Flex SDR

The FLEX-5000™:

The FLEX-5000 represents the next evolutionary advancement in software defined radio hardware. The FLEX-5000 Family, which consist of the FLEX-5000A™, the FLEX-5000C™ and the FLEX-5000D™ are three ultra-high performance transceivers that were built completely from the ground up, taking the best design features of the SDR-1000 (no longer in production) and adding some of the most innovative ideas that allow all aspects of the hardware to be software controlled. The FLEX-5000 Family uses the highest performance wide-band ADC and DACs available, which is where the incredible dynamic range performance comes from. No longer are consumer sounds cards needed for this function. Also, radio control and I/Q audio transfer from the radio hardware to the computer is now accomplished over a single FireWire connection.

SOME COMMON MISNOMERS ABOUT FLEX SDR

I need to be a computer expert?

Wrong: If you have hooked your radio up to your computer for logging or control purposes - then you have enough experience to connect up your Flex SDR

This is a computer not a radio?

Wrong: There is an increasing trend toward radio / computer connectivity. This is driven by a number of realities, including:

Complexity / yet smaller size of modern radios does not allow sufficient space on the front panel for all operating controls. Putting these controls onto your computer screen provides more space, functional lay-out and does not embed functions away in hard to access radio menus.

Many radio activities are becoming increasingly software / computer driven - RTTY, PSK31, SSTV, weak signal modes, satellite tracking, contest logging, SO2R contesting, peripheral accessory control are all commonly driven by your shack PC

With increasing population densities, it is now becoming difficult to build an effective HF station on your average suburban block (council restrictions on towers, eme issues, RFI issues, neighbor issues). For this reason - remote controlling an HF station in a community friendly location is now the easiest alternative.

In short, computers have an increasing role to play in the world of Ham radio and it is sensible to use the benefits of computer processing power and functionality to enhance the performance of radio functionlity.

Turn your FLEX-5000 into a Triplex Transceiver with the Addition of the Second Independent Receiver (RX2)

The RX2 is an all mode, all band completely independent receiver that has the same ultra-high performance specifications as the primary receiver. When utilized with the upgraded HRFIO board, the FLEX-5000 becomes a true SO2R solution in a single radio enclosure. Features such as diversity reception and a host of other capabilities will be possible with the RX2, such as actually monitoring your transmitted signal in real time just to name one.

FLEX-5000A July QST Product Review Now Available for Download

In the July 2008 issue of QST, Rick Lindquist, WW3DE published a very complimentary product review of the FLEX-5000A. Quoting Rick from the article, he said "The FLEX-5000A offers more features and flexibility than virtually any other transceiver I’ve ever seen and possibly any other radio on the market.". The ARRL lab's measurements confirm that the FLEX-5000A achieves 99 dB two-tone, third order dynamic range and +39 dBm IP3 at @ 2 kHz spacing! This is world class performance. Worthy of note is that PowerSDR v1.12.0 already makes the article out of date before the ink has dried on the magazine. Virtually every comment made about the radio in the article has already been addressed in the new release of PowerSDR, including automatic buffer settings by mode and screen resizing. This illustrates the power of the Open Source Software Defined Radio paradigm. We want to assure you that "FlexRadios" will, "just keep getting better and better and better."

A reprint of the FLEX-5000A product review is now available for download in PDF format from our page here for those who do not receive or have access to QST.