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SmartSDR+ quick review what/where are new features

Mike VE3CKO
Mike VE3CKO Member ✭✭✭
edited October 30 in SmartSDR+

For me v4.01 installed on both my 8600 and 6700 was easy with no issues, and I did shutdown, disconnect power to radio etc. as per cold start instructions. Getting SmartSDR+ license was a breeze, refer to screenshot below, just click on what you want Get SmartSDR+ or Get SmartSDR+ Early Access. Choosing SmartSDR+ it brings you to payment page, you can sign in if you have a FlexRadio account. The cost for SmartSDR+ was discounted $50 to $149 and and after submitting payment, you go back to the Radio Setup and a message at the bottom will say "Click the 'Refresh' button in the menu after checkout". After clicking the 'Refresh' button, within a couple seconds SmartSDR+ was licensed to my radio.

image.png

I looked at the feature chart supplied by FlexRadio and provided below for your convenience, and I've confirmed it is accurate as to what feature available or not for the 6700 and 8600.

So far what is available on 8600 with SmartSDR+ :

  • yes sliders for DSP are gone, WNB is now available only in ANT from slide out left side menu.
  • ANF works very well. I've tried it on CW tones and birdies, very nice! It seems to learn and improves subtracting the carrier, so because of this auto feature of finding optimum value, a slider was deemed unnecessary. On a birdie on 20m I adjusted the frequency so the birdie is still in the passband and ANF auto adjusts removing the birdie pretty much 100%. I did notice though when you go right on top of the birdie there is some reminisce audible of the birdie. Further testing being done but when toggling ANF when listening to SSB, for me there is no noticeable degradation of the SSB audio.
  • NR, been looking for noise to test that out and does seem to be improved upon.
  • ESC, Enhance Signal Clarity - Beam Steering FINALLY here! Going to dive into that later on the lower bands.
  • Noise Floor Scaling is located in side out left menu, DISPLAY it's called Floor at the bottom of the Waterfall section, my thoughts since it is a panadapter function shouldn't this be in the Panadapter section?

Features greyed out, mouse over tool says "Subscribe to SmartSDR+ Early Access to use this feature"

  • in DSP, NRF, NRL and NRS are greyed out
  • CW Auto Tune is greyed out in the RX pane when the CW mode is selected and the slice is active.
  • DVK Digital Voice Keyer is on the bottom tray on the left between CWX and FDX, it does open up but is not available.

I have been unable to find anything referring RNN, ANFL or ANFT. so I am guessing to use these new features I'll have to wait 30 days or get a SmartSDR+ Early Access license.

SmartSDR-v4-Features-Comparison-v4.jpg

Comments

  • Gord-VA7GP
    Gord-VA7GP Member ✭✭✭

    I just upgraded, specifically to use the CW Auto Tune. This feature-chart shows it ought to be available with SmartSDR+ but it is not … I get the same hover-note to upgrade to Early Access :-( I use a 6400.

  • Mike VE3CKO
    Mike VE3CKO Member ✭✭✭
    edited October 30

    CW Auto Tune is available right now for SmartSDR+ Early Access, for SmartSDR+ we have to wait 30 days, then the feature will be enable. Which brings up the issue, if someone changes their mind and wants Early Access after buying just SmartSDR+, it is possible to change and if so how to do that.

    Can't edit original post so here is more content:

    • v4 Release Notes Bug Fix Highlights identifies 30 fixes. One in particular I noticed APD is working more consistently, going to Active faster. - SMART-11505 Fixed APD API Status messages not changing between Active and Cal
  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    The chart doesn't make that very clear. I have read a post where the person upgraded to SmartSDR + and was able to use the Allow noise floor to be seen visually feature . I think if the column has both SmartSDR + and Early Access listed, that should mean it is available at once to both subscription types at the same time. Otherwise, there should be an indicator of some kind that makes it clear that only the Early Access subscribers have access to the particular feature. And a notation that it will be available to SmartSDR +subscribers 30 days later. Otherwise, the table is confusing.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Mike VE3CKO
    Mike VE3CKO Member ✭✭✭
    edited October 30

    I agree James. Both Noise Floor Scaling and ESC are available now with SmartSDR+ and the chart does not differentiate it has SSDR+ and SSDR EA for all new features. I found out the hard way by hunting down each feature.

