I was thinking of getting one of these but after reading about all of the problems I think I will stick with my Flex 3000. I have never seen so many people have so many problems using a radio like this latest and greatest radio. Seems Flex should have waited and got rid of all the bugs first before making us their Beta testers and not getting paid for it in some way. Just my two cents. I'm keeping my 3000 instead.
Posted 5 years ago
Stu Phillips - K6TU, Elmer
Peter K1PGV, Elmer
George Molnar, KF2T, Elmer
David Decoons wo2x, Elmer
I've been planning to get a 6300 in February. I understand what Ricky is saying. You don't hear many praises! I've had some second thoughts, too.
However, as of this writing, I'm still planning to buy one in February. I've saved my pennies and will as usual, pay cash.
There is still a question about which: the 6300 vs. the 6500.
Just like you I waited since last fall, Finally pulled the trigger and ordered the 6300 last week, It was delivered to my door in two days, Replaced one position on my desk that had a Yaesu FT1000MP with the Flex this past Friday....I'm having a great time...Lots of great support..
Just yesterday N5DOA Don works for Flex & he heard me talking on 80 meters yesterday evening about my new Flex and offered his help in getting my audio just right...He also offered to Email him anytime.
I'm really enjoying all the options this rig has to offer, Order it, You won't be sorry!! Corey kc0yns
Just yesterday N5DOA Don works for Flex & he heard me talking on 80 meters yesterday evening about my new Flex and offered his help in getting my audio just right...He also offered to Email him anytime.
I'm really enjoying all the options this rig has to offer, Order it, You won't be sorry!! Corey kc0yns
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if you pass on the 6700 (and can afford it) you are making a big mistake
Dave, Thanks for your comment!
While I can afford the 6700, (other than eight panadapters vs. 4 panadapters,) what advantages are there between the 6500 that makes it worth the extra $$$'s?
I've been a ham since the early 70's and operated my beautiful "S-Line" until 2005. While I won't miss all the knobs, I will miss dipping the plate current and peaking the grid! Hi, Hi.
Thanks Oscar, N5LN
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
The 6700 has two SCU's, which allows you to listen to stations on two separate antennas, like 160 and 6 meters at the same time. Or... Listening to the same frequency on two antennas, opening the door to many interesting options for diversity reception, noise reduction and other things that the 6500 and 6300 cannot do.
The 6700 also has the fastest processor, which may allow some high processing option more than the others. Not to mention the 8 pan adapters and 8 slices instead of 4 on the 6500 or 2 on the 6300.
It also has capability for 2 meter receive and transmit, although it is at transverter levels. Many 6700 owners are using a high gain amp to good effect.
I wish I could have afforded the 6700 for these reasons. But I love my 6500!
The 6700 also has the fastest processor, which may allow some high processing option more than the others. Not to mention the 8 pan adapters and 8 slices instead of 4 on the 6500 or 2 on the 6300.
It also has capability for 2 meter receive and transmit, although it is at transverter levels. Many 6700 owners are using a high gain amp to good effect.
I wish I could have afforded the 6700 for these reasons. But I love my 6500!
Ricky, do you have power line noise? If you need a decent noise blanker, you should keep your F3k...the 6000 series ineffective NB is 'science project' status....and 'later' at that..
JM2C, 73, w5xz, dan
JM2C, 73, w5xz, dan
Actually it worked well for me on the specific noise type. There was a loarge portion of 40M band that had a weird 'click' about 4 times second. With NB on, it disappeared w/o causing damage to the received signal. Turned an unusable portion of the band into clear air. It was pretty amazing.
I concur with the group, in addition some of the problems listed are old (1 year) and fixed.
I picked up my 6500 in late December and have a lot of time on it. WIth the 1.38 sw I am a very happy camper. It does a lot of things well. The 1.4 should add to this list. Suggest you check the fixes there were included in 1.38. One can read the release notes from the main Flex site. This trend of fixing bugs will continue.
Before ordering I was in the same mindset you are about all the 'problems'. I realized most posts are about problems and a lot of 'em are PC related, I was going to hold off till 1.4 came out but to what end. The s/w will be included in very near future for current users. Also the radio does pretty much everything I want (CW / RTTY some SSB) whereas the 1.4 goodies{FM / thin-net client} are of no interest. Any bug / enhancements will be welcome. So I figured why what / for what?
Radio is very good. Dabbled in the RTTY Round Up this weekend with no hick-ups from the Flex (PC did once on 15 meters due to RFI hitting it) Some of the contestants were right on top of each other and the 6500 pulled the station of interest w/o problems. One could run 3K filter width and have no problems even under these wall-to-wall conditions.
I leave this puppy on 24hrs a day and the Flex has stayed up for days on end.
Best Wishes.
I picked up my 6500 in late December and have a lot of time on it. WIth the 1.38 sw I am a very happy camper. It does a lot of things well. The 1.4 should add to this list. Suggest you check the fixes there were included in 1.38. One can read the release notes from the main Flex site. This trend of fixing bugs will continue.
