My thoughts on new Subscription by Flex for SmartSDR V4

WX7Y · September 26

Well my thoughts are Everyone will get a free upgrade to version 4 even if your radio is on Version 1, BUT the features won't be enabled.

I think if you STOP and think about it, Flex with version 4, they NOW only has to support ONE version of firmware/software and they can pull there resources to concentrate on just one software platform not having to port over to Versions 3, 2 or 1. SMART THINKING!

I think personally FLEX is smart to do things this way as I have owned my 6700 for almost 14 years and bought and sold many FLEX radios in the past as well as a new 8600 and to spend $200.00 for a feature I find useful per radio is not a great deal.

Personally I own 3 Flex radios a 6300, 6700, and the 8600, for me the 6300 is in my RV and is on version 3 and I will never upgrade past the Basic v4 UNLESS they come up with a DESENT replacement for the Antiquated SmartLink with a real VPN but that is probably unlikely, for the 6700 I probably won't upgrade that one either past V4, if you ask me the BEST Radio FLEX has ever made but has some years on it and it is my backup Radio, But I will probably upgrade the 8600 when a new worth wile upgrade comes out.

Now if you have several radios on different version's of SmartSDR you have to always be using different version of SmartSDR for what ever Radio your using if you haven't paid for a update for that radio, With the new Version I hope just one version of SmartSDR will be required but all the features won't be enabled on a different Radio's. AGAIN SMART THINKING!

So if there are no new features that you don't want or need then DON'T pay for the subscription services for that year, This is not much different then we have had in the past but now there won't be a new version of software NUMBER but your buying features instead you will STILL get the Updates to fix bugs and issues with the features you already own or purchased.

Trucker · September 26

Version 4 is free to all users including v1 and v2. But, features that happened from one of those versions to the next will not be enabled if you are on the older version and upgrade to version 4. Only the features you had in your previous version will be enabled even if you are on version 4. ( Basic) If I understand the announcement correctly, if you then pay for a subscription, you will then be able to add the upgrades from v2,and v3 to your radio along with any new features that come out while your subscription is active. And you will continue to be able to use all of those features after your subscription expires. A much better solution than some subscription services and software that people use.

James

WD5GWY

Mark_WS7M · September 26

As I said in another thread, I am fine with supporting flex with a $200 yearly payment. But I use only CW and digital so if the features that will be withheld without the payment are targeted for things like APD, or voice related improvements then it will not be useful to me.

Also, I've switched to SmartSDR Mac which frankly works much better than the Windows version. If the V4 subscription stuff doesn't work with SmartSDR Mac then I won't buy it likely.

I do own two flex radios. I think the model would work much better on a user basis rather than radio basis. There is a guy in the other thread that has 6 Flex radios. That's a lot of money for all the radios.

Dan Trainor · September 28

Yes, Every radio gets to own version 4 "base" version for free. Remember this is NOT a subscription model. It is an ownership model with an option to purchase extended features. So, you are absolutely correct, a new (or old) radio that has say version 3 will now need to pay $199. to get a full featured version 4. A version that includes these extended features. As the customer, you are in effect buying extended features. In a true subscription model, you are perpetually paying an ongoing monthly / annual fee for access to the software at some defined level. But, that is not the case here because, despite the name, this is NOT a subscription model. Not even close to a subscription model. Anyway, the smart play is to start with the version 4 base version then wait as long as you can until, at some point in the future, some extension gets released that you find really compelling and you want it. Then you pay for it. It is a purchase of the feature. It will cost $199 to enable access to it. In other words you own it. Now you no longer have the base version, you have an extended version of the software as a result of a one-time purchase of the same. Now, say 3 years later another compelling feature gets released that you must have, it will cost you $199 to own it. So, in reality, this is a "pay for feature(s)" model and NOT a subscription model. If you never find a released feature worth having, you never pay a dime. Your cost is $0. Your cost is zero because you did not purchase an extended feature that you never wanted, because it was not useful to you. So, therefore you can choose to not participate in this licensing scheme. Again, the cost is $0, as this is NOT a subscription model where an ongoing monthly / annual is required to have access to certain levels of functionality. In a subscription model, if you stop paying your bill, your access is closed off to you. This is not the case with the new Flex licensing scheme, as it is a "pay for feature(s)" model of licensing. de WA1QZX

Mike-VA3MW · September 28

So, you are absolutely correct, a new (or old) radio that has say version 3 will now need to pay $199.

I see what you are saying there, but I want to make it very clear that you do not have to buy V4 to get to the base V4. I had it read it a few times to make sure what you saying is correct. But, that is just my brain.

V1 upgrade to V4 is free, but they do not get MultiFlex or SmartLink but they get SmartControl

V2 upgrade to V4 is free, but the do not get MultiFlex but they get SmartControl

V3 upgrade to V4 is free with all the same features as V3.

V1 and V2 users can buy those features — I am not sure exactly on that process just yet.

Every FLEX-6000 and FLEX-8000 owner gets a FREE upgrade to V4.0 with the same features they they originally had.

V4.0 will now be the new base that all the new code is developed on. All future fixes will only be on V4. There is planned to be 1 more released soon of V3 (always subject to change). That is the status as of this timestamp.

Dan Trainor · September 28

Yes, thanks for upgrade caveats for V1, V2 and V3 radios. I think it is Smart for Flex to motivate a convergence to a single V4 code base by providing all future fixes to only V4. Less labor costs to maintain. And it is free for all customers to advance to base V4 with caveats noted - A good thing. Extended features become a optional voluntary choice of customer at a purchase cost of $199. Otherwise, total cost of ownership of V4 base with ongoing bug fixes is $0. Dan WA1QZX

K3SF · 1:48AM

one question…

What version of Windows MUST the SSDR client be run. Windows 10 or Windows 11 and what build..

and since the SSDR client is essential element of the radio system what are the anticipated restrictions going forward with Version 4.

Paul K3SF

Trucker · 2:45AM

I have had no problems using Windows 7, 10, or 11 with SmartSDR.

James

WD5GWY

Mike-VA3MW · 1:08PM

@k3sf - It will run and continue to run on multiple versions of Windows.

However, if you have an issue, we will only 'support' SSDR running on a currently supported version of Windows. That will be Windows 11 shortly.

w1mbb · 3:36PM

What version 4 enhancements have been released that apply to 6000 series radios?

KD0RC · 3:45PM

Version 4 has not been released yet.

My thoughts on new Subscription by Flex for SmartSDR V4

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