An Experience of FlexRadio’s Remote Access Helping a Corrupted DAX Issue

Having several Windows PCs, and Apple Macs/iPhones/iPads all in use with four FlexRadio Flex-6000’s in various locations, AND participating the Alpha Testing Program with lots of extra test versions of software, I have messed up a few installations with DAX naming corruption issues. Usually I’ve been able to use the FRS published procedures to sort things out.

But then came one PC, a HP fanless i5 used at my Washington Island QTH, that caught the DAX-Blues really hard.

The usual techniques didn’t sort out this mess – and I was at the verge of making it worse!

Dealing with Amateur Radio Complexity

Also published at the FlexRadio Community in a thread at:
https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/i-think-i-want-my-ic-7610-back

—

Some takeaways are that FRS does offer exceptional help with stuff (LAN/WAN) that perhaps are in our operating environment but are really not part of the product they sell us. I feel really good knowing that when one of my systems has a network fault that FRS has my back with their advice, resources and if needed their help.

If you are involved in a typical office network situation, maybe with some licensed software and a server rack, I’m going to guess you might share my experience of vendors drawing a line at what they sell you, and telling you to have your IT people sort out problems coming from your network hardware/configuration/operating-system/server/failing-gear/overload/rogue-AV/and so on….

One that has caught me out with my FlexRadios is my expectation and assumption that everything stays the same, only to find out that external factors (like incremental software updates in other software/OS/hardware, reboots, or seemingly minor failures elsewhere) were the culprit upsetting my radio experience.

—

Another takeaway is a personal tolerance for complexity. We are all not ready and willing if we are ready to deal with the same level of complexity in hobby systems.

I’ll put up with a lot more complexity issues if it is a problem needing solving that affects me economically or if I see it as a challenge while I have enough available time to work it through.

So my personal ROI (Return on Investment) is a mix of actual economics and intellectual/emotive satisfaction.

How that works for each of us is different.

In my own case my personal-ROI on complex HTs is upside down, and unless I am really bored the HTs sit on the shelf. As for walking through the typical HT 10 to 20 step programming sequences? I don’t think so. I’ve given HTs to other hams who love them while my personal-ROI evaluation said “get this nuisance out of my life.”

YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) really applies in a personal tolerance for complexity. It should and it won’t usually stay the same over time or during certain life situations.

If you are the sort who might buy a radio, or an antenna, or a kit, and then bail on using it because of complexity issues you might want to line up some help before you try a radio-server system like a Flex.

73

Steve
K9ZW

FlexRadio Community web host Problems

Hardware problems requiring replacement servers to be brought online.  Seems all sorted out.  

---

Appears that “Get Satisfaction” back end engine for the FlexRadio Community has internet problems.

Don’t know the reason(s) as reports suggest Get Satisfaction other communities are also affected.

Some topics briefly work then are redirected to page-not-found type errors.

Things will sort out. Perhaps it is just more time to be on the air!

73

Steve
K9ZW

The True Power of multiFlex SmartSDR

There is an excellent explanation of the true power of Multiflex by Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR, at the 2019 Hamvention here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNdEfqNUX6k

FlexRadio Systems Announced SmartSDR 2.5 and a SmartSDR 3.0 Update at Dayton 2019

The announcement was made at the Banquet Dinner Thursday evening.

Photo of the PowerPoint slide was shared with me.

v2.5 and v3.0.x slide

As a reminder v2 licensed radios are eligible to update to v2.5 at no additional cost.

Likewise v3 licensed radios are eligible to update to the newest v3.0.x with no additional cost, and technically are eligible to use v2.5 as well.

Release date is promised for [soon after] Monday May 20th.

73

Steve
K9ZW

K9ZW Upgrades to FlexRadio Systems SmartSDR version 3.0 with multiFlex

K9ZW Upgrades to FlexRadio Systems SmartSDR version 3.0 with multiFlex

This week FRS released SmartSDR v3.0 adding multiFlex to the Flex-6000 working environment.

I’ve updated all four K9ZW radios. Actually the Two Flex-6700s were updated as part of the FRS Alpha Testing program, where invited testers were allowed to buy their upgrades early in the process as part of the QA (Quality Assurance) and testing process.