    The Licence Required should be modified to say 'SSDR+ in 30days' for those features that are only available for Early Access.

  • Gord-VA7GP
    Gord-VA7GP Member ✭✭✭

    Yeah, I guess I missed the "wait 30 days for EA trickle-down"…

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

    SSDR+ and SSDR+ EA get the same features. SSDR+ EA users get it 30 days earlier. This is why the chart shows both in the feature row.

  • Mike VE3CKO
    Mike VE3CKO Member ✭✭✭

    I understand that the Licensed Require column shows both SmartSDR+ and SmartSDR+ Early Access and by definition Early Access means all those features are usable immediately for Early Access, and then 30 days later, they kick in for SmarSDR+.

    Where the confusion is the chart does not indicate what features are immediately available for SmartSDR+ and what features for SmartSDR+ that are not available for 30 days.

    According to that logic and the chart both ESC and Noise Floor Scaling should not be available with just SmartSDR+ but as in my original post, I have found both ESC and Noise Floor Scaling are indeed available immediately for just SmartSDR+. See what I mean?

    Not complaining at all, in fact this chart is a great tool to effectively show coming features and I hope a chart like this is pre-released for all future releases, very well done but needs just a bit of fine tuning.

    .

  • ShawnQuinn
    ShawnQuinn Member ✭✭

    Will the add-ons be in 30days or 30days plus release time of software release, ie 30-90days or more? Not very clear.

    SmartSDR+ is an optional one-year new feature license. When you purchase a SmartSDR+ feature license, you gain or retain access to all prior SmartSDR v2 and v3 major features, as well as all new SmartSDR v4 major features released during your one-year license period. All new SmartSDR v4 features are only available immediately for SmartSDR+ Early Access feature license radios. Radios that have a SmartSDR+ feature license will gain access to the new features ~30 days later with a subsequent software release. To get the features immediately, a SmartSDR+ Early Access license is required

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Shawn, I would think 30 days unless some catastrophic bug is found. The Early Access folks have the functionality now, and I have not heard about anything crazy, so my bet is a release for us mere mortals on or near 11/30.

  • PhilM
    PhilM Member ✭✭

    So after my SMARTSDR+ license has been active for 30 days I will be able to download a new release that will implement the new feature(s)? Will they all be available or are the new features going to be rolled out over a period of a year?

    73, Phil NC3S

  • Dan Trainor
    Dan Trainor Member ✭✭✭

    I think much more testing would need to be done, so it is unknown when these new features would be ready for general public.

  • Mike VE3CKO
    Mike VE3CKO Member ✭✭✭

    This is how I read it. By definition I will refer to the features available to SmartSDR+ Early Access, as 'said features'. These said features are available to those with an Early Access license 30-days before those with a SmartSDR+ license. At the end of 30-days which in this case will be Nov. 30th, all the said features will be available with a SmartSDR+ license.

    Now the how this is going to be implemented. The v4.01 Release Notes say "Radios that have a SmartSDR+ feature license will gain access to the new features ~30 days later with a subsequent software release."

    If I may suggest another option of how to enable access after 30-days. A Countdown Timer, internal in the radio that enables the said features 'as is' after 30 days. As is, meaning the said features will be in the same state of development as day-one for Early Access. It would be automatic with no intervention, no internet or download/install etc. necessary. Come to think of it a reboot may be in order, ok, then a simple message flag stating something like, "SmartSDR+ new features have been enabled. Please reboot your radio to begin using them".

    It might be a bit to work out initially but the time spent would be well worth it as compared to having to prepare/test a subsequent software release 30-days after each and every new version release. I'm confused just thinking about it. Just think of all the development resources needed to prepare and post a release, plus all the support resources to support that release. All the activity in the public forums that goes along with a new release and the kind of anxiety that goes along with that.

    If during that 30-days enough bugs are fixed and enhancements to said features have been tested and deemed ready of course a new release would be in order.

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