OK i'll start then, nearly $7000 OMG, had it been anyway near the competition, my $1000 dollars
would have been sat in the FRS account already.
would have been sat in the FRS account already.
Posted 3 years ago
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Dat 1970's Stylin tho......
No they change their ugly first look ;-) lol
Still ugly, what is that hunk of metal across the front and around that postage stamp size display. Compare to the clean modern design of the Acom front panel it looks crude and clunky
I agree, who in their right mind came up with that god awful ugly front design?
Take a look at the Acom 600s. Much more aesthetically pleasing.
Take a look at the Acom 600s. Much more aesthetically pleasing.
Why not just build your own and have more control over the amp, we are hams that's what we do. I'm really considering either Jim's W6PQL or Reinhard DH3NAB's kits. Mark NU6X built what I think is a very sexy amp from the B26 RF2K parts. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6mgz4XdEiHTYVJCdzE1MEVFcEE/view?usp=sharing%20https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6mgz4XdEiHTaW9MRjJtUndmdVU/view?usp=sharing
May I ask what "B26 RF2K" parts are? That control panel looks great, anyone know if that was homebrew or from a supplier?
Check out the website. http://rf-kit.de/en/2k_Kit.php
I have to say it looks nice, but I have not been able to find a price, will have to email him.
I recall how long actual roll out of Maestro was, any chance sun spots will be on incline when these ship? :)
Lew
N4CO
Lew
N4CO
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
As long as there is no hang up with the FCC certification paperwork, the ETA is this summer.
Since we are now discussing price. How much is ATU offer?
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Matt had told me via chat that details on the ATU will follow, but I'd love to know what sort of unit is will be and some idea of the additional cost.
73
Steve K9ZW
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
TBD. It is still in the engineering phase of development. We will not have final pricing until we have a working version.
Will it be internal or external to the amp?
External
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
I understand more than one person has pre-ordered two (or more) PowerGeniusXL units, so pricing isn't beyond market acceptance.
Solid state alternatives have typically been running even more money (though some have integral power supplies, ATUs or other features).
My Alpha-9500s will become backups to PowerGeniusXLs. I am thinking of moving the "shack" to the tower base with most gear having not more than 100ft of feedline to the antenna. Let network connectivity handle the haul back to the "traditional shack" and other operating positions.
The present PowerGeniusXL configuration is able to handle up to 2.5:1 matching needs, which will work for a lot of the target buyers.
73
Steve K9ZW
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
It could be some big gun contester who may actually come out cheaper in the end instead of two amps.
I also wonder if any non flex users will buy it. Being "true" SO2R out of the box is pretty neat.
I also wonder if any non flex users will buy it. Being "true" SO2R out of the box is pretty neat.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
On the SO2R side other solid state options are a lot more expensive. Looks like $11,000-$15,000 sort of territory. Makes the PowerGeniusXL a consideration for a non-Flex shack.
Before the Alpha-9500 was sharply discounted in the series of organizational death throws, it priced at a similar price point.
Cool & interesting & advanced & pioneering are so seldom in the same sentence as inexpensive when it comes to technology alas.
Looking forward to Matt's call for full payment and delivery instructions here!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Before the Alpha-9500 was sharply discounted in the series of organizational death throws, it priced at a similar price point.
Cool & interesting & advanced & pioneering are so seldom in the same sentence as inexpensive when it comes to technology alas.
Looking forward to Matt's call for full payment and delivery instructions here!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Does it really look like this? Functionality I'm certain is Excellent coming from Flex, but the 1970s called and want their enclosure designer back!
No look on the web site, it dosent look like a ATARI anymore, it's realy nice
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Oh Wow! Yeah, that's much better! Scared me for a minute!
The back is not very pretty.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
More like "plain" than unattractive:
Looks like LOTS of ventilation and seeing components I am wondering if the airflow is filtered or not?
For my remote Island QTH radio gear located at the base of the tower situation, I am working with the idea of having a very clean space to keep the gear. Will look at filtering intakes and extra efforts at protection from insects and vermin. When the shack is 120 miles from home, with 6 miles of it water with enough hazards to be called "Death's Door" I don't want to have something get in and mess with the gear.
