> > So generally is there really a 4-500 dollar difference between the two? >
Tim and Lee have given you one perspective. Let me TRY to provide another. I'd say it depends on what you want to achieve, what you consider $500 worth of difference, your experience with computers, and your approach to the radio. I'm still running an SDR-1000 and I just love it. I haven't seen anything that's sufficiently compelling to make me want to upgrade to a 3K or 5K. The biggest problem, in my own operating, with the SDR-1000 is the frequency drift that Tim noted. As a digital-mode operator, this made me INSANE... UNTIL I got a real TXCO and installed it in the radio. Simple mod, with tremendous results. Now? Rock solid frequency to the hz. Tim and Lee are also 100% correct that the SDR-1000 takes a lot more "fiddling around" than the current generation of radios. If you're less of a computer guy, and more of a radio guy, you might find this fiddling annoying. OTOH, if you're like me and comfortable with computers and not in a rush to try the latest software... I tend to set my radio up and only upgrade versions maybe twice a year... the fiddling is kept to a minimum and things tend to stay working well. The SDR-1000 uses the same software as the new Flex radios, so from a usage perspective (features, controls, etc) they're identical (not counting the optional second receiver in the 5K). So, while the new Flex radios are undoubtedly superior (better build quality, more integrated, more frequency stability, easier setup and use) the older SDR-1000 is a real value. And if you're looking to "get your feet wet" in SDR, see what the excitement is about, and don't mind tweaking this and that (a bit like assembling a kit radio)... the SDR-1000 could be an inexpensive way to do it! And heck... after a few months you could always sell the SDR-1000 and buy a 3K :-) Peter K1PGV _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
