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
