HRD

[KT7DAD]

It looks like Simon Brown have sold HRD http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

Read more:
http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?312536-Development-to-continue-on-HRD....

The buyer:
http://www.cssincorp.com/

[W6SDM]

Yeah, there's a lot of controversy - but then what in ham radio doesn't generate controversy? I guess some people feel that some of the code that went into HRD was open source. If the new owners decide to commercialize the product after they further develop it, they think it's dirty pool. I never understood the logic - if someone can succeed at selling something that you are giving away free, why do you care? It's not like it's eating into your profit or anything.

HRD is a fantastic program. Simon put together this thing from an idea and carried it out to be one of the most popular computer/radio control interfaces in the world. The first time I opened it, it reminded me of a Swiss army knife with all of the attachments deployed. Of course Simon does have and HB call. It has everything you can think of in there - wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't an over-the-air backgammon game buried somewhere. Spotter, digital interface - even a version for us PowerSDR people who just want to use it as a digital modes interface.

What he did with this shareware is get a computer into a lot of ham shacks where there wasn't one before. When the Yaesu 450 was my only radio, I found that Ham Radio Deluxe was so much easier to tune and operate. I wasn't restricted to tiny buttons that were way close together. Before I went to the more detailed logging software, HRD allowed me to keep my logs as I made my QSOs without having to type in anything but the callsign.

I am hoping that the new owners advance the interface. Like I said, it's a fantastic program but it could use some makeover on the graphics and general appearance. This picture of Simon popping up every time you start the program can be a little unnerving, but then I would have been able to pick him out at a bar, or a hamfest. Any time you have a team working on something and you get multiple ideas and perspectives, the product usually comes out better.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of HDR. It's definitely been a staple in ham radio for the last few years.

[K7DCL]

The picture is not Simon, it's Peter Halpin (SL), PH1PH/G7ECN. He did the testing and support for Simon in the early days of HRD.

I agree with you Steve, I hope HRD moves forward. I assume that it will become a product now. Great base to build from. I use it alot.

[K7NNT]

If they do start to sell it, another free one will come along and probably be better. That has been my experience in IT and Open source. I agree it is awesome, but could use a facelift.