Q: Flex SDR 1000 vs. SDR 5000 differences, limitations, advantages??

[WBear2GCR]

Ok,

Simple enough. (yeah, right)  I am thinking I may have to set up a remote station given my current and future personal circumstances. So other than price what are the important, subtle, and TECHNICAL differences, limitations and advantages of the SDR 1000 vs the SDR 5000??

Give me the bird's eye lowdown!

                  _-_-bear

[ke7trp]

With the 1000, you can be smug about your superior radio. With the 5000, you are the king of the other smug Flex 1000 operators..   

[W1AEX]

I have never owned or operated the SDR-1000, so I can only comment on the Flex 5000. It is a snap to set up, has a very complete audio patch panel on the back of the rig, and is capable of cleanly producing positive peaks well above 100%. I have owned mine for about a month and it has been very stable and reliable in all modes from 160 meters to 6 meters. More than half the radio resides in your computer, so keep that aspect in mind.

Rob W1AEX

[KA8WTK]

You need to find a way to get in touch with Dave, W9AD. IIRC he runs a Flex station from all over the place remotely.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

You might want to review the SDR-1000 review article: http://www.flex-radio.com/Data/Doc/2005-10_QST_Review.pdf and the Flex-5000 review article: http://support.flexradio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=224 so that you can compare the specs of both units.

There are many night and day differences between the two products. One of the big problems with the SDR-1000 was the use of an outboard sound card and all the interconnecting cables. RFI issues were not uncommon. Flex 5000 has all sound card functions built right into the main board.

[WB2EMS]

Isn't there a transmit audio bandwidth limitation in the Flex-3000 and Flex-5000 in the firmware that doesn't exist in the SDR-1000? I think I've heard 3750 hz in AM mode. I recall hearing some fuss and discussion about it. Perhaps it's been relieved by now.

The SDR-1000 can develop some connection issues between the various boards. Some folks end up soldering in some connections to get around issues.

I've been running the SDR-1000 last year (and fighting some of those connection issues) and considering moving to a flex-3000. Also interested in remote operation. I've done that with a ts-2000 using ham radio deluxe and it's handy at times and would like to be able to do it with the sdr as well.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Flex 3000:
Transmitter

Bandwidth:
Flat Response 10 Hz to 3.650 KHz (SSB), Software EQ optional
Flat Response 10 Hz to 7.300 KHz (AM/DSB), Software EQ optional
Complete specs here: http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50352.aspx

Flex 5000:
Transmitter
Audio Response (SSB):

Flat Response 10 Hz to 20 KHz, Software EQ optional
Complete specs here: http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50044.aspx

[N3AMX]

With the recent introduction of PowerSDR 2.X, the Flex 3000 has an increase in AM transmit bandwidth from 3650 to 4500.  So much for the theory that it was a hardware related limit.

[WB2EMS]

With the recent introduction of PowerSDR 2.X, the Flex 3000 has an increase in AM transmit bandwidth from 3650 to 4500.  So much for the theory that it was a hardware related limit.

Ah, that's interesting, and welcome news. I think I see a flex 3000 out there in my future. 

[wa2dtw]

I have used both.
For AM, they are both about the same.
For CW, the 5000 is much, much better because of separate transmit/receive streams.   This allows near-QSK.
The receiver on the 5000 is notably superior.
In the current version of power-SDR, I have heard that the audio on the 1000 is superior to the 3000.   Perhaps the new power-SDR will change that.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

With the recent introduction of PowerSDR 2.X, the Flex 3000 has an increase in AM transmit bandwidth from 3650 to 4500.  So much for the theory that it was a hardware related limit.

Note: There has been no official release of PowerSDR 2.X yet. It is still a beta release.

[W1AEX]

As Pete said, 2.x.x is still in beta, however, it has come a long way and is probably only a few betas short of final release. The current 2.0.8 has run stable and glitch free for me. One other thing I would mention is that the noise blanker function is impressive with 2.x.x releases. On 6 meters, I have one beam heading to the SW where a distant pole sputters now and then and produces about 3 S-units of noise. The noise blanker cleans it right up in all modes. My Pro III never could eliminate that noise. I would expect that the 3000 and 1000 probably behave the same under 2.x.x PSDR releases.

