date:20100410


Hi Wayne

The reason we run 64 bit vista is so that we can use more that 4G of 
memory on the machine.  It isn't due to PSDR (at this point).  However, 
we are offloading a lot of what would be happening in a much more 
expensive radio to somewhere else to do the post processing.  It makes 
it much more scalable. And, much more flexible.  Hmmm Maybe that is 
why they call it a Flex!


64 Bit isn't a show stopper at all.

The benefits of using a 64-bit operating system are most apparent when 
you have a large amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your 
computer (typically 4 GB of RAM or more). In such cases, because a 
64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more 
efficiently than a 32-bit operating system, a 64-bit operating system 
can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time 
and switching between them frequently.


We do it because we can, not because it is easy.  For me, it is part of 
the integration of getting everything working together seamlessly.  For 
me it is part education, and then also part of the job I do as the 
Director of R and D for an RFID company.  Honestly, I've run both 32 and 
64 bit, and from a Flex perspective there has not been a single thing 
that has caused me any trouble once I solved the initial Intel Firewire 
problem.  Maybe the next move is to move to an optical connection for 
the speed.


Isn't it great that we all have choices?  There is no right or wrong.

I think we have beat this horse to death. 


Mike VA3MW

p.s.  A Ferrari will run fine on regular gas in the US, since the speed 
limit is what it is.  (OK, just kidding... let's not go there now!)  :)


k4...@fastmail.fm wrote:

Watching the forum, it looks to me like the majority of hams with Flex
problems are running Vista or Win 7.  Heaven forbid, 64 bit.  What for? 
PSDR can't use it at this point, so why make trouble for yourself?  What

are your really trying to do with the computer?  Sort of like buying a
Ferrari and expecting it run on regular gas.
73
Wayne
K4ELO

  

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Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread Brett Gazdzinski

I don't know much about computers or software, just enough to really hose 
things up!

I stopped trying to understand everything after windows 3.1.

But I got a flex 5000 and had it working well and trouble free on my old 
Sony laptop running vista, with the built in firewire, in about 15 minutes.
Sony is one of the few companies that seem to give you a good firewire port, 
with its own irq.


I then got a Neal special and have not had a single problem, no rf problems, 
no computer problems.


I want to keep it that way so that computer has no web access and runs no 
other programs.


I don't think the flex stuff is a good choice for those who just want to 
plug it in and have it work.
I don't think HAM radio should be like that, all my other equipment in the 
shack is homebrew, receivers and transmitters, I don't think ham radio 
should be like getting a new vcr, or audio equipment you pull out of the 
box, plug it in and have it work.


I really don't know how flex keeps up with microsoft though

Brett
N2DTS




- Original Message - 
From: 

To: "Flex" 
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] (no subject)



Again, I have to respectfully disagree.  I do think they are plug and
play.  If you play it safe.

IF you have a decently powerful computer with low DPC latency, all you
have to do is plug in your firewire card, connect the radio,  load the
driver and PSDR.  The default settings on PSDR get you on the air
immediately. Assuming you have the right OS.

Yes, you might want to tweak a lot of settings in PSDR, but it's not
necessary to get on the air.  I think the hard part is tweaking the
settings.  There are a lot of settings that the manual could explain a
lot better.  But it's still plug and play to me.

Admittedly, I am speaking from Windows XP experience.  Those going to
newer operating systems do so at their own risk.
Microsoft always screws something up with every new release.  They are
guaranteed to have bugs. It takes years for the code to get really
stable with patches.
That's not an opinion, it's MS history.  If you want plug and play stick
with a mature OS.  Isn't the point to get the radio up and running?  Not
to try and do it on the latest MS thing?  You definitely do not want to
be on the bleeding edge.

Folks can complain all day long because Flex can't keep up with
Microsoft, but that won't do any good.  Their expectations are
unrealistic.  I have great empathy for Flex, having to run under
multiple releases of MS.  It's not easy.

Watching the forum, it looks to me like the majority of hams with Flex
problems are running Vista or Win 7.  Heaven forbid, 64 bit.  What for?
PSDR can't use it at this point, so why make trouble for yourself?  What
are your really trying to do with the computer?  Sort of like buying a
Ferrari and expecting it run on regular gas.

Again, I run every application that I want to on my computers as well as
running PSDR with no problems.  Many at the same time.
Sorry for this long post, but I do think some folks are just making
problems for themselves and blaming Flex unfairly.
I suspect the computer experienced folks on the list would agree.

73
Wayne
K4ELO




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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Geep Howell

ClearOS (formerly ClarkConnect) offers a jim dandy completely free server 
solution that runs under Centos Linux.  This is an enterprise level suite of 
programs that once installed and running just work.  I've had one issue in the 
last five years, and it was of my own making, the main hard drive filled up 
with backups that were being done to the wrong drive, and things got very 
strange until I made some space, then came back up running nicely.

I run a file server and mail server on an older model Dell Pentium 4 machine, 
as well as the gateway application and firewall.  Firewall stuff is completely 
and extensively configurable.  Well worth the $0 pricetage if you have an old 
machine kicking around.  Takes a little time to set up and a working knowledge 
of Linux is also handy, but not required.  As Jerry Pournelle would say, 
"recommended!"

They also provide a domain name service if you want to do things from your own 
little spot in the WWW universe.  I have wa4rts.net for about $24 yearly.

geep

wa4rts

On Apr 10, 2010, at 11:44 AM, Michael Walker wrote:

> I don't have my firewall turned on on my boxes inside my house, so that is 
> why I likely never see a problem with that regard.  I then trust my 
> Router/Firewall solution.

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Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread k4elo

Again, I have to respectfully disagree.  I do think they are plug and
play.  If you play it safe.

IF you have a decently powerful computer with low DPC latency, all you
have to do is plug in your firewire card, connect the radio,  load the
driver and PSDR.  The default settings on PSDR get you on the air
immediately. Assuming you have the right OS.

Yes, you might want to tweak a lot of settings in PSDR, but it's not
necessary to get on the air.  I think the hard part is tweaking the
settings.  There are a lot of settings that the manual could explain a
lot better.  But it's still plug and play to me.

Admittedly, I am speaking from Windows XP experience.  Those going to
newer operating systems do so at their own risk.
Microsoft always screws something up with every new release.  They are
guaranteed to have bugs. It takes years for the code to get really
stable with patches. 
That's not an opinion, it's MS history.  If you want plug and play stick
with a mature OS.  Isn't the point to get the radio up and running?  Not
to try and do it on the latest MS thing?  You definitely do not want to
be on the bleeding edge.

Folks can complain all day long because Flex can't keep up with
Microsoft, but that won't do any good.  Their expectations are
unrealistic.  I have great empathy for Flex, having to run under
multiple releases of MS.  It's not easy.

Watching the forum, it looks to me like the majority of hams with Flex
problems are running Vista or Win 7.  Heaven forbid, 64 bit.  What for? 
PSDR can't use it at this point, so why make trouble for yourself?  What
are your really trying to do with the computer?  Sort of like buying a
Ferrari and expecting it run on regular gas.

Again, I run every application that I want to on my computers as well as
running PSDR with no problems.  Many at the same time.
Sorry for this long post, but I do think some folks are just making
problems for themselves and blaming Flex unfairly.
I suspect the computer experienced folks on the list would agree.

73
Wayne
K4ELO




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Re: [Flexradio] The Flex Reflector

2010-04-10 Thread Lazy Senior

I agree with that statement 100 %. Altho there is sometimes disagreement 
here, we all seem to keep the discussion at a civil adult level without 
the nastiness one often sees in discussion groups.


Stan k9IUQ


n5ba wrote:



One other tip o' the hat...even when someone complains about their 
system/radio, it has all been on a

civil plane.  Keep it up.



73
Brian
N5BA

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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread k4elo

Respecting your opinion Stan, I can only agree with part of what you
said.
Yes, they are probably not for everyone.

However, I do not believe that they are as computer frustrating as you
say.

I have run my Flex radios with a Dell desktop, a MacPro desktop (under
Bootcamp), a MacBook notebook, a Tiger Direct desktop, and an IBM
notebook with no problems.  All I did was add a firewire card and hook
things up.

I will agree that 'computer challenged' hams should probably not try
SDRs.  You do have to have a basic understanding of setting up a
computer.  And there are computers that are not going to work well with
an SDR.  I use a company supplied Dell desktop at work that has DPC
latency so bad it stutters every few seconds playing an mp3 file.  I can
imagine it's lousy performance with an SDR - it would be unusable.  The
worst DPC latency I saw on it was over 300,000.

However, buying a low DPC latency computer added to the cost of a Flex
is still a lot less expensive than a lot of the better transceivers on
the market.  Then you know it is going to perform well.  And a lot
better than those transceivers.

Last comment - if you have a good high performance, low latency computer
you really can use it for everything.  I use both my TigerDirect and my
MacPro for everything.  No problems.  It all depends on the computer.

73
Wayne
K4ELO

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[Flexradio] The Flex Reflector

2010-04-10 Thread n5ba

I've been a "flex-er" for some time.  Starting with the three board 
stack.  It has been an interesting ride.


I was on this reflector way back in time, but I was often overwhelmed by 
the quantity and content of
the posings.  I could easily find numbers way above 30 messages in my 
"flex" inbox in my mail reader.


I finally called "uncle" and unsubscribed.  I've been back on now since 
the beginning of the year.  I scan
through and read some and delete others and so far I've been able to 
keep up with keeping my flex folder

under control.

Today I logged on and there was the dreaded 45 messages to plow 
through!  Fear -- Trepidation !


I've waded through it all.  Actually read all the mail.  Some scanned 
faster than others.  After 3 months,
I have an idea of who to read closely, which is helpful.  Thankfully I 
don't have any names that I purposely

skip.

Today's read was good.  Lots of good stuff on firewalls, drivers, 
microsoft internals, etc.  I probably
now have more questions than answers, but that's a good thing.  I'll 
probably email directly, those who

I think can best answer my questions, but it's been a good thing today.

One other tip o' the hat...even when someone complains about their 
system/radio, it has all been on a

civil plane.  Keep it up.

