Will there be a printed manual available for purchase for the 6400M/6600M? Its so much easier to find stuff make notes and you don't have to have a 2nd computer beside you which I do so often to read and follow along when your using applications and trying to read the manual on the same computer. Just doesn't work well.
This is my current solution, it has been so helpful and I use it all the time. The manual content is great but no hard copy ... not so much ...
Posted 2 years ago
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
I agree. It's a major challenge as features change so often. It's something I'd like to see for some people but I don't know if the demand is there.
I print using the xerox duplex printer and keep in a 3 ring binder.
Maybe they can look into something like lulu.com to print on demand, nicely bound. One of my attorney friends uses it for his law books that he writes. That would be the simplest to get a nice, printed, bound copy.
See this, this would be perfect:
http://connect.lulu.com/en/discussion/32074/what-is-print-on-demand-pod
However the author, FlexRadio has to do it as they are the copyright owner.
Ria
N2RJ
I print using the xerox duplex printer and keep in a 3 ring binder.
Maybe they can look into something like lulu.com to print on demand, nicely bound. One of my attorney friends uses it for his law books that he writes. That would be the simplest to get a nice, printed, bound copy.
See this, this would be perfect:
http://connect.lulu.com/en/discussion/32074/what-is-print-on-demand-pod
However the author, FlexRadio has to do it as they are the copyright owner.
Ria
N2RJ
(Edited)
So this is print on demand. We send the PDF to the company, they hold it and print a copy when someone orders it. Thanks Ria, I'll look at this too.
Shame this never happened...it's a great idea.
You can take your PDFs to a Kinko's/FedEx store and get it one-off printed and bound as you prefer. You can choose the weight of the paper, single or double-sided pages, etc.
I did this for the in-depth manual for my Kenwood TH-D74 HT. It was a bit pricey, but no more expensive than a similar-sized ARRL book. I think it was just under $30.
If I was at a desktop/laptop I'd get an estimate for you.
I did this for the in-depth manual for my Kenwood TH-D74 HT. It was a bit pricey, but no more expensive than a similar-sized ARRL book. I think it was just under $30.
If I was at a desktop/laptop I'd get an estimate for you.
Taking a cue from other manufacturer's manuals, instead of numbering the pages in order from cover to cover, Flex could use chapter + page numbering.
That way, they could add an entire section or revise individual pages without the user having to reprint the entire manual.
That way, they could add an entire section or revise individual pages without the user having to reprint the entire manual.
This is a good suggestion -- I'll keep it in mind. It is frequently the case that changes to the docs are limited to a few sections, so it would be practical to reprint the modified sections, and the Table of Contents.
Thanks for this suggestion!
Thanks for this suggestion!
I just fiddled around with this, and I can do it. The pages of each major section of a document like the SSDR User Guide could be numbered from the beginning of the section, so you would have pages like 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 4-1, 4-2, etc. Then, it would make sense to reprint individual sections and insert them into an existing printed document, without the expense (and waste) of reprinting a 200 page document because 10 pages changed.
I'll talk this over with the guys and we'll see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.
I'll talk this over with the guys and we'll see what happens. Thanks for the suggestion.
USAF has done that for decades. Each change section comes with the rev level on the revised page number and a summary sheet to put in the front of the index.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
If you were to buy a radio from us at USAF prices, it would cost 10 million dollars.
Printing only the sections/pages of manuals that changed would be a non-trivial exercise, but certainly do-able.
I think it really comes down to the effort involved and the potential number of customers that would benefit. I wonder how many customers actually print the manual? I suspect the number is low, but not insignificant.
I think it really comes down to the effort involved and the potential number of customers that would benefit. I wonder how many customers actually print the manual? I suspect the number is low, but not insignificant.
Well Tim, thanks for the great discount on my 6400. Reading my .pdf manual. Happy camper.
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
We are committed to providing up to date documentation electronically. Additionally, if we did print and bind the manuals, they would most likely cost more than if you had it done yourself at the local print and shipping store.