That's great news on the increased bandwidth with the 3000 Jay! I'm looking forward to hooking up with you on the WFD net to compare some notes with you regarding the Flex 2.x.x platform.

Bear, one other difference between the 5k/3k and the sdr-1000, if 6 meters is relevant to your operating needs, is that some SDR-1000 variants did not run 100 watts on 6 meters. Someone with a 1000 can clarify that, but I think there was a power amp module available as an option at some point.

Rob W1AEX

[Pete, WA2CWA]

This link will provide you some insight into the breakdown of the original SDR-1000 models:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050323064259/http://www.flex-radio.com/ Look to the left and click on Products.

My SDR-1000 came with 100 watts 6-160 meters. Some SDR-1000's were also plagued with various spurs across the frequency coverage range. After I got my 5000, my SDR-1000 became a vague memory.

[WB2EMS]

Will powerSDR 2.x run on the SDR-1000? I have spent about a half hour on the web site and google trying to figure that out, and not able to find anything definitive on it. I have to confess, the way the flex web sites are organized, I just seem to have a terrible time finding out what I want to. Feels like clicking 'help' on a Microsoft product. Lots of text, not much help. 

[W1AEX]

When I installed 2.0.8 for my 5000 the option to select SDR-1000 was present. On page 29 of the Flex 5000 2.0.x manual that is available here: 

http://support.flexradio.com/Downloads.aspx?fr=1

it shows a screenshot of the part of the installation where the SDR-1000 can be selected. I honestly don't know anyone with an SDR-1000 who is running it though. Might be worth posting in the SDR-1000 section of the Flex Forums to see how it has worked out for people:

http://forums.flexradio.com/Forum46-1.aspx

[KF1Z]

OR.... do what most people do and just download it and TRY it ! 

The PowerSDR software runs more radios than even Flex knows about...

[W2PHL]

There seems to be an ongoing confusion between frequency response and AM transmit bandwidth. I have the Flex 1500. The frequency response is 10 Hz to 3.65 KHz for an AM bandwidth of 7.3 KHz. I would be terrific if the frequency response was really 10 Hz to 7.3 KHz! (AM bandwidth 14.6 KHz) I understand the Flex 3000 has been bumped from 3.65 KHz to 4.5 KHz for an AM bandwidth of 9 KHz.  To make matters even more confusing, page nine of the Flex 1500 owner's manual states the TX audio frequency response is 10 Hz to 20 KHz which would equal a 40 Khz AM bandwidth.

Phil

[WBear2GCR]

With the recent introduction of PowerSDR 2.X, the Flex 3000 has an increase in AM transmit bandwidth from 3650 to 4500.  So much for the theory that it was a hardware related limit.

Is that +/- 4500 or +/- 2250??

          _-_-bear

[W1AEX]

Is that +/- 4500 or +/- 2250??

          _-_-bear

For the Flex 3000 that would be plus and minus 4500, which would allow you to produce a 9 kc wide AM signal, or a 4.5 kc wide SSB signal.

The 5000 is configured to allow plus and minus 10 kc which would allow you to produce up to a 20 kc wide AM signal, or a 10 kc wide SSB signal. I believe the SDR-1000 has the same bandwidth capability as the 5000.

[steve_qix]

In addition to Dave W9AD, Bill W1MPY (who is on a lot, and you can hear and talk with during the day when you're usually on) runs remote all the time from various hotel rooms across the country.

I think he's using remote desktop for control, and skype for audio.  It works, but there are probably better alternatives for getting the audio from where you are back to where the equipment is.

A *FAST* and RELIABLE  Internet connection is mandatory.

[w1vtp]

With the recent introduction of PowerSDR 2.X, the Flex 3000 has an increase in AM transmit bandwidth from 3650 to 4500.  So much for the theory that it was a hardware related limit.

Note: There has been no official release of PowerSDR 2.X yet. It is still a beta release.

...and requires a little tweaking to get it working - or so I've heard

A