[Flexradio] Heros VLF Converter
Please folks, the Heros VLF converter is vastly more sophisticated than the lower priced units with limited filtering from Palomar (which I own) or Jackson Harbor or the others. The Heros is very fairly priced. Still, most of us will NOT benefit from the Heros unless we're in an area of very high RF density. My $89 Palomar works great with my 5000. Here are details on the impressive Heros VLF converter: http://herostechnology.co.uk/pdf/VLF_LF_Converter_brochure_web.pdf Regarding the Heros preselector: that's another waste for almost all U.S. hams. But maybe a nice addition if you live in rf-noisy downtown London. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Heros VLF Converter
wouldn't the pre-selector help with selectivity issues on the general coverage of the Flex? What problem are you having that you think a preselector will help with? Lots of hams read about a preselector's gain and think DX will be 20 dB more copyable. THAT's certainly not going to happen. As long as you can hear band noise drop when you disconnect the antenna you have plenty of sensitivity. And just about every receiver made since the 1960s has tons of sensitivity even on the highest bands. 20 dB improvement could also be achieved by turning the audio gain all the way to the right or by sticking your head into the speaker. You know that's not going to help. Yes, if you're next door to a VOA transmitter additional front end selectivity might be useful but only if the VOA is causing a problem. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] The new 472-479 kHz band - REAL DX
My Flex-5000 is utterly deaf below the U.S. AM broadcast band. Can't even pick up local airport Non-Directional Beacons. But I do some longwave listening with my old Kenwood TS-850/HF vertical and often hear European AM broadcast stations in the 150-200 kHz range even from my QTH in Missouri. Radio France Inter can often be heard from local sunset until sunrise in Europe on 162 kKHz. The BBC station on 198 kHz is almost as loud. It's easy to assume that these signals are spurs from local AM stations but they make the very long trip using immense power, often above a megawatt. Even very low power 600-meter ham beacons around 500 kHz can be heard over most of the U.S. Don't sell longwave short. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] The new 472-479 kHz band - REAL DX
Ken, I was likewise surprised by your statement about successfully using the Flex-1500 to receive 600 meter ham beacons. I've read Flex discussion boards for several years. To the very limited degree that users comment on the lowfer receive performance of Flex radios, posts have always suggested the 3000 and 5000 are worthless below the BCB (and perhaps not great even on the AM BCB). I wonder what's so different about the 1500 in that regard. I agree with KB6QXM that the upcoming allocation should once again Spark [his term] ham interest in lowfer radio so we Don't Sell Longwave Short. Jeff K0OD From: Ken Alexander [mailto:k.alexan...@rogers.com] Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 9:32 AM To: Jeff Singer; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] The new 472-479 kHz band - REAL DX I'm surprised the Flex-5000 is so deaf. My 1500 receives perfectly well down to about 480 something kilohertz, then the bandpass filter clicks out and all heck breaks loose. Lots of room to hear most of the 600m band. I guess there's something different in the hardware...well, there's a ton different in the hardware! I built a simple lowpass filter that opens the longwave band up right down to 100 kHz. It probably works down further but there's not much down that far that can be decoded with one's own ears. Don't sell longwave short. I see a new bumper sticker in there somewhere! :-) 73, Ken VE3HLS _ From: Jeff Singer jsin...@i1.net To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 10:02:51 AM Subject: [Flexradio] The new 472-479 kHz band - REAL DX My Flex-5000 is utterly deaf below the U.S. AM broadcast band. Can't even pick up local airport Non-Directional Beacons. But I do some longwave listening with my old Kenwood TS-850/HF vertical and often hear European AM broadcast stations in the 150-200 kHz range even from my QTH in Missouri. Radio France Inter can often be heard from local sunset until sunrise in Europe on 162 kHz. The BBC station on 198 kHz is almost as loud. It's easy to assume that these signals are spurs from local AM stations but they make the very long trip using immense power, often above a megawatt. Even very low power 600-meter ham beacons around 500 kHz can be heard over most of the U.S. Don't sell longwave short. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] Changes to 60-meter Band Begin March 5
The amended 60-meter regs go into effect on March 5. We're going to need PSDR changes by then to permit CW, the allowed digital modes and the change to Channel 3. http://www.arrl.org/news/new-rules-for-5-mhz-60-meters-to-go-into-effect-mar ch-5 Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] Flex makes a great CW radio
The annoying CW sidetone squelch tail heard by the operator on several bands, especially six meters, remains a significant flaw that can even be seen on the radio's scope. Flex has acknowledged that a problem exits. I could not be more thrilled with the new beta Tracking Notch Filter, but Flex CW still needs work. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] Minimum Output of Flex-5000?