As for me, I now run one of the earlier 5000A on a Dell old single core, 
XP box.  I'm more of an
appliance operator than a technical geek, in both radio and computers.  
It works for me without much
diddling.  It does lock up at times, but I think that's a function of 
all the other programs that I have in the
box.  I don't think they are running, but I'm sure there's something 
that runs without my knowledge.
I tried that "autoruns" that Neal suggested, and there's a pile of stuff 
under all the tabs, most of which

are Greek to me.  One of these days it will all become clear.

Maybe, one of these days there will be a Linux release that will 
eliminate all those nasty MS programs

in the background.

73
Brian
N5BA

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Re: [Flexradio] hardware firewalls

2010-04-10 Thread David McKenzie

A simple openwrt or dd-wrt compatible off-the-shelf router (think $60 at
best buy) allows you to reflash the firmware with a variant of the linux
operating system, there by giving you all the functionality and flexibility
to configure it however you want.

dd-wrt even includes a flashy gui.

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 3:14 PM, Brian Lloyd  wrote:

> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Michael Walker  >wrote:
>
> > Hi Stan
> >
> > Actually, any of the good hardware firewalls like the one Tim mentioned
> or
> > the Astaro do also inspect outbound. To be safe, you should shut down all
> > outbound ports (targets) except 80 and 443, and then start to open the
> ones
> > you need.  Pretty simple model and it works really well.
> >
> > It saved me once when a visitor who had a spam bot on his computer with
> its
> > own mailer that no AV could see.
>
>
> No anti-virus software could see it because most of the good trojan/worm
> software subverts the anti-virus system, hence my earlier comment about how
> you cannot count on your AV or firewall software on the affected machine.
>
>
> > It was trying to mail 100 messages/min and the Astaro snagged it and shut
> > it down as well.  That allowed us to go fix it by running an AV rescue
> disk
> > like Bitdefender or AVG.   The built in firewall/routers like the
> linksys,
> > etc., don't do outbound filtering.
> >
>
> The cheap ones you get for homes don't. This is why I use m0n0wall, which
> is
> .<*FREE*>. and runs on just about any PC hardware, turning it into a
> dedicated network appliance and local
> router/stateful-firewall/traffic-shaper/VPN box.
>
>
> > Like Tim, I run mine on an old P4 with 2 nic cards and it doesn't break a
> > sweat with my 10mb connection on cable.  And, it gets its AV signatures
> > updated every 2 hours.
> > You can't beat that!
> >
>
> The one thing that m0n0wall doesn't do is anti-virus signature analysis of
> the packets (deep packet inspection). Still, it has performed exceeding
> well
> for me and my networks with a *very* high price:performance ratio.
>
> --
> 73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread Lee Mushel


Stan,

I think you are painting with too wide a brush!  I will say that I agree 
that there are people who shouldn't own any sort of software defined radio. 
But the source company has nothing to do with it other than supply what I 
will admit is a complex product.   Gifted people would disagree with me and 
say that it is "simple."   I do know better than that.


But at the same time I know that the day I found out about SDR and placed my 
first order only a few minutes after, marked the beginning of a very 
satisfying time in my life.  A day doesn't pass that I don't feel just a bit 
of guilt because I don't know how to explain to others that they are missing 
something in this great hobby.


And as far as disappointment and frustration are concerned I can tell you 
that I know you are absolutely wrong if you feel that software defined radio 
and specifically Flex-Radio's are at fault.   In the past six days I have 
never been so frustrated as I have over my failure to find why an ordinary 
knob and button radio won't work and, at the same time, an  SDR product that 
has no Flex Radio connection what ever defied my best efforts to to operate! 
Indeed, there were two computers involved as well as some really goofy 
software.  But then, I simply can't understand how anyone who is the least 
bit technically oriented can ignore the computer!   And yet, I have some 
very treasured ham friends who do so!   At this moment, I have spent 30 
hours and over $250 worth of software trying to get my problems solved. 
The XYL and the dogs and cats want to know what happened to me.  Living on a 
fixed income I have to think hard about that unbudgeted money.


And I simply can't avoid concluding that at the root of the problem is me 
and my limited intellectual capacity!


73

Lee  K9WRU   WD2XSH/32

- Original Message - 
From: "Lazy Senior" 

To: 
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)


Having owned a Flex 5000a for 4 months and having researched the radio for 
several months before that, I have come to the conclusion that Flex radios 
are NOT for everyone. If you want a plug and play radio, Then look 
elsewhere. Flex is not a good choice. The frustration level of a Flex is 
VERY high. You better either have lots of experience in computers OR lots 
of extra $$$ to spend on a Neal computer.


Flex radios also have a very high appetite for RF getting into the radio. 
You can always tell a Flex owner, he is the guy at the hamfest carrying a 
big bag of ferrites.


What to do? Cut your losses and sell the Flex. You will be happier. Flex 
radios just are not for everyone..


Until Flex starts putting a dedicated computer in each radio at a 
reasonable price, Flex radios will never be mainstream hamradios.


Stan K9IUQ





Hunter Ellington wrote:

So, here is my rant, or at least plea for help.



 If the radio will not run on an off
the shelf  well equipped machine, what broader application does it have 
to ham radio. The cost of a dedicated computer to run the thing makes it 
far less appealing from a price/competition perspective.  I know it is 
heresy, but the K3 took 30 minutes to configure, and aside from the audio 
deficiencies as compared to the 5000A it hears and filters every bit as 
well.  So, what to do?


Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function 
seamlessly, without a computer science degree from MIT?   I am all ears.


 WB9NJB R. Hunter Ellington
303-454-0543/720-560-8139
P.O. Box 44
Larkspur, CO 80118



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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Steve Potter

Have I missed anything...
I originally installed 1.18.5 etc etc, and having upgraded to PB-PAL, I
have never installed 'v2' just ran the PowerSDR.exe from the checkout
folder... works for me so far.

Steve

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Tim Ellison
Sent: 10 April 2010 21:28
To: Dave AA6YQ; flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

"By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username
and Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers
seeking to build user-friendly applications from placing user data in
that folder."

Not necessarily.

This has nothing to do with making user friendly apps and everything to
do with making the OS secure and stable.  Unix has been doing this for
years.  The bin, usr and var data is separate.  It just took Microsoft a
really long time to figure this out. I will agree that their
implementation leaves a lot to be desired.

The next version of PowerSDR (v2.0) has been enhanced so that var type
data is located in the user's APPDATA folders to be Win7/Vista
compliant.  And you do not have to un-hide the folders to find it.
Enter %APPDATA%\FlexRadio Systems\ into the search or Run box and you
can easily navigate to it.

What is a pain is programs that are not compliant with this architecture
and Windows uses a virtualized store to fool the program into thinking
the user's files are in a protected area of the file system (C:\program
files\..) when they are not.  PowerSDR v1.x (not Win7 compliant) running
on a Vista/Win7 is subject to this.  Finding that data in the virtual
store is a MAJOR pain in the butt.

So the gist of this e-mail is that it has nothing to do with DXLab users
(the programmer needs to change the program to make it Win7 compliant)
but installing PowerSDR v2.0 in a folder other than the default will
make any difference as it is Win7 compliant and var data is no longer
stored in the application folder.

-Tim

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Dave AA6YQ
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:03 PM
To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username
and Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers
seeking to build user-friendly applications from placing user data in
that folder.
LotW, for example, followed Microsoft's recommendation; look at what's
required for a user to move station location information from one PC to
another:

Relocating Outlook email or iTunes music requires the same "show hidden
files and folders" hoop-jumping.

I recommend that DXLab users install their applications outside of what
Windows considers "protected folders (e.g. not in c:/program files and
not in c:/program files (x86)) and login to a user account without Admin
privileges.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz]on Behalf Of Neal Campbell
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:29 PM
To: Rudy Bakalov
Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

You are right, but not just us Ham SW writers assume the system is
configured to run as admin. Its the default when Windows installs
(except for the server editions) and who knows to go in and change it?

Windows 7 doesn't help with UAC (even though its far less obnoxious than
Vista) because the normal reaction is to turn down the setting when you
get confused, scared or annoyed with the warnings.

We should all be testing our software under non-admin, full-stop UAC
though and I plan to do so (if I can get away with it).

The worst offender is that all software authors use their program folder
as their data repository which is definitely a no no. I guess when you
create a file object, since it defaults to where the application is
running, its 2 or
3 less lines of code to write! Coming from the Mac world though, we are
used to using the Preferences folder in the users Library folder so it
was a natural thing to use the Application Data folder. MS should change
it so its not invisible however because many times we need to have users
look in the pref file for debugging, etc.

Stay active on the reflector! You obviously have experience and can
certainly help many people.

73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com Abroham Neal
forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 1:19 PM, Rudy Bakalov 
wrote:

> Neal,
> I have been lurking on various ham reflectors

Having owned a Flex 5000a for 4 months and having researched the radio
for several months before that, I have come to the conclusion that Flex
radios are NOT for everyone. If you want a plug and play radio, Then
look elsewhere. Flex is not a good choice. The frustration level of a
Flex is VERY high. You better either have lots of experience in
computers OR lots of extra $$$ to spend on a Neal computer.

Flex radios also have a very high appetite for RF getting into the
radio. You can always tell a Flex owner, he is the guy at the hamfest
carrying a big bag of ferrites.

What to do? Cut your losses and sell the Flex. You will be happier. Flex
radios just are not for everyone..

Until Flex starts putting a dedicated computer in each radio at a
reasonable price, Flex radios will never be mainstream hamradios.

Stan K9IUQ

Hunter Ellington wrote:
So, here is my rant, or at least plea for help.

If the radio will not run on an off
the shelf well equipped machine, what broader application does it have to ham
radio. The cost of a dedicated computer to run the thing makes it far less
appealing from a price/competition perspective. I know it is heresy, but the
K3 took 30 minutes to configure, and aside from the audio deficiencies as
compared to the 5000A it hears and filters every bit as well. So, what to do?

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function seamlessly, without a computer science degree from MIT? I am all ears.

WB9NJB R. Hunter Ellington
303-454-0543/720-560-8139
P.O. Box 44
Larkspur, CO 80118

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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Dave AA6YQ

>>>AA6YQ comments below

-Original Message-
From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:28 PM
To: Dave AA6YQ; flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores


"By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username and
Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers seeking to
build user-friendly applications from placing user data in that folder."

Not necessarily.

This has nothing to do with making user friendly apps and everything to do
with making the OS secure and stable.

>>>We disagree on what constitutes user friendliness.

