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Reviews For: FlexRadio POWER GENIUS XL

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - HF & HF+6M

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Review Summary For : FlexRadio POWER GENIUS XL
Reviews: 29MSRP: $6995
Description:
Legal Limit Solid State Amplifier
Product is in production
More Info: http://flexradio.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
75294.7
NN4X Rating: 2022-02-02
Solid but needs better support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my PGXL in December 2021. It replaced an Elecraft KPA1500.

The PGXL is very well made, and makes power effortlessly, even on 6m.

It purports to allow a CI-V interface to control it, but I found the process of making that work with my IC-7610 to be arduous and ultimately not acceptable. First, the PGXL acts as a "Controller", which means you can't simply split the CI-V bus, which is what I've been doing - connecting to both my microHAM microKEYER 2R+ and Hamation Bandmaster V.

Working with FlexRadio support, I was able to get the PGXL to track the IC-7610 *ONLY* by disconnecting the other devices from the CI-V bus, *AND* setting the speed to 9600 baud (although the CI-V spec supports both faster and slower speeds, and it seemed to work at 4800 baud). That said, another problem remained: Once I started changing the frequency with the VFO knob, the PGXL would "lose" the frequency data and go to "NO BAND DATA" mode, with the associated relay clicking. Once I stopped tuning, it was able to lock onto the frequency data, and there would be more relay clicking, as it set itself on the (now known) band. I was told that it polls every 1000 mS (1/second) - that's ridiculously slow).

Also, I found that you 100% need to use a mono 3.5mm cable to reliably connect to the CI-V. The typical stereo cable, which has worked with the other devices attached to the CI-V bus, was very unreliable. Yes, I know the CI-V spec calls for mono, so I guess I can't truly fault 4o3A/FlexRadio on that.

Since I depend on the 2R+ and BandMaster V to help control the station, and had determined that the CI-V bus was a no-go for the PGXL, I retreated to "Plan B", which was to utilize a capability of the BandMaster V, which can generate BCD band data output. I got that configured and cabled up, and it worked perfectly with the PGXL. Given that the PGXL does not tune, the precise frequency data was not required, so I'm good to go. For SURE however, it means that I won't be buying a TGXL.

Finally, as others have mentioned, the PGXL wattmeter reading is grossly inaccurate. In one test, I was getting 960 watts output indicated on my Telepost LP-700, and 323 watts on the PGXL.

As I wrote at the top of this review, the amp makes power effortlessly, and it easily attained 1,500 watts as indicated on the LP-700. I depend on the LP-700 to measure the output level, obviously. I am concerned that the PGXL's internal monitoring is utilizing incorrect power output measurements for control of the other functions.

FlexRadio support has indicated that fixes are planned for both the wattmeter issue and the CI-V issue. FlexRadio offered no timeline, however.

Hopefully the wait will not be too long.

I'm rating this amp only "OK", because of the above issues, which should never have occurred - especially with a piece of gear as expensive as this.

Subsequent updates will be provided if/when the situation changes.






DK8ZZ Rating: 2021-12-01
The best Amplifier ever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Fantastic amplifier. It was just a logical step to make an upgrade to Flexradio 6600.
Solid as brick, quality is fantastic. Ranko 4O3A and his guys did a fantastic job. I had a possibility to visit his company. Thanks for great hospitality...

As I said, amazing piece of hardware; after ACOM 1000 (actually I was satisfied with an ACOM) however, station integration with a piece of LAN cable is so easy. No more tuning, band switching. With Antenna Genius 8x2 (will be installed in two weeks) I will try to improve my small pistol station for more contest activity.

About FAN... Yes, it is louder (ACOM1000 was really quiet). Just placed them under the desk and turned them to reach on/off button. PXGL app, as well as Maerstro show all data I need.

