I published a "How to tell if your computer is compatible with Flex
Radios" article on the flexradiowiki and Jim you are 100% correct that its
not specifications, its latency (its an amateur audio workstation).
I am really excited that this part of the configuration will hopefully be
easier for the newbie. I am sure we will be moving to a different kind of
"applicability" in the area of LAN/ethernet latency, so all of those
motherboards with crappy Realtek ethernet controllers (and yes, thats 99%
of them) will have a good exercise in how well they work in this
environment.
73
Neal
On May 25, 2012, at 11:07 AM, Jim Jannuzzo wrote:
Robert,I happened into a net presentation on the Flex by a Flexer.
There were about 20 people on the net, including the former FCC ham radio
enforcement guy. The Flexer had time to prepare his presentation in
advance, but I came in cold. He spoke of how he loved the radio, and all
the difficulties and tribulations in setting it up. He spent most of his
discussion speaking of obscure options and VAC, VSP, and third party
software. When I piped in, I was asked how to set up a Flex and PC. I
replied if it was as difficult as the (very nice Flexer) had said, I'd be
using a Yaesu.
My off the cuff presentation went as follows: To set up a Flex and PC,
you have to test the PC first, not for speed and horsepower, but for
latency. This is true for any 'live' audio program. If the PC isn't
working right then you have to troubleshoot it.Then you plug the radio into
the PC with a good $30 cable, and plug the radio into a power supply. Then
you download and install the software. Then you turn the radio on and
broadcast to the world. Now, when you want to get fancy, you can use the
software options to tune more things than any other radio. You can tune SSB
audio with a built in software audio rack. You can connect third party
software to do digital modes without external cables.
But the mere existence of options does not dictate that you use them.
If a new user tries to do this right away, he will come away frustrated
and pissed off. Jim KJ2P
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 07:06:45 -0700
Subject: Re: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
Scott,
Here is what I do not understand with the new radios.
1) Why no extended receive range now that is all digital from the
antenna. For instance low frequency receive.
2) Why no transverters for people that want to have 1 radio does all
and no extra hardware in the shack.
3) Why no 473 khz band?
Not dinging Flex for anything, as the new radios are a step in the
right direction for one that has RF ingress and appreciating having a PC be
just right or nothing works right. I understand all of this, as I am still
dealing with some of these issues.
I wanted to do a presentation on what it took to configure the radio
and the computer, but there are so many steps that I have decided not to do
it.
What I will say is that the people at Flex are #1 in my book. The
fellow Flexers are also #1 in my book. If it was not for the helpful staff
at Flex, Neil Campbell and other fellow Flexers, I would be still be off
the air with the Flex. Is it perfect now...NO! Is it a workable game
plan....Yes!
I look at Flex Radios as high performance high horsepower engines. Once
you get them dialed-in, they work extremely well. It just takes some effort
to get them there. It is like the high performance antenna that you and I
both share.
Dial them in, they work great...it just takes some effort.
In my honest opinion, they are not plug and play appliances and should
not be. Is SDR for everyone? No! I personally believe that Flex radios are
for the technically-inclined of the hobby.
Someday I hope to take my Flex to field day, but a 5000a is not that
portable.
My 10 cent opinion.
73,
Robert
KB6QXM
"Ham Radio Open Conversation"
Yahoo group owner/moderator
----- Reply message -----
From: "Scott Myers"<[email protected]>
To:<[email protected]>
Subject: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
Date: Fri, May 25, 2012 6:21 am
A couple other things that are annoyances if you have been a Flexer for
a
while, as most of us have.
-No more issues with firewire. Sometimes, the Firewire interface can
flake
out, causing a reboot of the Flex to be necessary, as well as
disconnecting
the firewire cable. Also, the occasional problem with RFI in the
firewire
for those running QRO. Many lesser motherboards have an iffy firewire
onboard, forcing us to install another more robust firewire card with TI
chipset.
-DPC latency. Requirement of a relatively high end motherboard in your
PC
to insure your bus is bulletproof for bus clocking. No more worrying
about
DPC latency when you replace your PC. No more making sure a laptop is
"just
so" when you want to run your Flex on field day. Run it on a netbook
if you
want with a 6000.
Guys that have "abandoned" their flexes after a short time usually do
so due
to the problems with their computer not having low DPC latency or
firewire
issues. And a lot of guys never buy Flex's because they have read and
know
about these potential problems with computers married to a Flex. It’s a
black eye that should go away.
A couple other issues that I will be glad are solved.
-Latency. That is something I won't miss. Normal mode, safe 1, safe
2...
be gone foul beast.
- QSK capable. No more clackety-clack.
73,
Scott AC8DE
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of dan edwards
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 7:34 AM
To: [email protected]; Burke Schlott
Subject: Re: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
Burke
( correct me where i miss the mark, guys ) i too have enjoyed my F3k
for
some time. the new rigs are revolutionary in at least 3 ways, i think.
1. no longer QSD / QSE. DDC / DUC instead. gives capability to see
more
than 192 khz; no more receiver images at 3x F. should be a real treat
on MF
/ LF. and also the capacity to see the entire 10m band on the pan.
2. in the same way flex solved the soundcard problem by putting it in
the
rig, the new rigs have DSP processing in the radio. with the FPGA and
the TI
processor. relieves some of the pc's processing requirements, i think.
3. the new rig connects to the radio through ethernet instead of
firewire.
probably much more than this, but these features alone have ME excited.
It
is a VERY clever piece of gear. 73, w5xz, dan
--- On Fri, 5/25/12, Burke Schlott<[email protected]> wrote:
From: Burke Schlott<[email protected]>
Subject: [FlexEdge] The New Flex radios
To: [email protected]
Date: Friday, May 25, 2012, 10:47 AM
I have been using a 5K for several years now and am more than satisfied
with
its performance and features. I have read the preliminary info on the
Flex
web site and would really like to know just what I could expect in the
way
of actual performance improvements that I could expect over the 5K. I
guess
what I am saying is that I would like to see the 6K's performance specs
as
compared to the 5K similar to what is now available in the product
comparason tab on the web site.
Burke K1BJS
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used for posting topics related to SDR software development and
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used for posting topics related to SDR software development and
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This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is
used for posting topics related to SDR software development and
experimentalist who are using beta versions of the software.
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This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is
used for posting topics related to SDR software development and
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