[BC] What is "better?" HOW do we get there?

[Phil Alexander]

On 21 Jan 2006 at 11:51, Barry Mishkind wrote:

> At 11:23 AM 1/21/2006, Kent Winrich, K9EZ wrote
> >Indeed Steve,  But you can consider patching to be upgrading.  If 
> >they find a way to make the CODEC better then that would be a good 
> >thing.  I completely agree that it needs to be invisible to the consumer.
> >As I said before I have not dug into the receive CODEC and how (or 
> >even IF) it can be upgraded.  If someone has more information I 
> >would love to hear about it.
> 
>          We had quite a bit of discussion a few months back,
>          and Mike Bergman correctly pointed out that manufacturers
>          don't want to build upgradeable radios, they want to
>          sell new radios.

They have never had the opportunity of built-in obsolescence in the 
past, but that did not stop them from selling new radios.
 
>          There is also, what he termed a "liability issue" if the
>          downloads (over the air or - at what cost?- at the dealer)
>          fail, cause problems, or even a perceived problem.

Forgive me if I remain unmoved by that one. The technology does exist,
and for more critical purposes. For example, daily anti-virus upgrades.

>          It would seem that, at least for the near future,
>          upgrading the codecs is not a viable option.

Why not? Use the old file until the new file is correctly downloaded.
Files can be self-validating. We have had CRC's for ... well forever.

Further, it is not the NEAR future that troubles me. It is the possibility
of revisiting the wholesale replacement of radios yet again in perhaps 
10 to 20 years. Transparent upgrades could resolve that problem before
it rears its ugly head.

There is an old old story about a goose and golden eggs. If manufacturer's
become too greedy, it might will apply to radio.


Phil Alexander, CSRE, AMD
Broadcast Engineering Services and Technology 
(a Div. of Advanced Parts Corporation) 
Ph. (317) 335-2065   FAX (317) 335-9037





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