Before ordering I was in the same mindset you are about all the 'problems'. I realized most posts are about problems and a lot of 'em are PC related, I was going to hold off till 1.4 came out but to what end. The s/w will be included in very near future for current users. Also the radio does pretty much everything I want (CW / RTTY some SSB) whereas the 1.4 goodies{FM / thin-net client} are of no interest. Any bug / enhancements will be welcome. So I figured why what / for what?
Radio is very good. Dabbled in the RTTY Round Up this weekend with no hick-ups from the Flex (PC did once on 15 meters due to RFI hitting it) Some of the contestants were right on top of each other and the 6500 pulled the station of interest w/o problems. One could run 3K filter width and have no problems even under these wall-to-wall conditions.
I leave this puppy on 24hrs a day and the Flex has stayed up for days on end.
Best Wishes.
(K3)Tim
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
K3TIM's advice about computers is worth expanding on - you simply have to have the right machine to make the best of either the PowerSDR radios or the new SmartSDR radios.
And the same computer isn't necessarily the right one for both PowerSDR and SmartSDR - I found that out when the XP Box I used with my 5000 wasn't up to what was needed to effectively run multiple programs with PowerSDR and want't up to doing SmartSDR well.
I hadn't budgeted for a new computer and tried to push it for a while, but my setup really didn't work very well until I got a good enough machine in.
So in short, check your intended computer against the SmartSDR minimums and recommendations if you are not planning to upgrade computers at the same time as radios.
73
Steve
K9ZW
And the same computer isn't necessarily the right one for both PowerSDR and SmartSDR - I found that out when the XP Box I used with my 5000 wasn't up to what was needed to effectively run multiple programs with PowerSDR and want't up to doing SmartSDR well.
I hadn't budgeted for a new computer and tried to push it for a while, but my setup really didn't work very well until I got a good enough machine in.
So in short, check your intended computer against the SmartSDR minimums and recommendations if you are not planning to upgrade computers at the same time as radios.
73
Steve
K9ZW
When those of us bought the Flex 6500 and 6700 series and ordered it in advance of its release, we knew we would be doing beta testing on the radio and software; that is a big part of what Flex users enjoy doing. Part of the fun is "beating the software to death" and reporting problems, issues, proposed changes, etc. back to Flex, whose staff are know to be among the best and most helpful in the business.
Right from the box and with the earliest software, I could see this radio is a definite winner, and I am not even a big contester or avid DX'er. With the subsequent upgrades, it has become even better. As 1.4 and 1.5 are released, the radios will really shine.
I could have bought something from one of the "big three" and already have a small ICOM HF/VHF/UHF radio, but with the Flex 6700, I have a lot more flexibility and a receiver that does everything better than any radio I have ever owned... even better than the 5000A I sold prior to ordering the 6700.
While the 3000 and 5000 series are most worthy radios that will outperform pretty much anything else out there, the 6000 series kicks it up a (huge) notch.
Right from the box and with the earliest software, I could see this radio is a definite winner, and I am not even a big contester or avid DX'er. With the subsequent upgrades, it has become even better. As 1.4 and 1.5 are released, the radios will really shine.
I could have bought something from one of the "big three" and already have a small ICOM HF/VHF/UHF radio, but with the Flex 6700, I have a lot more flexibility and a receiver that does everything better than any radio I have ever owned... even better than the 5000A I sold prior to ordering the 6700.
While the 3000 and 5000 series are most worthy radios that will outperform pretty much anything else out there, the 6000 series kicks it up a (huge) notch.
(Edited)
Robert -- N5IKD, Elmer
John n0snx
This forum was never designed to be a place to review their products, It was started as an avenue for each and every flex user to come and ask fellow users questions regarding "HOW TO" and report bugs users have come across while using the rig.
A lot of the issues that you see here is in no way a reflection of the REAL radio... You have people complaining about this and that and the software lacks and so on...That's is a small group of users that are putting the radio thru extreme operating conditions that the normal user would never think about.
For any user this is a fantastic radio and with each software upgrade it like getting a new radio; For the average user it is AWESOME!!!! The receiver is the BEST I have ever owned and I have owned Hundreds of them....
I have been a Flex guy for a long time starting with the 3000(2 times), 5000(2 times) and the 6300(2 times) and Have just ordered a 6500... Flex has definitely got it going on with the 6000 series. NOTHING on the market can compete with it.
Ricky with that being said.... Don't pass up the opportunity to own and use the Best there is....
Because:
"ONCE YOU HAVE THE BEST YOU WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE REST."
Jay / NO5J
Barry N1EU
Jay / NO5J
Burt Fisher
Ricky gave his "2 cents worth" to start this topic.
Here is literally a minor issue over 2 cents.
I ordered the 6300 ATU, a $300 item, no instructions.
I called and spoke to Dudley and he said Flex is "going green."
Well that's all and good but now I have to use the paper and ink to print the instructions. So they are SHIFTING the "green" away from them to be black at the customer end. For $300 spent 2 cents and print the instructions like another good company, Elecraft.
That is my "2 cents" about "2 cents."