[TenTec] Jupiter firmware problems.

[Paul Christensen]

One solution is to post new software/firmware as "BETA TEST ONLY."  If you're up to it, download the software and be part of a group
who is willing to test drive it and record and report any imperfections to Ten-Tec.  I suggest that Ten-Tec place a conspicuous
disclaimer on beta releases that by downloading the beta software, "user agrees to use such software at his or her own risk and user
further agrees to indemnify Ten-Tec from any actual, consequential or incidental damages."  In fact, this language should accompany
ALL software/firmware downloads.  Once Ten-Tec receives reasonable confirmation that the software/firmware is working, they would
move it from beta to safe download status.  Seems pretty simple to me.

Paul, W9AC


> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "WA3FIY" <wa3fiy@radioadv.com>
> To: <tentec@contesting.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2002 3:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Jupiter firmware problems.
>
>
> > What am I missing here?    I see a company that is dedicated
> > to delivering exceptional radios at a fair price and then, for no
> > additional charge, improving the product and delivering the
> > result over the Internet for immediate use.  And what
> > happens?  They miss something in the testing of an update and
> > get trashed for it!!!!    I don't get it?
> >
> > If we were paying an annual fee of substantial amount for the
> > updates, then maybe we could expect the quality performance
> > of, say Microsoft, or something.    But the last time I looked, I
> > have not yet received a bill from Ten Tec for any of my
> > updates.
> >
> > If, after I put an update on my radio and it did not work to
> > expectation and I was stuck, I would likely be a little upset.
> > But the last time I looked, I could go back to my previous
> > version in less time than it takes to reboot my wonderful and
> > costly and bug free Microsoft product.
> >
> > If Ten Tec released an update with bugs and then ignored the
> > customer feedback that resulted, I would be in a position to
> > say they are developing a bad reputation for buggy software.
> > But the last time I looked, Ten Tec responds to bug reports in
> > a very timely fashion.
> >
> > I think of this as a sort of Linux model.   Ten Tec releases
> > software over the Internet at no charge to the customer.  As
> > far as they know, it works OK.   BUT.....................when the
> > software is released, there are now hundreds of testers
> > pushing and poking and finding things that their few testers
> > did not come across.   The findings are posted to TT and they
> > make appropriate changes and release a fix or two on the
> > Internet.   The process repeats and pretty soon we have some
> > pretty nice software [I probably should have been saying
> > firmware].   I have read that Linus sometimes released several
> > updates to Linux a day during the formative years.  Users
> > would download the latest and promptly find something Linus
> > missed.  Last time I looked, he did not have a reputation for
> > producing bad software.  In fact, I have some of his work
> > running here that has been running 24/7 for several years
> > without a single hiccup.  Not bad for someone who often made
> > several releases in one day!!!
> >
> > Anyway, I think of us as part of the process and I'm very
> > happy to add my two cents worth when I find something.  I
> > sure hope we do not become part of the problem.
> >
> > For those who are really incensed by a buggy release, why not
> > just wait a day or two to see how it goes?   If it has some bugs,
> > don't install it.  If it is clean, have at it.
> >
> > Someone said here that TT is on the leading edge of software
> > defined radios.   I agree.  They have a learning curve to climb
> > and I for one hope we will help them up that curve not drag
> > them down.
> >
> > So, what am I missing?
> >
> > -73-
> >
> > -Lee-
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