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Flexradio Maestro hacking

Roland HB9VQQ
Roland HB9VQQ Member ✭✭
edited January 2020 in Maestro
«1

Comments

  • Ernest - W4EG
    Ernest - W4EG Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • John - AI4FR
    John - AI4FR Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Joe N3HEE
    Joe N3HEE Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Fun stuff !  I bet Flex closes that back door with the next code release !  Can't imagine they want people installing third party apps on their radios ?
  • Ha Gei
    Ha Gei Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • KC2QMA_John
    KC2QMA_John Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Neil D Friedman N3DF
    Neil D Friedman N3DF Member ✭✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    John, that is a good attitude. I see this as a fun project and nothing else. Keep in mind any such work done on any Flex product will end all customer support and warranty for that product.
  • N2WQ
    N2WQ Member
    edited January 2020
    The Dept of Defense and Raytheon most likely will not find this project being cool or fun. On the other hand, the project would be of great interest to those seeking the means of gaining access to air-gapped networks.
  • K1ESE
    K1ESE Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Not on my Maestro...
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Martin AA6E
    Martin AA6E Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Elegant hacks! Some of us have noted the tremendous untapped power of the Maestro platform before. It's understandable, but it's a shame FRS couldn't find a way to provide more open access. Same actually applies to the Flex radios themselves.
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Martin AA6E
    Martin AA6E Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • John - AI4FR
    John - AI4FR Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Steve K9ZW
    Steve K9ZW Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    @John AI4FR - not seeing this reduced SmartSDR myself, could you point out examples? 73 Steve K9ZW Blog: http://k9zw.wordpress.com
  • John - AI4FR
    John - AI4FR Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Steve I did so in a previous post somewhere on here including links to the comments made by Flex. A couple off the top of my head were something to do with FM in which Flex stated they purposely made XYZ not adjustable and the auto profile save feature which Flex implemented in order to again cut back on the help desk tickets from folks not understanding how profiles are saved. I really feel for Flex when it comes to the amount of help desk tickets they receive. I am pretty sure they create an SSDR manual for a reason.

    I apologize as I do not want to get this great post off topic.
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Question, what if Flex made it possible to install 3rd party software into a radio or the Meastro, and the software installed causes a problem with the SSDR operation in that device? Who would be responsible? Who would give customer support in that case? Or if the new software had any malware in it.
  • John - AI4FR
    John - AI4FR Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Yes, exactly. Well said Bill. At that point we'd get into a blame game. Flex would say to remove the software and the Maestro works fine. The software folks would state it is a problem with the Flex.
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • Jason NR0X
    Jason NR0X Member
    edited January 2020
    OMG I want a Maestro now!!!!
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    edited January 2020
    As a reminder.  In the Terms and Conditions, you did accept this.

    Restrictions on Alteration

    You may not modify the Software Product or create any derivative work of the
    Software Product or its accompanying documentation. Derivative works include
    but are not limited to translations. You may not alter any files or libraries in any
    portion of the Software Product.
  • Bill -VA3WTB
    Bill -VA3WTB Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
  • KC2QMA_John
    KC2QMA_John Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Too late people have already done it?
    Funny thing is It looks like it adds a ton more features to your product.
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    edited January 2020
    That has been in there for some time.  So, it isn't too late.

    However, consider the supportability of things like this.  As you add features it required staff to not only write them, but to also support them.  FRS spends a lot of time helping people to do things and this is paid staff that does this.  It contributes to the actual cost of the the product since people who support things for customers like to get paid as well.  

    This contributes to if or if not you add a feature to a device.  Long term supportability.  There is no free lunch.  :)

    73
  • Clay N9IO
    Clay N9IO Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    Was wondering when this would finally come up. Just because you are capable doesn't mean you're a genius if you do. This was a bad idea in my mind.
  • KC2QMA_John
    KC2QMA_John Member ✭✭
    edited January 2020
    I fully understand not supporting a "Modified" device.
  • Steve K9ZW
    Steve K9ZW Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    As a Maestro is NOT the radio, it likely largely overlaps with the same risk profile as any other GUI platform. Genies usually don’t go back into the bottle very willingly. So the paradigm has been publicly changed. The Maestro as a product was pregnant with underused capabilities, so if the natural father didn’t initiate development somebody else was going to. Reading the blog description the hack is incomplete in terms of having features fully developed. Perhaps a developer program might be a useful step into the future for the Maestro? I know I am suddenly much more excited about my Maestros knowing they will evolve one way or another. 73 Steve K9ZW Blog: http://K9ZW.wordpress.com
  • Martin AA6E
    Martin AA6E Member ✭✭✭
    edited January 2020
    You can always reload the supported software - unless there's a brickable bootloader or some such.

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