"Lawrence Stoskopf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Pat Hawker in the RSGB journal RadCom TT, Aug issue just arrived, mentions
> FlexRadio in a segment entitled (p.76) "Buying Overseas-Caveat Emptor". The
> is a sharp disconnect between the heading and the connection in the first
> line about the SDR-1000. I'm not sure Pat understands the nature of this
> radio.
>
> (...)
>
> N0UU
>
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> FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
>
Hi Lawrence and others,
thanks for the information about the RadCom TT article. I was disappointed
about the specualtions of the author and wrote the following letter to the
editors:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dear Editors,
the author of the topic "technical topics - caveat emptor" wrote, that it would
be interesting to hear from anyone who has been an early purchaser of SDR-1000
and their experience. I got the boards from FlexRadio Systems, Austin, TX, USA
by October 2003. Since that time I am operating the radio on a daily basis,
mainly on the low bands. I beefing it up with 100W PA and I am using different
soundcards (both PCI and USB-type). Since working with SDR-1000 i.e.
experimenting with the hardware and dozens of upgrades in software I discovered
again the excitement of amateur radio and I enjoy being part of a community
that is paving new roads to wireless communication.
Your article and comments obviously totally misunderstand the nature of the
SDR-1000. There is an important difference between Companies like Yaesu,
Kenwood, ICOM, TenTec and so one, just to name a few of them. Indeed, here one
should consider the framework you are mentioning ("Buying and Selling of
Equipment" - "TT" August 2004).
The nature of SDR-1000 and the business philosophy of FlexRadio (so far as I
understand them) is different:
Firstly, the radio is not off-the-shelf-equipment that can be operated without
going into technical details. FlexRadio is offering his customers to purchase
hardware from a bare system up to a complete set of additional equipment (100W
PA; ATU) to take part in the development of Software Defined Radio.
Having said this, secondly - a logical consequence is the nature of the
software being distributed and used under the regime of "GNU - General Public
License". FlexRadio is sharing everything with its customers (and
non-customers!) - I haven't heard about this business culture from any other
company in wireless communication.
In the light of this completely unique framework "after sale service" is
provided by different means. I have not heard from anyone who complained not to
receive spare parts or getting warranty service if necessary. More than
ordinary "after sale service" is available through the Internet (and not by a
permanent overcommitted "hot-line"). In a special forum and by a so called
e-mail reflector the user community is in permanent conversation with FlexRadio
and the user community to solve installation or operating problems (and
successes) thus being a real part of the development team. Highly professional
software engineers from FlexRadio Systems are getting permanent feedback from
the user/customer - who often are highly skilled persons donating their great
ideas and contributions generously. To my knowledge unprecedented in the
development and "after sale service" of wireless communication equipment the
users are asked by polls sometimes how to design and advance in software
revision. The user community is truly part of the system. This is modern ham
radio using state of the art techniques at its best.
The electronic parts being used in the SDR-1000 hardware aren't exotic at all.
I blew up the FET-switches in the QSD/QSE and the audio amplifier ICs - and got
my replacement for a few Euro in Europe. At present FlexRadio is preparing an
upgrade to enhance RX performance. This is in line with the engineering change
orders (ECO) the users could adhere to in the past two years.
Let me sum up: Your comments regarding SDR-1000 cannot be justified nor are
they fair. SDR-1000 is a different approach to ham radio technically speaking
and what is most important: FlexRadio Systems is establishing a totally
different relationship to the users/customers exceeding everything that could
be addressed when asking for "after-sale-service" or "warranty". It is true
when FlexRadio Systems advertises the SDR-1000: "The Radio That Keeps Getting
Better!"
...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
73's - Klaus Lohmann, DK7XL
