Does anyone at flex have an ideas as to when a new version of the powerSDR will be available ? I have no hope of upgrading to another model, so am stuck in the groove
Posted 4 years ago
Hi, well perhaps they should consider releasing the software and make it open source so that we can add our own upgrades. Rumors abound that the 1500 will be dropped at some stage. I knew that they had to stop the 1500 development to work on the other models as they came out, but they should really give us a timeline or a straight forward no development.
I am not able to upgrade anyway, being a pensioner and would love to see the powersdr software improved to its full potential.
I am not able to upgrade anyway, being a pensioner and would love to see the powersdr software improved to its full potential.
Must be nice to have a pension, I just have SS and could afford an upgrade if I so choose.
No pension here, I was in my prime and had just got back from a 2 week business trip to Tokyo when I caught chickenpox. Now living off the state.
The software is already open source AIUI and the source code is available.
http://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/flex-series/powersdr/
http://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/flex-series/powersdr/
Not exactly. Only the portions of the software that Flex GOT from the public domain are available. I don't believe the source code for their work is available.
Jon...kf2e
Jon...kf2e
On the page to which I linked it does say "source code available". I assume that it means all of it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
I believe that only the Public source code is available not the propriety parts.of the code
Guy,
If you read on the upgrades tab of the link you sent you will find this paragraph...
Being a “mixed source” application, you may obtain a copy of the open source portions of the PowerSDR source code by contacting FlexRadio Systems and requesting a specific version of PowerSDR.
Jon...kf2e
If you read on the upgrades tab of the link you sent you will find this paragraph...
Being a “mixed source” application, you may obtain a copy of the open source portions of the PowerSDR source code by contacting FlexRadio Systems and requesting a specific version of PowerSDR.
Jon...kf2e
Got it Jon, thanks. The only thing I know about programming is that I cannot do it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
I used to be able to do it but that was many moons ago
Well guys... the HPSDR guys are modifying PSDR. They put out new versions 2 maybe 3 times a year. Its called PowerSDR OpenHPSDR mRX PS... Now it doesn't do everything the latest version of PSDR does but it does have some nice features that would be great in the PSDR that runs Flex radios. NO EXCUSES....
But lets not fool ourselves into complacency. Decisions can be made with the stroke of a pen or the bark of a command. I would like to see them come clean to prevent the rumors from growing. Re the timelines, it can be done and its always good PRO to have one. Well, I caught chickenpox from my son 10 years ago aged 45 and have not worked since and state handouts are now being squeezed by various governments in order to cut costs.
Sorry to hear that, John. That strikes very close to home as my county has been having an unusually high rate of flu related illness requiring hospitalizations. I don't know of my wife could hold up if I couldn't work and had to stay home all day. hi hi...
Robert -- N5IKD, Elmer
All this talk has got me "bummed out" about my Flex-1500 purchase. Having owned (invested) the product for such a short period of time, to discover that development was abandoned - and focus turned to the 6000 series - is really disappointing. There should have been more "overlap" between the product lines. If FlexRadio would have produced a 6000 series model that was cost-comparable to the 1500, I would feel different and more positive about this situation. But instead - I will continue to be a humble "second tier" ham...
Flex had to go the DDC route with a new radio to stay competitive. The capabilities of the new radio also demanded a new client (SmartSDR) to run it... It's called PROGRESS! I too was bummed out when I learned the Flex had designed a new radio, I had just bought a 5000-v/u. But when I saw the new radio and talked to the guys at the Flex booth Dayton 2012 I bought 6700. Abandoning the FREE SOFTWARE concept was another good move. Software engineers don't work for free... Their work should not be free either. The open source guys have been adapting PowerSDR for years. I see further down the thread a post from Peter K1PGV that Flex is very responsive to source code requests. Hopefully someone or a group of folks will somehow be motivated to enhance PowerSDR. Besides does anyone have the FACTS as to what Flex is going to do?
The real problem is that with new hardware, all the software engineer(s) have to work on the new software and abandon the powerSDR. It could be cheaper for them to perhaps hire amateur software engineers to work on powersdr and submit their work to them for evaluation and inclusion. There must be a lot od retired folk out there would could get a small extra income. The idea of paying someone to do the patches might also be feasible
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
I can clarify a couple of points:
- The PowerSDR code *is* open source. I found Flex very responsive to my request for the latest version. The code looks to me like it's all there. I built it and it builds and runs without any warnings or errors. I'm not aware of anything missing.
- The code is written in C# .Net, using Visual Studio 2008.
- The code is surprisingly clean, given it's age. Having said that, it also looks like code that's gone through a lot of editing and revision over the years. It's not something I would personally be thrilled to maintain.
Understood.
However, this is only exciting if one is a programmer AND a ham...
However, this is only exciting if one is a programmer AND a ham...
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
True dat.
But John (the OP) was whinging about "if they handed over the software" and I thought I'd help him by explaining the situation.
