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FlexRadio's CW Failings
Marty Ray
Member ✭✭
21
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Marty, I feel the same way. In the meantime, Flex is spending resources on features that a minority of the users will exploit or enjoy. There are currently a number of threads like this with similar concerns. I noticed the CW deficiencies in my 6600 and thought that Flex was going to give them high priority. Now I'm getting ready to wait a long time. Well, if I don’t sell the radio sooner. BTW, my previous rigs were a K3 and FTDX5K. Both excellent CW radios. 73, Robert-KP4Y5
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I am mostly CW, more of a generalist, a litte dx, ragchew, and contests, on any band that’s open and the tuner tunes. I leave my 6400 in qsk, delay at zero, and run 20 to 25 wpm. In comparison to my old TS850, based on recall, the 850 was better in the ability to hear between dits, especially with weak signals. The 6400 is good and I enjoy using it but I found that careful setting of AGCT is necessary for the best performance . I can hear better at 20 between dits than at 25, so it seems - purely qualitative. Is this an issue for all SDR’s? The 850 used relays for qsk, if memory serves.1
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Mark Agree, seems Icom, Kenwood and Elecraft have Zero Beat Tuning and Pitch Adjust features for CW And CW Decoders built into their Radio’s but not Flex 73 Mike1
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You make good points Marty. I also own a Elecraft K3 and have enjoyed it’s great CW capabilities. I am primarily a CW operator and I agree there is room for CW improvements on Flex radios. I have a detailed post on getting reasonable sounding QSK. I will also add that FRLogger has a very much improved version of CWX that I regularly use. I am keeping a close watch on V3 to see if some of the CW issues have been resolved. Joe N3HEE1
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Marty and others, Here is one more idea that was submitted 5 years ago to further improve the RX equalizer for CW. Many of us use the RX equalizer to peak a CW signal in the audio chain. Using the RX equalizer for CW was new back when the improvement was suggested but has become common over the years. The idea is to adjust the RX slider settings when in CW mode to make it even more effective. It is another idea that was marked as under consideration and an approach used by other radio vendors as well. In my experience a narrow setting is another way to make weak CW signals stand out as well as reduce the hiss or rumble you might otherwise get with a wider audio chain setting. If you get a chance, read through the thread and let me know what you think. https://community.flexradio.com/flexradio/topics/rx_equalizer_tailored_for_cw Regards, Al / NN4ZZ1
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Where do you find the time Mark, very innovative thinking. Looking forward to playing with your software.
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Great idea Al !
My preferred CW tone is 400 Hz. I also use the EQ to peak up the gain, but I'm stuck between 250 and 500 Hz sliders. Your idea would be great....or, just provide gain in the APF and be done with it!, but somehow if this hasn't been addressed in 5 years, something tells me it wont happen.
If there are no serious CW ops on the Flex team, I fear there will remain a lack of understanding about why these CW features are desired. It is likely that most of these CW suggestions are viewed as "fringe" ideas which are not considered important to the majority of operators.
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I can't believe it. Even my $150 SDRPlay w/ SDRUno SW has an amazing CW auto-zero-beat function and an Audio-Peak function (APF) that works incredibly well. And that is freeware. These are basic CW functions at this point in time. How is it possible a high-end Flex radio does not have this? It makes no sense!1 -
@VE6WZ, i believe the APF gain idea and the R X equalizer ideas are complimentary. In my experience a narrow equalizer setting is another way to make weak CW signals stand out as well as reduce the hiss or rumble you might otherwise get with a wider audio chain setting. Ideally with both features available we can use either one or a combination to get the best result for both weak signal reception and / or other band conditions. @Dan, RE: ‘....basic CW functions...how is it possible a high end Flex radio does not have this?” For the last few years it seems that FRS has been focused on big projects like the new models, amp, SmartLink and MultiFlex and not as much on the enhancements and basic improvements to SSDR. While that can be frustrating hopefully there will be time to address them soon. I think it would be a good idea to devote time to these kind of efforts every few releases but of course FRS has to decide where customers requests vs other projects makes the best business sense. Maybe Steve or Gerald will comment on this. Regards, Al / NN4ZZ5
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Hi Marty, it’s good to see Flex paying attention to your post. I also made the wrong decision in buying a 6500 and have been waiting for CW bug fixes since V1 (not new features, just bug fixes). Can I add that in the search for CW experienced ops for alphas, casual CW ops do not represent the needs of serious CW contesting ops and the other way round. In the past, Flex has listened to casual CW ops and their need for QSK and other new features. For contesting it’s simpler, low latency, fast tx/rx turn around and muting in PTT, everything else can be done externally or manually with the brain. Any bug fixes or optimisations in these specific areas are key if Flex is to be used for serious CW contesting.2
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Hi Stan, for running, I leave the CW filters in ‘auto’ and open them slightly more than 400Hz, which I believe is the toggle point between brick wall and more relaxed slopes with slightly less latency. Currently I get too many missed first CW element of return callers and the occasional pop/glitch in the audio, always at just the wrong time. The biggest problem for me is after 12 hours solid running listening to pop hiss pop hiss pop pop hiss whilst PTT is meant to be engaged.1
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Hi all,
Interesting post. I agree on some issues. However I would like to state the following.
I am a CW man and work 95 % remote operation. Even contests now. I have great demands in my operating. I strive to work most DX-peditions on all band slots on all bands (today little difficult due to sun spots) and lately even to be among top SM or Scandinavia in many contests. I used to work K3s with remote panel and Remote Rig. I used diversity as well. It worked but I felt it was a lot manual reading in K3 manual.
After switching over to Flex three years ago remote operation has been much easier and I have been able to achieve higher operating goals. And CW is my main mode. Much because it is technically easier with Flex user interfaces. I run SO2R and 2BSIQ with both high and low power band pass filters since my three towers are close (within a 150 feet radius). I lack only remote CW audio which I achieve over a pair of Remote Rig boxes to route the CW audio back to home.
I would never had gone this path with K3s and its platform for station integration. To much technical hassle for me. Doing it over ethernet and USB is so much easier.
I guess I am not to much of a CW virtous to demand all features that many say is lacking. They will for sure come by Flex as many are contesters (but perhaps not too many do CW I perhaps). Till now FLEX has served my "CW needs" well.
Happy Easter and see you in CQ WPX CW I hope!2 -
I have had good luck with in the noise 160 meter cw signals using minimal latency and 50 hz filtering. Minimal latency kills ringing and 50 hz seems to bring the signal out of the noise.
Keith - AC9S1 -
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Lol, along with the 500 or so wants as well....0
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Not sure why it is "LOL" that we would like a few CW enhancements that the competition mostly has. The rig is terrific in most ways; why not this way?
de Roger W6VZV
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