>snip<

So the gist of this e-mail is that it has nothing to do with DXLab users
(the programmer needs to change the program to make it Win7 compliant) but
installing PowerSDR v2.0 in a folder other than the default will make any
difference as it is Win7 compliant and var data is no longer stored in the
application folder.

>>>Making DXLab Win7 compliant by storing user data "elsewhere" would be a
step backwards in usability, from my perspective; I am not planning to do
that. By default DXLab applications install in c:/DXLab, where they work
correctly on all variants of Windows without Administrative privileges, with
user data that is easily located and backed up.

73,

   Dave, AA6YQ


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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

"By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username and 
Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers seeking to build 
user-friendly applications from placing user data in that folder."

Not necessarily.

This has nothing to do with making user friendly apps and everything to do with 
making the OS secure and stable.  Unix has been doing this for years.  The bin, 
usr and var data is separate.  It just took Microsoft a really long time to 
figure this out. I will agree that their implementation leaves a lot to be 
desired.

The next version of PowerSDR (v2.0) has been enhanced so that var type data is 
located in the user's APPDATA folders to be Win7/Vista compliant.  And you do 
not have to un-hide the folders to find it.  Enter %APPDATA%\FlexRadio Systems\ 
into the search or Run box and you can easily navigate to it.

What is a pain is programs that are not compliant with this architecture and 
Windows uses a virtualized store to fool the program into thinking the user's 
files are in a protected area of the file system (C:\program files\..) when 
they are not.  PowerSDR v1.x (not Win7 compliant) running on a Vista/Win7 is 
subject to this.  Finding that data in the virtual store is a MAJOR pain in the 
butt.

So the gist of this e-mail is that it has nothing to do with DXLab users (the 
programmer needs to change the program to make it Win7 compliant) but 
installing PowerSDR v2.0 in a folder other than the default will make any 
difference as it is Win7 compliant and var data is no longer stored in the 
application folder.

-Tim

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz 
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Dave AA6YQ
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 4:03 PM
To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username and 
Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers seeking to build 
user-friendly applications from placing user data in that folder.
LotW, for example, followed Microsoft's recommendation; look at what's required 
for a user to move station location information from one PC to
another:

Relocating Outlook email or iTunes music requires the same "show hidden files 
and folders" hoop-jumping.

I recommend that DXLab users install their applications outside of what Windows 
considers "protected folders (e.g. not in c:/program files and not in 
c:/program files (x86)) and login to a user account without Admin privileges.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz]on Behalf Of Neal Campbell
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:29 PM
To: Rudy Bakalov
Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

You are right, but not just us Ham SW writers assume the system is configured 
to run as admin. Its the default when Windows installs (except for the server 
editions) and who knows to go in and change it?

Windows 7 doesn't help with UAC (even though its far less obnoxious than
Vista) because the normal reaction is to turn down the setting when you get 
confused, scared or annoyed with the warnings.

We should all be testing our software under non-admin, full-stop UAC though and 
I plan to do so (if I can get away with it).

The worst offender is that all software authors use their program folder as 
their data repository which is definitely a no no. I guess when you create a 
file object, since it defaults to where the application is running, its 2 or
3 less lines of code to write! Coming from the Mac world though, we are used to 
using the Preferences folder in the users Library folder so it was a natural 
thing to use the Application Data folder. MS should change it so its not 
invisible however because many times we need to have users look in the pref 
file for debugging, etc.

Stay active on the reflector! You obviously have experience and can certainly 
help many people.

73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com Abroham Neal forums: 
http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 1:19 PM, Rudy Bakalov  wrote:

> Neal,
> I have been lurking on various ham reflectors for a long time and have 
> observed as a general theme that most hams need help with their computers.
I
> don't believe in the assumption that they understand the risk.
> Case in point- I have never ever seen a single post on the N1MM group 
> questioning why the logger needs to run as Admin. Ever.  Hams just 
> take it for granted and don't question it. In a private exchange of 
> emails with
one
> of the developers, I was told

Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Dave AA6YQ

By making the user data folder a variable function of Windows username and
Windows version, Microsoft effectively discouraged developers seeking to
build user-friendly applications from placing user data in that folder.
LotW, for example, followed Microsoft's recommendation; look at what's
required for a user to move station location information from one PC to
another:

Relocating Outlook email or iTunes music requires the same "show hidden
files and folders" hoop-jumping.

I recommend that DXLab users install their applications outside of what
Windows considers "protected folders (e.g. not in c:/program files and not
in c:/program files (x86)) and login to a user account without Admin
privileges.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz]on Behalf Of Neal Campbell
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:29 PM
To: Rudy Bakalov
Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

You are right, but not just us Ham SW writers assume the system is
configured to run as admin. Its the default when Windows installs (except
for the server editions) and who knows to go in and change it?

Windows 7 doesn't help with UAC (even though its far less obnoxious than
Vista) because the normal reaction is to turn down the setting when you get
confused, scared or annoyed with the warnings.

We should all be testing our software under non-admin, full-stop UAC though
and I plan to do so (if I can get away with it).

The worst offender is that all software authors use their program folder as
their data repository which is definitely a no no. I guess when you create a
file object, since it defaults to where the application is running, its 2 or
3 less lines of code to write! Coming from the Mac world though, we are used
to using the Preferences folder in the users Library folder so it was a
natural thing to use the Application Data folder. MS should change it so its
not invisible however because many times we need to have users look in the
pref file for debugging, etc.

Stay active on the reflector! You obviously have experience and can
certainly help many people.

73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 1:19 PM, Rudy Bakalov  wrote:

> Neal,
> I have been lurking on various ham reflectors for a long time and have
> observed as a general theme that most hams need help with their computers.
I
> don't believe in the assumption that they understand the risk.
> Case in point- I have never ever seen a single post on the N1MM group
> questioning why the logger needs to run as Admin. Ever.  Hams just take it
> for granted and don't question it. In a private exchange of emails with
one
> of the developers, I was told that it is too much hassle for them to do it
> right.
> Similarly, even on this reflector, when hams have a problem with old
device
> drivers under Windows 7 the answer is to just run as Admin and run in
legacy
> mode. Developers don't want to be bothered with having their drivers
signed
> as there is no demand from the ham community.  Again, I attribute this to
> general lack of risk awareness.
> Back to observing mode :-)
> Rudy N2WQ
> --- On Sat, 4/10/10, Neal Campbell  wrote:
>
> From: Neal Campbell 
> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores
> To: "Rudy Bakalov" 
> Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
> Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 1:00 PM
>
> Rudy,
>
> When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against
> mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the
> issue. Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a
> coat so you are covered. But when the added products cause side effects,
you
> have to balance the value of risk versus reward.
>
>
>
> I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we
are
> doing.
>
> But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.
>
>
> Neal Campbell
> Abroham Neal Software
> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
>
>
> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>
> Amateur Radio: K3NC
> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
>
>
> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:55 PM, Rudy Bakalov 
> wrote:
>
>
> Neither hardware based firewalls nor Windows built-in firewall are enough
> to protect the typical WIndows machine. Today's attacks are mostly
> browser-based (e.g., Flash, Java Script, QuickTime, etc.) or aimed at the
> application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader).
>
>
>
> To make things worse, ham developers

Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Drax Felton

Or those who assume everyone will install into c:\Program Files.

The Flex Firewire drivers wouldn't work when I installed them in C:\Radio\.
I had to uninstall and let them go into the default location.




-Original Message-
The worst offender is that all software authors use their program folder as
their data repository which is definitely a no no. I guess when you create a


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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

A man after my own heart! My mode is to unintentionally break everything and
then learn a lot trying to get it working again. My ability to
unintentionally break things is just astonishing. If I were a beauty pagaent
contestant, it would be my Talent Competition entry. And indeed, I do belong
in a beauty pagaent.

My service is for those who don't want to spend time learning the PC
internals, no more than that!

Joy is helping someone else find their problem as so many people have helped
me.


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

> Good advice.
> And, not to take anything away from Neal, as he does a great job, but
> remember this is a technical  hobby and just imagine what you are learning
> by doing it yourself.
>
> Hence the reason I bought the flex in the first place.  To learn more about
> DSP and radio.  I've been a Ham since I was 14 and I just turned 52.
>  Technology is clearly my hobby.
>
> Mike VA3MW
>
>
> Brian Lloyd wrote:
>
>> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 9:53 AM, Hunter Ellington 
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function
>>> seamlessly, without a computer science degree from MIT?   I am all ears.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Buy a preconfigured computer from Neal. It is far and away the easiest way
>> to solve this problem. Granted, you are throwing money at the problem but
>> you should have a dedicated computer to your radio anyway.
>>
>>
>>
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Re: [Flexradio] hardware firewalls

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 11:24 AM, Michael Walker wrote:

> Hi Stan
>
> Actually, any of the good hardware firewalls like the one Tim mentioned or
> the Astaro do also inspect outbound. To be safe, you should shut down all
> outbound ports (targets) except 80 and 443, and then start to open the ones
> you need.  Pretty simple model and it works really well.
>
> It saved me once when a visitor who had a spam bot on his computer with its
> own mailer that no AV could see.

No anti-virus software could see it because most of the good trojan/worm
software subverts the anti-virus system, hence my earlier comment about how
you cannot count on your AV or firewall software on the affected machine.

> It was trying to mail 100 messages/min and the Astaro snagged it and shut
> it down as well.  That allowed us to go fix it by running an AV rescue disk
> like Bitdefender or AVG.   The built in firewall/routers like the linksys,
> etc., don't do outbound filtering.
>

The cheap ones you get for homes don't. This is why I use m0n0wall, which is
.<*FREE*>. and runs on just about any PC hardware, turning it into a
dedicated network appliance and local
router/stateful-firewall/traffic-shaper/VPN box.

> Like Tim, I run mine on an old P4 with 2 nic cards and it doesn't break a
> sweat with my 10mb connection on cable.  And, it gets its AV signatures
> updated every 2 hours.
> You can't beat that!
>

The one thing that m0n0wall doesn't do is anti-virus signature analysis of
the packets (deep packet inspection). Still, it has performed exceeding well
for me and my networks with a *very* high price:performance ratio.

-- 
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Since we are offering free advice (and its worth every penny you pay for
it), another pet peeve of mine are these "registry cleaners". This sounds
like a great idea but I bet more people have screwed their machines up
running them than anything else.

