As usual, the update process to take my FLEX-6600M from version 3.3.33 to the newly released 3.4.21 did NOT go smoothly – but only because the update process instructions did NOT adequately document what to expect.
Per the installation instructions, I had reset my PC, and cycled power on my Flex. The instructions intimated that the update should be carried out via the PC Installer Program SmartSDR v3.4.21, so that’s what I did. The installer located my radio, indicated it needed and update, and away things went.
The radio reset itself a couple of times (clicking, fan noise, etc), which I’ve come to expect. I saw the power button flash red for a minute or so, then go to flashing green. A few minutes later it was back to flashing red (every 2 seconds), and the SmartSDR program said it was still “Updating…”, while the power button continued to flash red. The progress bar on the SmartSDR program sure seemed like things had reached 100%.
After a half-hour of this, I finally gave up. I shut down SmartSDR and reset my PC. Then I pushed the power button on the FLEX-6600M – It immediately went into its normal startup process, and a minute later the “Operate” screen appeared followed by a prompt to update to version 3.4.21 – which I did. Shortly after that, the radio was up and running normally.
HOWEVER the instructions did NOT say to push the power button to get it out of flashing red, and of course there was no way to know how long one should wait for things to finish before pushing that button.
I like my FLEX-6600M and the companion Maestro remote front panel, but I do wish Flex would do a better job FULLY documenting their upgrade and recovery procedures.
