On Fri, Nov 19, 2010 at 3:02 AM, iw1ayd <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 18/11/2010 18:00, [email protected] wrote:
>
>> Re: [FlexEdge] Wish List Items for HRD
>
>  Well, I should agree with every item here written. Starting from
> standardization of whatever could be standardized by us at ours level. IF
> anything could be done better why not.
> ...<shortened: but be sure I can keep doing what I am already doing.>...


I am not nearly as concerned with backward compatibility as I am with
forward progress. The problem is, at this point forward progress means that
we are going to have to eventually abandon the venerable serial port and the
assumption that low-IF is a sound-card. The trick is to ensure that people
will be able to keep doing what they are doing but with some major changes
in how it is done 'under the hood'.

Clearly, there needs to be an RF/IF platform. Without that there will be no
progress, period. Flex has given us the first platform and its success in
spite of serious software teething problems definitely has the attention of
other players. Tony Parks' SoftRock boards and the Flex 1500 have shown how
inexpensive it can be to do a good transceiver at an entry-level price (or
even better).

So we now know that there is going to be a first-class RF/IF deck available.
Now the key is to get the other components to catch up. This means that the
major players in producing back-end modem/CODEC, logging, and station
control software need to begin to adapt to the newer systems. The presence
of a standard that several adopt will make the difference. I think we could
probably very quickly name the five or six software packages that make up
the bulk of software-enabled radio activity. HRD, fldigi, MixW, MTTY, N1MM
are the ones that come to my mind instantly. If you got these and only these
to code to new standards the entire population of amateur radio software
writers would follow suit. After all, they want to remain relevant.

We have an example of how this process should work -- the Internet. I think
that I can say with some confidence that the Internet represents the largest
cooperative venture in the history of man. Even so, it started with a
relatively few forward-thinking individuals and key corporate players making
it happen. The model is clear -- *everyone* benefits when competitors
cooperate to create a new market as it open up the possibilities for
everyone.

So, operating as a Standards group and soliciting the cooperation of the
major players is going to be a winning strategy for all of us.

-- 
Brian Lloyd, WB6RQN/J79BPL
3191 Western Dr.
Cameron Park, CA 95682
[email protected]
+1.767.617.1365 (Dominica)
+1.931.492.6776 (USA)
(+1.931.4.WB6RQN)
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