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Author Topic: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?  (Read 2092 times)

N2DTS

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Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« on: August 21, 2020, 04:25:40 PM »

Thinking about one or the other, any big advantages one way or the other for voice?
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WW1SS

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2020, 04:46:07 PM »

I have had them both. My issue with Flex is that it takes them forever to fix bugs. They have had a bug with the tuner not working properly for over a year now. NB is horrible. I just sold my last flex and purchased a FTDX101D. You should put that on your list to consider. It is an awesome radio
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K0UA

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2020, 04:48:26 PM »

I don't know much about the flex, but I sure like my 7610. I bought a used one at a good price and have been very pleased.
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73  James K0UA

VK4SX

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2020, 04:57:03 PM »

I have had ICOM IC-7610 since 4th NOVEMBER 2017, great rig, sits next to a 7851, FLEX ?? well the NEW EESDR SUNDSDR 2 DX 100w rig, has same hardware package as EESDR MB-1 ??
it is an excellent performer, with ROCK STABLE SW & FW,
Sunsdr2 DX,  1/2 the price of a 6600.

Cheers
Dennis vk4sx
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N2UNL

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2020, 05:55:55 PM »

Well the icoms  are nice as I just purchased a new one in feb.  this year and I have the flex also.  The flex is as good as you can get and Icom is ok to put in the RV.   If you want the best TX and RX then get the Flex   The diversity is great.   It will give you a lot more and when they have a new software it’s like getting a new radio without having to purchase another radio. 
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N2DTS

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2020, 05:49:47 AM »

I see the 101d has 3 antenna ports, I like that, 2 receivers and you can control things with a mouse on a bigger screen.
Seems like a winner.
I hate their menu setup but the 101 looks to have enough knobs and buttons to make the menu a set and forget thing mostly.
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WW1SS

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2020, 06:27:14 AM »

Once set up with the 101 there is no reason to go into the menu’s. Very straight forward and easy.
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N2DTS

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2020, 06:09:50 PM »

The 101 is out, I read the AM rx bandwidth is fixed at 9 KHz and the pass band tuning also does not work.
I am mostly an AM operator...
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N6YFM

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2020, 10:23:07 PM »

The 101 is out, I read the AM rx bandwidth is fixed at 9 KHz and the pass band tuning also does not work.
I am mostly an AM operator...

AM?  In 2020?  It wins the award for AC input power inefficiency.  Maybe that's why there are less and less AM broadcast stations each year.  They can't afford the electric bill to reach such a small audience.   It sounds great.  It has nice wide bandwidth, booming lows for those that like that, or can't hear anything else.   But SSB will reach far further with far less power.  And will share that limited spectrum with far more users.  Of course, you realize that ALL of this is moot, until some sunspots return.   Neither SSB nor AM is reaching very far with zero sunspots.   For now, FT8 and CW are the only things that have kept HF alive.  (Except for local rag-chewing and warming clounds.)

Back on topic;  I have both Flex and Icom.  Like them both.   Like the performance of my Flex a little better.

Cheers,

Neal
« Last Edit: August 24, 2020, 10:25:36 PM by N6YFM »
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K0UA

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2020, 05:03:31 AM »

Both rigs mentioned in the title would be a tremendous waste of money and sophistication for an "mostly AM" operator. Why would you want such sophisticated rigs? If your main interest is operating AM, you need some kind of boat-anchor with high level plate modulation and a corresponding receiver of that era.  Just a personal opinion of course.
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73  James K0UA

K7JQ

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2020, 05:46:30 AM »

Mostly AM? How 'bout a Heathkit DX-100 and a Hammarlund HQ-170?
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K0UA

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2020, 08:09:36 AM »

Mostly AM? How 'bout a Heathkit DX-100 and a Hammarlund HQ-170?

That was what I was thinking Bob.  Why would anyone that was interested in AM as their primary mode want to spend up to or beyond $3000 for a 25 watt carrier power rig? It don't make sense to me.
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73  James K0UA

K7JQ

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #12 on: August 25, 2020, 09:12:39 AM »

Mostly AM? How 'bout a Heathkit DX-100 and a Hammarlund HQ-170?

That was what I was thinking Bob.  Why would anyone that was interested in AM as their primary mode want to spend up to or beyond $3000 for a 25 watt carrier power rig? It don't make sense to me.

Beats me. Ancient Modulation, but some also consider CW as ancient ;). I guess that's why there's chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. To each his/her own...it's their $$.

On topic, though, I'm basically a biased Icom fan-boy, and not much of a computer guy, which I *think* most Flex users are. I just read where Flex is always coming out with software updates/upgrades to fix bugs and improve performance, sometimes screwing up other functions, and not being all that effective in the first place. Not appealing to me. All the many Icoms I've had over the years just come out of the box, hook 'em up, and work to spec as intended. Nary a problem or complaint from me.

Bob K7JQ
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N2DTS

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #13 on: August 25, 2020, 06:58:46 PM »

I like AM for the fidelity and the general technical know how most AM operators have.
Plus people using vintage gear, class d and e transmitters (homebrew), military radios, sdr radios, gives lots to talk about.
No matter what mode you are on, its nice to have a good receiver.
I enjoy the band scope and filters a good SDR delivers.
I am almost all home brew using tubes, receivers, audio, transmitters, vfo's, exciters, antenna's.
I suspect many who make comments here have built nothing.
And as a side note, a class D or class E transmitter is MUCH more efficient then ssb into an amplifier.
My class d rig is 1000 watts pep and draws about 5 amps on 120 volts and does not even get warm.



If you want to communicate, just get a cell phone.
You want to have fun, build an AM station and talk to people running all sorts of interesting gear.

I went with a Flex 6400M to replace the flex 5000 and the icom 756 pro 2.
I like the standalone aspect and the fidelity of the Flex.

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N6YFM

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Re: Icom 7610 or Flex 6400m?
« Reply #14 on: August 25, 2020, 08:49:33 PM »

My class d rig is 1000 watts pep and draws about 5 amps on 120 volts and does not even get warm.

Hi N2DTS:

I have always respected the fine equipment you have built.  All good points.
But a short note on the above statement;  You can't create or destroy power.
5 amps at 120volts = 600 watts.   If your class-D amp was 100% efficient with zero losses,
the most RMS continuous power it could put out is 600 watts.   Of course, peaks are peaks
and an entirely different story.    But your point is still well taken;  Class=D amps are all the
rage for AM enthusiasts due to the small size and overall efficiency.

Great job on your shack (from one builder to another).

Cheers & 73,

Neal
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