To quote Dr. McCoy, "we're a radio manufacturer, not a print shop, Jim"
To quote Dr. McCoy, "we're a radio manufacturer, not a print shop, Jim"
(Edited)
I do wish you would consider chapter+page numbering as noted above so that the user could change pages instead of reprinting the entire manual when significant revisions are made. That way you could add a page or two to Chapter 3 without having to reprint everything from Chapter 4 and onward.
The FCC used to do that with the broadcast regulations back in the days when an on-site copy was necessary. (slightly after they discontinued the use of stone tablets but before electronic publishing)
The FCC used to do that with the broadcast regulations back in the days when an on-site copy was necessary. (slightly after they discontinued the use of stone tablets but before electronic publishing)
Actually, the quote should be more along the lines of "D..n it Jim. I'm a doctor, not a print shop!" :-) Deforest Kelly was always one of my favorite actors from the original Star Trek....
I'm a big fan of Star Trek having watched every single episode in the original TV series. I owned a recent vintage K3 transceiver. Each K3 came with a printed manual at no extra charge; additional copies (KS3) currently are selling at the modest price of $19.95. That sounds like a nice touch for a company who, much like FRS, manufactures top of the line radios, notwithstanding that neither company is a "print shop".
(Edited)
I am holding the manual for my New Classic AOR AR3030... Original Manual and a whopping 51 Pages... But the manual is only 4X8" so more like 15-18 pages!! Naturally the AR3030 was made before iPads, PDF and the Internet was at full capacity so a hard copy was considered mandatory.. 1993..
Flex Manual is full 8x11" pages at 165 pages...Smart SDR 46 Pages.. Lets call it 200 pages for both... The point being that radios use to be a lot simpler.. A K3 Transceiver can be operated without the use of a manual for most features.. The new ICOM 7610 radios manual is 91 pages long,, full of a lot of dead space and small pictures... And ICOM has already made 3 revisions and everyone tries to figure out, what changed??
I side with Flex.. Smart SDR and the 6600M manual are loaded on my Desk Computer, Loaded on my Dedicated Ham Radio 2 in 1 computer and on my iPad.. Printing real manuals is not easy and readable size is critical. My new Olympus DSLR camera came with a printed manual,, but you need to wear a magnifying glass to read the small print.. Naturally they wanted it to fit in the camera box.. OH, it comes in 4 languages as well..
I will agree with you on one thing,, If FLEX wants to elevate their game to the next level,, then providing a printed manual would be a nice touch.. When I got my wife her new MB 300 car, the Benz dealer also gave us a Hat, T-Shirt and a SS water bottle.. Not a big deal when you get a $40K car, but still a nice touch.. Flex has Customer Service as a TOP priority,, Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood could learn a lot from Flex.. So yes,, a manual would be a nice touch but not a deal breaker for most people..
Robert
Flex Manual is full 8x11" pages at 165 pages...Smart SDR 46 Pages.. Lets call it 200 pages for both... The point being that radios use to be a lot simpler.. A K3 Transceiver can be operated without the use of a manual for most features.. The new ICOM 7610 radios manual is 91 pages long,, full of a lot of dead space and small pictures... And ICOM has already made 3 revisions and everyone tries to figure out, what changed??
I side with Flex.. Smart SDR and the 6600M manual are loaded on my Desk Computer, Loaded on my Dedicated Ham Radio 2 in 1 computer and on my iPad.. Printing real manuals is not easy and readable size is critical. My new Olympus DSLR camera came with a printed manual,, but you need to wear a magnifying glass to read the small print.. Naturally they wanted it to fit in the camera box.. OH, it comes in 4 languages as well..
I will agree with you on one thing,, If FLEX wants to elevate their game to the next level,, then providing a printed manual would be a nice touch.. When I got my wife her new MB 300 car, the Benz dealer also gave us a Hat, T-Shirt and a SS water bottle.. Not a big deal when you get a $40K car, but still a nice touch.. Flex has Customer Service as a TOP priority,, Yaesu, Icom and Kenwood could learn a lot from Flex.. So yes,, a manual would be a nice touch but not a deal breaker for most people..
Robert
Bottom line in 2018 almost no companies offer printed manuals anymore.
