Most of the magic happens in the computer. So you get a lot independent of the radio box you are using. The 1500 is really small but only 5 watts. The 5000 can have a lot of options added to it. The 3000 has 100 watts and a built in tuner. All of these radios will get better as the PowerSDR software evolves.
Originally I didn't understand software defined radios. The original New Jersey QRP club's softrock kit opened my eyes. WOW! I then got the SDR 1000. Next a 1500 for camping. I've really not played with it enough camping. I've added a Flex 3000 to my primary station. I do also have the K rigs except for the 3 model. I can understand those that prefer the K line. I suspect many hams, particularly those that started out with a general coverage receiver and Heath AT-1 transmitter, will find both Flex and K radio just amazing. Only those with very specialized interests will find one clearly superior to the the other. 73/72 Mike WA8BXN -------Original Message------- From: Michael Tondee Date: 4/16/2011 11:20:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Flexradio] My 1500 amazes me! Been sitting here today and tonight tuning around the 20 meter band and Just having a blast with this little radio. I didn't own my Flex 5K that Long so maybe I didn't get the full experience of using it but I swear When I look at my monitor and see the PowerSDR display and divert my Attention from the little black and silver box, I don't really know that it's not still my 5K sitting over at the corner of the op desk. I know The 5K is a better receiver and maybe my memory is getting foggy but it's really hard for me to tell that much difference. And I can't Imagine ever operating a radio again without a panadapter! There is a Certain competitor out there that has added a panadapter as an Afterthought and I see there ads all the time and think to myself what a Joke that thing is compared to my little Flex. After I first bought the 1500, I wondered if I'd made a mistake by not Buying a more powerful radio. I've never been much of a QRP enthusiast And I'm so rusty at CW that my copy skills are really bad. I thought That maybe I should have bought a 100 watt radio to operate phone with And to be honest I've been reluctant to even try calling people with my Measly little 5 watts. I had been content to do a lot of listening and Have a few digital contacts since getting the 1500 a couple of months Ago but today there's a couple of QSO parties going on and I decided to Answer a few CQ's and so far, so good. Been getting guys on the first Call so conditions must be good and my pre MFJ Cushcraft MA-5 mini beam Seems to be doing the job. I just love the receiver on this radio. I've been listening for hours Today and it doesn't fatigue me at all like other radios I've owned in The past that were in it's price class. Anyhow, I know the purpose of the reflector is to help people but with All the problems and criticisms that I read about, I thought I'd just Drop in a quick post to let you guys know how much I'm enjoying my 1500. 73, Michael, W4HIJ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List [email protected] http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List [email protected] http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
