Best viewed in high quality. Burt, K1OIK reviews the Flex 5000A Software Defined amateur radio.
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25 Responses to “Reviewing the Flex 5000A SDR Ham radio”
Everyone theres a new glitch! Copy and paste this comment in 2 videos. Log on your penguin and press f2 f3 f4 at the same time and you will get 700,000 coins and free membership FOREVER! It sounds scary but it really works people! bye
Thanks again for another interesting and entertaining video. qemaster, you may wish to consider the Genesis G40 or G3020. This is a QRP SDR in kit form. I am in the middle of the G3020 build at the moment.
In addition, I am planning to purchase the Flex as my new “main” shack rig. I have researched the rig thoroughly and it is fantastic. As an EE that has written a lot of software over the past 26 years I am VERY excited by SDR.
Thanks again Burt!
Vaughn N2BHA
How would you rate this rig for blind folks? Would you consider it blind user friendly? Most blind folks use Jaws or some other speech software on their confusers. But does this use a lot of keyboard control, rather than just the mouse? I get more tired from using my mouse, than the keyboard or a tuning knob. I think this may be a good rig for the less-abled with our limitations and all considered.
I am impressed with the technology, but it doesn’t seem to be challenging. What got me back into amateur radio was QRP CW, simple kit-built radios, taken anywhere, even in my hotel room, and working the world. Kind of like hauling in a marlin with 3 oz test line, a real charge, and a real satisfaction. I may look into this later in life, but for now I’ll stick with my QRPp rig.
I like reading a hard cover book.
You can’t go mobile with the Flex nor can you go on 160 meters mobile with any rig.
I looked at one of your videos, actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually..
That looks horrible lol i dont know about you but this is similar to reading a book, weather you prefer to read a book digitally on your computer or reading the book in hard copy. personally hard copy is more comfortable to look at. how do you go mobile with this kind of setup? This takes the fun out of ham radio i’d say but everyone to there own i guess.
I have the 756III, there is no comparision, although the 756 is good it is no Flex 5000A. I know nothing about the K3. As far as what they told you in ’06, remember they were trying to sell it. Listen to what others say, but the final decision is yours
I must say though, the Flex-5000 really is a product that I can use almost right out of the box with my PC vs hooking up and tweaking the LP-PAN and hoping it works. Flex-Radio really has a long way and I really love what they have brought to the Ham community. I thoroughly enjoyed using their demo.
Also, Burt, I love your videos and hope to see more in the future.
Burt, I’m curious what your thoughts are on using a stand-alone rig w/ a panadapter such as LP-PAN vs using the Flex-Radio. Being a computer geek I’m considering moving from a 756-Pro3 to a Flex-5000A or a Elecraft K3 w/ Panadapter. I probably will never take my rig outside of the house but I’ve considered the fact that the K3 seems to be more upgradeable. After all, Flex-Radio told me at the Internation DX Convention in ’06 that the SDR-1000 would be the last radio I’d ever need.
How about some more radio TRUTH!! Save your money and buy a Perseus SDR instead. Then interface it to your existing SSB or AM transmitter transceiver. Save yourself a few thousand dollars in the process. THINK for once and stop being a typical block box operating ham… The Perseus software is designed better and you only need 300-3000hz SSB audio xmit at MOST! Lets get a clue people. Your existing SSB or AM xmitter is good enough for the job.
I guess the similarity has to do with the panadaptor. The Flex panadaptor is vastly superior to the bandscope on the Icom. New features are constantly being added as well. This is not possible with the Icom. I still wouldn’t mind owning the Icom. I already own an SDR-1000 which still works fine for me.
As far as the Motorola XTS5000 is concerned I don’t believe it has a Panadaptor which is a major selling point for the Flex and the Icom
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Everyone theres a new glitch! Copy and paste this comment in 2 videos. Log on your penguin and press f2 f3 f4 at the same time and you will get 700,000 coins and free membership FOREVER! It sounds scary but it really works people! bye
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
This guy must be related to Jack Horkheimer, Star-Gazer – or they have the same writer.
Nice, informative video, though.
Thanks for posting.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Wouldn’t the accessibility features in Windows work with the software?
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
you saw such a woman in the flex video?
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
How do you find all these beautiful women to be in your videos??