Has anyone accurately measured the minimum output power of a Flex-5000? Using my ancient Autek WM-1 swr/power meter I see a bit under one watt with the Flex drive slider set to 1 (it goes to no output when set to 0). The Flex's own meter shows one watt. That's on 40-meter CW into a 1.0:1 SWR. But I question how accurate either power reading is at such extreme low power. Thinking of using the Flex in some QRPp contests. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] FMT Results
Tough FMT. I was having trouble calibrating my 5000 to my satisfaction before the test and bailed out of participating. Had something else to do that was pretty important. Just saw the results and it appears that Doppler was terrible which probably explains my calibration problem. Scores were mostly poor. Tom, you can use the Flex scope or phase display to estimate signals to tenths of a Hz. See all results at: http://www.b4h.net/fmt/fmtresults201104.php Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] ARRL Frequency Measuring Test Tonight
ARRL FMT tonight Tuesday April 12 (USA time) http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-frequency-measuring-test-scheduled-for-tuesday -april-12 Also http://www.k5cm.com/ Your Flex, with no outboard equipment, is adequate to do a respectable job in the FMT Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR Tools for Operating 60 Meters
First, understand that very few countries allow ham operation on 60-meters and, even then, rules vary wildly. Operation isn't channelized in some countries. Where it is channelized, the frequencies aren't standardized. 5403.5 MHz is the main DX channel because most counties can use it. On American-sold radios, just click the 60 band button and you'll cycle through our five channels. In accordance with U.S. rules, transmit is limited to USB, no LSB, CW or other modes. If you move even one Hz off channel, the radio won't transmit. Flex radios aren't power-limited on 60 which is the way it should be. *** Major changes are coming to the band *** American hams will probably soon get CW and some digital modes on 60. Channel 3, which has been fairly worthless due to shared digital use, is to be moved from 5.366.5 MHz. The band power limit will be doubled to 100 watts ERP as referenced to a dipole. An odd rule has been proposed to require VOX on SSB to increase channel monitoring as American hams are secondary users. Flex has an obscure limitation on all bands that can affect 60 meter DXing (which is quite popular). Hams in some other countries can currently use CW on 60. I don't believe a single-receiver 5000 can work cross mode. CW stations have to be worked with the receiver in the sideband mode. I have no idea how Flex will deal with these planned channel and mode changes which may get final approval suddenly. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Frequency Measuring Test tomorrow
Results are out at www.k5cm.com . From my limited experience, the K5CM FMTs attract the real experts. Competition is a bit easier in the ARRL events. Another nice showing by the Flex contingent. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Frequency Measuring Test tomorrow
I used only the Flex-5000 and its scope no fancy outboard frequency standard or software. Several signals seemed quite spongy probably due to Doppler. I had little confidence in any of my readings, which was quite frustrating. I didn't get home from work in time for the two 20 meter runs. On those I submitted, my error was +0.188, -0.318, and -0.328 Hz . I didn't submit a 40 meter report because W6OQI's signals were at noise level here and I didn't believe the 7057000.0 I was getting. Turned out that was about right. Once again the Flex has proven to be well within specs on every frequency. One new thing I did this time to improve my results was to calibrate the 5000 with the nearest WWV/CHU transmission between band changes. Calibration takes just a few seconds. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Those 3 Numbers on the Display's Bottom Right)
Gee, doesn't ANYONE know what those three numbers are useful for? One member told me by direct email that he thought they served no function. Could that be right? I skimmed the entire F5K manual twice and found nothing about them. Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] Those 3 Numbers on the Display's Bottom Right
