the LAN.  Thank-you, Bob

Huskerbobe

Tim,  First of all I like my Flex when it works.  Flex has the best receiver that I have ever had.  However, I took a big loss selling my 7610 and getting the Flex 6400 and Maestro.  Money I will never get back.  I had NO indication of any type that I would be going through what I have gone through.  And I am obviously not the only one that has had problems.  So, if you would like to send me a nearly new IC-7610 and $1100, I will send you my 6400 & Maestro.  

Dan-N7HQ

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

The Icom 7610 is a very nice rig, as is the Icom 7300 that serves as my backup radio.
But my Flex 6600 has capabilities that the Icom does not.  I like my Flex.
I am keeping my Flex.   But choice is good, and if you like the Icom better, nothing wrong with that.

Neal

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Sell it and buy something else.    There is no one radio, or car, or house, that is the correct choice for EVERY consumer.   Life is short, buy what makes you happy.

For me, the 6600 was a great choice and I am enjoying it massively.
For others, maybe the Icom or the Yaesu is their perfect choice.
You have to wear the shoe that fits, not the one that your friends have...

Neal

Burt Fisher

I have made cockpit errors with the 6400M  but not with the 7300. With the 6400M I power it up, go to the mailbox outside, read the mail and the 6400M is ready, with the 7300 I power it up take a breath and it is ready. There was discussion on the K4 and we will have to see if it works, my KX3 all worked when I got it and updates were free and none of the updates disabled previously working features. 

Burt Fisher

I got help from Flex wow was it ever the best from Eric Wachsmann.

Burt Fisher

They "whine" about them to make them better. When the K4 comes out the "whining' will stop as the "whiners" will vote with their feet.

[Deleted User]

Try version 1.30 on 4/25/19 for software Dave. If your gonna post make sure you get it right. Next update will be out in a few weeks for MB-1 software. Also MB-1 is made in China like most of our stuff. Designed in Russia by same company that sells Sun SDR. There are a lot if amplifiers also using Russian Tubes. No one complains about that.

David Decoons, wo2x

Bob, Are you using a cable modem by chance? Can you post the model and make? Reason I am asking is there is a known bug with the Puma 6 chipset in some modems which can cause high DPC spikes. Also, Another thing to try is a cold start of the Maestro. With the Maestro on hold the power button down. You will see a message to “slide to shutdown”. Continue holding the power button about 20 seconds after ALL lights on Maestro go out. Now turn it on and retest. If you only hit the power button momentarily to shut down the Maestro it puts it in a hibernate state. By holding the power button as described above it does a complete shutdown. Dave wo2x

David Decoons, wo2x

Well. Their .eu website only lists 1.20. So if 1.30 is out I stand corrected and learned something.

KI4P

there is always a market for pre loved radios!

Huskerbobe

Steve K9ZW