Stay away from registry cleaners, period.

Stay away from those annoying website ads that say "Your machine needs to
run Registry Repair" as its just more junk.

I have read somewhere on the net (after a series of head-to-head tests0 that
they neither do what they claim and they often do damage. Another telling
sign is that if Microsoft thought you really needed a registry cleaner, they
would have put one in the OS but they haven't.

A periodic disk defrag, a periodic system backup, staying current on the MS
patches (but no driver updates!) and a periodic malware scan and you are
being a good PC citizen!

73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 3:05 PM, Neal Campbell  wrote:

> Try them and let us know! The more people reporting their experiences, the
> more we all learn. What does DPCLat report when you run it?
>
>
>
> Neal Campbell
> Abroham Neal Software
> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>
> Amateur Radio: K3NC
> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 3:04 PM, Michael Tondee 
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for these post. All of this sounds very encouraging to me as I plan
>> on using my HP AMD duo core when I get my Flex 5K. As I've stated before, I
>> inherited it from my XYL when she got a new Dell  from Best Buy. I've added
>> an Nvidia based dual output video card with 1 GB of DDR3 memory and Windows
>> 7 32 bit OS. I plan on using the onboard firewire which is also a VIA
>> chipset. The flex firewire driver reports no issues with it so we shall see.
>> I do have an extra regular PCI slot available should I need to add a
>> firewire card. The only thing I've found to dislike about this PC so far is
>> the placement of the PCI express slots. The PCI X 1 slot is right next to
>> the PCI X 16 slot so that when I put in my new video card with the large fan
>> and shroud it blocked all access to the PCI X 1 slot. I cannot recall the
>> manufacturer of the mobo but I know it's not Foxcomm. Hopefully I will have
>> no issues. Now if the ship confirmation on the 5K would just get here. The
>> target date I was told was next Wednesday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
>>  BTW, I use AVG Free antivirus and Spybot Search and Dest5roy for adware
>> protection. Are there any known conflict issues with these programs?
>> Tnx,
>> Michael, W4HIJ
>>
>> On 4/10/2010 10:35 AM, Neal Campbell wrote:
>>
>>> Just to reiterate, an AMD-based system has an order of magnitude chance
>>> of
>>> success than an Intel-based system. A simply-configured motherboard has
>>> less
>>> competition for IRQs.
>>>
>>> You mentioned Foxcomm as the mobo manufacturer. Foxcomm probably makes a
>>> large percentage of the of systems out in the world, just as a supplier.
>>> For
>>> instance, they make many of Apple's motherboards (in both of my Mac Pro's
>>> at
>>> least they did).
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Neal Campbell
>>> Abroham Neal Software
>>> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
>>> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>>>
>>> Amateur Radio: K3NC
>>> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
>>> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
>>> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:27 AM, Michael Walker>> >wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
 I was wanting to replace my old xp box and move to a new quad core.

 The Acer M5811 was a great deal with the Intel I5-650 and on an Intel
 motherboard (I never could find the board number).  However, as most of
 you
 know I was getting not so random crashes if the radio was powered up and
 without any Flex software running.  Acer technical support essentially
 said
 that they warranty the firewire port unless you plug something into it.
  Go
 figure.  They wanted $2/min to do additional debugging.

 I'm sure we could have solved the Acer problem if we could get W7 to
 actually produce a dump when it crashed.  Even adding another firewire
 card
 did not help as you could not turn off the onboard firewire port in the
 bios.

 After 3 weeks of testing, I took it back to Best Buy for a full refund
 (well past their return date--but they aren't that fussed which is great
 customer service).  It helped when I complained about Acer's tech
 support.

 N

Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Try them and let us know! The more people reporting their experiences, the
more we all learn. What does DPCLat report when you run it?


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 3:04 PM, Michael Tondee wrote:

> Thanks for these post. All of this sounds very encouraging to me as I plan
> on using my HP AMD duo core when I get my Flex 5K. As I've stated before, I
> inherited it from my XYL when she got a new Dell  from Best Buy. I've added
> an Nvidia based dual output video card with 1 GB of DDR3 memory and Windows
> 7 32 bit OS. I plan on using the onboard firewire which is also a VIA
> chipset. The flex firewire driver reports no issues with it so we shall see.
> I do have an extra regular PCI slot available should I need to add a
> firewire card. The only thing I've found to dislike about this PC so far is
> the placement of the PCI express slots. The PCI X 1 slot is right next to
> the PCI X 16 slot so that when I put in my new video card with the large fan
> and shroud it blocked all access to the PCI X 1 slot. I cannot recall the
> manufacturer of the mobo but I know it's not Foxcomm. Hopefully I will have
> no issues. Now if the ship confirmation on the 5K would just get here. The
> target date I was told was next Wednesday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
>  BTW, I use AVG Free antivirus and Spybot Search and Dest5roy for adware
> protection. Are there any known conflict issues with these programs?
> Tnx,
> Michael, W4HIJ
>
> On 4/10/2010 10:35 AM, Neal Campbell wrote:
>
>> Just to reiterate, an AMD-based system has an order of magnitude chance of
>> success than an Intel-based system. A simply-configured motherboard has
>> less
>> competition for IRQs.
>>
>> You mentioned Foxcomm as the mobo manufacturer. Foxcomm probably makes a
>> large percentage of the of systems out in the world, just as a supplier.
>> For
>> instance, they make many of Apple's motherboards (in both of my Mac Pro's
>> at
>> least they did).
>>
>> 73
>> Neal Campbell
>> Abroham Neal Software
>> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
>> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>>
>> Amateur Radio: K3NC
>> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
>> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
>> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:27 AM, Michael Walker> >wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I was wanting to replace my old xp box and move to a new quad core.
>>>
>>> The Acer M5811 was a great deal with the Intel I5-650 and on an Intel
>>> motherboard (I never could find the board number).  However, as most of
>>> you
>>> know I was getting not so random crashes if the radio was powered up and
>>> without any Flex software running.  Acer technical support essentially
>>> said
>>> that they warranty the firewire port unless you plug something into it.
>>>  Go
>>> figure.  They wanted $2/min to do additional debugging.
>>>
>>> I'm sure we could have solved the Acer problem if we could get W7 to
>>> actually produce a dump when it crashed.  Even adding another firewire
>>> card
>>> did not help as you could not turn off the onboard firewire port in the
>>> bios.
>>>
>>> After 3 weeks of testing, I took it back to Best Buy for a full refund
>>> (well past their return date--but they aren't that fussed which is great
>>> customer service).  It helped when I complained about Acer's tech
>>> support.
>>>
>>> Next purchase was an HP p6302f with the AMD Athlon X4 Quad at 2.6ghz/core
>>> on some no name motherboard (Foxxconn).  It came with 6G or DDR3 Ram.
>>>  The
>>> bench marks I ran were pretty good, except for the video, so I added an
>>> ATI
>>> hd2850 video card (1G ram).  That took care of the video problems.  I'm
>>> running with 2 monitors on the box.  This is on a W7 x64 box.  Even with
>>> the
>>> 1G video card added, it was still cheaper than the Acer M5811.
>>>
>>> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en
>>> <
>>>
>>> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en
>>>
>>>


>>> Based on Neal's recommendations, he said to keep the board simple with
>>> not
>>> a lot of on board add-ons.  This seemed to fit the bill and was on sale
>>> to
>>> boot!
>>>
>>> It has an onboard VIA firewire card which I was willing to start with.
>>>
>>> I've been pleased to report that it works great.  My antivirus is
>>> Microsoft
>>> Security Essentials (which is free).  I'm confident to use that AV as the
>>> Security gurus (outside of Microsoft) actually like it.  It has not
>>> seemed
>>> to add any load and my latency numbers are really low.
>>>
>>> DDUtil is running fine and I am now using HRDs DM780 for my digital work.
>>> I w

Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Michael Tondee

Thanks for these post. All of this sounds very encouraging to me as I 
plan on using my HP AMD duo core when I get my Flex 5K. As I've stated 
before, I inherited it from my XYL when she got a new Dell  from Best 
Buy. I've added an Nvidia based dual output video card with 1 GB of DDR3 
memory and Windows 7 32 bit OS. I plan on using the onboard firewire 
which is also a VIA chipset. The flex firewire driver reports no issues 
with it so we shall see. I do have an extra regular PCI slot available 
should I need to add a firewire card. The only thing I've found to 
dislike about this PC so far is the placement of the PCI express slots. 
The PCI X 1 slot is right next to the PCI X 16 slot so that when I put 
in my new video card with the large fan and shroud it blocked all access 
to the PCI X 1 slot. I cannot recall the manufacturer of the mobo but I 
know it's not Foxcomm. Hopefully I will have no issues. Now if the ship 
confirmation on the 5K would just get here. The target date I was told 
was next Wednesday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
 BTW, I use AVG Free antivirus and Spybot Search and Dest5roy for 
adware protection. Are there any known conflict issues with these programs?

Tnx,
Michael, W4HIJ
On 4/10/2010 10:35 AM, Neal Campbell wrote:

Just to reiterate, an AMD-based system has an order of magnitude chance of
success than an Intel-based system. A simply-configured motherboard has less
competition for IRQs.

You mentioned Foxcomm as the mobo manufacturer. Foxcomm probably makes a
large percentage of the of systems out in the world, just as a supplier. For
instance, they make many of Apple's motherboards (in both of my Mac Pro's at
least they did).

73
Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:27 AM, Michael Walkerwrote:

   

I was wanting to replace my old xp box and move to a new quad core.

The Acer M5811 was a great deal with the Intel I5-650 and on an Intel
motherboard (I never could find the board number).  However, as most of you
know I was getting not so random crashes if the radio was powered up and
without any Flex software running.  Acer technical support essentially said
that they warranty the firewire port unless you plug something into it.  Go
figure.  They wanted $2/min to do additional debugging.

I'm sure we could have solved the Acer problem if we could get W7 to
actually produce a dump when it crashed.  Even adding another firewire card
did not help as you could not turn off the onboard firewire port in the
bios.

After 3 weeks of testing, I took it back to Best Buy for a full refund
(well past their return date--but they aren't that fussed which is great
customer service).  It helped when I complained about Acer's tech support.

