LEARNING TO OPERATE THE FLEX 3000

                                                             Flex 3000 console display  (double click for larger view)


With any new transceiver there is a learning period. I am particularly slow at learning each of the features of a new radio. In fact, I am slow at learning anything new. I have spent the last three months learning about the multitude of features that my new Flex 3000 has. With each new feature I learn I am increasingly impressed with the radio and the software. On a lot of transceivers I can set the width and off-set of the digital filter but with the panadapter control panel (above) I have a visual representation of the incoming signal and can see my filter settings and their relation to that signal as I make the adjustments. For example, on the 3873 traffic and ARES nets there are nearby signals just below and just above the net frequency. I can see the width and location of those nearby signals, where they are causing interference, and I can see how best to eliminate the interference from them.

Using the squelch adjustment and not having an adjustable RF gain control was a bit of a problem for me at first. I am old-school and every HF transceiver must have two gain controls: AF and RF. Since signals continually vary in strength (QSB) getting the squelch adjusted correctly on the lower HF bands is a bit harder than adjusting the squelch control on the VHF-UHF FM transceivers. Once I learned how to set it correctly I find that there is a lot less natural noise (QRN) than with an RF gain control. (I still miss an RF gain control.) The SDR software does have three positions of preamplifier control and I find them useful on the higher HF bands but on frequencies below 20 meters I find they are of little use.

The AGC (automatic gain control) has the standard four positions – off, slow, medium and fast – and works well, especially when I remember to set it on fast for CW and return it to medium for SSB. The three noise-blanker positions work well but down on 80 and 40 meters I rarely use them. I still need to learn more about using them properly and using the companion SR button.

I love the fact that each band switch button has three (stacking) memories and all I have to do is click on that button again once or twice to return to the last two frequencies, modes and filter settings I was using on that band. No more having to use the memory controls to store and then recall the prior settings. For instance, I have the 80 meter band button set for the 3873 Traffic / ARES net frequency and modes, for the 3552 CW nets and one open just to troll the band.

The receiver and transmitter incremental tuning off-sets work well. With the Flex 3K I do not have to worry about being off-frequency but if it is a concern, which so far it has not been,  I can check my frequency settings as often as I want with the built-in WWV frequency check function. A lot of transceivers, especially the older ones, are slightly off frequency and the RIT (receiver incremental tuning) can be adjusted and turned on and off without having to change the setting for those times when you are in a multiple station QSO and one station is slightly off frequency, as one can with most modern transceivers. 

My next adventure will be learning to use the split operation function, which is where I can set the receiver on one frequency and the transmitter on another. It is no different than regular analog transceivers. This is often needed in working distant (DX) stations where there is a pile-up of stations trying to work it. I still need to purchase the third party virtual audio cable software (VAC) to get the digital modes setup and running but that is for another rainy day. Incidentally and speaking of rain, since it is raining today and will be for the rest of the week I cannot go outside and put my 40 meter NVIS antenna back up. It was downed by last week’s nasty weather and I need to put it back up more securely than the temporary installation I had. So I am temporarily off 40 meters.

My experience with the Flex 3K has convinced me of two things. First, once learned it is easier to use than the manual transceivers with all the knobs and switches. Second, I am convinced that SDRs are the beginning of the next phase of amateur radio. I became a ham in 1957 just as SSB phase was beginning to replace AM phase. I hope I am around at least long enough to see where this phase will go.  I have become an SDR disciple. 

73, Jim
W5LOG

CHANGING THE THEME OF THE BLOG

I have not posted anything on my Blog page since the July 4, 2009 post. It is not because I have been lazy (well, not too lazy) but because I was spouting out public policy opinions like all of those pundits that write daily or weekly columns and I am not nearly as knowledgeable as they are, and most of the time they don't know what they are talking about. I was displaying my ignorance. I grew disinterested in trying to get my views across. Apparently, so did any readers that happened by the site.

I have decided to make my future postings on here about Amateur Radio and related topics. I have been a “Ham” since early July 1957, almost 53 years, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Since I am now retired and in what are my golden years (big secret: there isn’t any gold here) I am enjoying the hobby even more.

Disregarding all my reservations I bought a Flex 3000 transceiver a couple of months ago. I justified purchasing it by saying it was my Winter Solstice present to myself. I am really glad that I did. For those who are not familiar with the Flex radios they are software defined radios (SDR). Your computer controls the hardware that generates the signal that carries intelligence* you want it to carry. It also decodes the intelligence from the signal and it comes out of the speakers / headphones. All signal processing is done digitally and only the incoming signal from the antenna, the outgoing signal to the antenna and the audio from the speakers are analog. There are no knobs on this radio. Everything is done with the mouse and keyboard using the computer. It is a big paradigm shift to go from a transceiver with a lot of knobs to turn to being on a computer and not having any knobs to turn. From now on I go knobless.

The little Flex 3000 is a marvel. I hooked it up to my desktop Ham computer and was on the air within an hour after I received it. All I had to do was read the Quick Start Guide and download the software from the Flex Radio site. I have used it on all bands except 160 meters (no antenna for 160) and I am delighted with the results. With the panadapter screen I can adjust the various digital filters to cut any nearby stations or natural noise and hear / talk to just about any station with a signal that hits my antenna. If I want to transmit AM I simply click the AM button on the screen. If I want to communicate using FM I click on that button. So far, I have only used it on SSB because I have been having so much fun with it. I have everything I need to set it up for the digital modes (FSK) and CW (code) and will do so in the not too distant future.

I am convinced that SDR radios are the beginning of a new future for all radios, including Ham radio. Already there are commercial stations converting over to the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) format: a digital format like your cell phone uses to transmit and receive intelligence. Next time you are at a store that sells home entertainment electronic try to find a receiver that receives DRM. You will be amazed at the fidelity of the signal received.

In a future post I will describe my experiences with using the Flex 3000 on digital modes and CW. Until then if you are a Ham, or a person interested in Ham radio and you know a Ham that owns a Flex radio take the time to go by as see it in operation. I think you will be as impressed as I am.

* Some of the Ham frequencies have absolutely no intelligence. Just listen some times.