I did a c++ programming course many years ago and still have the software compiler etc, but its also available on the net. It would not take me too long to get up to speed hopefully.
I really like the mouse tuning of PowerSDR. Kind of miss that in SmartSDR.
I also really miss that function and eagerly await it's return with v. 1.4
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
If you're talking about the ability to mouse over a single digit and tune via the scroll wheel... OR click the frequency and enter it... I *really* miss that too.
In fact, I miss it so much, I read the PSDR sources to see how they do it (surprisingly simple), and then created a WinForms user control that mimics the functionality. I then wrote a WinForms program using my user control as an add-on to SSDR. Now I have the best of both worlds.
Some day, maybe, I'll clean it up enough to release it to the public, if I can sort-out the IP issues.
If they're going to introduce this in V1.4 of SSDR (that's the first I've heard of it and), that would be WONDERFUL so I can stop writing code.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
Official Response
Yes, we have recently ceased production on the FLEX-3000. The FLEX-3000 has been an excellent radio since 2008 and this was a difficult decision for FlexRadio to make. The simple answer to "why?" is that with the introduction of the FLEX-6000 Series and specifically the FLEX-6300, the sales on the FLEX-3000 have dropped off to where it's just not a financially viable product for FlexRadio any longer. The new FLEX-6300 is in the same basic price category as the FLEX-3000 plus offers next generation DIRECT SAMPLING SDR technology, amazing dual slice (band or frequency) receiver performance, and simple Ethernet connectivity allowing for future remote radio operation from anywhere. Additionally, our new SmartSDR software platform has features the FLEX-3000 won't ever be able to support. The FLEX-3000 is still very much an active radio and we will be supporting the rig for many years to come.
Official Response
Yes, we have recently ceased production on the FLEX-3000. The FLEX-3000 has been an excellent radio since 2008 and this was a difficult decision for FlexRadio to make. The simple answer to "why?" is that with the introduction of the FLEX-6000 Series and specifically the FLEX-6300, the sales on the FLEX-3000 have dropped off to where it's just not a financially viable product for FlexRadio any longer. The new FLEX-6300 is in the same basic price category as the FLEX-3000 plus offers next generation DIRECT SAMPLING SDR technology, amazing dual slice (band or frequency) receiver performance, and simple Ethernet connectivity allowing for future remote radio operation from anywhere. Additionally, our new SmartSDR software platform has features the FLEX-3000 won't ever be able to support. The FLEX-3000 is still very much an active radio and we will be supporting the rig for many years to come.
(Edited)
Nonsense the flex 6300 is not in the same price bracket as the 3000. When i speculated the end of the 3000 over year ago flex remained oddly silent. It is about time Flex was open and honest about its intentions.
There are other markets besides the USA or does Flex not consider them as important.It is about time that Flex brought out a SCALED DOWN version of the 6300 in line with the 3000 price for emerging markets. The USA is not the only market out there. But do you care i guess not!
There are other markets besides the USA or does Flex not consider them as important.It is about time that Flex brought out a SCALED DOWN version of the 6300 in line with the 3000 price for emerging markets. The USA is not the only market out there. But do you care i guess not!
(Edited)
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Surely you jest with your allegations and then with your demands?
It is obvious you are mistaking yourself for FRS leadership and FRS as some sort of charity responsible to your whims?
Personally I think it is every right of any Business to tell a customer who publicly makes a claim like this to "go away." I actually might word it stronger, but decorum and legacy of the "eternal internet" suggest a polite version is more appropriate.
The unfounded unsupportable demands are paramount to requesting a firm to commit economic suicide, have perfect clairvoyance, and bottomless resources with disregard to ROI (Return on Investment) all just to please a demanding internet poster.
Get over it - it just ain't going to happen.
I have found FRS honest.
I have found that when they cannot or they should not tell me things for their commercial reasons that they clam up, rather than providing a made up cover story.
I find it awesome that FRS is successfully exporting and doing it quite well.
And I understand that if FRS doesn't make money commercially selling me radio servers (ya, the black box dude) and Software that I am unlikely to realize more of the combined product's capabilities
.
It really is a bummer to have posters do out of line with their demands like this poster was.
My 2-cents,
73
Steve
K9ZW
Thanks for your reply.
We are all entitled to and opinions,fact remains there is now a gap with the 3000 gone which ever way you slice it! .It was just that an opinion sorry if you took offense. In hindsight maybe it i should have said what what i meant which i now have stated.
We are all entitled to and opinions,fact remains there is now a gap with the 3000 gone which ever way you slice it! .It was just that an opinion sorry if you took offense. In hindsight maybe it i should have said what what i meant which i now have stated.
(Edited)
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
Burt Fisher
Ernest - W4EG
Semper Paratus
Flex will not let you or us down.
They have kept their promised for the last 12 years since I own their gear.
Keep the faith.
ex: USCG RM2-1965-69