Next purchase was an HP p6302f with the AMD Athlon X4 Quad at 2.6ghz/core
on some no name motherboard (Foxxconn).  It came with 6G or DDR3 Ram.  The
bench marks I ran were pretty good, except for the video, so I added an ATI
hd2850 video card (1G ram).  That took care of the video problems.  I'm
running with 2 monitors on the box.  This is on a W7 x64 box.  Even with the
1G video card added, it was still cheaper than the Acer M5811.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en<
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en
 
   

Based on Neal's recommendations, he said to keep the board simple with not
a lot of on board add-ons.  This seemed to fit the bill and was on sale to
boot!

It has an onboard VIA firewire card which I was willing to start with.

I've been pleased to report that it works great.  My antivirus is Microsoft
Security Essentials (which is free).  I'm confident to use that AV as the
Security gurus (outside of Microsoft) actually like it.  It has not seemed
to add any load and my latency numbers are really low.

DDUtil is running fine and I am now using HRDs DM780 for my digital work.
I would like to thank Tim, Dudley and Neal for all their support and help.
  Hopefully I will get to meet some of you in Dayton.  I'm looking forward to
going as I haven't been since I left Atlantic Ham Radio to move on to
another career back in 1997.

My hats off to Flex radio who truly understands what Customer Support is.
many 73... Mike VA3MW


 
   



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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Another good thing to do is download autoruns from the sysinternals site at
Microsoft and look at all of the "crap", especially from adobe, that is
kicked off when you login. Turn off everything from adobe, ati catalyst and
anything else staying in memory and calling home, reboot and see if
everything works normally. If so, rerun autoruns and try turning more
non-Microsoft/Windows stuff.

If you have installed tortoisesvn and are not using it, uninstall it, its
unimaginable the number of entries you will find in autoruns associated with
it (because it is a shell extension).

I turn off the highly graphic mixers that sit in the notification area (I am
slowly learning not to say systray) but almost everything you have sitting
in the notification area that isn't from Microsoft is a small program
continually running, looking for messages from the internet or from you. If
you can live without them, click and see if there is an option to prevent
usage at startup. If not and you don't want the function at all, uninstall
it. Otherwise you can turn it off with autoruns.

73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 2:26 PM, Michael Walker wrote:

> Correct.  Your best bet is to turn of scripting on your browser.
> However, that is a pain in the butt, as most websites just won't run
> without scripting.
>
> Also, make sure you turn of scripting in your Acrobat reader.  It is on by
> default and there is no reason for it to be on for 99% of us.
>
>
> Mike
>
>
> Neal Campbell wrote:
>
>> Rudy,
>>
>> When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against
>> mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the
>> issue. Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a
>> coat so you are covered. But when the added products cause side effects,
>> you
>> have to balance the value of risk versus reward.
>>
>> I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we
>> are
>> doing.
>>
>> But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.
>>
>>
>> Neal Campbell
>> Abroham Neal Software
>> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
>> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>>
>> Amateur Radio: K3NC
>> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
>> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
>> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

Good advice. 

And, not to take anything away from Neal, as he does a great job, but 
remember this is a technical  hobby and just imagine what you are 
learning by doing it yourself.


Hence the reason I bought the flex in the first place.  To learn more 
about DSP and radio.  I've been a Ham since I was 14 and I just turned 
52.  Technology is clearly my hobby.


Mike VA3MW

Brian Lloyd wrote:

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 9:53 AM, Hunter Ellington  wrote:

  

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function
seamlessly, without a computer science degree from MIT?   I am all ears.




Buy a preconfigured computer from Neal. It is far and away the easiest way
to solve this problem. Granted, you are throwing money at the problem but
you should have a dedicated computer to your radio anyway.

  

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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Correct.  Your best bet is to turn of scripting on your browser. 

However, that is a pain in the butt, as most websites just won't run 
without scripting.


Also, make sure you turn of scripting in your Acrobat reader.  It is on 
by default and there is no reason for it to be on for 99% of us.



Mike

Neal Campbell wrote:

Rudy,

When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against
mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the
issue. Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a
coat so you are covered. But when the added products cause side effects, you
have to balance the value of risk versus reward.

I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we are
doing.

But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/


  
  


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[Flexradio] hardware firewalls


Hi Stan

Actually, any of the good hardware firewalls like the one Tim mentioned 
or the Astaro do also inspect outbound. To be safe, you should shut down 
all outbound ports (targets) except 80 and 443, and then start to open 
the ones you need.  Pretty simple model and it works really well.


It saved me once when a visitor who had a spam bot on his computer with 
its own mailer that no AV could see.  It was trying to mail 100 
messages/min and the Astaro snagged it and shut it down as well.  That 
allowed us to go fix it by running an AV rescue disk like Bitdefender or 
AVG.   The built in firewall/routers like the linksys, etc., don't do 
outbound filtering.


Like Tim, I run mine on an old P4 with 2 nic cards and it doesn't break 
a sweat with my 10mb connection on cable.  And, it gets its AV 
signatures updated every 2 hours. 

You can't beat that! 


73...  mike


Lazy Senior wrote:

Baloney.

Hardware Firewalls are good. But they protect you only from incoming.

A good software firewall protects incoming and OUTGOING. You will be 
surprised how many programs call "home" after running a software 
firewall that does outgoing.  Note that most free Microsoft Firewalls 
only do incoming protection which is useless if you already have a 
hardware Firewall.



Unlike many, I multitask while using PSDR. I have used both Norton 
2010 and Comodo Internet Security virus/firewall programs. NEITHER 
affects PSDR in a negative way.
No I do NOT sit around and use PSDR and run DPC checker, fretting 
about my DPC level. As long as PSDR runs properly I don't care what 
the DPC level is. If DPC's jump up a couple of hundred while going to 
eham.net I really do not care as it does not affect PSDR operation.


Use an older pc to protect your home network? Come on be serious.

Stan K9IUQ





Tim Ellison wrote:

I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.

There are lots of solutions in this area.  One easy one is to re-use 
an older PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux 
firewall packages to protect your *entire* home network.


Firewalls do not belong on the end user device.  They belong at the 
ingress point of your network where a common security policy can be 
implemented and managed appropriately.


-Tim

  



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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread Dave Gomberg


At 09:53 4/10/2010, Hunter Ellington wrote:

I am neither a
computer engineer or a software guru and wonder whether this radio will
ever have a wider acceptance if you are not in those categories.


All it took to get my radio going (before I tackled the amplifier issues I had)
was some forethought.   I decided I needed a dedicated computer (so as to
avoid all the problems with networking (viruses, AV sw, firewalls, etc.)) so I
said how can I get a fast machine cheap (cause I am a cheap guy).   I went
on eBay and found an in-warranty IBM server for $275.   Worked like a
champ.   I am thinking they probably retire these servers preventively at
two years of age to avoid problems happening while in service.  That means
a constant supply of two-year-old high-end machines.   Goody for us.




--
Dave Gomberg, San Francisco   NE5EE Programming since 1959
All addresses, phones, etc. at http://www.wcf.com/ham/info.html
- 



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Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

Hum.  That is a hard one to quantify and here is the reason.  The FLEX-5000 has 
the RX loop and you can easily add as much or as little pre-amplification you 
need for 6m.  This is what I did until I moved the preamp to the antenna mast 
where it should have been in the first place.

I believe the FLEX-3000 has about 8-10 dB more gain on 6m than the FLEX-5000.  
For weak signal work, the FLEX-5000 does need a little help.

-Tim

-Original Message-
From: k4xtt [mailto:k4...@comcast.net] 
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:42 PM
To: Tim Ellison
Cc: flex reflector
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

Excellent, Tim.  On what order of magnitude does the 3K hear better on 6m than 
the 5K?  I'm seriously thinking of using one or the other for WSJT meteor work 
and find that the 5K hears slightly better than my Yaesu 736r and has better 
noise rejection and is easier to use. I'd love to retire that radio to repeater 
work only.  The bonus of better receive on 6m with the 3K will probably make my 
decision for me, but I would like to have an idea of how much better it may be.

Reading the feature matrix now.

Thanks, Vic

On 4/10/2010 12:04 PM, Tim Ellison wrote:
> The technical difference are listed on the comparison matrix
>   http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=SDR_Feature_Matrix
>
> Compared to the FLEX-5000, the FLEX-3000 is a lot more portable, the case is 
> sturdier, travels better on airlines (can be sent through the x-ray machines 
> and the fans are louder.  It also hears a little better for weak signal work 
> on 6m due to the difference in preamps.
>
>
> -Tim
>
>

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Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

2010-04-10 Thread k4xtt

Excellent, Tim.  On what order of magnitude does the 3K hear better on 
6m than the 5K?  I'm seriously thinking of using one or the other for 
WSJT meteor work and find that the 5K hears slightly better than my 
Yaesu 736r and has better noise rejection and is easier to use. I'd love 
to retire that radio to repeater work only.  The bonus of better receive 
on 6m with the 3K will probably make my decision for me, but I would 
like to have an idea of how much better it may be.


Reading the feature matrix now.

Thanks, Vic

On 4/10/2010 12:04 PM, Tim Ellison wrote:

The technical difference are listed on the comparison matrix
  http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=SDR_Feature_Matrix

Compared to the FLEX-5000, the FLEX-3000 is a lot more portable, the case is 
sturdier, travels better on airlines (can be sent through the x-ray machines 
and the fans are louder.  It also hears a little better for weak signal work on 
6m due to the difference in preamps.


-Tim

   



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Re: [Flexradio] (no subject)

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 9:53 AM, Hunter Ellington  wrote:

> Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function
> seamlessly, without a computer science degree from MIT?   I am all ears.
>

Buy a preconfigured computer from Neal. It is far and away the easiest way
to solve this problem. Granted, you are throwing money at the problem but
you should have a dedicated computer to your radio anyway.

