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Comments

  • Val DM1TX
    Val DM1TX Member ✭✭

    Oh boy! This is heavy! Well as long as my trusty 6500 is still included in future software upgrade plans I am happy. How long? This is a question. I would be happier with a feature based system (enable what you need) as I do not or will not be able (due to hardware restrictions-or so I was told by Flexradio) to use all the features included in the subscription no matter the cost. I admit WAS contemplating either a new 8600 or an Aurora 510 (even the prices sky rocketed here in Europe - you know all why:-) ) but now I will put on hold any new aquisition till this storm is over. I believe Flexradio should consider a tiering of subscription costs based on the model of radio/features included. At this point we are all concerned about the cost but more about what is included or how it will be planned in the end by Flexradio. We are swimming now in murky waters and I find this change as very important for Flexradio. Nevertheless would motivate them to bring on our radios long awaited features and correct bugs faster then ever. And THIS is the hardest part for them. To deliver a promise of the best radio out there. Is there a clear roadmap our there? Unknown. Only time and Flexradio will tell…

    And yes, sadly this will increase the sales of the main Flexradio competitor who use fully featured free software continuously developed by the community. It is tough! But I keep my fingers crossed for Flexradio!

    vy 73

    DM1TX

  • Mick W8BE
    Mick W8BE Member ✭✭
    edited 10:37AM

    For me the issue is the lack of transparency on Flex. There is no software road map. The main reason I was interested in a 8xxx radio was for the APD and noise reduction enhancements. Please provide a roadmap for the subscription service. What do I get for my $200/year? I need more than a promise of new enhancements.

  • John Mikucki
    John Mikucki Member ✭✭
    1. How does one downgrade from 4.x.x to 3.9.19 or 3.10.10?
    2. How does one do truly offline (no internet, no plans for internet) upgrades/downgrades/licensing updates?
    3. How does this new licensing model work with third-party SmartSDR implementations (e.g. Marcus' mac product, or a future FOSS Linux implementation)?
    4. Are "end of sale" units like the 6700 (2023) considered "end of life"? If not, when do they become end of life?
  • Dan Trainor
    Dan Trainor Member ✭✭✭

    and when is End-Of-Life (EOL) for 6400 and 6600? Has it formally been declared to customers yet?

  • Doug - W3UB
    Doug - W3UB Member ✭✭

    Firstly, I am glad that Flex is moving in this direction, not because I want to pay for a subscription, but because hopefully they will be able to apply enough dedicated resources to actually do a good job with new features and bug fixes.

    Flex needs to publish and keep updated a roadmap and timeline of features, including a matrix showing what legacy radios will work with new features. No roadmap should mean no subscribers. It is the right way to proceed. Hopefully they will publish their detailed plans soon.

    And answer lots of the good questions that have been brought up. I suggest they update their sticky announcement at the top with all of this added information.

  • Dan Trainor
    Dan Trainor Member ✭✭✭

    There will be NO roadmap. Unfortunately. Looking forward over say a 12 month period or any time period, you will have NO idea what features may be introduced and when. And if a feature you wanted never gets added, you will never know why. That is just a hard fact. Reality in the Flex world. No Roadmap.

  • Doug - W3UB
    Doug - W3UB Member ✭✭

    Hopefully you are wrong. For me, the way to force the issue is simple, no roadmap with legacy matrix, no subscription purchased. Vote with your $$$.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    Will i have to pay for TWO subscriptions for my old 6600M and new 8600M?? also have old maestro B and new Maestro C??

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

    @Graham999au Thanks for your input on multiple licenses. Software has always been licensed to the radio, so this is not a change. However, you are now going to be able to upgrade all radios to 4.0 at no cost. When we release the next series of features (now in testing) you can then purchase one license and see if those interest you or work in your situation.

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

    @Al_NN4ZZ

    Q1: Only if you want the same features on both radios. Licenses have always been attached to the radio not the user. However, moving to 4.0 is free in both cases for latest maintenance.

    Q2: No

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

    @Trucker This feature was promised with 8000 series radio and will continue to be, meaning no charge (unless I missed a big meeting on this). However if/when it comes up I will stress this for you.

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

    Licenses have no expiration date on them. Everyone gets to update to 4.0 for free. We have operators today to operate from a black site or have their radios not connected to the internet without issue.

    But, after 10 years, I would highly recommend the radio calls home for updates, which are free.

    If you purchase anything unique it does not expire, other than the early adopter program if you choose to join it.

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

    Marcus has a direct line to engineering. We will that answer to him.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    edited 2:06PM
    image.png

    @kb9zm thanks for this. more to come on this as we get closer to releasing 4.0.

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

    @Greg6498 This will not impact any features that are currently available from other developers. You should not see a change in what is offered today.

  • Doug - W3UB
    Doug - W3UB Member ✭✭

    Mike, you state that in the past licenses are radio based. But Flex is now changing the approach and you would be much better off thinking differently. For example, let the license be associated with the customer regardless of how many radios he has purchased. Don’t penalize him for buying lots of your products!

    In the OSX/IOS versions, you buy one license and can use it across multiple computers or tablets. Radio agnostic.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
    edited 2:31PM
    image.png

    @W1WRA In fact, you are paying for the features you wish and I can see how that sounds a bit confusing. You pay for all features that show up while you are current. You pay once and never loose a feature that is licensed to your radio.

    I did ask your question in a meeting and I was told that if you skip a year, you do pick up those features you missed. I do want to double check that to be 100% sure. *** I did confirm this is correct ***

    For other developers, please reach out to them such as SmartSDR for MAC and iOS, but if their feature runs on their application, there is no change.

    If the feature runs in the actual radio, then, yes, a feature radio license is required.

    FlexRadios model has always been to make sure that all features run in the radio and not the PC. By doing so allows users to use Thin Clients for the interface (such as iPhones, etc).

    Other developers may choose to incorporate their unique features in their client software which will require more processing power. This is why we see that SmartSDR for iOS does require a certain level of iPhone just for the computing horse power.

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

    Yes

    Yes

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

    Yes, of course. Please wait. It will not be a surprise and we will communicate as much as we can.

  • John K3MA
    John K3MA Member ✭✭✭

    I believe this has been asked but I want to ask again with an example. Lets, say the new Adaptive Pre-distortion (Smart Signal???) is an optional feature in version 4. The owner decides to upgrade his V4 basic license to the SmartSDR+ subscription and pay the $199 for the year. At the end of the year, the owner decides NOT to continue the SmartSDR+ subscription. At that time does the radio that had Smart Signal now stop having Adaptive Pre-distortion functionality?

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

    No, we will still use our Alpha team heavily.

    I think we felt we had to put some sort of time on it. It will likely be more often.

    Thanks

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