New here, new to me Flex signature edition 6500

N1GMM

Hi All,
New Here, N1GMM. But not new to Ham Radio.
I have made mostly my own Home Brew things (still do) but this PC based system is new to me. Booted up. It imediately upgraded to HW 4.1.5.39794 and 4.1.5 sdr software. Receiving fine All Band. I am not new to SDR either, but mostly linux before.
Just here to say hello and ask if there is anything I should do before hand before actually starting to use this? I am a technical guy, electronics,semiconductor, and software background, although it has been a few years. I am 70. I am CW only as the 2 strokes (right cerebral) 4 years ago still slow me way down.. and my voice and hearing are shot.. without headphones and an equalizer I have to assist. CW is fine to hear.. but I am regaining my CW back.. dang strokes.

I look forward to talking with you folks. I am more used to Unix/Linux but get along ok in Windows 11.. running a Thinkpad X1/Gen11, 13th Gen core i7-1365u, 1800mhz, 10 cores.. 32 g of memory. Should be plenty for this..

vry 73
Guy N1GMM

VE7ATJ_Don

Well, at the risk of offending the '…manual, why do I need a manual?' in some of us, a great place to start is to download and read the SmartSDR manual available from the documentation portion of the flex website. Yep, it's long, but it has a LOT of good information on how things work and will make your journey with the radio much more productive. Also, there are a number of 'how to' articles published by the Help Desk located here:

"How To" Articles – FlexRadio

These are great with some of the more esoteric parts of running your new Flex.

Welcome to the family!

N1GMM

Don, No Offence, The manual is always the first place I start.
Thanks for the link.. and the welcome.
vry 73
Guy

John KB4DU

And, kinda like getting a new phone, just play with it, can't hurt it. Pretty much a 100W transmitter is a 100 watt transmitter is a …. The receiver takes the most accommodation, so hook up an antenna and poke around. But I agree the manual is a valuable resource. Probably the best written ham equipment manual i have ever used. Very procedural, not just a reference document.

Mike-VA3MW

You may want to start at our new user playlist too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJteC7p59ZU&list=PLcubIF34IGQsV_G1p1JiCNhEzxwlsKHRN

N1GMM

Hi All thank you. I am noticing that it upgraded to 4.1.5 and I am licensed according to the radio menu at V1. It is looking like I need to upgrade the software ($200) right? Seems like a lot, but perhaps I need this. There is so much documentation.. there must be a software users guide (not just changes Guide) that can be seen. Hihi.. Must be me..

guy

Mike-VA3MW

You should be able to go to V4.1.15 for free. If you can't please open a support ticket. That radio version is really old, so it might take a bit.

And, be glad for the documentation. It is all excellent. You don't have to read it all at once to get on the air.