I am basically happy with the CW performance of the 5000, especially with the W2RF experimental console. I have some issues with audio popping with the standard version from the trunk branch. Like Dale, I don't need full QSK and find it a distraction. But I don't think the 5000, with the current PowerSDR, lives up to full QSK. Perhaps when full duplex is enabled, I may change my mind.
I don't have the K3 nor have I seen a production model. But I can vouch that the 5000 is head and shoulders above my K2 on receive. Remember the K2 has been touted as the top performing receiver for a number of years now. The K2's only advantages over the 500 are full QSK and portability. I find the 5000 much easier to copy weak CW signals than the K2, with far less fatigue. I have yet to hear of anyone who has used the 5000 and K3 side by side. Perhaps others have. If full QSK is an issue, then the K3 may be a better choice at this time. But I have confidence that Flex will be addressing it with the successor console to PowerSDR. 73, Steve N6VL -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dale Boresz Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 4:20 PM To: Jerry Flanders Cc: FlexRadio Subject: Re: [Flexradio] FW: The inherent muddiness oftypical amateurtransceiver audio without EQ Hello Jerry, You stated: "Sounds like you have never actually used it or you would probably not have made that comment." I've operated primarily cw for 42 years, and have tried "close-enough QSK" with my K2. However, I really dislike hearing band noise between letters -- forget about between keying elements. To me, it's distracting and irritating. On my K2, I set the "t-r" time to 0.06 which is just about right to allow me to hear the band between words up to about 50 wpm. That works very well for pile-up situations so that I'm not just calling away while the DX station is transmitting. It might not be suitable for a full-blown QSK QSO, but in all my time operating, I've encountered exactly two other op's who asked if I could work QSK. For my tastes, the FLEX-5000A's semi-breakin t-r transitions are as fast as I would want at any speed. In fact, I actually increase the t-r delay a bit to make sure it only breaks between words and not letters. Works for me -- and I suspect a few other cw op's out there. 73, Dale WA8SRA _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/