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Thanks again for another interesting and entertaining video. qemaster, you may wish to consider the Genesis G40 or G3020. This is a QRP SDR in kit form. I am in the middle of the G3020 build at the moment.
In addition, I am planning to purchase the Flex as my new “main” shack rig. I have researched the rig thoroughly and it is fantastic. As an EE that has written a lot of software over the past 26 years I am VERY excited by SDR.
Thanks again Burt!
Vaughn N2BHA
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Excellent video ! I might just get into Ham Radio after this ! Thanks for taking the time to make this.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I would not suggest a blind person become a pilot or a Flex user
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
How would you rate this rig for blind folks? Would you consider it blind user friendly? Most blind folks use Jaws or some other speech software on their confusers. But does this use a lot of keyboard control, rather than just the mouse? I get more tired from using my mouse, than the keyboard or a tuning knob. I think this may be a good rig for the less-abled with our limitations and all considered.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I find the Flex awakened by dormant interest in ham radio. QRP for the sake of QRP, not so interested. QRP camping, yes.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I am impressed with the technology, but it doesn’t seem to be challenging. What got me back into amateur radio was QRP CW, simple kit-built radios, taken anywhere, even in my hotel room, and working the world. Kind of like hauling in a marlin with 3 oz test line, a real charge, and a real satisfaction. I may look into this later in life, but for now I’ll stick with my QRPp rig.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I like reading a hard cover book.
You can’t go mobile with the Flex nor can you go on 160 meters mobile with any rig.
I looked at one of your videos, actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually.. actually..
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
That looks horrible lol i dont know about you but this is similar to reading a book, weather you prefer to read a book digitally on your computer or reading the book in hard copy. personally hard copy is more comfortable to look at. how do you go mobile with this kind of setup? This takes the fun out of ham radio i’d say but everyone to there own i guess.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
PF?
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Contesting is a waste pf spectrum
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Not all love my videos but no one person has told me where I was wrong
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I have the 756III, there is no comparision, although the 756 is good it is no Flex 5000A. I know nothing about the K3. As far as what they told you in ’06, remember they were trying to sell it. Listen to what others say, but the final decision is yours
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I must say though, the Flex-5000 really is a product that I can use almost right out of the box with my PC vs hooking up and tweaking the LP-PAN and hoping it works. Flex-Radio really has a long way and I really love what they have brought to the Ham community. I thoroughly enjoyed using their demo.
Also, Burt, I love your videos and hope to see more in the future.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Burt, I’m curious what your thoughts are on using a stand-alone rig w/ a panadapter such as LP-PAN vs using the Flex-Radio. Being a computer geek I’m considering moving from a 756-Pro3 to a Flex-5000A or a Elecraft K3 w/ Panadapter. I probably will never take my rig outside of the house but I’ve considered the fact that the K3 seems to be more upgradeable. After all, Flex-Radio told me at the Internation DX Convention in ’06 that the SDR-1000 would be the last radio I’d ever need.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
You don’t have to spend much to have fun with SDR! Watch this video: f3hhHaSkowo and also this one: VXkEr4ZzebA
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
How about some more radio TRUTH!! Save your money and buy a Perseus SDR instead. Then interface it to your existing SSB or AM transmitter transceiver. Save yourself a few thousand dollars in the process. THINK for once and stop being a typical block box operating ham… The Perseus software is designed better and you only need 300-3000hz SSB audio xmit at MOST! Lets get a clue people. Your existing SSB or AM xmitter is good enough for the job.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
I guess the similarity has to do with the panadaptor. The Flex panadaptor is vastly superior to the bandscope on the Icom. New features are constantly being added as well. This is not possible with the Icom. I still wouldn’t mind owning the Icom. I already own an SDR-1000 which still works fine for me.
As far as the Motorola XTS5000 is concerned I don’t believe it has a Panadaptor which is a major selling point for the Flex and the Icom
73
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
There is nothing similar between the two. Your comparison has no merit.
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
for the cost of the computer + radio you could get a real radio like a Motorola XTS5000 P25 interoperability portable radio
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
hmmm, 2.5K$
very interesting
I see thay have a Flex 3000A for 1.5K$ too.
gotta start savin the pennies,
either fix the car — or…