Robert,I happened into a net presentation on the Flex by a Flexer. There were
about 20 people on the net, including the former FCC ham radio enforcement guy.
The Flexer had time to prepare his presentation in advance, but I came in
cold. He spoke of how he loved the radio, and all the difficulties and
tribulations in setting it up. He spent most of his discussion speaking of
obscure options and VAC, VSP, and third party software. When I piped in, I was
asked how to set up a Flex and PC. I replied if it was as difficult as the
(very nice Flexer) had said, I'd be using a Yaesu.
My off the cuff presentation went as follows: To set up a Flex and PC, you have
to test the PC first, not for speed and horsepower, but for latency. This is
true for any 'live' audio program. If the PC isn't working right then you have
to troubleshoot it.Then you plug the radio into the PC with a good $30 cable,
and plug the radio into a power supply. Then you download and install the
software. Then you turn the radio on and broadcast to the world. Now, when
you want to get fancy, you can use the software options to tune more things
than any other radio. You can tune SSB audio with a built in software audio
rack. You can connect third party software to do digital modes without
external cables.
But the mere existence of options does not dictate that you use them. If a new
user tries to do this right away, he will come away frustrated and pissed off.
Jim KJ2P
> To: [email protected]; [email protected]
> From: [email protected]
> Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 07:06:45 -0700
> Subject: Re: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
>
> Scott,
>
> Here is what I do not understand with the new radios.
>
> 1) Why no extended receive range now that is all digital from the antenna.
> For instance low frequency receive.
>
> 2) Why no transverters for people that want to have 1 radio does all and no
> extra hardware in the shack.
>
> 3) Why no 473 khz band?
>
> Not dinging Flex for anything, as the new radios are a step in the right
> direction for one that has RF ingress and appreciating having a PC be just
> right or nothing works right. I understand all of this, as I am still dealing
> with some of these issues.
>
> I wanted to do a presentation on what it took to configure the radio and the
> computer, but there are so many steps that I have decided not to do it.
>
> What I will say is that the people at Flex are #1 in my book. The fellow
> Flexers are also #1 in my book. If it was not for the helpful staff at Flex,
> Neil Campbell and other fellow Flexers, I would be still be off the air with
> the Flex. Is it perfect now...NO! Is it a workable game plan....Yes!
>
> I look at Flex Radios as high performance high horsepower engines. Once you
> get them dialed-in, they work extremely well. It just takes some effort to
> get them there. It is like the high performance antenna that you and I both
> share.
>
> Dial them in, they work great...it just takes some effort.
>
> In my honest opinion, they are not plug and play appliances and should not
> be. Is SDR for everyone? No! I personally believe that Flex radios are for
> the technically-inclined of the hobby.
>
> Someday I hope to take my Flex to field day, but a 5000a is not that portable.
>
> My 10 cent opinion.
>
> 73,
> Robert
> KB6QXM
> "Ham Radio Open Conversation"
> Yahoo group owner/moderator
>
>
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "Scott Myers" <[email protected]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Subject: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
> Date: Fri, May 25, 2012 6:21 am
>
>
> A couple other things that are annoyances if you have been a Flexer for a
> while, as most of us have.
>
> -No more issues with firewire. Sometimes, the Firewire interface can flake
> out, causing a reboot of the Flex to be necessary, as well as disconnecting
> the firewire cable. Also, the occasional problem with RFI in the firewire
> for those running QRO. Many lesser motherboards have an iffy firewire
> onboard, forcing us to install another more robust firewire card with TI
> chipset.
>
> -DPC latency. Requirement of a relatively high end motherboard in your PC
> to insure your bus is bulletproof for bus clocking. No more worrying about
> DPC latency when you replace your PC. No more making sure a laptop is "just
> so" when you want to run your Flex on field day. Run it on a netbook if you
> want with a 6000.
>
> Guys that have "abandoned" their flexes after a short time usually do so due
> to the problems with their computer not having low DPC latency or firewire
> issues. And a lot of guys never buy Flex's because they have read and know
> about these potential problems with computers married to a Flex. It’s a
> black eye that should go away.
>
> A couple other issues that I will be glad are solved.
>
> -Latency. That is something I won't miss. Normal mode, safe 1, safe 2...
> be gone foul beast.
>
> - QSK capable. No more clackety-clack.
>
> 73,
> Scott AC8DE
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of dan edwards
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 7:34 AM
> To: [email protected]; Burke Schlott
> Subject: Re: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
>
> Burke
> ( correct me where i miss the mark, guys ) i too have enjoyed my F3k for
> some time. the new rigs are revolutionary in at least 3 ways, i think.
> 1. no longer QSD / QSE. DDC / DUC instead. gives capability to see more
> than 192 khz; no more receiver images at 3x F. should be a real treat on MF
> / LF. and also the capacity to see the entire 10m band on the pan.
>
> 2. in the same way flex solved the soundcard problem by putting it in the
> rig, the new rigs have DSP processing in the radio. with the FPGA and the TI
> processor. relieves some of the pc's processing requirements, i think.
>
> 3. the new rig connects to the radio through ethernet instead of firewire.
>
> probably much more than this, but these features alone have ME excited. It
> is a VERY clever piece of gear. 73, w5xz, dan
>
> --- On Fri, 5/25/12, Burke Schlott <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> From: Burke Schlott <[email protected]>
> Subject: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Friday, May 25, 2012, 10:47 AM
>
>
>
> I have been using a 5K for several years now and am more than satisfied with
> its performance and features. I have read the preliminary info on the Flex
> web site and would really like to know just what I could expect in the way
> of actual performance improvements that I could expect over the 5K. I guess
> what I am saying is that I would like to see the 6K's performance specs as
> compared to the 5K similar to what is now available in the product
> comparason tab on the web site.
>
> Burke K1BJS
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> who are using beta versions of the software.
>
>
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> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used
> for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist
> who are using beta versions of the software.
> _______________________________________________
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> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used
> for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist
> who are using beta versions of the software.
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This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used for
posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist who are
using beta versions of the software.
