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1  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 05:26:02 PM
The radios new capabilities will allow it to do things I can not even begin to understand yet.
Bruce
AB1KC

If I was you I would be hoping the new 6000 series Flexradios can do the simple things. Like work CW with a paddle, or allow one to have a SSB conversation without motorboating, or the ability to xmit without having spurs, or the ability to reject RF from getting into the radio, or the ability to not have the computer freeze ruining a QSO, etc etc etc.  Wink

What good are new capabilities if it cannot do the simple basic stuff that any knobbed radio can do?

Stan K9IUQ

I can do all of that with my Flex 5000 now........
I know you had your issues but I really do not.
Bruce
AB1KC
2  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 11:14:27 AM
The radios new capabilities will allow it to do things I can not even begin to understand yet. That is just icing on the cake!

LOL!  What a great reason to buy one!  You don't even know what you can do with it yet.  But, of course, no one else knows either since Flex has yet to demonstrate a working unit.
 
Gene


There are only two companies that let you try a radio and return it if you do not like it, TenTec and Flex. If it does not live up to my expectations I can return it. There is no other way to figure out exactly what any radio will do unless you try it other than rely on internet reviews. Then you are subject to the hack jobs like Gene here who takes his lessons on quoting from the nightly news. Ill stick with what has worked for me.
Gene, you never answered my question from this morning, are there any other companies that you really hate? I would love to try their products.....
Bruce
AB1KC
3  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 10:40:26 AM
Ooooh Stan,
You are such a virile man! So strong, so capable....
You are my hero!!!!

It must be my Knobs....

Stan K9IUQ

And here I am with just a little mouse..... Sad
4  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 10:31:14 AM
On 9/14 I worked NH8S via CW on 17M at 00:37 when the propagation was poor from my QTH near Detroit. Was using my 5000a at 80 watts

Without the panadapter I would have been operating blind and no amount of knobs on a regular rig would have been able to help me.

Uh excuse me but I have worked NH8S NINE times. On Different bands and different modes. Did you get that? NINE TIMES. I did it without any panadapter or second receiver. I was operating blind  Cheesy with a Kenwood TS-590s and only used TFset control to help  me find the right freq. It was easy. NH8S is certainly not DX I would brag about as it is one of the easiest recent Dxexpeditions to work.

However you brought it up. So what does this mean? I worked NH8S NINE TIMES and you with a Flexradio worked them - - - ONCE? Only once? And you publicly brag about it???

Kenwood -9      Flexradio - 1

http://www.nh8s.org/pages/log.html

Go ahead and plug K9IUQ into the log. Then plug your call into the log.

LMAO
Stan K9IUQ

No magic or mystery about it, and DXers have been doing this for fifty years before Flex came on the scene.

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

Ooooh Stan,
You are such a virile man! So strong, so capable....
You are my hero!!!!
Bruce
AB1KC
5  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 10:17:16 AM
.......

No, I get it.. So now we get to my other question in my other thread.  How are you going to make use of this radio verses your QS1R that's going to make it worth the extra dollars?

Now, if you just say its because I want one and that's really all there is to it, I am good with that.  I am seriously looking for reasons other than coolness and newness that people might think having this radio in their shack is going to make a huge impact over what's currently available. 

No need to even reply if you don't want.  It's the answer to that question I am seriously interested in.  I don't care about flex or not to flex, I still own a 5K and it does a fine job for me for the most part.

Gene, I agree about the slices, even Studio 1 can be overkill.  I have been playing with it on the KX3 and I had three all running and it was overkill already.  Two had some real utility in being able to look at a wider swath of spectrum in the extra slice.

Again, I have no problems with people buying stuff because it looks fun and cool.  I am certainly guilty of that on occasion. Smiley
[/quote]

That is a fair question, I will do my best to answer.

No radio is perfect, they all have issues! I love my Flex 5000 though and I could live with it for a long time. It does exactly what I want and it does it pretty well.
I see the Flex 6000 series as a natural progression of the line. It will go a long way to correct some of the weaknesses in the other series. Cw should be great with this radio, many of the issues I have sucessfully conquered with the help of Flex tech support will be more easily accomplished with this radio. Virtual audio cable set up, remote set up, CW Skimmer set up etc.

