[Elecraft] Device data retention times

[Jessie Oberreuter]

      I believe Len is talking about the durability of the "most recent" 
flash, not the number of times the device may be re-flashed.

      For rigs like the K1 and K2, the firmware is literally "burned" into 
the chips by applying enough voltage to open internal fuses.  The data is 
permanent.  For most re-programmable memory, however, the "chemistry" is 
more volatile and the data can degrade over time.  This isn't a problem if 
you can reprogram the chips, but the radio may well outlive the hardware 
and software needed to perform such a reprogramming.

- kb7psg

On Wed, 9 Nov 2016, Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT wrote:

> Last time I saw numbers on this, it was for the configuration memory on a 
> TAPR TNC-1.
>
> The documentation said 100,000 writes, but it only counted if you actually 
> flipped a bit -- and it was per-bit, not per word or across the entire 
> device.
>
> That means re-flashing with the same firmware shouldn't count at all, since 
> you're writing the same bits into the same words in storage.
>
> I'm sure current parts are better.
>
> 73 -- Lynn
>
> On 11/9/2016 12:07 PM, len at ka7ftp.com wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>>
>>              I'm constantly doing projects with microcontrollers and
>> programmable logic devices.  I've been doing this long enough that I've got
>> devices that have "lost their memory."  Things that I designed and built
>> decades ago no longer function.  Over time flash will lose its mind, I 
>> guess
>> just like we do.
>>
>> 
>> At some point in time that will happen to our lovely little radios.  From 
>> an
>> operator stand point we can re-flash the firmware as long as the boot code
>> is functional.  Does Elecraft have a provision in the radios that will 
>> allow
>> an update of the bootloader to keep it fresh, so to speak?  That is without
>> sending it back to the factory?
>>
>> 
>> I know a lot of people don't keep stuff forever, but I pretty much do.   In
>> old radios we replace caps, and a few other parts that age.  With
>> programmable chips you need and ISP, unless there is another provision.
>>
>> 
>> 73
>>
>> 
>> Len
>>
>>
>> 
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