8-Slice Upgrade for 8600/520 Announced at Dayton

Russ Ravella

I just read a post on the Flex groups.io forum saying:

"It was announced at the banquet of 

SmartSDR Upcoming Features

Additional slices on the FLEX-8600 and AU-520 
(This will be a separate licensable feature)

APD Improvements
Expanded DSP Controls

Automatic AGC-T Threshold"

I assume by "additional slices" they mean at least up to eight since they had that all the way back to something like 2012 with the 6700. You wouldn't think they'd offer less now.

In an unrelated post recently, Steve Hicks said the next major version would be out in something like the Aug/Sept timeframe so I'm thinking these features probably go with that update. Pretty great news, at least for us 6700 users holding off on up (down) grading due to having to give up available slices.

I hope they're also focusing on finally fixing the ESC feature from the original v4 release that still doesn't work. But that's not listed, unfortunately.

73 Russ KR6W

Trucker

I just wonder if the " separate upgradable license feature " means an additional purchase for those of us with either the 8600/M or AU-520/M who already have the Plus or Early Access license for their radios? If so, I look at it as an additional money grab that shouldn't have to happen as buyers of the radios capabile of using the additional feature have already paid $200-$300 for the " Upgrade " license. Adding another pay to play layer to their licensing structure doesn't instill confidence that there won't be more features in the future that are locked out unless you pay even more money beyond what you pay if you renew your Plus or Early Access license. I don't mind paying for new features by renewing after the end of my radio's license term ( one year) if something in the future looks like something that I can use. Personally, I hope Flex Radio makes it available as a new feature without an additional cost if licensed users are paid up and have the required equipment. It would be very disappointing otherwise.

James

WD5GWY

Russ Ravella

Yeah, agreed. And I think it might be possible to read the above optimistically because Flex hasn't been great at communicating things like this. The whole uproar about their new s/w-f/w approach was due to them using the term "subscription" when it's not actually a subscription at all in the sense people usually think of them. It was totally unnecessary to wind their customers up like that. And as far as I know they still haven't corrected that ?

So like you said, hopefully all they mean is it will be one of the Plus features, not a new class of paid features. We'll see …

73 Russ KR6W

Steve K9ZW

Attending the Thursday May 14th FlexRadio Banquet my understanding is:

Up to two additional slices are likely to be available yet this year.

The added slices are planned as a separate purchase distinct and separate from the level of SmartSDR license level.

Costs, dates, how-to were not available yet.

I gathered that a balancing was in play, and the resources to add a couple of slices drew from the “planned-overs” that were baking into the 6000 to 8000/Aurora hardware transition. That impression was table-talk by the smart people in the audience.

73

Steve

K9ZW

Trucker

Steve, thank you for the information. I believe that I will pass on the extra slice receivers. Not nearly enough incentive to make me spend more money.

James

WD5GWY