Brian: The firmware is indeed closed as this IS REQUIRED to be in compliance with law. We are not violating any FSF rules because the firmware runs under . We have been promised a full technical manual, which would include the API. My old pal Brian needs to join dttsp-linux where the developments, including the API for the fully open control of the 5000 are being undertaken.
We know what is going on with the debounce, qsk, etc. issues. It will only require the rewrite of thousands of lines of the closed firmware. That is a major undertaking, which will be joined by both volunteer (me, Frank, others) and the ONE paid software writer empowered to do this work at Flex. Since this clearly became much more important than the open linux API (since it was going to change anyway because of this) it has been put in back of this development. PATIENCE my old friend. It is in the works but life keeps wandering in the way with more fires than firemen. Flex is still a small start up that did NOT use Venture capital and has kept its burn rate less than cash flow but is heavily investing in the future. 73's Bob -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dale Boresz Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 9:07 AM To: Brian Lloyd Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] alternatives to PowerSDR Hello Brian, This is the future, and it is actively in development. It continues to be open source, and is not tied in any way to MS Windowss. The modular/component architecture is the perfect platform for what you describe. < http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=223 > 73, Dale WA8SRA Brian Lloyd wrote: > On Jun 25, 2008, at 4:52 AM, Tim Ellison wrote: > > >> Nope. Not for the FLEX-5000. >> >> There are some non-Windows alternatives for the SDR-1000. They are >> not as feature rich as PowerSDR. >> > > There are features and there are features. To me the most important > feature would be a good set of published interfaces thus allowing > someone to hack whatever feature they decide they need. > > This is powerfully frustrating. I have been considering getting a > Flex5000 or an Elecraft K3. The K3's software environment is closed > which makes me uncomfortable. It is also limited by the bandwidth of > its analog first IF so in spite of its stellar RX performance, it > doesn't look like a big enough technology jump to make me think that > it will be the right platform to be playing with 5 years from now. > > Along comes the Flex5000 which looks like the answer but its hardware > and firmware environment is closed. Now it appears that there is no > alternative to PowerSDR which is Windows based. I am just so tired of > spending time trying to keep Windows running and uh-hacked. Not only > that but windows just performs poorly in a real-time environment. Too > much latency in response to events. I suspect this is where the QSK > problems lie with the Flex5000. > > Is Flex planning to publish the interface to the Flex5000 so that > other packages can be made to run with it? > > I wish someone would make a top-notch radio that is usable on a daily > basis but is still open for experimentation. It sounds like, for the > nonce, the SDR-1000 is the only answer for an HF rig that runs > reasonably well in the ham bands but is still completely open. > Unfortunately it has that silly parallel-port interface. > > <sigh> I want to buy a new radio now that I can keep doing new things > with 5 years from now. I refuse to be locked into Windows except as an > interim solution. > > -- > > 73 de Brian, WB6RQN > Brian Lloyd - brian HYPHEN wb6rqn AT lloyd DOT com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ > > > > _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