The challenge of setting the Flex 5000 up is what defeats many of its would be users.
I have a terrier like tenacity when it comes to  challenge. I find the answer!

In the end I love the way the radio (Flex5000) works. The receive audio is just lovely, you can do exactly what you want with transmit audio, the visual display of the spectrum is just like a drug, I can no longer live without it.....

The 6000 will do all of this and it will make the task of getting there easier. Yes it will take time and  there will be "issues" along the way, yes it is an expensive radio.  I have the antennas I need to take advantage of the 6000's wide, wide receiving abilities already in place.

The radios new capabilities will allow it to do things I can not even begin to understand yet. That is just icing on the cake!

If the radio is a dog, I will take my punishment like a man. I doubt it will be!
I have certainly made bigger mistakes in my life than this "gamble". Flex has been nothing short of outstanding in their support of its products when I need help. Like TenTec and Elecraft, Flex gets just the best marks from me. I am not worried at all.

As for the QS1R, although it is a fun radio it never fulfilled its promised role as the software promised was never delivered for my use. It is fun and capable but not what I am looking for. I want a  transceiver not a collection of radios and the associated issues of timing a switch to protect receiver front ends during transmit.

By the way, I would happily sell it if anyone is interested....

Finally the 6000 has a cool factor and I want one! I ordered it on the first day it was announced!
I can't wait!

Bruce
AB1KC
6  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 09:13:18 AM
Oh Gene!
Spank me, spank me I've been bad! I have tasted the "KoolAid" and I like it!
They do offer a 30 day return if you are not happy with what you get you know.....
Pay no attention to me, my wife tells me I am just "difficult" ...
Bruce
AB1KC

Bruce, I could care less what you spend your money on.  If you want to pre-pay for a radio that has not even been demonstrated yet, then that is your prerogative.  I just think it is pretty foolish.

Gene


Oh no, he has spanked me again!
Bad Bruce, bad bad bad!
7  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 08:30:28 AM
I would have replied to this post earlier but I had 8 tabs open on my IPad and I was so stressed that I had to take a nap!
Information overload! All those tabs at once.....
What was I thinking?
I think I will sell my IPad, maybe go back to a simple, reliable Commodore 64.
Anyone want to trade a nice IPad for.......
Bruce
AB1KC

No, that's not the analogy at all.  How about surfing on 7 iPads while having a Skype conversation on the eighth.  That's more like what I am talking about.  Your eyes and brain are going to process more like the analogy you provided, one tab at a time. Let's tie it all together now.  If you only use one tab at a time, why do you really need 7 additional virtual slices all open and running at the same time?

Like I said before, you can do this today with a $900 QSR1 and Studio 1 if you want to be able to glance band to band, or tab to tab.  Why pay $7500 for that capability?

Here is a link where you can see this capability already.  You don't have to pay big dollars!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOjHTS5AhCc&feature=channel&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhf6Zb-Xn40&feature=youtube_gdata_player

You miss my point.
Who says you need to open all slice receivers at once?
Just because tha capability is there does not mean it is an optimal use of technolodgy in every case. I certainly would overload. This argument as a reason to avoid this radio is just kind petty.
I own a QSR1. I know what it can do.
Bruce
AB1KC
8  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 08:19:48 AM
Oh Gene!
Spank me, spank me I've been bad! I have tasted the "KoolAid" and I like it!
They do offer a 30 day return if you are not happy with what you get you know.....
Pay no attention to me, my wife tells me I am just "difficult" ...
Bruce
AB1KC
9  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 07:01:08 AM
Gene
How ever will you be able to continue your constant flaming of Flex if you don't at least try one?
You will loose your credibility!
I am sure Flex would be happy to offer you a radio to try (or maybe you'd better ask Stan to get it for you)......I believe you can probably use the radio one slice at a time. Don't be afraid!

You are going to be relegated to history if you don't get one.
Of course you can still pick on the 5000 so not all is lost!

