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3.6.8 Working well

KD0RC
KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator
in SmartSDR for Windows

A bit early to celebrate, but so far SmartSDR V 3.6.8 is working well for me.

The split mode problem looks to be fixed. It transmits in the proper slice without any workarounds.

VOX looks solid, although I have not tested it on-air. I set my output to 1 Watt into a dummy load, opened a second panadapter, turned FDX on and listened to myself with VOX enabled. In my limited testing, I got no VOX dropouts or any bad behavior. I will give it a try on-air later today.

The ability to turn off multiFLEX works as expected.

First QSO today was on CW, and it behaved perfectly. I did the setup to cause failure under previous versions and it now works. (CW Delay=30, Speed=19). I have rarely had this issue, so I can't say too much until I get some longer CW QSOs in my log.

I wasn't having issues with RF Gain persistence, so not sure about that one. I probably just never hit the conditions that caused the issue. In any event, RF Gain looks good on all bands.

All of my third party software and hardware is working great.

I did a couple of cold starts of the radio and all is well there.

I will give it more of a shakedown today, but so far, this looks great!

Comments

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Same here. All seems to be working ok. I did notice that the AGC-T seems quite a bit hotter now. I had to drop it from my normal setting of 30 to 15 to get the background noise down to the same level as it was in 3.5.59.

    Noise reduction doesn't have as much effect on background noise as previous versions,even at full setting.

    The RF Gain slider on the M model is a continuous slider. But,it still just uses the same increments ( -8, 0,+8,+16 etc) as before ( it isn't actually a continuous progression of values) In SmartSDR on the pc, the RF Gain slider is the same as in previous versions of SmartSDR.

    I don't do CW anymore. So, I cannot comment on that.

    Otherwise, everything seems to be working and is stable.

    James

    WD5GWY

    oh, no unannounced improvements that I can find.

  • picture
    picture Member ✭✭

    Can updating be done remotely? Is this update software only? No firmware update?

    Greg

    WK0B

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Greg, Flex always keeps the version on the radio and the version on the clients (SmartSDR, Maestro) the same. You can only run clients that match the radio.

    I am not sure if you can update remotely without a computer at the remote site.

  • picture
    picture Member ✭✭

    TNX.

    G

  • ka9ees
    ka9ees Member ✭✭✭

    @picture

    What I have read is Flex doesn't recommend updating remotely.

  • picture
    picture Member ✭✭

    It does not work. The software updates, but not the firmware in either the radio or the Maestro. So nothing worked. It was a real hassle getting 3.6.8 off and 3.5.9 back on. But with some help I was able to get everything working again. Lots of restarts. DAX proved to be the most problematic, but I eventually got it without having to reinstall DAX drivers one line at a time. Other than that, Flex is still the best remote setup for CW using a paddle IMHO.

    I was looking forward to using 3.6.8 especially on CW. I will have to wait until April when I get home to update to 3.6.8. I hope it's worth the wait.

    Greg

    WK0B

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  • K1UO Larry
    K1UO Larry Member ✭✭✭

    Russ are you updating the profile after you set the gain settings?

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  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    @picture

    As part of the recommendations for long term remote operating, we have always said it is very beneficial to have a PC local to the radio for a variety of reasons. One of them is to allow you to update the radio remotely.

    It is not possible to update the radio via SmartLink.

  • K1ESE
    K1ESE Member ✭✭✭

    Mike -

    How do you do a cold boot remotely with a separate computer? Holding in the ON/Off button isn't needed?

    73,

    John K1ESE

  • Rick_KJ5WO
    Rick_KJ5WO Member ✭✭

    I was able to update to v3.6.8 with no issues on a WIN11 machine following the instructions. The 6m tuning seems to work now. I would inadvertently hit the ATU button on the slice set to 6m on a resonant dipole and the the tuner wasn't able to come up with a solution. Now it goes to "Success Byp" right away without hunting.

    Could someone explain RF Gain persistence? I'm not sure what that is or how to use it.

    Otherwise all seems to work well!


    73's Rick...KJ5WO

  • picture
    picture Member ✭✭

    For Mike-

    I do have a PC host computer in my home shack connected via ethernet as is the 6600. But, I only use it to control my amp and rotor remotely. I do have SDR loaded on it. So, are you telling me I can update using that computer, and the Maestro will work here at my remote location?


    Greg

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    Yes, that is correct. Just install SmartSDR on it and it will see the radio. Next, click update.

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  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    A cold boot is removing DC power for at least 30 seconds.

    I use a DLI Web Switch Pro and use a Remote Plug and Play relay to **** down radio then shut off the AC to the power supply and wait 1 minute (6700) before powering back up

    If using an M model then please follow the correct timing for power up and shut down of radio before removing DC power.

    A factory reset requires holding a button while booting the radio.

  • Rick_KJ5WO
    Rick_KJ5WO Member ✭✭

    Thanks Russ!!! An awesome explanation. I'm still learning SDR radio's in general and SmartSDR.

    Thanks for the Schooling!

    Rick KJ5WO

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  • johnn1jm
    johnn1jm Member ✭✭✭

    My update went ok. I say ok because the update never finished after 10 minutes. I shut down the radio after 20 minutes and restarted and the update finished. So far so good. After all the radios I have tried, Flex is the best for me.


    John N1JM

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