Update ?????????

FRED W9TB

When are we going to get another update?  It has been some time now !

Bill -VA3WTB

k3Tim

KC2QMA_John

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Bill -VA3WTB

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Bill -VA3WTB

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

Bill -VA3WTB

Tim - W4TME

KC2QMA_John

Neil D Friedman N3DF

I upload SSDR updates pretty rapidly after release and I uploaded 3.1.8 on 4 October 2019.  

Neal Pollack, N6YFM

3.1.8 Release notes are dated October 4, 2019.

That makes the current release approx 4.5 months old.   Not bad, but not
precisely 4 releases a year.  But hey,  I have worked in Software MFG, and
I can tell you, it does NOT always work out to precise schedules.  You want
to ship when a release is READY, not when a timer expires and it might not
be ready for customers (do I hear the cell phone industry? :-)  )

Cheers

Joe N3HEE

One or two substantial releases per year that provide new or improved features and bug fixes that actually work correctly and not break previously released features and introduce new bugs would be far better.  Flex should take more time and concentrate on improving the quality of their releases. 

Bill -VA3WTB

so maybe only release once a year is what your thinking?

KC2QMA_John

How about once every 5 years, what do you think Bill?

Geoff AB6BT

How about no schedule with releases when they are ready and tested?

That way no unreasonable expectations.

Bill -VA3WTB

Lol,,, ok ok... even at once a year, could you imagine the back lash. many people think aprox 4 times a year is out rages.

Geoff AB6BT

Again, unreasonable expectations rear their ugly head...

Perhaps the 737 MAX should have been back in the air based on some mythical expectations?

KC2QMA_John

Joe N3HEE

You guys are missing the point.  No schedule.  No expectations.  Just fewer (one two, whatever) high QUALITY releases per year. Flex would reduce user frustration and support time in the long run.

Just look at how much effort is spent by users trying to get operational again after a busted upgrade.  Multiply that times four times a year.  Why ! ?

Who gauges or makes buying decisions based on the number of releases Flex puts out per year ?  However, poor quality upgrades will tend to drive people away.

I would be much happier and willing to wait for an update.  I would EXPECT that when an update is released it is substantial in nature and it WORKS without introducing bugs or crippling existing features and I am operational within minutes with nice new features

I'm not excited anymore when a new release comes out.  Needless to say I'm running 2.5.1 which is the lesser of two evils right now.  I don't have the time to fool around four times a year with getting the radio to work properly again.

Rant over.

Joe N3HEE

What John says exactly !

Bill -VA3WTB

I see your point John.
I will make a few points here.
I think SSDR is very stable. It always work each day the same as the last day.
If we were to take out a pen and paper and write down all the features other radios have, then write all the features Flex has, I think they will closely balance out.
Keeping in mind there are a few features Flex has that no other radio has.

If you were to revert back to the very first SSDR release we would see just how far SSDR has come. As Flex releases around 4 updates a year, I really don't see SSDR taking off any more than it is now.

I hear you a and others suggest that Flex is very understaffed causing their products to take a back seat. But their is simply no evidence to support that.

Rich McCabe

HCampbell WB4IVF

Bill -VA3WTB

Joe, I don't consider you ranting.
What your complaining about is simply the very nature of creating software, and very complicated software at that. No amount of time or test will solve every bug. Also can you please consider that A flex radio is capable of doing so many things there are hundreds of operating conditions that need testing. It is very possible that in some cases an operating condition may get overlooked. Lets say a few testers are concentrating on a few things that they are trying to nail down and they miss something that you and I would say, what? how could they miss that? it happens!

Flex has had the policy of no time line or expectations for a long time now. Ever since they stopped the time line version chart years ago.

Now they only release an update when they feel it is ready, and that can be anytime!! Most of us can argue weather or not a release is ready or not but none of us have any skin in the game, we don't run the company. They decide what is best for the company.

My recommendation? just enjoy our radios as we have them. I is not worth being so frustrated.

Bill -VA3WTB

HC,, not that this coming release is late, because it's not. I think your on to something there..lol