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FlexRadio Comparison Chart

Mike-VA3MW
Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin
edited September 12 in Amateur Radio Interests

Hi All

I have been playing with a building a FlexRadio comparison chart. It is a bit of an eye strain, but if you can see it full size, it does show all the models and all the features.

image.png

Comments

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Interesting, it shows the 510 and 520 non-M radios available 2025 Q4 . And the 510M and 520M available 2025 Q1. Is this a typo? Should it show that the 510M and 520M as 2026 Q1? If so, does that mean that it has already been determined that the M versions of the 510 and 520 won't be available until sometime in the first three months of 2026? I was told when I prepaid for the 520M I pre-ordered, that it should ship sometime in the last three months of 2025. ( 2025 Q4 from the original information I was given) So, what has changed that the M versions have been moved to next year? And why haven't buyers who have prepaid in full, been notified instead of finding it out on a chart?

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    It was a typo.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Thanks Mike, that's what I was hoping to hear. Have a good night.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    I am actually working on this chart everyday. I will replace it as I make changes, hence the reason for the data stamp.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    I appreciate you posting this . I think a lot of people would love to have a chart like this one to actually be able to see what the different models provide. This even helps people buying used Flex radios. While most Flex owners already know this, you might think about adding what kind of storage media ( SD card or eMMC ) that is used with each model and whether or not it user replaceable. I can think of a few more things as well. But, it could cause information overload!

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    That is why I did it. We also have a lot of staff who have joined over the more recent years and are have not worked with every radio.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    updated —

  • Stan VA7NF
    Stan VA7NF Member ✭✭✭

    The 6700 entry does not include VHF.

    As an aside I noticed that on the second Nyquest zone (2M) the wideband noise suppression seems to ADD very weak signals (From the first Nyquest zone?)

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    The FLEX-6700 does cover VHF from 135-167Mhz as an exciter and then there is an add on amplifier.

  • Jeff KA1ADN
    Jeff KA1ADN Member ✭
    Thanks for putting this together. I’m considering a FlexRadio as my next purchase and this is super helpful.
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    Updated: FLEX-6300 cannot accept a GPSDO.

  • N5FTY
    N5FTY Member ✭
    I’m new and don’t even know if this is the right place to ask a question. But I’m thinking about upgrading from my 6400 to the 8400 but I just had an offer to pick up on a 6700 at a really good price. I need advice , which Radio would you prefer? I’m also planning to use a Q5 2m transverter with a 300w amp with what ever radio I end up with.
  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Well, it depends on what you are looking for in a radio and why you are looking to upgrade.

    Although older, the 6700 has capabilities that the other two don't. It has two SCUs, so you can listen on two different antennas simultaneously, even on different bands. With the 6400 and 8400, you only have one SCU which means two receivers must share the same antenna.

    Two SCUs allows you to use diversity reception - two receivers on the same frequency, but on different antennas. You can also run full duplex satellite using transverters if that is of interest.

    The 6700 has low level 2 meter output, so it doesn't need a transverter, just a low-level amp.

    The 6700 can have up to 8 receive slices open at once, the 6400 and 8400 can only have up to 2.

    On the other hand, the 8400 is newer, with a faster FPGA and processor and is being positioned to do new things that the old hardware can't (adaptive pre distortion comes to mind).

    All three radios will run the same software, but there are some hardware dependent features that might make one more desirable than the others.

  • Jack Wren
    Jack Wren Member ✭
    I am confused. This chart shows that the 8400/8400M does not have a balanced mic input. The rear image of the 8400 on the Flex Radio website clearly shows a balanced input jack. Which is correct?
  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Jack, the chart is correct, the 8400 does not have a balanced mic input.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    The image on the website for the rear of the 8400 doesn't have a production tag on it. It is apparent that they just used an image from a 8600 back panel. It would be better if they took the time to update the photos to avoid confusion for potential customers.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Here's a photo of the actual rear panel.

    Flex_8400_Back_nobal_eb5d.jpg
  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Correction

    8400-back.jpeg
  • Jack Wren
    Jack Wren Member ✭
    edited September 7
    Thanks for the information guys. I appreciate knowing for sure. I am still trying to make up my mind between the 8400 and 8600 and wanted to be sure of the differences. The picture on the website is terribly misleading.

    Jack
    K4VR
  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    Thanks for letting me know. That picture was actually correct a year ago (no BAL connector). I have no idea how it got replaced.

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    Hi Mike, would it be possible to add prices? I understand it may require some updating over time, but it may help someone decide!

  • Flexed
    Flexed Member ✭✭

    Another think to keep in mind if has a display it has internal speaker else you need POWER speaker. I found this the hard way.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    @John KB4DU The prices are on the website and subject to change. It is too dangerous to have them in multiple places in case we forget to update some other document or someone will take us to task over it at some point.

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    @Flexed speaker line added

  • Flexed
    Flexed Member ✭✭

    @Mike-VA3MW Roger, Thanks

  • John KB4DU
    John KB4DU Member ✭✭✭✭

    thanks Mke

  • KM4CQG
    KM4CQG Member ✭✭
    edited September 28

    I'm a bit confused over the 6700 listing 1 receive antenna in the chart Mike.

    I have Receive Antenna A and Receive Antenna B Both have Input and Output BNC Ports.

    Is this not allowing 2 receive only Antennas?

    Ian

    KM4CQG

  • IK8HCG
    IK8HCG Member ✭✭
    Flex Front.jpg

    Today we had fun testing these three machines for a good four hours on very low signals like V6D and others from 10 to 40 meters: the flex6400, flex6700, and the Grandfather Flex5000A.
    I'd like to understand why the 5000 dominates the two. The 5000 has a very low noise level with a clean input signal. In CW with adjacent signals and a 500Hz filter, the 5000 was a wall, no interference.
    Give me a logical explanation.
    Not to mention the powerful flex software, but Darrin manages it.

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Ian, I think you found a mistake in the listing for the 6700. Hopefully, Michael will seen your post and correct the error.

    James

    WD5GWY

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