73
Steve K9ZW
I looked at the rear of all my equipment, none of them had a "pretty" back side, but then I didn't expect them to. :)
(Edited)
it looks Borg... will it assimilate other amps or gear?
David Decoons wo2x, Elmer
It already assimilated my wallet :-)
I think I am going to also have to find a place outside of my listening location to place this, the fans sound pretty noisy in the video. Especially near the very end of the video. http://www.flexradio.com/amateur-products/powergenius-xl/
David Decoons wo2x, Elmer
That was a very early unit in the video.
I am hoping that improvements will be made to the cooling solution to mitigate fan noise in production units.
It will be interesting to see if any videos are posted after this weekend's show at Hamcation.
Dave wo2x
I have read the many negative posts above but here is my input. Currently I have an Alpha 9500 paired with the FLEX-6700. That worked fine until the last few releases of DDUtil which won't run on my Windows 10 Enterprise machines. I appreciate the tight integration between the FLEX-6700 and the new amplifier. There are many features to like about the PowerGeniusXL. It was about 30 minutes after the newsletter was sent out via email that I saw it and immediately ordered one. On a different thread there were several other indicating that they had already ordered a PowerGeniusXL.
Here is the good news for the naysayers: In a few months I'll have an Alpha 9500 for sale. See, there is good news in this for everybody.
Reg
Here is the good news for the naysayers: In a few months I'll have an Alpha 9500 for sale. See, there is good news in this for everybody.
Reg
My 9500 is already listed :-)
Tim VE6SH
Tim VE6SH
Gerald - K5SDR, Employee
The video was with a 2kW power supply, which was noiser than the final 3 kW 50V supply that will be in the production unit. The final version is much quieter.
David Decoons wo2x, Elmer
Thanks Gerald. I know you mentioned they were working on noise mitigation. Will the amp with new PS be on display this weekend? I'm flying down in the morning.
Dave wo2x
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
I have an Expert 2K-FA (cost $7K+. I impulse bought it off the show floor at Visalia DX Convention) which thanks to Steve K5FR works perfectly with DDUTIL especially since I operate remote about 80% of the time.
I have a SteppIR MonstIR which covers 80M-6M so I have never used the internal ATU on the Expert since the antenna is always close enough to 1:1 SWR. I have several fan dipoles for diversity but do not run power on them. OTOH I tend to be a NERDY Purist who would want an ATU just in case I need to schlep the Amp for a contest at NX6T.
The 2K-FA has 4 antenna ports and 2 input Ports. The 2K-FA will key down for hours at 2330W so it has it has tons of headroom.
Genius XL $7K Price is NOT an issue Since it's in the same range of equivalent power.
Genius XL is supposed to be Ethernet connected. A HUGE advantage.for remote. It will need an ATU and an Antenna Genius to be functionally equivalent to the 2K--FA BUT the XL has 2 x 1500 W LDMOS finals so HUGE Headroom PLUS a promiss of best in class IMD and maybe the ability to have Adaptive Pre-distortion. I would love a keydown test.
So far my only hesitation is software. Software is always later than everyone thinks. So if I buy an XL I likely would not be able to dump the 2F-FA for a year or two until I get the remote control that I have with DDUTIL.
I may yet buy one because it will be fun to play with the alpha software. The entertainment value of alpha software is easily worth $7k
I have a SteppIR MonstIR which covers 80M-6M so I have never used the internal ATU on the Expert since the antenna is always close enough to 1:1 SWR. I have several fan dipoles for diversity but do not run power on them. OTOH I tend to be a NERDY Purist who would want an ATU just in case I need to schlep the Amp for a contest at NX6T.
The 2K-FA has 4 antenna ports and 2 input Ports. The 2K-FA will key down for hours at 2330W so it has it has tons of headroom.
Genius XL $7K Price is NOT an issue Since it's in the same range of equivalent power.
Genius XL is supposed to be Ethernet connected. A HUGE advantage.for remote. It will need an ATU and an Antenna Genius to be functionally equivalent to the 2K--FA BUT the XL has 2 x 1500 W LDMOS finals so HUGE Headroom PLUS a promiss of best in class IMD and maybe the ability to have Adaptive Pre-distortion. I would love a keydown test.
So far my only hesitation is software. Software is always later than everyone thinks. So if I buy an XL I likely would not be able to dump the 2F-FA for a year or two until I get the remote control that I have with DDUTIL.