At the bottom, this amplifier worth every cent.
W0YVA Rating: 2021-11-27
Excellent Amplifier but be aware ... Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased a Flex 6400M (fantastic!) and almost immediately realized I needed an autotune amp to compliment the 6400M. So enter the PG-XL by Flex. Almost everything about this amplifier is impressive; heavy duty, pretty, neat display, ability to interface with other Flex items (easy and seamless I might say), instant on, legal limit from 160 thru 6m BUT be aware the amplifier fan noise is VERY LOUD! So loud in fact that you cannot have it on your operating desk. (Mine is now behind my equipment in the attic - hi). Thanks to the fact the amplifier is designed to be 'remote' this is not a big deal.

Incidentally Flex is a great company to deal with. Quick and friendly assistance and a very informative Flex 'community.'
AH0U Rating: 2021-07-12
Sounds like 747 taking off!!!! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I can not understand why this amp. has received so many very positive reviews....maybe people don't want to admit they made a mistake spending $7000 for it?? My PGXL runs as other have stated BUT the noise is like having a leaf blower next to you... there is no way you can operate SSB as the PGXL drowns out the mic. This amp. has been to Flex twice and they say it is perfect and operating according to spec. but the noise is deafening. Anyone who buys one of these better plan on operating it remotely as that is the only cure... other than that, it's OK... While this may have some advanced solid state engineering features, Flex should have invested more resources in the basics...like the noise! It is very very loud!!!!!
KF4HR Rating: 2021-05-05
Excellent product! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned my PG-XL for about 2 months and so far it has performed flawlessly. It is being driven by a Flex-6700 and I use a Palstar HF-Auto Tuner.

I purchased this amp mainly for 3 reasons, 1) to have the ability to monitor the amp's status within the SmartSDR software. 2. Because it is the only HF amplifier (that I am aware of) that has dual simultaneous thru-put paths, one amplified path, and one non-amplified path (switchable). This allows dual antenna feeds to my Flex-6700, through the amp, either for mapping a 2nd antenna to other Band Slices, or for the Antenna Diversity function. And 3, since the PG-XL was designed to work with the Flex-6000 series transceiver, should problems arise, I like the added benefit of being able to contact one manufacture for both the transceiver and amp. (Eliminates possible multiple manufacture "finger pointing.")

The PG-XL is fairly light, and it easy to hook up and very get going, and it produces legal limit power effortlessly (with plenty of head room). Typically ~46 watts of drive produces 1500 watts output, even on 6 meters. The only connections required are RF in and out, an Ethernet connection, ground, and power.

I only have 3 minor gripes:

1. Fan noise is present (at its lowest fan speed) when the amplifier is first turned on, (in OPERATE MODE, but not keyed). And the fan speed and noise ramps up quickly during transmissions. Also the fan noise is of a higher noise frequency than other amplifiers I have used, which I find a bit bothersome. On the flip side, this is an instant-on amplifier so if the front mounted Standby/Operate button is switched to Standby, the fans are perfectly silent.

This amplifier has substantially sized openings in its lighted front panel (different colored internal lighting indicates amplifier status), so fan noise also exits out the front panel. I should point out the fan noise is not so loud that it adds noise to the outgoing voice transmissions, even though my PG-XL located close to my operating position (and mic). For a short term solution I am countering the fan noise with a noise canceling headsets. For the long term, unless the manufacture comes out with some modification for the fan noise (different types of fans, or something?), I'll probably move the amp further away from my operating position.

(Some might ask, what are you comparing the PG-XL's fan noise to? I also own an Alpha 87A, and previously owned an ICOM PW-1, Alpha 78, and several other name brand HF amplifiers. All of my previous amplifiers were quieter than my PG-XL, with the possible exception of my old Heath SB-220.

