I published a "How to tell if your computer is compatible with Flex Radios" article on the flexradiowiki and Jim you are 100% correct that its not specifications, its latency (its an amateur audio workstation).
I am really excited that this part of the configuration will hopefully be easier for the newbie. I am sure we will be moving to a different kind of "applicability" in the area of LAN/ethernet latency, so all of those motherboards with crappy Realtek ethernet controllers (and yes, thats 99% of them) will have a good exercise in how well they work in this environment. 73 Neal On May 25, 2012, at 11:07 AM, Jim Jannuzzo wrote: > > 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 >> _______________________________________________ >> Flexedge mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >> 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. >> _______________________________________________ >> Flexedge mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >> 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. >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Flexedge mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >> 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. >> _______________________________________________ >> Flexedge mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >> 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. > > _______________________________________________ > Flexedge mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz > 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. _______________________________________________ Flexedge mailing list [email protected] http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz 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.
