FLEX 3000, SDR Whatcha think?

[str8stroke]

I just picked up a Flex 3000 Software defined radio. I have been studying them for a long time. I know there are a few Ham ops here. Just curious if any of you guys have a Flex and if so any suggestions and "tips"<------ If ya dig? Please inbox me for the "tips".

A link for those who don't know what they are and how they work. You can also google/youtube some vids to see what they are about.

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[231]

The Flex 3000 is a good radio...provided you have enough PC beans to power it. If I were to get a SDR, I'd probably do the Flex 5000 because I use vox pretty much exclusively and would dig the dual VFO's. I have a few friends running the 3000 though who like them allot. Several running the Flex 5000, and one who has the new Flex 6700 on order (which they haven't been shipping yet). You'll be happy with it I'm sure.

The only word of warning I will share, do not 100% believe everything your display is telling you on your transmit. Take what others with band scopes have to say about your signal width to heart. Buddy of mine running the QRP Flex 1500 had one of the transmit filters go bad on him for the 40m section. Everything looked as it should on his end...but his signal was literally 20kc's wide. Looked like he was running a nasty old class C amp on the band scope! LOL Another couple of guys running the Flex 5000A on 75/80m drives their Tokyo Hi-Power amps have very wide signals...one because he insists on running ESSB and so darn many lows in his audio that it splatters 20kc's either direction of where he's transmitting. The worst part about it is neither believe they are interfering with others because their radio says so. The problem with SDR's is people believe everything displayed as gospel truth...which simply isn't reality.

Other than that, you should have allot of fun with it. Congrats!

231

[str8stroke]

Thank u for the tips. I am so new to it I need all I can get. I like qrp too. I thought the 3k had VOX. I don't use it much anyways. I do plan to have a monster computer to operate it. I did learn that reading the eham reviews.

20kc wide is nuts! I prefer 2.7 wide. Lol

[GS19D3]

Congrats. I had a Flex-3000 for a couple of years. If you have the computer zoot for it, they are really great on AM. Too bad there is no 11m mod. lol Get the latest version of firmware / PowerSDR if you do CW. The earlier versions had some annoying latency on TX and it was hard to keep your timing right unless you were using a sidetone local to whatever keyer you chose.

[MDYoungblood]

Too bad there is no 11m mod.

Actually there is firmware for the "MARS/CAP" mod but if your not a licensed amateur and have a valid MARS ticket, FlexRadio Systems won't even give you the time of day.

3's

Greg

[nk14zp]

Too bad there is no 11m mod.

Actually there is firmware for the "MARS/CAP" mod but if your not a licensed amateur and have a valid MARS ticket, FlexRadio Systems won't even give you the time of day.

3's

Greg

Has anyone here found any free versions of software that will allow 11m operation? I ask because I am thinking about getting a flex 5000.

[Deleted User 14541]

Too bad there is no 11m mod.

Actually there is firmware for the "MARS/CAP" mod but if your not a licensed amateur and have a valid MARS ticket, FlexRadio Systems won't even give you the time of day.

3's

Greg

Has anyone here found any free versions of software that will allow 11m operation? I ask because I am thinking about getting a flex 5000.

The Apache Labs Anan rigs are wide open out of the box. You have to know the pope to get 11 meters on a flex.