-- 
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:33 AM, Brian Lloyd wrote:

>
>
> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:19 AM, Rudy Bakalov wrote:
>
>> Neal,
>> I have been lurking on various ham reflectors for a long time and have
>> observed as a general theme that most hams need help with their computers. I
>> don't believe in the assumption that they understand the risk.
>> Case in point- I have never ever seen a single post on the N1MM group
>> questioning why the logger needs to run as Admin. Ever.  Hams just take it
>> for granted and don't question it. In a private exchange of emails with one
>> of the developers, I was told that it is too much hassle for them to do it
>> right.
>>
>
> This has long been the case for Windows. It grew up from an environment
> that assumes that there is one and only one user on the machine so therefore
> there doesn't need to be protection between users on the same machine since
> there aren't any. When reality intruded Microsoft attempted to graft-on
> multi-user protection which apparently wasn't completely thought-out. So the
> end result is that, being able to run without admin privileges is a real
> challenge. Contrast that with an OS like Unix which was multi-user from the
> get-go and had to solve these problems long ago.
>
>
>> Similarly, even on this reflector, when hams have a problem with old
>> device drivers under Windows 7 the answer is to just run as Admin and run in
>> legacy mode. Developers don't want to be bothered with having their drivers
>> signed as there is no demand from the ham community.  Again, I attribute
>> this to general lack of risk awareness.
>>
>
> Well, you are assuming that driver-signing adds anything to security. It
> doesn't. You get your driver from a trusted source and install it. If the
> trusted source has been compromised, driver signing will not protect you as
> the threat is already inside the ring formed by driver signing. (The lack of
> security as provided by 'secure' certificates is an ugly secret of the
> security industry somewhat akin to thinking that searching you when you
> board a plane provides 100% protection. Sorry 'taint so.)
>
> --
> 73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
>
>


-- 
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

You are right, but not just us Ham SW writers assume the system is
configured to run as admin. Its the default when Windows installs (except
for the server editions) and who knows to go in and change it?

Windows 7 doesn't help with UAC (even though its far less obnoxious than
Vista) because the normal reaction is to turn down the setting when you get
confused, scared or annoyed with the warnings.

We should all be testing our software under non-admin, full-stop UAC though
and I plan to do so (if I can get away with it).

The worst offender is that all software authors use their program folder as
their data repository which is definitely a no no. I guess when you create a
file object, since it defaults to where the application is running, its 2 or
3 less lines of code to write! Coming from the Mac world though, we are used
to using the Preferences folder in the users Library folder so it was a
natural thing to use the Application Data folder. MS should change it so its
not invisible however because many times we need to have users look in the
pref file for debugging, etc.

Stay active on the reflector! You obviously have experience and can
certainly help many people.

73


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 1:19 PM, Rudy Bakalov  wrote:

> Neal,
> I have been lurking on various ham reflectors for a long time and have
> observed as a general theme that most hams need help with their computers. I
> don't believe in the assumption that they understand the risk.
> Case in point- I have never ever seen a single post on the N1MM group
> questioning why the logger needs to run as Admin. Ever.  Hams just take it
> for granted and don't question it. In a private exchange of emails with one
> of the developers, I was told that it is too much hassle for them to do it
> right.
> Similarly, even on this reflector, when hams have a problem with old device
> drivers under Windows 7 the answer is to just run as Admin and run in legacy
> mode. Developers don't want to be bothered with having their drivers signed
> as there is no demand from the ham community.  Again, I attribute this to
> general lack of risk awareness.
> Back to observing mode :-)
> Rudy N2WQ
> --- On Sat, 4/10/10, Neal Campbell  wrote:
>
> From: Neal Campbell 
> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores
> To: "Rudy Bakalov" 
> Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
> Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 1:00 PM
>
> Rudy,
>
> When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against
> mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the
> issue. Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a
> coat so you are covered. But when the added products cause side effects, you
> have to balance the value of risk versus reward.
>
>
>
> I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we are
> doing.
>
> But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.
>
>
> Neal Campbell
> Abroham Neal Software
> www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
>
>
> (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER
>
> Amateur Radio: K3NC
> Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
> DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
>
>
> Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:55 PM, Rudy Bakalov 
> wrote:
>
>
> Neither hardware based firewalls nor Windows built-in firewall are enough
> to protect the typical WIndows machine. Today's attacks are mostly
> browser-based (e.g., Flash, Java Script, QuickTime, etc.) or aimed at the
> application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader).
>
>
>
> To make things worse, ham developers tend to take a lot of nasty shortcuts
> when developing their software and as a results ham software requires admin
> rights to run properly.
>
> The bottom line is that running Windows without a host-based end-point
> security (firewall + virus + anti-malware) as Admin is foolish and a recipe
> for disaster.
>
> Rudy N2WQ
>
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:20 AM, Brian Lloyd wrote:

>
>
> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 9:33 AM, Lazy Senior wrote:
>
>> Baloney.
>>
>> Hardware Firewalls are good. But they protect you only from incoming.
>>
>> A good software firewall protects incoming and OUTGOING. You will be
>> surprised how many programs call "home" after running a software firewall
>> that does outgoing.  Note that most free Microsoft Firewalls only do
>> incoming protection which is useless if you already have a hardware
>> Firewall.
>>
>
> A hardware firewall box can also filter and flag outbound traffic. Outgoing
> firewalls are needed when a machine has already been compromised and you
> want to trap those packets to let you know. A properly-behaving application
> does not "phone home". My firewall is one of my primary sources of
> information about compromised machines in my networks.
>
> But there is another side to this -- if the software (firewall) lives in
> the same machine that has been compromised, then the software that
> compromised the machine can also modify the behavior of the outbound
> firewall, thus giving you a false sense of security. The black-hats already
> put in code to subvert antivirus programs and software firewalls so you
> cannot count on them if they are running on the compromised platform.
>
> Unlike many, I multitask while using PSDR. I have used both Norton 2010 and
>> Comodo Internet Security virus/firewall programs. NEITHER affects PSDR in a
>> negative way.
>> No I do NOT sit around and use PSDR and run DPC checker, fretting about my
>> DPC level. As long as PSDR runs properly I don't care what the DPC level is.
>> If DPC's jump up a couple of hundred while going to eham.net I really do
>> not care as it does not affect PSDR operation.
>>
>
> Well, we are talking about apples and oranges here. One part is how to
> secure the machine and the other part is how to make PSDR run properly.
> There is some overlap but they really are different problems. Neal brings up
> a significant point and that is that the client machine is the wrong place
> to put the firewall. You really need a separate machine to analyze traffic
> for signs that indicate that a machine has been compromised. You cannot
> count on a compromised machine to tell you it has been compromised. That is
> the basic fallacy of the antivirus and firewall software model. (This is
> coming from someone who has learned a lot about Internet security from being
> in the trenches for over 30 years, including having been one of Mitnick's
> victims in the very early '90s.)
>
> Counting on a compromised computer to report that fact to you is akin to a
> store owner basing his anti-theft system on an employee standing at the
> front door and asking exiting customers, "did you steal anything?"
>
>
>>
>> Use an older pc to protect your home network? Come on be serious.
>>
>
> Absolutely. It works just peachy as a firewall, traffic-shaping, and
> activity-reporting engine. When you aren't trying to do high-speed GUI, DSP,
> and n-deep layers of backward compatibility, you will find that there are
> ample cycles in these older machines to do the job. Remember, this is an
> 'enough' problem. You only need enough CPU cycles and enough memory to get
> the job done. You can push right up to 100% utilization without any problems
> as long as you don't go over.
>
> Case in point, one of my networks is being protected by a 486-class
> machine. I monitor its utilization. So far, no problems and no apparent
> delays in spite of the machine doing both firewall and traffic shaping
> functions.
>
> --
> 73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
>
>


-- 
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] Rant


You don't need a CS degree from MIT, you need to do some basic troubleshooting.

You don't need a specialized computer.  You need one that has low latency to 
run a real-time audio app and something in the way is preventing that.

First, you need to do a DPC analysis using DPCLAT.
http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50058.aspx

Let it run for a while.  You want to see what the average and what the spike 
are.  Correlate that if you can to the radio freezing up.  Once you have that 
info, then you can start looking in the right places for the problem.

My guess, is that there is probably something that needs a driver update, a 
BIOS update or HP has loaded some software on your PC that is killing it for 
real-time operation.

Also, you have to tell us how the radio is configured.

PowerSDR version
Firmware version
Firewire driver version

-Tim

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz 
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Hunter Ellington
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 1:01 PM
To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: [Flexradio] Rant

P.S., I am running 64 bit Windows 7.  The radio is the basic model, no second 
receiver or antenna tuner.


 WB9NJB R. Hunter Ellington
303-454-0543/720-560-8139
P.O. Box 44
Larkspur, CO 80118


  
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Rudy Bakalov

Neal,
I have been lurking on various ham reflectors for a long time and have observed 
as a general theme that most hams need help with their computers. I don't 
believe in the assumption that they understand the risk.
Case in point- I have never ever seen a single post on the N1MM group 
questioning why the logger needs to run as Admin. Ever.  Hams just take it for 
granted and don't question it. In a private exchange of emails with one of the 
developers, I was told that it is too much hassle for them to do it right.
Similarly, even on this reflector, when hams have a problem with old device 
drivers under Windows 7 the answer is to just run as Admin and run in legacy 
mode. Developers don't want to be bothered with having their drivers signed as 
there is no demand from the ham community.  Again, I attribute this to general 
lack of risk awareness.
Back to observing mode :-)
Rudy N2WQ
--- On Sat, 4/10/10, Neal Campbell  wrote:

From: Neal Campbell 
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores
To: "Rudy Bakalov" 
Cc: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 1:00 PM

Rudy,

When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against 
mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the issue. 
Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a coat so you 
are covered. But when the added products cause side effects, you have to 
balance the value of risk versus reward.



I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we are 
doing.

But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.

 
Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com


(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com


Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/






On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:55 PM, Rudy Bakalov  wrote:


Neither hardware based firewalls nor Windows built-in firewall are enough to 
protect the typical WIndows machine. Today's attacks are mostly browser-based 
(e.g., Flash, Java Script, QuickTime, etc.) or aimed at the application (e.g., 
Adobe Acrobat Reader).



To make things worse, ham developers tend to take a lot of nasty shortcuts when 
developing their software and as a results ham software requires admin rights 
to run properly.

The bottom line is that running Windows without a host-based end-point security 
(firewall + virus + anti-malware) as Admin is foolish and a recipe for disaster.

Rudy N2WQ

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[Flexradio] [ADVERTISEMENT] Tune up service

Please excuse the blatant advertising here.

I do computer tuneups for people who have blocking problems like Hunter's.
Its $100 with the cost of shipping both ways. If I cannot get it to run, I
will refund the $100. You can order this from my website.