I believe I have said this here before but I'd like to repeat it again. I actually owe you and Stan a debt of gratitude. It was your constant complaining here on EHam that led me to try my first Flex radio. I just had to see for myself if anything could be that difficult to use or that awful.
Anyway, for me it was love at first try, in fact I have never been happier with a radio!

Got any other beefs with companies I should know about?

Thanks,

Bruce
AB1KC
Bruce
AB1KC
10  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Thoughts on the Flex-Radio Flex-6000 Series on: September 16, 2012, 05:45:39 AM
I would have replied to this post earlier but I had 8 tabs open on my IPad and I was so stressed that I had to take a nap!
Information overload! All those tabs at once.....
What was I thinking?
I think I will sell my IPad, maybe go back to a simple, reliable Commodore 64.
Anyone want to trade a nice IPad for.......
Bruce
AB1KC
11  eHam Forums / Software Defined Radio / RE: Pre order 6700? Getting cold feet? on: September 15, 2012, 09:10:56 AM
You can't have my deposit!
I can't wait.......
Bruce
12  eHam Forums / Company Reviews / RE: Array solutions - second to none on: February 22, 2012, 05:15:01 PM
I've got to say, I agree 100%. They answer all of my questions and the items I have purchased here are among my favorites! Good people and good stuff....
Bruce
13  eHam Forums / Mobile Ham / RE: N2VZ Turbo Tuner where's Bill ? on: February 17, 2012, 06:33:08 PM
i spoke to him about 2 weeks ago. I just called the number and he picked up the phone. I purchased the TT from HRO, they had it in stock. It works just fine! More than I can say about the Better RF unit I had......
73,
Bruce
14  eHam Forums / Amplifiers / How damaging is long idle time for a tetrode ? on: February 11, 2012, 04:07:22 AM
I would never intentionally leave an amp in standby and just walk away but I find that my Acom 2000a is SO quiet that on a couple of occasions I have done exactly that. Yesterday I walked into the shack after a long day and found that the amplifier was sitting in the operate mode quietly waiting for me exactly as I had  left it  the evening before  Shocked !
What exactly is the damage I am doing to the poor tubes when I do this ?
73,
Bruce
15  eHam Forums / Amplifiers / RE: Ameritron ALS-500 / MFJ Quality Lacks on: February 05, 2012, 03:41:54 AM
Tom,
What is happening in this thread is not unique to this hobby! Any forum I have ever seen has bit of this going on...... I try to look beyond the hate or the "trolling" to see what is behind the subject. Same thing for the e-Ham product reviews, I look for the pattern and often it is interesting. Do I cringe when I read the comments claiming all Ameritron workers are unskilled? You bet I do! Do I believe it? Come on..... Same thing for many of the comments you are bothered  by in this thread. I discount the hate and look for the theme. Sometimes it is only that angry people are venting in the same place. Sometimes it is that customer service is not addressing the failures of the company, sometimes it is that there clearly a mismatch between customer expectations and delivered product. It is up to us to figure it all out.

I recently watched a couple of "unhappy hams" complain so loudly about a company and its products in these forums that I became interested in the product! I purchased from that company and I am delighted! I'd probably never have been interested if I hadn't taken the time to read the embarrassing attacks in these forums.

Back to Ameritron, there is clearly something  happening within this company that has led to at least the perception of a quality control issue. Is it the price point or is it the complexity of the product or is it just the sheer number produced that allow a "normal for the industry" percentage of failures to be bantered about as a QC failure? I believe it is probably a mix of all of these reasons and more. Reasonable people understand this!  I write off the unreasonable commenters as having "too tight a pair of underpants". That does not mean that if I were in charge of the company I would ignore the "theme".... Nobody likes to return home with a new "toy" to find it is broken.


By the way, in the past three years I have purchased a bunch of ham gear and the following is a list of companies that I had to contact due to warranty issues, some "out of the box" and some within the warranty period:
Elecraft, Palstar, Hy-Gain, Alpha, TenTec (my fault they fixed it anyway!), Flex Radio and probably more I am forgetting about. Most companies were a pleasure to deal with and the problems got resolved to my satisfaction. This hobby and its gear/equipment is the least "plug and play" thing I have ever experienced. A large part of what I enjoy about it is the challenge that keeps me learning.
73,
Bruce





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