Stan wrote:
That's right, ANYONE can start an SDR group on yahoo!
If you want official information you have the "choice" to go to
the "Official" SDR website. OR you can go to yahoo and post a message and you
might get an answer.
And if so, then we're all very happy. Really. But, my main concern in
the idea is that this is exactly what won't happen.
I don't know how many Flex Radios have been sold, but I not suppose it
to be 10,000 (if that happy moment has arrived, we're at a different
discussion).
As far as I know, we don't have a huge community, whether satisfied with
this reflector or not.
Maybe the ownership group is big enough to support another group on yet
another fora with a whole new set of rules. Maybe.
Sure, you may want the info provided by the manufacturer, not too many are as
accessible as the Flex team.
But if some one wants a yahoo group why bother to stop them?
We should be encouraging these people to do these things.
We should be encouraging what works best. If a Yahoo group does that, fine.
But, some of us have been here a while and we've seen things happen.
And, accordingly, we speak up.
I've participated in two or three different Flex-based fora and most of
them don't get a huge amount of traffic. I wish they had more,
actually. I don't think this is the perfect solution, either.
But the status of the various fora are enough to make me suspicious we
simply don't have the critical mass for another group. Try if you like,
but don't be surprised at the result if some of us who've been here a
while have guessed correctly.
this is how you get your ideas/products out to the mainstream by providing
more outlets for the users and those who are interested.
Not everyone goes to the manufacturers website for info.
I don't know who the official owner of this reflector is, but as far as
I remember the history, the impetus for this reflector did not, so far
as I know, come from Flex Radio. The main company players are generous
with their time (that's a good reason to be here), but a lot of the
value comes from the various experimenters helping each other out, even
including those who don't code and don't solder.
I would have to say that since this was established, total traffic went up.
It has perhaps been too successful for its own good. Most of the
written information used to flow via the Flex Radio fora. Once this got
established, this reflector got far and away the largest fraction of the
traffic.
Now, that's something to think about. In the 'net, people tend to vote
with their feet.
I think the main reason to be dissatisfied here is that there is no
filtering to speak of. You have a dozen different conversations going
on at once, some highly technical, and you get them in time sequence.
That's a real problem. I just don't know that splitting the group will
help very much, if the goal is to get questions answered.
Flex now has an official bug tracking site. I should go there. I
haven't, not yet. So, I'm missing out. My bad, but it's risk when you
split a small group up.
You know what customer service is like at most places these days. Flex may be
an exception but how many people actually know this?
Most people find out the first time they have any service related
question of any kind.
Then again from a yahoo group you might find more people being directed to the
Flex site than otherwise would happen.
Well, that's a discussion between the Flex company, you, and whomever
goes with you. I've never said I'm opposed. I've said I don't think it
will work very well and I don't plan to follow along -- a very different
response, at least from me.
But hey, the net is open. Anything can be tried. Been wrong before.
You "amateur radio hobbyists" who said "NO" need to rethink what your
reasoning is for the negative response to a yahoo site.
With that archaic kind of thinking its a wonder we still have a hobby.
It is a hobby isnt it?
Exactly so. However, the most compelling reason you give above has
nothing to do with the hobby part of this.
Meanwhile, the hobby aspect is exactly the problem with the suggestion.
Build it and maybe they come (where "they" are folks giving answers to
other folks). Come back and tell us if it succeeded. But, many of us
aren't going along and that has some merit to the discussion if the
interest is getting quick answers to questions from existing owners,
often those who have had (and overcome) the problem. If there's enough
of us going or the group can be self-supporting, then who cares. If, on
the other hand, questions are posed, but answers don't come back
quickly and correctly, as they tend to do here, who benefits?
Meanwhile, for the forseeable future, I'm staying here because I know
where I get my answers, a year on of owning this thing.
Stan
AH6JR
Larry WO0Z