End of advertisement.
73


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Rudy,

When a simple firewall consumer device from XYWall can protect you against
mime, outgoing, incoming, specific websites, etc. I just don't see the
issue. Your advice is good in the sense it is belts and suspenders and a
coat so you are covered. But when the added products cause side effects, you
have to balance the value of risk versus reward.

I think a lot of us are aware of this and choose with some idea what we are
doing.

But for general consumption, your advice is hard to beat.


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:55 PM, Rudy Bakalov  wrote:

> Neither hardware based firewalls nor Windows built-in firewall are enough
> to protect the typical WIndows machine. Today's attacks are mostly
> browser-based (e.g., Flash, Java Script, QuickTime, etc.) or aimed at the
> application (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader).
> To make things worse, ham developers tend to take a lot of nasty shortcuts
> when developing their software and as a results ham software requires admin
> rights to run properly.
> The bottom line is that running Windows without a host-based end-point
> security (firewall + virus + anti-malware) as Admin is foolish and a recipe
> for disaster.
> Rudy N2WQ
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[Flexradio] Rant

2010-04-10 Thread Hunter Ellington

P.S., I am running 64 bit Windows 7.  The radio is the basic model, no second 
receiver or antenna tuner.


 WB9NJB R. Hunter Ellington
303-454-0543/720-560-8139
P.O. Box 44
Larkspur, CO 80118


  
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[Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Steven O'Neal


Stan K9IUQ

I'm not claiming that every software based Firewall product will create 
problems on every machine, far from that.

I run Symatic Corporate AV products on my machines, get it from work as part of 
a site license deal that keeps people who work at home from sending stuff to 
work on email or used to be memory sticks (now verboten) and making the network 
sick with a virus. I have had problems with my Flex 3000 running the firewall 
component enabled, not everyone will. 

If run a software firewall you don't have problems that's really good, and I am 
very happy for you. Some products, some computers, some conditions people do 
have problems...your mileage may vary, not good with other offers, hope and 
change and all the other limits applied. 

Live Long and Prosper

Nanu Nanu

May the Force be with you
  
_
The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with 
Hotmail. 
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Thats rubbish, hardware firewalls can protect incoming, outgoing, specific
web sites, ip addresses, mime documents. Do corporations depend of software
firewalls to protect their enterprize? Not a chance, its pure hardware.




Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
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On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:33 PM, Lazy Senior wrote:

> Baloney.
>
> Hardware Firewalls are good. But they protect you only from incoming.
>
> A good software firewall protects incoming and OUTGOING. You will be
> surprised how many programs call "home" after running a software firewall
> that does outgoing.  Note that most free Microsoft Firewalls only do
> incoming protection which is useless if you already have a hardware
> Firewall.
>
>
> Unlike many, I multitask while using PSDR. I have used both Norton 2010 and
> Comodo Internet Security virus/firewall programs. NEITHER affects PSDR in a
> negative way.
> No I do NOT sit around and use PSDR and run DPC checker, fretting about my
> DPC level. As long as PSDR runs properly I don't care what the DPC level is.
> If DPC's jump up a couple of hundred while going to eham.net I really do
> not care as it does not affect PSDR operation.
>
> Use an older pc to protect your home network? Come on be serious.
>
> Stan K9IUQ
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Tim Ellison wrote:
>
>> I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.
>>
>> There are lots of solutions in this area.  One easy one is to re-use an
>> older PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux firewall
>> packages to protect your *entire* home network.
>>
>> Firewalls do not belong on the end user device.  They belong at the
>> ingress point of your network where a common security policy can be
>> implemented and managed appropriately.
>>
>> -Tim
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Rudy Bakalov

Neither hardware based firewalls nor Windows built-in firewall are enough to 
protect the typical WIndows machine. Today's attacks are mostly browser-based 
(e.g., Flash, Java Script, QuickTime, etc.) or aimed at the application (e.g., 
Adobe Acrobat Reader).
To make things worse, ham developers tend to take a lot of nasty shortcuts when 
developing their software and as a results ham software requires admin rights 
to run properly.
The bottom line is that running Windows without a host-based end-point security 
(firewall + virus + anti-malware) as Admin is foolish and a recipe for disaster.
Rudy N2WQ
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[Flexradio] (no subject)

2010-04-10 Thread Hunter Ellington

So, here is my rant, or at least plea for help.  I bought a Flex-5000A
in February.  When it works, it has no peer, even my K3 can't compare
in the audio department.  But here is the rub.  I am running the radio
on an HP Pavilion Elite e9160F.  It is an Intel core 2 Quad Q9300, with
8GB of memory, running Windows 7.  The issues I am about to describe
also occurred with Vista before I did the upgrade.  At first, when I
turned the radio on it would run for maybe 3 minutes before it would
lock up. A quick start/stop would start the process again with the same
result.  I followed the trouble shooting  procedures with no joy.  I
disabled the wireless internet function on the computer.  That made a
slight improvement.  Now, the receiver hears for 5-10 minutes until the
audio starts to break up and the signals distort.  Same drill, a quick
on/off and the audio is restored.

At this point I am ready to make the radio a bookend (although I would
sell it for $2600.00, you ship) from frustration.  I am neither a
computer engineer or a software guru and wonder whether this radio will
ever have a wider acceptance if you are not in those categories.  The
thought of shelling out another $750 or so for a specialized dedicated
computer is not at all appealing.  If the radio will not run on an off
the shelf  well equipped machine, what broader application does it have to ham 
radio. The cost of a dedicated computer to run the thing makes it far less 
appealing from a price/competition perspective.  I know it is heresy, but the 
K3 took 30 minutes to configure, and aside from the audio deficiencies as 
compared to the 5000A it hears and filters every bit as well.  So, what to do?

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to make this radio function seamlessly, 
without a computer science degree from MIT?   I am all ears.


 WB9NJB R. Hunter Ellington
303-454-0543/720-560-8139
P.O. Box 44
Larkspur, CO 80118



  
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Re: [Flexradio] Revisited - firewire

2010-04-10 Thread Dave Beumer WØDHB

Simon

You can install the Flex firewire driver and it will tell you what the
chipset is and whether it is compatible.

You don't need a Flex Radio hooked up. 

http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50456.aspx 

Many of us are running win 7 x64 without issues.. but there most likely is
an issue with the Microsoft driver in certain hardware configurations .

Dave W0DHB

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Simon HB9DRV
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 2:08 AM
To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Revisited - firewire

Hi,

W8 will not solve the issue, it seems to clearly be the driver. FWIW the new
RFspace SDR-IP radio uses Ethernet and due to the way the firmware is
designed there are no problems.

I don't see what the chipset is in my ASUSROCK X58 system, I'll have to do
some Googling.

Simon Brown, HB9DRV
http://sdr-radio.com


> -Original Message-
> From: Erik Jakobsen [mailto:e...@urbakken.dk]
> Sent: 10 April 2010 08:11
> 
> Welcome, and yes it looks bad.
> Unfortunately I'm not a clever programmer, and cannot write a device 
> driver.
> So untill a new one is ready, I have to run the legacy one, or try 
> other Firewire boards.
> 



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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Lazy Senior

Baloney.

Hardware Firewalls are good. But they protect you only from incoming.

A good software firewall protects incoming and OUTGOING. You will be
surprised how many programs call "home" after running a software
firewall that does outgoing. Note that most free Microsoft Firewalls
only do incoming protection which is useless if you already have a
hardware Firewall.

Unlike many, I multitask while using PSDR. I have used both Norton 2010
and Comodo Internet Security virus/firewall programs. NEITHER affects
PSDR in a negative way.
No I do NOT sit around and use PSDR and run DPC checker, fretting about
my DPC level. As long as PSDR runs properly I don't care what the DPC
level is. If DPC's jump up a couple of hundred while going to eham.net I
really do not care as it does not affect PSDR operation.

Use an older pc to protect your home network? Come on be serious.

Stan K9IUQ

Tim Ellison wrote:

I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.

There are lots of solutions in this area. One easy one is to re-use an older
PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux firewall packages
to protect your *entire* home network.

Firewalls do not belong on the end user device. They belong at the ingress point of your network where a common security policy can be implemented and managed appropriately.

-Tim

Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Steven L Hess

I use both, The Packet Filter at the router and the "firewall" provided
by Microsoft security essentials. My DPCs are well under 200. I only use
the browser to get software for the Amateur Radio dedicated computer on
that computer. I don't have Flash or Acrobat installed on the Amateur
Radio dedicated computer.

Steven
-- 

 Regards de KC6KGE
  Skype flamebait
Monitoring at least one of the following Frequencies if the radio is on and I 
am not on a net or using the digital modes; 3975, 14.329. I am always listening 
for fellow Flexers.


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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

I think firewalls are only for people using dialup. Everyone else is going
thru some form of a router which already has it builtin.

As an IT professional, I cannot say I don't recommend antivirus but I can
say I don't use it on my machines. Why? I do not use email programs on
Windows machines (Mac only) and normally use GMail which doesn't
autodownload attachments and does a virus check itself before it does
download them.

But if a customer asks, I have to give them the party line, plus tell them
what I personally do!

73


Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 12:19 PM, Brian Lloyd wrote:

> On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 8:44 AM, Tim Ellison  wrote:
>
> > I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.
> >
> > There are lots of solutions in this area.  One easy one is to re-use an
> > older PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux
> firewall
> > packages to protect your *entire* home network.
> >
>
> This is what I use: http://m0n0.ch/wall/
>
> I recommend it highly. You can use an old, beater of a PC to run it. It has
> its own OS, a version of BSD unix, so you don't need to pay for an
> operating
> system to run it.
>
> I run mine on a dedicated single-board computer that boots from flash.
>
>
> > Firewalls do not belong on the end user device.  They belong at the
> ingress
> > point of your network where a common security policy can be implemented
> and
> > managed appropriately.
> >
>
> I second that notion. The only reason one needs a firewall on one's
> computer
> is because there is stuff running on your computer that shouldn't be.
> Remember, if a program is not running, it cannot be used to compromise your
> computer. Windows has a LOT of stuff running that isn't needed. And adding
> yet another program in order to block access to other programs that aren't
> needed doesn't strike me as the right solution.
>
>
> --
> 73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
> ___
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[Flexradio] How to tell what the interrupt is on your firewire card

I just added the instructions for this on my blog so you can hopefully find
it in the future!
73

Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 8:44 AM, Tim Ellison  wrote:

> I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.
>
> There are lots of solutions in this area.  One easy one is to re-use an
> older PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux firewall
> packages to protect your *entire* home network.
>

This is what I use: http://m0n0.ch/wall/

I recommend it highly. You can use an old, beater of a PC to run it. It has
its own OS, a version of BSD unix, so you don't need to pay for an operating
system to run it.

