OTA updates for radios

RADIOS ARE ALL SOFTWARE, THESE DAYS

For years it seems our computers have been support by "pushed" software updates. Be it a smooth Apple Mac update or a clunky and intrusive Windows update. Over The Air updates of both operating systems and applications are almost universal amongst professional OS and software sellers.

OK, so commercial forces do come into play. You may simply get an email saying a new version of the software is available, pay up to get it - couple of clicks and PayPal does the trick! Or on the other hand you may simply wake up one morning to a small notification on your Mac's desktop saying, new xyz has been installed while you slept or in the worst case "Restart to install" for a new version of the MacOS.

Whatever software vendors care about you and support their products with easy updates.

NOT SO, RADIOS

But for our radios that depend more and more on complex software, nothing. No updates. No emails. You have to search the vendor webs sites or be on a news group to find out that your version of the DSP  software has been upgraded. Then it is an almost impossible task to download it and install it in your radio - and if it goes wrong and you end up with a brick, then the only solution is to send it back for repair, and pay.

As ELAD, makers of my excellent FDM_DUO SDR said, the radio has no WiFi interface and we have no plans for it. Oh, come on. What does it take to install an ESP32 WiFi chip in a radio of this inherent almost 100% digital complexity? Nothing but a management decision. And proper customer support.

MAKERS wake up

This is simply not good enough. All major vendors of radios need to develop a service which goes along with their products that automatically and freely keeps them up to date and performing at their best. You pay a lot of money for a new radio these days - thousands of pounds - and this must include software updates that are transparent and automatic.

ICOM EXAMPLE

This is what ICOM says you have to do, clunky or what?

"To update the firmware 

• An SD card or an SDHC card is required. 
• Format the card in the IC-7300 before using it for the update. (First, save any data that is on the card, if necessary.) 
• Unzip and save the downloaded firmware file in the“IC-7300" folder that is on the card. 
• Save the transceiver’s data onto a separate card before the update, as it is possible that your data could get lost or corrupted during the process. Thoroughly read Section 8 (USING AN SD CARD) in the FULL MANUAL for details. 
• Thoroughly read Section 15 (UPDATING THE FIRMWARE) in the FULL MANUAL before starting the update. 
• Never turn OFF the transceiver power during the update. "

AND YEASU?

"Caution!
Please be sure to confirm the model and the version of your transceiver before starting the update. Writing incorrect firmware to the transceiver may cause abnormal operation or failure. Do not install this version firmware to any FT1XDR/DE. The update firmware is NOT compatible between FT1DR/DE and FT1XDR/DE.

Refer to the firmware update procedure instructions in the help files (.pdf files) inside the ZIP folders.

Refer to the firmware Update Instruction Manual in each ZIP file."

How terrifying is that???