> On Monday 13 March 2006 12:51 am, Larry Loen wrote: >> 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. > > > Why does it have to be an "ownership group"? > Why not just an individual? >
You're parsing me way too closely. I'm simply noting the total population of these radios is not, so far as I know, very large. That has some rather obvious implications on the ability to support multiple fora of all kinds. > >> >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. > > Not the point at all, ANYONE can do as he pleases, if you think this is the > best place for you, well, stay here. Um, as I've tried to make clear, what I do or don't do is rather beside the point. It's what the "question answerers do" that will matter. To the extent I sometimes am one, it matters. To the extent I consume that resource, it doesn't. >> But, some of us have been here a while and we've seen things happen. >> And, accordingly, we speak up. > > Oh? Please, dont go that route, thats scare tactics and you know it. > Since when has sharing experience (and recent experience at that) been "scare tactics?" Profit from my experiences, deny them, do as you please. But, they do exist and they are real for all that. Don't believe me, go take a look at the two major fora we have already. Look at the post rate. It is not suggestive of a lot of pent up demand for alternatives. >> 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. > > No one is saying this yahoo group is a solution to anything, its just another > place to get information. That's the operative question. Will it be a place to "get information" or not? Questions are always plentiful. The deal maker or deal breaker is where the answers will come from. >> 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. > > > who cares! if the owner of the yahoo group wants to try and runa group there > thats fine, if he fails thats fine, if he succeeds thats fine. > You're arguing awfully hard for someone who claims they don't care. >> >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. > > since when does it have to come from Flex? They should be thrilled with the > extra interest. > You're missing the point. The point is, this reflector is a spontaneous reflection of what people wanted. >> 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. > > be honest, what are you afraid of? > I'm not "afraid" of anything. However, this particular posting of yours makes me wonder about balkanization, which is something to be feared. The last thing we need is two groups that don't talk to each other very much. Perhaps the naysayers will repent and join the Yahoo group and, most importantly, answer questions. Then, you'll be vindicated. If they don't, however, the Yahoo group will probably shrivel (which would then probably be a net good) or not shrivel (which would then be a net ill IMHO). > >> 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. > > this forum here has way too much software talk for me, personally I like hardware myself. > What does that have to do with anything? Unless you want to be the only participant in the Yahoo group? There's hardware talk in here and in proper proportion. Truth is, the hardware is pretty flexible and simple. There's not a lot of need to talk about it, because it's mostly controlled by the software. Most mods to date have been official ECOs that Flex itself offers to customers. There is a separate reflector where people are discussing various add-ons and even total replacements for the radio (that will use 98 per cent the same software, either way). For instance, we have two different "Universla Controller Boards" under development to externalize the SDR 1000's X2 interface in useful ways. The software largely anticipates this already as there has been some great prototype work. That used to be discussed in here. >> 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. > > who's splitting the group? > Judging by the naysayers, the ones promoting the Yahoo group. > Its just another place to go for information on the SDR! > Perhaps it will turn out to be so. At present, it looks like splitting things up, certainly will be so if people stick to their guns. > >> 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 got it all wrong, no one is splitting anything up. > You really think that everyone is going to join both groups? If they don't, by definition it is splitting things 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. > > Its not my yahoo group, All I am saying is I support any effort at getting > more info out. If the answer people join. >> 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. > > > you can stay here if you like, but guess what, I will follow BOTH! both groups emails will pass right thru the same email program I now use. > Imagine that! Good for you. But, again, if folks stick to their guns, you will be a decided minority. A lot of people don't like Yahoo groups and that seems to be a lot of the people I go to for actual answers. >> 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. > > If amateur radio isnt a hobby then what is it? > For the few employees at Flex they are making money at their hobby, something > they love. Since very few of us make any money from amateur radio if it isnt > a hobby then what is it? > > I've been in this for 30+ yrs now - someone please tell my wife its not a > hobby! >> 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. > > Both groups can coexist. > The operative question, which you seem to take for granted, is whether anything will happen. Maybe there does need to be a social place where people do little but exchange shack photographs and other nontechnical matters. However, you aren't arguing for that. If the idea is to get "information" this product is new enough that there are surprisingly few "go to" places for said information. If they don't come, then it will be the blind leading the blind. And, if you hadn't noticed, that's just what a lot of them said. I wonder if you'll address this one. You're dodging it. You seem to assume that answers will come regardless. Field of Dreams is a movie. > >> If there's enough >> of us going or the group can be self-supporting, then who cares. > > Self supporting? What the hell are you talking about? > >> 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? > > then they will come here, another resource for Flex Radio! > > >> Meanwhile, for the forseeable future, I'm staying here because I know where I get my answers, a year on of owning this thing. > > So tell me, how long have you had your no code license? > So, you're out of substantive arguments, I take it? This argument ought to be the equivalent of Godwin's law. > Stan > AH6JR > > >> >Stan >> >AH6JR >> Larry WO0Z >
