On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 5:50 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3...@embarqmail.com> wrote:
> > .....An SDR can be implemented by means of software in a personal computer > *OR* embedded computing device > ....other SDRs are moving toward the embedded processor approach > because it does away with obsolescence due to changes in personal > computers... ============== Don is right on. The old notion of what constitutes an SDR is no longer meaningful, and leads only to confusion. The embedded processor approach does a lot of good things, but not everything. It eliminates the miserable experience of having a piece of SDR software that gobbles up the resources of the company trying to get it to run correctly, and then trying to adapt and re-adapt it to ever-changing PC hosts. However, as long as an outboard PC is required, the SDR business model is perilous both for manufacturer and customer. >From the customer's point of view, the danger is obvious. When updates to the outboard client are needed, they have to come from somewhere. What if there is nobody to supply them? Your radio made by Collins, Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, E.F. Johnson, National, etc. etc. will still work. But your software made by Lotus, or Wordstar, or Zilog, or Spinnaker, will not. And from the manufacturer's point of view, the tension between trying to advance your technology and trying to not alienate your installed user base and damage your credibility creates a narrow path. As the Bhudda said, "To perceive and to follow the Middle Way is perhaps the most difficult thing... like walking on the razor's edge....." Tony KT0NY -- http://www.isb.edu/faculty/facultydir.aspx?ddlFaculty=352 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
