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SmartSDR Subscription Service

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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 ✭✭✭
    edited 3:15PM
  • 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

  • ka9ees
    ka9ees Member ✭✭✭

    That Kenwood TS-890 is looking pretty good right now.

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

    @W4AFK Bruno

    image.png
    1. Free upgrade
    2. Yes, all the same features
    3. Yes. APD will continue to be part of an 8000 base feature
    4. The software is actually licensed to the radio and their PC client as it is all done in 1 step. The same as it is today
    5. Connection to the internet is only required during software updates. Users will also need to install 4.0. The same as it is today and they can download it for free. No change

    73

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

    @Wayne VK4ACN hopefully within 4-8 weeks.

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

    @Dan Trainor

    image.png
    1. Not exactly true. We already know what the first set of features are and they are in live testing.
    2. Possibly - it is hard to predict the future due to many external forces that FlexRadio customers may not be aware of.
    3. I think we know what the definition of a feature is. :)
  • km8v
    km8v Member ✭✭
    edited 2:43PM

    I don't understand why this was announced without any indication of when SmartSDR 4 will be released, or what new features the subscription would enable. Until that is known, this is an entirely pointless discussion and announcement, other than to discourage potential buyers until more is known.

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

    Ok, I think between @Eric-KE5DTO and myself we have addressed just about everything regarding the SmartSDR+ program.

    We will keep an eye on things here.

    I was actually hoping that people would start a new thread for each question, so if you get this far, I would appreciate you doing that. It makes it much easier for others to find answers to their questions.

  • Mark_WS7M
    Mark_WS7M Member ✭✭✭
    edited 4:40PM

    I too have switched to using on only the Mac SW from Marcus. ************************************************** I do know a lot about Windows silliness.

    I would gladly pay $200 to Flex to help them stay alive and provide new features. No problem with that.

    I am a CW and digital user. I don't even know where my Flex Mic is. So I have little use for voice related features. Both of my modes probably don't benefit from APD so I don't need it.

    As long as the new firmware works with SmartSDR Mac then I'm happy and I am fine paying the $200 to help flex.

    That being said, I do wishit was "per user" instead of per radio. I currently have two flex radios. Both are never in use at the same time. So it would be a far better model for it to be licensed to a user and available on all of my radios when logged in as that user.

    There was a post above who had like 6 flex radios. This is a case where Flex needs to have like a multi-radio discount or switch it to be per user. 6 * 200 would be almost the price of a used Flex. That's quite a lot annually.

    Marcus has made a lot of great software. It's so good I have no need to go back to Windows. The one reason I keep with Flex is the radio, amp, tuner can all sit FAR AWAY from where I might be and all are usable. That is how my stuff is setup. I operate from a laptop in my kitchen, living room or even remote. I can do CW and digital and have zero need to be next to the radio.

    Marcus's software has made it possible to do this almost with other radios. The only short comings are amps and external tuners. The flex solution has that all bundled.

    However, I am eyeing the Aurora as I never go above 500w and it seems to me like the Aurora would be a great fit and simplify my setup. I am waiting to see how well they work then I might go that route and have just one radio.

    Currently I have:

    Flex 6600 with GPSDO

    Flex 6400

    2x PGXL

    2x TGXL

    I would love to shrink this list to an Aurora.

  • Asher - K0AU
    Asher - K0AU Member ✭✭✭

    Subscription is good if it leads to faster feature development and a published roadmap.

    You've left those of us with older radios a little up in the air in thinking about lifecycle.

    I have a 6600 and a 6300.

    Should I continue to expect new features for my platforms?

    Can I expect SSDR updates to support my radios when Microsoft revamps Windows? The Win10 to Win11 transition took some time and it's always possible for MSFT to deprecate part of the Win11 API.

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