Nowadays if you need a printed manual you have to print it yourself.(Edited)
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
I think one car mfg even gave theirs out on an iPad... with the iPad included in the price.
The 'big three' radio mfg. have gone to 'split' manuals - a printed user guide that is less comprehensive than the advanced manual included on CD with the radio.
The Staples store here in Bangor, Maine (maybe the entire nation AFAIK) Will NOT print a copy of the manual , or any manual, if it is marked with a copyright protection notice. I always need to get written permission from the manufacturer/ copyright owner of the equipment involved. Thus, for me to get Staples to print any of the Flex Manuals, I will need to get written permission from Flex.
Been there too many times with Staples... Got the T-shirt.
Been there too many times with Staples... Got the T-shirt.
FedEx/Kinkos has no such requirement, at least they didn't when I printed the manual for my Kenwood TH-D74 handheld.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Most people under 50 or 60? And a few of us even older guys are used to and prefer electronic manuals My Tesla and BMW came with onboard electronic manuals. No more dead trees. Only dead electrons.
The Icom paper manuals are notorious for being incomprehensible.
K3’s are NOT obvious You push a button too long and you can screw it up royally. Done that myself many times in contests.
But clearly there is a limited demand as expressed here for paper by the computer challenged so the idea of making it available by a Papering service is a good one.
The Icom paper manuals are notorious for being incomprehensible.
K3’s are NOT obvious You push a button too long and you can screw it up royally. Done that myself many times in contests.
But clearly there is a limited demand as expressed here for paper by the computer challenged so the idea of making it available by a Papering service is a good one.
A printed manual is cheaper than a second (or third, or...) monitor, but an additional monitor may be cheaper than five or six custom printed manuals of any significantly large size.
(Edited)
Paper is produced from tree farms now. Support your local farmer. Print stuff.
If you have ever visited a paper mill, the effort, resources, etc to produce paper products is massive. Save our resources, print on paper as little as possible.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Paper making also pollutes rivers with chemicals.
Kill Electrons instead.
Kill Electrons instead.
I am far from being "computer challenged"...but I do like to read things...on paper.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
I find electronic versions so much easier to read, find things and see. But I am a bit vision challenged so being able to zoom into text on my iPad really helps. Can’t do that easily with paper.
Too hard to use my yellow highlighter on electronic manuals. Numbering by chapter makes sense and should be quick to do. Would require renumbering table of contents too. Would love to see an index!!
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
Nonsense. Get an iPad.
Too. Highlight a word. Or sentence just touch your. Finger on it. It’s. Highlighted. A thousand times easier than using a highlighter plus you can easily correct your mistakes.
Index. Unnecessary. Touch search. Type the word you want and you are instantly brought to the page or pages you need.
I, for one, was thrilled when manufacturers stopped printing manuals.
Plus being vision challenged as I get older I can easily zoom on text and drawings so I can actually see them without looking for a magnifying glass.
But I understand that some people hate change.
By the way i have written a lot of manuals over the years. So glad when we no longer had to produce paper ones with their PAINFUL, ExPensive revision process.
In fact, the first book I ever wrote was aLab Manual for First Year Engineering Students. Different type of manual but still a manual
Too. Highlight a word. Or sentence just touch your. Finger on it. It’s. Highlighted. A thousand times easier than using a highlighter plus you can easily correct your mistakes.
Index. Unnecessary. Touch search. Type the word you want and you are instantly brought to the page or pages you need.
I, for one, was thrilled when manufacturers stopped printing manuals.
Plus being vision challenged as I get older I can easily zoom on text and drawings so I can actually see them without looking for a magnifying glass.
But I understand that some people hate change.
By the way i have written a lot of manuals over the years. So glad when we no longer had to produce paper ones with their PAINFUL, ExPensive revision process.
In fact, the first book I ever wrote was aLab Manual for First Year Engineering Students. Different type of manual but still a manual
(Edited)
No Ipad needed you can highlight in Adobe Reader now. Click on the highlight button then mark up text. Don't forget to save after your done to retain the highighted text. I save under a new name and retain the virgin file. Example SmartSDR Software users Guide_Highlighted.pdf
73,
Lin
73,
Lin
(Edited)