I may yet buy one because it will be fun to play with the alpha software. The entertainment value of alpha software is easily worth $7k
Have 2K also, could buy another 2K and get the combiner to parallel two 2K's for another $7K, could Tx 1.5Kw RTTY 24 hours a day with No Fan Noise !
73 Mike
73 Mike
keydown for hours at 2.3K?!!! SERIOUSLY? Mine won't run over ~1100W on RTTY (which is what it is rated at - no more) ... KEYDOWN? Seems a bit of an exaggeration. I know mine came with the same sheet showing ~2400W out on all bands but 6 where it was 2K when tested before shipment (late 2011) at the factory ... I run it legally and don't feel its designed for long term use over 2K or so.
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
Gee, Howard, I figured you would be in line trying to get serial #1! Just for entertainment value . Hi Hi!
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
Some have said the 1.3K has a better RTTY duty cycle than the 2K. I haven't verified.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
@Ken... by the time I got up in the AM I was too late for Serial #1 and there was no way (yet) to buy my way to the head of the line like I did with several other devices...I need to have a long chat with the powers that be....
@Gary - running into a 3KW dummy load on a calibrated Wattmeter I was able to record consistent power out of 2330W for at least 30 minutes.. yes the fans worked very loudly but definitely lots of headroom.. did not put it on a spectrum analyzer so no idea as to the IMD at that power and it is not recommended. just trying to push the limits to see what it could do before it thermaled out... IIRC It thermaled at about 2,400W after a couple of minutes... Several of my EU friends run theirs at 2KW SSB consistently with no problems and no IMD Complaints.
Be careful not to exceed 60 amps, on any mode, or any band, the MeanWell OEM supply is rated at 48 @ 62.5Amps, the weakest point in a 2K is Power Supply
Some have killed the 2K OEM Supply pushing it over 60Amps
73 Mike
Some have killed the 2K OEM Supply pushing it over 60Amps
73 Mike
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
At legal limit the 2K tends to splatter quite a bit. I've seen them on the bands and almost instantly know when someone is using one at high power levels.
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
BTW. I agree that the 2K can splatter 1when pushed. Which is why I run thermal tests on the 3K dummy load
With the MonstIR. An 2K at legal limit ERP can be in 10KW Range
Interesting that the power genius XL claims 2KW headroom. It would be very interesting to look at IMD. At 2K On the power genius XL
With the MonstIR. An 2K at legal limit ERP can be in 10KW Range
Interesting that the power genius XL claims 2KW headroom. It would be very interesting to look at IMD. At 2K On the power genius XL
_pp_large.jpg)
Hey Howard ...I know this is not the topic here, But I need your advise; I bought SPE 1.3K and I need to request for cables to connect to DDutil, however I have heard that with new SmartSDR version I could connect directly to my flex....I received this from Dan:
"My FlexRadio interface cable connects to the ACC port for Accessory TX and +5v for Remote On. Then there is a short jumper over to the ALC port and one for RS-232 for frequency data. If you have upgraded to the new beta version of SmartSDR, that cable can go to the FlexRadio itself for that data now. You will need to purchase a FTDI chip set based USB to Serial adapter for that connection. Works great and a lot easier to setup"
What do you think?
Thanks
George
"My FlexRadio interface cable connects to the ACC port for Accessory TX and +5v for Remote On. Then there is a short jumper over to the ALC port and one for RS-232 for frequency data. If you have upgraded to the new beta version of SmartSDR, that cable can go to the FlexRadio itself for that data now. You will need to purchase a FTDI chip set based USB to Serial adapter for that connection. Works great and a lot easier to setup"
What do you think?
Thanks
George
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
You can buy a cable from Dan, which is perfectly fine and it will work. You should not use ALC.
However I decided to make my own cable as follows:
9 pin (Radio via FTDI adapter) to 15 pin (SPE Expert)
Pin 2 (RXD) ---------------------------------------> Pin 9 (TXD)
Pin 3 (TXD) ---------------------------------------> Pin 1 (RXD)
Pin 5 (Ground) -------------------------------------> Pin 4 (Ground)
Additionally I soldered the drain wire to the shield on both dsub connectors for additional shielding.
And it works perfectly fine.