2. The amplifier's LED display, along with the Power Genius Utility PC program, only indicates Average power readings, and low Average readings at that. For example with a 1200 watt indicated PEP peak output (measured on LP-700 Digital Station Monitor and using a Palstar DL5K dummy load), my PG-XL's LED display indicates an average power reading of 200 to 300 watts. Having Peak wattage readings would be helpful during SSB operation. It would have been nice if the manufacture added both Average and Peak power indicators to the PG-XL's display, or at least allowed the operator to switch between Average and Peak readings. My hope is a Peak Power reading feature gets added in a future software release. In the mean time I use a Telepost LP-700 Digital Station Monitor to monitor Peak power readings.

3. The main power switch is located on the rear panel of the PG-XL. There is no power switch on the front panel. The PG-XL's cabinet is deep (~20 inches or ~51cm) so depending on where the amplifier is located it may be awkward trying to reach the rear mounted on/off switch. (It should be pointed out if the Amp is left turned on, it only draws a small amount of current in the Standby Mode, and there are net-enabled remote power switching devices that would provide a work-around for this minor inconvenience.)

I considered other HF amplifiers such as the SPE-1.5k or 2K-FA, Elecraft KPA1500, etc, all within the same price range. These are certainly good amplifiers too but even with my minor gripes listed above, and being a fan of Flex transceivers, I'm glad I chose the PG-XL.

The wait time to order this amp is currently considerable although Flex Radio Systems does seems to be knocking out the PG-XL backlog fairly quickly so I suspect delivery delays should eventually disappear.

Bottom line. Given what I know now, would I buy a PG-XL? Absolutely.

Follow Up Review:

I've owned my PG-XL for over 18 months now and it has performed flawlessly. The three minor issues mentioned in my 1st Review (above) have been resolved. The inaccurate front panel wattage readings and fan noise issues were resolved with the last PG-XL firmware update. And the other minor issue I mentioned, the rear mounted power switch, I resolved by installing a voice activated external relay, which works beautifully. And PG-XL integration with the Flex SmartSDR software has also been flawless, and the PG-XL seamlessly follows the operation of my Flex-6700 perfectly.

I would like to echo my thanks to Flex and 403A for developing such a fantastic amplifier.

DK3HV Rating: 2021-05-05
Fantastic product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Hallo all,
I see a lot of reviews from US stations, so I want to confirm that the PGXL also arrived in Germany. I own my one now for a few weeks and I am perfectly happy. Never had a super solid build equipment. It starts with the wooden box how it was shipped from Montenegro to my home. The way how they instructed you to unpack it… very well and nice done.

The installation is perfect… the 230V, the coax, the network and the small software tool… and here we go. What a great moment you see the first time the new AMP logo :-)

From the first moment it worked perfectly with PC/SmartSDR, with Maestro and with my iPad. Crazy and funny way of hobby…. Sitting with the Ipad in the garden …. and the full load goes out of the antenna.

I have SPE Expert2k, OM Power 3K, Acom 2000a etc etc … all nice and working well, but the Power Genius is for sure something different. From my experience after the first couple of weeks … the TVI emissions are with PGXL the lowest from all amps in combination with the 6600. I have to say, the other amps are all connected to different radios, so not really to compare. But the Flex combo produces for sure the lowest level of interference.

Many thanks to the great cooperation between USA and Montenegro… Ranko , 4o3a and his team build a great product and Flex managed a perfect integration
vy 73 Hanno, DK3HV
W4FO Rating: 2021-04-29
Great Amp Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Over my Ham Radio Career, I have owned many amplifiers, including 5 Alphas. The PGXL is the finest Amplifier I have ever used,effortless legal limit power 160m through 6m. Perfectaly intergreated with my 6700 it is a joy to use. Amp is built like a tank and with the new software, the fans are no problem on SSB or FT8. Only in a long rag chew on CW at 1500 watts do the fans kick up to where I can hear them. I use headphones on CW so the fans are no brother at all. The Amp is easy to set up (10 minutes)after I had it on the desk.
K6HR Rating: 2021-04-28
PG-XL Arrives at K6HR! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Plug and Play Legal Limit right out of the box! I'm driving the PG-XL with a Flex 6700 for SO2R. I'm currently using an AT-AUTO on each output of the PG-XL, with a Mosley TA33JRNW on CH A, and a 130FT Dipole on CH B. I'll run this way until the Tuner Genius XL is available. I had a 240V line installed in the shack to make sure I get everything the PG-XL has to offer! After connecting the power, ground, ethernet, and I/O coax jumpers, I was on the air enjoying full legal limit output on every band. I'm amazed at how clean the output signal is. The LP-500 Trapezoid Display shows me the signal is perfectly linear everywhere I go! Operation via LAN is seamless, and works as advertised.

