Aurora Arrived

Steve K9ZW

Been receiving emails asking questions, so I figured I would share my blog post about unboxing and initial QSOs of a new AU-520M:

https://k9zw.wordpress.com/2025/12/28/flexradio-aurora-au-520m-comes-out-of-the-box/

73

Steve

K9ZW

n0mdh

Congrats and enjoy!

That challenge coin is a nice touch

n0ypd

you are a lucky fella. Congrats and have fun.

Trucker

Glad someone has received their new Aurora radio.

James

WD5GWY

Mike_NC7I

Congratulations! I'm trying to be patient . . .

Mike

Mike58

Aurora front.jpg

SDR Software.jpg

I received my Aurora AU-510 last Thursday and was on the air with it that day. So far I am thrilled with it, and it has performed perfectly running 500 watts SSB extended time with a temperature around 22 degrees celsius. I have the Flex tuner genius integrated with the Aurora, and the tuner controls populate on the SDR software controls.

So far I am pleased with the Aurora and have received positive audio and signal reports. My official 1st DX contact with the Aurora was on 17 meters in Poland.

Mike

N9ZX

n0mdh

@N9ZX, Congrats!
Could you tell us which version of the TGXL firmware you're running? I was under the impression that 1.2.17 provided that SSDR integration, but it just crashes out for me.

Mike58

Hi Mike,

I am running firmware version 1.2.17 and have not experienced any issues. The tuner controls show up in the radio panel on the right side of the SDR software. There are tune and operate buttons which function properly. My SDR software is on a dedicated mini PC running Windows 11.

Mike

N9ZX

n0mdh

thanks Mike. That’s very interesting that it works . Glad to hear it

Russ Ravella

Hi Mike,

May I ask when you purchased your TGXL and if you purchased it new ?

I have a weird problem with the meters in the tuner control panel in SSDR being extremely unreliable. The SWR meter works occasionally while the power meter basically doesn't work at all. Both utilities always work perfectly.

Both Tim and Eric have taken multiple swings at the problem to no avail and I've replaced basically everything (including the SD) that could possibly have anything to do with it besides the prime hardware itself, also to no avail. Also I've tried voltages on the TGXL from about 14V to 25V with no effect whatsoever.

About the only thing left is a narrow hardware problem in the TGXL or radio though neither seems very likely. I've read reports of very loosely similar issues with certain TGXL serial numbers (mine isn't among them) so it seems possible.

Thanks, 73 Russ KR6W

6700 running everything from late v3 builds through 4.1.5 SSDR (though when the issue appears in SSDR it also appears in the iOS version), TGXL running v1.2.12, 1.2 17 and a newer unreleased 1.2.20, PGXL and AG on the latest. Win10 and 11 on a fast PC. Running no other s/w makes no difference. There's nothing on the switch (I've tried two that otherwise work perfectly) but these pieces and WAN (and it doesn't help to remove the WAN).

n0mdh

I purchased it second hand. Tim just said Flex can’t do anything further for me and suggested that I should open a ticket with 4o3a next since they author the firmware for the device.

Again, no issues at all on 1.1.20, but no SSDR integration at all. 1.2.17 is a nightmare. 1.2.12 provided by Tim shows integration, but it says I’m pushing 500w when from my 6300 and also shows nothing on the TGXL SWR meter.

I only got this in advance of my Aurora arriving as I read here about its finicky tuner range, but that may be overblown.

I’ll see what 4O3a has to say.

Sorry to high jack this thread 😬

Mike58

Hi Russ,

I purchased the TG back in Sept 2025, new.

Arnold Goldman

how do you set up the 10 watts output on the aurora i am waiting for my 520M and was told the aurora doesn't automatically cut back to to 10 watts like the 8600M does?? so you just assume manualy cut back?? tnx for any info

Mike58

Hi Arnold,

I just set the tune power level in the settings, tx band settings in the SDR software. This seems to work without any issues with my tuner genius.

73 Mike

N9ZX

Arnold Goldman

ok tnx still waiting!! haven't gotten my t shirt or mug either yet; so far with 1.2.17 tgxl pgxl and 8600M all working just didnt realize have to use computer for tgxl tune and not maestro;

Mike58

The mug and jacket arrived one week after receiving the Aurora.

Mike-VA3MW

Arnold, if you do not see it by next week, can you email orders@flexradio.com and ask to check on it.

73

Arnold Goldman

can you buy an extended warranty also for the aurora ??

Mike-VA3MW

Not yet. If we choose to sell it we will let everyone know.

Arnold Goldman

ok tnx sent over email to orders@flex-radio AND orders@flexradio are they the same tnx

Mike-VA3MW

they are the same email address. same for flex.radio.

Scott-ka0jwc

I received my AU 510 Friday. Unboxed and on the air. Very pleased with it so far. Since I haven't figured out the profile settings yet, I have to set up all my mic and mode settings on the fly.

It has crashed on me a couple of times. First time filled up the page with all of the errors. Should've done a screen shot. Hasn't done it since. I do get some other error that pop up which could be RF getting into the radio? Even at 100 watts though. And I do get audio buzz through my speakers on 10-17 meters while running FT 8 again at 100 watts. Didnt do that on the 6600.

All in all, nice radio. Ill probably sell my 6600 once i get all dialed in

Trucker

It sounds like RFI is creating a problem for you. If you have tried importing your profiles from your 6600 into SmartSDR with your 520, or if SmartSDR is finding them on your pc, that might be a source of your problems.

James

WD5GWY

Eric W1NEJ

AU520 that was ordered in July arrived today. So far, working well both with Windows and Mac versions of SmartSDR. Mac version needs the power meter expanded from 100 to 500 watts but the RF power sliders seem to represent percent as when the RF power is set to ~20 the power meter indicates ~100 watts and when the tune slider is at 10 the power meter indicates 50 watts, which would be 10% of 500 watts. When operating at full power, the power meter is "pinned".

Arnold Goldman

just got my 520M delayed due to winter storm will try to set it up this weekend

Trucker

Enjoy!

James

WD5GWY

MarkLaskow

What was your order date?

Arnold Goldman

june 5th!!

MarkLaskow

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Arnold Goldman

just turned my 520M on getting only 100watts with transmit to 100%; other issue is the main VFO knob getting stuck and making a grinding noise at the 7 o'clock position; also did not realize that SDR+ is NOT included; the knob DOES NOT feel the same as my 8600M!! for a 10K radio i feel that the SDR+/EARLY ACCESS should be included; the tuner DOES WORK on its own on my windom antenna; will keep playing with the knob; just frustrating that this is the THIRD radio with a problem out of the box!! my 6600M had a dead front speaker out of the box; my 8600M had the terrible fan noise and I paid for the signature series radio; will keep trying

Trucker

Arnold, it's definitely time to open a Help Desk ticket. As for including Early Access, Flex Radio was up front and stated before shipping started last December, that ALL new radios from Flex Radio, including the Aurora radios, would come with SmartSDR version 4 Basic. I felt like you do that it would have been nice if they had included Plus or Early Access. But, they didn't. So, I stepped off into the deep end and upgraded to Early Access. I would have been willing to skip the jacket and tumbler if I could have gotten Plus or Early Access. Anyway, it is what it is. So far, my AU-520M has performed flawlessly. Get with the Help Desk and they will resolve your problems. Then you can enjoy an amazing 500 watt transceiver that barely gets warm at full power output.

James

WD5GWY

I tested using v4 Basic for a few days and realized that I really wanted the better Noise Reduction features in Plus and Early Access. Download the latest version of FRStack and you will find that you have a great combo.