Flex 6700 as 2m band receiver

Mr Radio

I would like to use my F 6700 as a 2m band receiver with a direct antenna connection ( without a transverter). How sensitive is F 6700 on that band? Do I need to use an antenna preamplifier? Has someone done some measurements?

Tom

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Tom

For normal operation, a preamplier is not required.

It really depends of what sort of operation you want to use it for. For EME work, yes you will want a preamp installed at the antenna.

For day to day operation such a FM and repeaters, no preamp is required. However, a power amp will be required as the RF out on the Transmitter is 5mw.

Mr Radio

Thank you for your comment, OM Mike. I plan to use my Flex to monitor local repeaters, so it is a quite ordinary application. Perhaps someone will be able to measure 2 m band sensitivity and share results here...

Tom

Mike-VA3MW

To be honest, for FM work, the FlexRadio is more than sensitive enough. I have bench tested it in my Lab and it is as good as every radio I have ever worked on. For someone to answer your question accurately, they will have to have made measurements with test equipment.

However, if it is for FM only, then spend $100 and buy any used 2M mobile. It has far more features than the 6700 has, such as scanning, broader RX range, WX alert, CTCSS encode/decode, DCS and much more. Your experience will be much better.

2M on the 6700 was really designed for weak signal work such as SSB, EME and Satellite work.