Flex-6500 to Flex-6600 Upgrade?

Jerry Gardner

I currently have a Flex-6500. If I upgrade to a Flex-6600 (non-M version), what practical benefits would I get?

Ted VE3TRQ

[Edit: replace obsolete with discontinued]

Well, besides the fact you will have a current instead of discontinued (although entirely functional) radio, you will get seventh order contest band filters and a second more competent SCU. If you do satellite, you get full duplex on two bands.

the 6600 can take in 14 MHz per SCU at its widest - I don’t think the 6500 can do that. I’m sure others will come up with more differences / improvements, although they are only meaningful to you if you need / want them :-)

Rick N4RZ

Both radios will do 14 MHZ per SCU. But the 6500 only has 1 SCU. The 6500 has a RX Ant Out and RX Ant In while the 6600 has two RX Ant In1 and RX Ant In2. I made this same switch albeit for the M model due to wanting the on radio controls and the ability to display on a separate monitor. I can't really detect any significant performance differences between the two. But I really like having the controls and not having to use the computer all the time to run the radio.

Jerry Gardner

Is the "M" model implemented like the Maestro? In other words, does it use a Dell tablet inside the front panel to implement the touch screen?

John KB4DU

Yup. I think the maestro s a better idea. The cost is about the same, M or maestro. The M models take up a lot of desk space to be able to access the controls. With a Maestro the big box can be remoted somewhere, under the desk, or in a closet, or just nearer the antenna connection and the maestro can be used elsewhere, like den or patio or even office. The maestro can also be used with the existing 6500.

Rick N4RZ

The "M" model and Maestro have the same controls with identical functionality. Whether or not they use the same Dell tablet inside is not obvious to the operator. I have both, with my Maestro being one of the original models that I originally used for my 6500. I find on my Maestro that the main tuning dial does not always exactly follow my turning of the knob. I was told this is caused by the encoder used for the knob. This issue does not occur with my "M" front panel or from what I understand on later models of the Maestro. Using Multi-Flex you can use both sets of controls for the radio at the same time. So, it is sort of like having two separate radios each with independent controls that share a transmitter. Almost all of the time, I use the "M" front panel and the HDMI connection to replicate the display on a 27" monitor. As John said the Maestro does offer the flexibility of remoting the radio or just moving your operating position around the house or even on the road using SmartLink.

Jerry Gardner

I definitely don’t want a Maestro or any other means to remotely control the rig because going down to my ham shack is a way for me to escape the hustle and bustle upstairs and operating in the living room or at the dinner table would defeat that.

John KB4DU

Guess I should qualify that a new M and a new Maestro use the same tablet. The older “version 1” maestro used a different tablet from the current version.