However I decided to make my own cable as follows:
9 pin (Radio via FTDI adapter) to 15 pin (SPE Expert)
Pin 2 (RXD) ---------------------------------------> Pin 9 (TXD)
Pin 3 (TXD) ---------------------------------------> Pin 1 (RXD)
Pin 5 (Ground) -------------------------------------> Pin 4 (Ground)
Additionally I soldered the drain wire to the shield on both dsub connectors for additional shielding.
And it works perfectly fine.
Thank you Ria!!
Could you send me a picture from your connection?
yv5wz@hotmail.com
:)
By the way, I only have USB ports on my PC
Thanks!
73's
George
Could you send me a picture from your connection?
yv5wz@hotmail.com
:)
By the way, I only have USB ports on my PC
Thanks!
73's
George
(Edited)
KY6LA - Howard, Elmer
George
Ria already answered you correctly
Tim (W4TME),
is i am understand correctly that pic.:
- it is kind of commitment of implementation of the Pure Signal in version 2.0?
is i am understand correctly that pic.:
- it is kind of commitment of implementation of the Pure Signal in version 2.0?
I know Gerald called it something, I can't find it,,pure signal is an Anan name for it.
it is true Bill (Pure=Anan), however i can't find here correct abbreviation
(Edited)
Ria - N2RJ, Elmer
M.EffA? That's something else?
MeffA is efficiency for Amp in general, but how the pre-distortion (TRCVR+Amp) will be called instead Springtime Air :-)
i hope -60db IMD kind of most wanted with SDR technology here
i hope -60db IMD kind of most wanted with SDR technology here
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
As far as I have heard, APD is the generic term for the process. If FRS has come up with their own company name for their own planned algorithm, I haven't heard it. But it definitely has been stated that APD will be one of their development items, in good time, and that the PGXL and 6000 rigs have both been designed with the appropriate hardware and will eventually incorporate it.
Only the FRS leadership really knows when that might be. But it will be worth the wait when it arrives, I'm sure.
Ken - NM9P
Only the FRS leadership really knows when that might be. But it will be worth the wait when it arrives, I'm sure.
Ken - NM9P
(Edited)
Yeah, Paul, Ken, thank you, strange I have a look yesterday through the PGXL thread but propably skip this reply by Gerald. Nevertheless , well APD on the way of the real schedule and Radio 2.0(sw) appreciated
Ken - NM9P, Elmer
To be clear, they have said nothing at all about a time table. So we do not know WHEN any APD may appear.
Yeah, Ken, you are right, I know rules of our game here, however push - pull also a part of the market realities , you know.
I must have messed up by signing up on paper at Dayton and also using the web site sign up mechanism. They must have cancelled each other out. I haven't received any sort of notice or info yet.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Call or email FRS?
The PowerGeniusXL Video thread also had a link posted.
73
Steve
K9ZW
The PowerGeniusXL Video thread also had a link posted.
73
Steve
K9ZW
David Decoons wo2x, Elmer
I did not see any ordering info. I will see them at the show tomorrow and hopefully place an order.
I am looking forward to seeing the amp live.
Guess I will have an Acom 2000a with spare tubes for sale.
Dave wo2x
I am looking forward to seeing the amp live.
Guess I will have an Acom 2000a with spare tubes for sale.
Dave wo2x
Problem solved. Matt had no idea why I didn't originally get the e-mail blast. I now have 2 on order!
Hmm, I did't get back also any mails or info regarding order, need to mail directly I assume
Matt - KD5FGE, Employee
Thank you for all the enthusiasm around the PowerGenius XL! We have now made the reservation available on our online store. Be sure to get your reservation in!
http://cart.flexradio.com/PowerGenius-XL-RESERVATION_p_1005.html
Thank you,
Matt, what the right way for reservation outside US ? (local reseller : Radioexpert)
Matt - KD5FGE, Employee
We will be working toward reservations through our distributors in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned for more information.
Got it Matt, thank you !
Will there be a rack mount option?
Tim - W4TME, Customer Experience Manager
No. You will need to use a rack shelf due to the weight.
Steve K9ZW, Elmer
Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB
Marc-Andre
You are right, i agree that this kind of amp need a ATU too, that why i use a 2K-FA The Power Genius is a very good machine BUT also LACK antenna connector on the back