Has anyone considered requesting the source file and updating the manual as a group project?
On Monday, May 27, 2013, Patrick Greenlee wrote: > Everyone has a personal opinion regarding manuals. That is fine except > where you think your personal preference trumps my needs. I too would like > a complete and up to date manual and PDF or similar is fine as I have a > printer. I would accept a hypertext version even though it precludes > traditional printed copies. After all if I don't have a computer to read > the manual on I won't be running a Flex radio. I want a manual not a > license to participate in a scavenger hunt trying to find a tidbit here or > there. I'm not trying to dictate to anyone what they do with information, > how they get it or how they store/access it but a complete manual with TOC, > chapters, etc. is not a bad thing, traditional or hypertext. > > I have managed software developments and I know that the developers prefer > slinging code over documenting. More functionality is nice but if the > users can't employ it, then so what. Here I sit with one of the niftiest > products in the world, the true cat's meow of ham radios and I have to > participate in an ongoing scavenger hunt for what should be in the basic > documentation. I'm happy for the individuals who have the time to devote to > find out how to use this technological marvel and I do appreciate it when > they share their knowledge but if a proper manual were available mere > mortals could employ any features available without need to sit at the feet > of the "priesthood." > > I realize we are beating a dead horse and units of output will not be in > proportion to units of input. Ask for what you will but "The Team" is off > chasing the new shiny ball and what was the new shiny ball is now a step > child. History will repeat itself. Corporate philosophy/culture, even in a > young company, is a powerful influence and the most likely outcome as > regards the manual for the new shiny ball is a repeat of the situation we > have now. Functionality will easily win out over documentation in the > contest for attention. Sales are effected much more strongly by nifty > features than by the quality of the documentation. Wait a year and history > will repeat itself. There will be posts bemoaning the lack of sufficient > documentation to employ the whoopee capabilities of the 6K series. > > I would be absolutely thrilled to be proven wrong but don't suspect to > receive even mild titillation. > > Regarding the idea that the concept of centralized and complete > documentation is obsolete... BOVINE EXCREMENT!!! If you think the > maintainers and operators of the nation's warfighting capability are > reduced to web searches and burning incense at the shrine of self appointed > gurus you are out of touch with reality. Many manuals are electronic now > but still complete. You don't maintain a joint strike fighter, or even a > predator drone by looking around the internet to find bits of data to put > in your iPad. RANT: MODE=OFF > > Patrick AF5CK > > -----Original Message----- From: Bill Tynan > Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 7:06 PM > To: John Kramer ; Gedas > Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Owners Manual > > John: > > I'm sure that Goodreader and Apple must be better at storing things than > Windows with Outlook Express and/or Windows Live Mail. I lost all of the > many files I had stored. I don't even know what the last OSCAR number > issued > was, and I am in charge of issuing OSCAR numbers. > > 73, > > Bill Tynan, W3XO > > ------------------------------**-------------------- > From: "John Kramer" <jkra...@iafrica.com> > Sent: Sunday, May 26, 2013 4:48 PM > To: "Gedas" <w8...@mchsi.com> > Cc: <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Owners Manual > > With the introduction of the Apple iPad tablet, I now have ALL my > manuals/service manuals etc all on my tablet. > There is an app called "Goodreader" for the iPad. Make files in Goodreader > for the various manufacturers, and > download your manuals off the internet and into your iPad. Generally > speaking, my iPad is always with me > wherever I go, so ALL my manuals including VHF/UHF HT, mobile, HF, > amplifiers, ATU, noise cancelling units > etc etc are all on there, and easy and quick to get to. I also have lots > of other ham apps on the tablet, so it is really > convenient to have everything on there and take it with me. > All new manuals that arrive in the boxes, stay untouched and go into my > filing cabinet, and remain in new > condition - something that buyers appreciate if I sell the item one day > > 73 > John, ZS5J > > > > On 26 May 2013, at 11:21 PM, "Gedas" <w8...@mchsi.com> wrote: > > George gets a Gold star IMO ! Exactly my thoughts. There are tons of > things I wish I knew more about my radio to make it even more enjoyable. > Many times I am forced to go hunting for tips & tidbits using forums, > online groups, & over-the-air nets in the hopes of getting an answer. The > process can take days or even weeks ! And even then the info found is > usually not directly from Flex so who knows if it is right. What's wrong > with putting it in hard writing once in a while ? An updated manual is not > asking for too much IMO, esp considering the price of the product. I make > an effort to look around for answers, but like many, I am forced to give up > after some time and just forget about it. I love my Flex but not having a > good reference document is the greatest shortcoming of my radio. > > Gedas, W8BYA > > Gallery at http://gedas.cc > Light travels faster than sound.. > This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "N1naz" <n1...@comcast.net> > To: <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> > Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2013 1:45 PM > Subject: [Flexradio] Owners Manual > > > Case in point, if you open up Power SDR, then Setup, then DSP. Under > the Options tab is Leak What does Leak do?? There is no explanation in > the docs that explain in detail what it does! What do I have to spend time > searching through update docs and forums to find out? > This was obviously added after the docs where published, what would it > have taken to add this to the docs and republish? > Yes after playing around with it for a few hours and listening you may > figure it out, but wouldn t it have been a time saver to know before you > adjusted this what it actually did! > > There are other cases like this. > > I m just saying that the Flex radios are the best thing out there right > now (IMO), Why fall short with the docs? > > George N1NAZ > ______________________________**_________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/**mailman/listinfo/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/<http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/> > Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/**mailman/listinfo/flexradio_**flex-<http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz> > > -- *Best 73 de WA2SQQ Elmwood Park, NJ "The only dumb questions are those we don't ask"* _______________________________________________ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