I run mine on a dedicated single-board computer that boots from flash.

> Firewalls do not belong on the end user device.  They belong at the ingress
> point of your network where a common security policy can be implemented and
> managed appropriately.
>

I second that notion. The only reason one needs a firewall on one's computer
is because there is stuff running on your computer that shouldn't be.
Remember, if a program is not running, it cannot be used to compromise your
computer. Windows has a LOT of stuff running that isn't needed. And adding
yet another program in order to block access to other programs that aren't
needed doesn't strike me as the right solution.

-- 
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

The technical difference are listed on the comparison matrix
 http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=SDR_Feature_Matrix

Compared to the FLEX-5000, the FLEX-3000 is a lot more portable, the case is 
sturdier, travels better on airlines (can be sent through the x-ray machines 
and the fans are louder.  It also hears a little better for weak signal work on 
6m due to the difference in preamps.


-Tim

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz 
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of k4xtt
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 11:52 AM
To: flex reflector
Subject: [Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

Well I guess I'm totally spoiled now.  After receiving my 5K a couple of weeks 
ago I find that 2 receivers are not quite enough sensory titillation for my 
satisfaction.

Question is, For those users that have both the 5K and the 3K, how do they 
compare?  Will I give up anything adding the 3K to my collection?  
I know the 3K is only available with the one receiver.  I'm really only looking 
for any minor significant differences related to each, since the basic 
approaches have been engineered into each system.

I really would like to find an article or write up of a real world side by side 
comparison of each.  If I have overlooked a Faq or article on the Flex website 
with a side by side comparison, please direct me to it.

Thanks in advance,  k4xtt  (vic)

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[Flexradio] Flex 5K vs 3K

2010-04-10 Thread k4xtt

Well I guess I'm totally spoiled now.  After receiving my 5K a couple of 
weeks ago I find that 2 receivers are not quite enough sensory 
titillation for my satisfaction.


Question is, For those users that have both the 5K and the 3K, how do 
they compare?  Will I give up anything adding the 3K to my collection?  
I know the 3K is only available with the one receiver.  I'm really only 
looking for any minor significant differences related to each, since the 
basic approaches have been engineered into each system.


I really would like to find an article or write up of a real world side 
by side comparison of each.  If I have overlooked a Faq or article on 
the Flex website with a side by side comparison, please direct me to it.


Thanks in advance,  k4xtt  (vic)

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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Hi Steve

I don't have my firewall turned on on my boxes inside my house, so that
is why I likely never see a problem with that regard. I then trust my
Router/Firewall solution.

I use an Astaro Security Firewall that does stateful packet inspection,
which has many cool features and has never let me down.
http://www.astaro.com/resources/free-astaro-trial?source=securitynow.
It is free for home use if you set up your own blackbox to run it. It
also filters all my inbound and outbound email.

Mike VA3MW

Steven O'Neal wrote:

Michael

Something you said "My antivirus is
Microsoft Security Essentials (which is free)" caught my eye.

If you have the firewall component of any anti-virus program enabled, it can
cause DPC hits if you are looking at something with the computer on the web at
the same time you are running Power SDR. I found that out after pulling lots of
hair out and trying to figure out why I got a crazy drop out every time I
looked at Google Mail while running my Flex 3000.

It's really up to the individual user to figure out if they want the added protection of a software firewall running all the time or not, but having such a product that in effect scans every page you load from the web for virus every time it opens a page can sometimes cause "funnies". Of course some folks run a dedicated Flex computer, with nothing else going on, but I'd guess that many others are multitasking.

I'm on a custom built AMD 550 dual core machine running XP by the way; more cores, other OS, more memory, the phase of the moon, your bank balance and other factors may effect your mileage, but if you are getting weird behavior check what happens when you turn off your software firewall. You can by the way disable most for a limited period of time, with the program turning itself back on after some period of time.

The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

I agree 100% and have a two word solution; Hardware Firewalls.

There are lots of solutions in this area.  One easy one is to re-use an older 
PC and load one of the multitudes of free open source Linux firewall packages 
to protect your *entire* home network.

Firewalls do not belong on the end user device.  They belong at the ingress 
point of your network where a common security policy can be implemented and 
managed appropriately. 


-Tim

-Original Message-
From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz 
[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Steven O'Neal
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 11:25 AM
To: Flex
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores


Michael

Something you said "My antivirus is
Microsoft Security Essentials (which is free)" caught my eye. 

If you have the firewall component of any anti-virus program enabled, it can 
cause DPC hits if you are looking at something with the computer on the web at 
the same time you are running Power SDR. I found that out after pulling lots of 
hair out and trying to figure out why I got a crazy drop out every time I 
looked at Google Mail while running my Flex 3000.

It's really up to the individual user to figure out if they want the added 
protection of a software firewall running all the time or not, but having such 
a product that in effect scans every page you load from the web for virus every 
time it opens a page can sometimes cause "funnies". Of course some folks run a 
dedicated Flex computer, with nothing else going on, but I'd guess that many 
others are multitasking. 

I'm on a custom built AMD 550 dual core machine running XP by the way; more 
cores, other OS, more memory, the phase of the moon, your bank balance and 
other factors may effect your mileage, but if you are getting weird behavior 
check what happens when you turn off your software firewall. You can by the way 
disable most for a limited period of time, with the program turning itself back 
on after some period of time. 
  
_
The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Drax Felton


I'd like to report that an MSI 790FX-GD70 Motherboard with an AMD Phenom II
X4 965 processor works wonderfully at a 192kHz sample rate when using a SIIG
3-Port FireWire 800 PCIe Card Model NN-E38012-S3 Firewire card.  Very low
DPC latency at 200us. Processor maxes out with about 20%-25% CPU used as
reported in Power SDR under Windows 7.




-Original Message-
Just to reiterate, an AMD-based system has an order of magnitude chance of
success than an Intel-based system. A simply-configured motherboard has less
competition for IRQs.


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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

2010-04-10 Thread Steven O'Neal


Michael

Something you said "My antivirus is 
Microsoft Security Essentials (which is free)" caught my eye. 

If you have the firewall component of any anti-virus program enabled, it can 
cause DPC hits if you are looking at something with the computer on the web at 
the same time you are running Power SDR. I found that out after pulling lots of 
hair out and trying to figure out why I got a crazy drop out every time I 
looked at Google Mail while running my Flex 3000.

It's really up to the individual user to figure out if they want the added 
protection of a software firewall running all the time or not, but having such 
a product that in effect scans every page you load from the web for virus every 
time it opens a page can sometimes cause "funnies". Of course some folks run a 
dedicated Flex computer, with nothing else going on, but I'd guess that many 
others are multitasking. 

I'm on a custom built AMD 550 dual core machine running XP by the way; more 
cores, other OS, more memory, the phase of the moon, your bank balance and 
other factors may effect your mileage, but if you are getting weird behavior 
check what happens when you turn off your software firewall. You can by the way 
disable most for a limited period of time, with the program turning itself back 
on after some period of time. 
  
_
The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with Hotmail.
http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
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Re: [Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores

Just to reiterate, an AMD-based system has an order of magnitude chance of
success than an Intel-based system. A simply-configured motherboard has less
competition for IRQs.

You mentioned Foxcomm as the mobo manufacturer. Foxcomm probably makes a
large percentage of the of systems out in the world, just as a supplier. For
instance, they make many of Apple's motherboards (in both of my Mac Pro's at
least they did).

73
Neal Campbell
Abroham Neal Software
www.abrohamnealsoftware.com
(540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER

Amateur Radio: K3NC
Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/
DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com
Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/





On Sat, Apr 10, 2010 at 10:27 AM, Michael Walker wrote:

> I was wanting to replace my old xp box and move to a new quad core.
>
> The Acer M5811 was a great deal with the Intel I5-650 and on an Intel
> motherboard (I never could find the board number).  However, as most of you
> know I was getting not so random crashes if the radio was powered up and
> without any Flex software running.  Acer technical support essentially said
> that they warranty the firewire port unless you plug something into it.  Go
> figure.  They wanted $2/min to do additional debugging.
>
> I'm sure we could have solved the Acer problem if we could get W7 to
> actually produce a dump when it crashed.  Even adding another firewire card
> did not help as you could not turn off the onboard firewire port in the
> bios.
>
> After 3 weeks of testing, I took it back to Best Buy for a full refund
> (well past their return date--but they aren't that fussed which is great
> customer service).  It helped when I complained about Acer's tech support.
>
> Next purchase was an HP p6302f with the AMD Athlon X4 Quad at 2.6ghz/core
> on some no name motherboard (Foxxconn).  It came with 6G or DDR3 Ram.  The
> bench marks I ran were pretty good, except for the video, so I added an ATI
> hd2850 video card (1G ram).  That took care of the video problems.  I'm
> running with 2 monitors on the box.  This is on a W7 x64 box.  Even with the
> 1G video card added, it was still cheaper than the Acer M5811.
> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en<
> http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=uk&product=4120648&lang=en
> >
>
> Based on Neal's recommendations, he said to keep the board simple with not
> a lot of on board add-ons.  This seemed to fit the bill and was on sale to
> boot!
>
> It has an onboard VIA firewire card which I was willing to start with.
>
> I've been pleased to report that it works great.  My antivirus is Microsoft
> Security Essentials (which is free).  I'm confident to use that AV as the
> Security gurus (outside of Microsoft) actually like it.  It has not seemed
> to add any load and my latency numbers are really low.
>
> DDUtil is running fine and I am now using HRDs DM780 for my digital work.
> I would like to thank Tim, Dudley and Neal for all their support and help.
>  Hopefully I will get to meet some of you in Dayton.  I'm looking forward to
> going as I haven't been since I left Atlantic Ham Radio to move on to
> another career back in 1997.
>
> My hats off to Flex radio who truly understands what Customer Support is.
> many 73... Mike VA3MW
>
> --
> This email was Anti Virus checked by Astaro Security Gateway.
> http://www.astaro.com
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[Flexradio] Results from Big Box store quad cores