Feedback: MED500X v3.0.4 --14 June 2010

[5DM2USER]

Well, i did it again, i did download the firmwares on a 100% healthy computer !
I did Unzip the files on a new USBstick ! Power cable removed, USBstick in Mede8er,
Power cable in Mede8er and boot with powerswitch pushed until the firmware update
screen shows up. It did look great but at about 75% the update stops.
I did wait an hour...   Nothing, zero point zero, nada  Then i did format the USBstick
and Unzip a 3.04 firmware on it. And the procedure from above..... and it goes perfect !
The Mede8er works with 3.04 but NOT with the 2 new firmwares !  So, i will stop using
this update procedure. Maybe it is better and more safe to wait for the NOT-BETA version
4.xx because beta software should NOT be out there !  To many company's are doing this to !

Thanx.... NO Beta stuff anymore..... to much stress....

[jer1956]

Maybe it is better and more safe to wait for the NOT-BETA version 4.xx because beta software
should NOT be out there !  To many company's are doing this to !

You are right! They should have called it RC1, and asked those who wanted to try it to register first, on the understanding they might have problems. Posting a link can be a siren call to those who really shouldn't be using it.

The problem with that responsible approach is that someone will post a copy of the RC on other sites for everyone to try!

In the end it's always down to  the user to decide if they want to try, or want to wait.

End users may not like it, but software is never released fault free. Looking for faults is cheap to start if you plot  a graph of man hours per fault found on a daily basis. Then it climbs dramatically. Now you either heap huge costs on the end users by continuing, or release it and get the end users themselves to find those hidden faults that  are left .

[5DM2USER]

Another question for the experts ;

I did see many hardware like routers in different hardware versions ! I got a Linksys WRT610N and on
their web site there is a firmware for WRT610N v1.xx and one for WRT610N v2.xxx !

Now my question is, is there only ONE version of the Mede8er ? Or is it like above a v1.xxx and a v2.xxx ?
That would be the answer why it doesn't always work !

[Domino1999]

You are right! They should have called it RC1, and asked those who wanted to try it to register first, on the understanding they might have problems. Posting a link can be a siren call to those who really shouldn't be using it.

The problem with that responsible approach is that someone will post a copy of the RC on other sites for everyone to try!

Remember, V4 Beta was released initially to the beta testers first. The problem here is that there probably wasn't enough feedback. Most feedback indicated V4beta was stable enough to make into a 'public beta', which is what they did. The fact that it is a BETA means that people try it at their own risk. People shouldn't complain when things don't work as expected when using any beta software/firmware, it's their choice to try it or not.

[5DM2USER]

Agree for 100%, if you are not a Beta-Tester you better stay away from Beta-Software !
Or you have to accept every thing that will happen.

[Domino1999]

Another question for the experts ;

I did see many hardware like routers in different hardware versions ! I got a Linksys WRT610N and on
their web site there is a firmware for WRT610N v1.xx and one for WRT610N v2.xxx !

Now my question is, is there only ONE version of the Mede8er ? Or is it like above a v1.xxx and a v2.xxx ?
That would be the answer why it doesn't always work !

There are a number of different Mede8er models (see www.mede8er.com), each has its own firmware and there are several versions of firmware (past, current, future/beta). There are also different versions of the MED500X; old chipset and new chipset supporting HD audio. So the answer to your question is "no".

When doing a firmware upgrade you need to ensure you are using the correct firmware for your Mede8er model. You also need to ensure the bootloader is updated e.g. going form 3.0.4 to V4Beta on MED500X older units.

[5DM2USER]

And some company's like to use The Beta Status as an excuse for something that needs much more
time to develop for 100% . Today there is much Beta-Status hard/software as about 5 to 10 years ago.
Extern Beta Testers don't cost much.....  

[jer1956]

Agree for 100%, if you are not a Beta-Tester you better stay away from Beta-Software !
Or you have to accept every thing that will happen.

There where forum users who wern't beta testers who kept asking if it was working well enough for "enthusiasts" like them to try. I have no problem with that, as long as they have a beta-tester's attitude if they do so!  

[5DM2USER]

Another question ;

Is there always a way back to firmware 3.04 ? (Using the emergency restore function)

[jer1956]

And some company's like to use The Beta Status as an excuse for something that needs much more
time to develop for 100% . Today there is much Beta-Status hard/software as about 5 to 10 years ago.
Extern Beta Testers don't cost much.....  

I think too many companies have a testing budget which is too small and keep going until it's spent. The product then goes out the door in whatever state it is in (The new Realtek SDK?) They should be monitoring the cost of finding faults, and keep going until it starts to climb to severly. That means the faults are now getting more and more difficult, and expensive, to find, and those that are left can quickly be found by hundreds of end users. You can get software development hand books that describe when that descision should be made.

[5DM2USER]

Well, i thought it would be impossible. I did unzip & unrar the files with Total Commander for a long time now
and i didn't have troubles with it. But now i did download another free program :  7-Zip

And i did the same like some posts ago.... and..... it did work !  Well, even if a program works great it can be a
little bit crappy with new compression-routines. Now the latest 7-Zip does the job GREAT !

http://www.7-zip.org/

Total Commander is a File Manager not a ZIP or RAR creator, the routines for compression could be less
than the routines from 7-Zip.........

Thanx.....  now i am a Beta Tester.....  

[Maasbommel]

Reading this trouble with installing I come to the conclusion that using the zip version can give issues not unpacking properly, better use the RAR version and use winrar to unpack it.....

[Maasbommel]

Topic locked because V4 final is released.