On the bottom right of the main display in most modes appear three numbers that I can't find explained in the Flex-5000's manual or elsewhere. The numbers are, as I eventually figured out, the frequency of the loudest signal on the display, its strength in dBm and its offset from the radio's center frequency. What is the purpose of those? Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] My Rookie Performance in the Recent FMT
Thanks for the alert on the K5CM Frequency Measuring Test a few nights ago. That test uses two stations to send a CW carrier on 160, 80 (twice) and 40 meters. A FMT is something totally new to me. My only preparation was to calibrate the radio carefully against WWV using its built-in scope. My receiver was in the DSB mode. I used the scope to guess-timate the frequency to an additional decimal point. Few entrants use a radio alone. Many have costly GPS based frequency calibration sources or the like and complex schemes to interpret the frequency. Experience counts. So does speed, since you only have three minutes to come to a conclusion. In other words, my entry wouldn't threaten the experts who come within one or two MILLI-hertz. But my stock Flex did very well. Three of my four readings were within 1/2 Hz. On 40 meters I was off by .96 Hz. QRN on 40 made the weak signal difficult to read on the scope. Still, accuracy was better than .25 PPM on each reading, well within Flex specs. Anyone else participate? Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Mouse Dropouts With N1MM Contest Logger
I now see that the drop outs occur when I tune using the Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow method as well. So it's not a mouse problem. With N1MM running the Flex can't keep up with anything but the slowest tuning, generally the 1Hz Tune Step --- Mouse Dropouts (not mouse droppings!) with N1MM I'm setting up the N1MM Contest Logger with my new Flex-5000A (windows XP home, loaded AMD quad core and latest Flex firmware/PSDR) via K5VR's VSP port manager software. Radio reads N1MM. The Flex follows keyboard up/down arrows and bands I type into N1MM. I can send CW using N1MM. N!MM reads the Flex frequency and tracks frequency on its band map. Problem is my mouse wheel drops out of tuning almost immediately unless I have the Tune Step on 1 Hz, or sometimes 10Hz. I'm tuning the frequency with a new cordless Logitech laser free-spinning wheel mouse. A conventional Logitech wired mouse has the same problem. Left-clicking the mouse re-engages the tuning which almost immediately drops out again. The Flex tunes properly with N1MM turned off. I'd been advised to try turning on the SR (Spur Reduction), but that didn't reduce drop outs. Ideas? Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] Mouse Dropouts With N1MM Contest Logger
Mouse Dropouts (not mouse droppings!) with N1MM I'm setting up the N1MM Contest Logger with my new Flex-5000A (windows XP home, loaded AMD quad core and latest Flex firmware/PSDR) via K5VR's VSP port manager software. Radio reads N1MM. The Flex follows keyboard up/down arrows and bands I type into N1MM. I can send CW using N1MM. N!MM reads the Flex frequency and tracks frequency on its band map. Problem is my mouse wheel drops out of tuning almost immediately unless I have the Tune Step on 1 Hz, or sometimes 10Hz. I'm tuning the frequency with a new cordless Logitech laser free-spinning wheel mouse. A conventional Logitech wired mouse has the same problem. Left-clicking the mouse re-engages the tuning which almost immediately drops out again. The Flex tunes properly with N1MM turned off. I'd been advised to try turning on the SR (Spur Reduction), but that didn't reduce drop outs. Ideas? Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] Is it normal for CPU usage % to increase for first few minutes?
I'm using a month-old Flex 5000A with a clean new computer that employs AMD quad core 3.21 gHz processor and 2.75 gb of RAM. CPU usage starts off around 10% after the computer and Flex are booted but gradually rises to about 30% after about 4 minutes and remains around that level. Nothing else is running on the computer. Radio is on USB with no signals in passband. Buffer and sample rates are mid-range. Panadaptor is on. 1) Why does the CPU usage gradually increase? 2) isn't 30% CPU usage high for such a powerful computer? I occasionally get some minor drop outs. Thanks Jeff K0OD ___ 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://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