The PG-XL replaces my SPE Expert 1K-FA as the main amplifier in the shack. Naturally, I thought the SPE 2K-FA was the most logical next step, until I saw the PG-XL!!

I think I can live happily ever after with the PG-XL. Only time will tell.
KB4FHA Rating: 2021-04-23
Love it! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I thought I’d share my letter to the Flex Radio Sales Mgr. It reflects my experience w/ PGXL.
I just want you to know that after a month of owning the 6600M, expedited by you, I decided I need the PGXL to give the ol’ Alpha a break. Hi Hi. As you know, they interface so perfectly, it’s just unreal.
-Power is managed very carefully/responsibly.
- No need to get up an hour early to warm up tubes (zzzz)…or worry about leaving rare tubes on a lot.
-Can leave it on standby, and use it whenever. Follows you like a good dog.
-You set it up once and it just goes along for the ride/no brainer. Set and forget.
-The combination is unbeatable. What a sound! Only your good friends will concede how good it sounds.
As one guy said today, it gives the audio that everyone else strives for. (EV RE-20 mic with 6600M, perfect match straight in run about 93 Mic gain)
-Fan dB levels are not an issue for me any way I go(on desktop). I love the Binaural/Diversity functions of 6600M/PGXL 2 outputs, and use good headphones(even have good isolation) most of the time.
-Delivery, holy cow, promised in 3-4 wk I think it was. It shipped in 3 days, arrived 7 days after ordered.
Speaking of which…. I got it set up no sweat, but took an extra 1/2 hr or so to be certain nothing fried. Used 240VAC 100ft of No.8 and broke out to #10 for last 4 ft to receptacle(NEMA 6-20R). Have never tripped the 15A per leg breakers.
Only mishap was driving it too hot at first. By the time I got over the set-up details I forgot to keep the drive to 10/20/30 W or so, out the starting gate (hard to cure stupid). So, I inadvertently tested the protection. Works great. I wish I had known about the Mike W PGXL Setup Youtube clip, before-hand, but it is quite recent, and I had not dug for it. But then again, maybe I would not have read the manual as “well”.
I think many (like me) watch most of the Youtube clips as you wait for product to arrive(1wk del!!). I saw you handling the PGXL on the video clip, nice demo of weight, w/ Mike W and Gerald.
I look forward to an upgrade beyond the 6600M as they release one day(no hurry). I don’t know if I’ll get the Tuner Genius, but I’m certain it could be a ton of fun, and would hope to leave it 100 ft from radio in climate controlled shop. I’ll be following that product thinking about using it with an all band delta loop(40M)(fed w/ 450ohm, coming to coax just before Tuner) or similar, to expand coverage in my QTH situation.
Any way thanks for all you guys do!! Enjoy your day.
Delighted, Kindest regards, 73
-Bruce KB4FHA
N3RZL Rating: 2021-04-22
Perfect Remote Amplifier Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
We purchased the Power Genius XL Amplifier to partner with our Flex Radio 6600. The intent is to enhance our RACES / ACS station. With the ability to have both the radio and the amplifier at a remote tower site and be able to control both using SmartSDR is a great advantage to our team. The additional power enables us to work during adverse conditions and communicate with our local, state, and federal partners when communications are critical. The Power Genius XL was easy to setup as well as control during during times of emergencies.