Flexradio 6400M and router

Scott Oakland

My Flex 6400M, even on Windows 10, still is giving me headaches. I spent countless hours trying to get the MAc to transmit on WSJT-X and finally gave up on that. On to Win 10, and still problems.  It seems that nothing stays consistent. It is extremely volatile. I have to load Windows, check to make sure everything is good, then start up the radio. And even then configurations seem to change as to IP addresses and such. I am thinking I need a new router. I use Comcast/Xfinity, so can anyone recommend a good replacement from the one I have? I don't care how much it is, I just this solved. I have spent way too much time trying to get Flex to work, and there are constant roadblocks. SO any ideas on the router guys? Sorry for the venting but this seems way too crazy to be happening with something designed to work with Windows. And with all the routers out there - not to mention computers - it's no wonder there are issues.

Dwayne_AB6A

Google Wifi has been solid for me. IOS App allows me to manage the network from anywhere.

Ken Hansen

I understand your frustration and the desire to just 'throw money at the problem' until it's solved, but I'd like to make a couple suggestions. First, you can simply hard-code the IP addresses on you PC or Mac, and Flex. It sounds like DHCP is your challenge, and changing routers won't really address that. Second, you can 'reserve' or 'assign' the current DHCP IP address assignments on your current router - that way every time your router sees your Mac, your PC, or your Flex it will always assign them the same address as before. You would not have to change anything on your Mac, pc, or Flex radio server - the change would be to make the router always assign the same IP, then you should be good to go. Happy to provide more details, but this should be enough to get you started - if you get stuck, Xfinity/Comcast can help you do this .

Ted VE3TRQ

Jus t a little extra background - the Win10 PC has it’s WiFi interface to the Xfinity router bridged to its Ethernet interface to allow the Flex to connect with Ethernet.

Brian Denley KB1VBF

Scott: I also have Xfinity service for internet, wifi and phone. I have a flex 6400 plugged directly into the router. I am not having any problems at all so far. My router is tall, black and has 7 lights vertically down the front with two of them for telephone. If that’s not enough, I can get you the model numbers later. Btw, Windows 10 updates have also not bothered my setup at all either

Logan KE7AZ

Erika - KØDD

Logan KE7AZ

Amen. Years ago, I set up a BBS that had Internet access and it had lots of protection. Went to bed and next morning there were login attempts from both the Chinese and the Russians. Less than 8 hours and it was targeted. Really opened my eyes about the threat.

Erika - KØDD

In the past I was the IT Director for a US Senator's reelection campaign.  (he was reelected) We were getting 80,000 login attempts at each hack attempt... and they made multiple attempts each day...   It was coming from that group of islands off China coast.  They did a 60 minutes expose about the hackers about a year later...  We ended up BLOCKING the whole Chinese Country of IP addresses... The whole country...  I mean it was doubtful the Chinese were going to email the Senator, giggle

K5CG

Scott Oakland

My ethernet outlet is in the living room so too far for a cable. But I have ordered a travel router that will take my WiFi signal and dole out IP addresses directly to the Flex (and the two Macs I have). One Mac I run Windows with Smart SDR by the way. That's my solution, which was recommended by a ham friend. I agree with Danny that the simple way is best though.

K5CG

My suggestion was just to initially establish confidence in the equipment even as a temporary setup. Then start introducing other components - routers, switches etc., one at a time until it breaks, to help determine which component breaks it.

Ken Hansen

You'll probably want to set the travel router up on what's called 'bridge mode'. If you have the travel router hand out IP addresses you'll find the radio will be 'double NAT'ed' which SmartSDR can't handle. The way you described it might not work. I have my Flex (and all Shack equipment) on a similar device which connects to my home WiFi and provides a bridge to an RJ-45 Ethernet adapter - works well, and helped me avoid a trip into the attic to run Cat5e.

Ted VE3TRQ

That would be the next step after it’s proven to work :-) The only requirement to avoid double NAT is for SmartLink - SSDR won’t care, as its on the same broadcast domain as the radio.

Mike-VA3MW