The FLEX-6000™ Signature Series transceiver is based on a new hardware architecture and SmartSDR™ software platform. This new ultra-high performance software defined radio uses Digital Down Conversion (DDC) to convert from RF directly to digital and Digital Up Conversion (DUC) to convert from digital to RF. The FLEX-6000 utilizes Spectral Capture Units™ (SCU) for the RF to digital conversion and an ultra high performance on-board signal processing and control system to perform demodulation and modulation, filtering, and audio stream management. The result is incredible receiver dynamic range, ultra-low phase noise and phenomenal received signal clarity.
The FLEX-6700 model transceiver utilizes two SCUs for reception from 0.033 to 77 MHz plus 135 to 165 MHz and the ability to create up to 8 full featured independent SLICE RECEIVERS. Since the FLEX-6700 has two independent SCUs, it is capable of diversity reception. The FLEX-6500 model utilizes one SCU for reception from 0.033 to 77 MHz and the ability to create up to 4 full featured SLICE receivers. Optimized preselector filters can be selected for the ham bands for greater out of band rejection.
SmartSDR is the software “ecosystem” of the radio platform. It organizes all the signal processing power in the radios into an advanced radio fabric. SmartSDR understands the capabilities of each SCU and how to harness its power. It also comprises of the “presentation layer” or light weight GUI client that the user interacts with. Both the FLEX-6700 and the FLEX-6500 utilizes an Ethernet network connection for high-speed “driverless” access to the graphical user interface (GUI).
The FLEX-6700 and FLEX-6500 provides continuous duty 100W output across the entire 160-6m band along with an automatic antenna tuner (ATU) capable of tuning antennas over 10:1 range (3:1 on 160m and 6m). Both radios are capable of very low power (~1-50 mW) transmit anywhere they have receive capabilities.
FLEX-6000 Signature Series SDRs which are ordered now from our
On-Line Store
are slated for delivery in the 2nd quarter of 2013.
PowerSDR v2.6.4 is Now Available for Download
FlexRadio Systems is pleased to announce the general availability of the newest release of PowerSDR, version 2.6.4 intended for use with the FLEX-1500, FLEX-3000 and FLEX-5000 software defined radios. PowerSDR v2.6.4 has several new significant features, existing feature enhancements and bug fixes.
We recommend that all customers upgrade to v2.6.4 (see the links to the left). PowerSDR v2.6.4 contains several new enhancements and bug fixes. As with any new release of PowerSDR v2.x it is highly recommended that you review the
PowerSDR v2.6.4 Release Notes
before
installing.This release of PowerSDR contains a new Firewire driver for the FLEX-5000 and FLEX-3000 SDRs and new firmware for all FLEX Series SDRs. It is highly recommended that you review the PowerSDR v2.6.4 Release Notes before installing to minimize any installation problems you may encounter. Please note that the Firewire driver in PowerSDR v2.6.4 is
not backwards compatible
with previous versions of PowerSDR 2.x that use the 4.x Firewire driver, but a workaround is described in the Release Notes. Please review the section “
Known Issues or Recommendations with New Features Included in this Release
”, as there is new feature specific information that is applicable to the new Firewire driver.
While all the improvements and bug fixes are too numerous to detail, the following is a list of a few major changes since the previous official release, PowerSDR v2.5.3
PowerSDR v2.6.4 Major Feature Highlights:
A new and improved Firewire Driver for the FLEX-5000 and FLEX-3000 - This update is the most significant in the PowerSDR v2.4.6 release. The 4.1.1.17085 streaming Firewire driver fixes numerous defects and provides some additional performance improvements over the 4.0.0 Firewire driver. A significant amount of development resources went into qualifying this new Firewire driver, as hardware drivers are foundational components of the PowerSDR / FLEX-5000 / FLEX-3000 radio "system". Due to the Firewire driver update included in this release, please make sure that you review the PowerSDR v2.6.4 Release Notes before installing. Specifically, how to use PowerSDR v2.4.4 or v2.5.3 with the new driver. Also users of Windows XP systems will need to ensure that you manually install all three Firewire device drivers the first time you power up your FLEX-5000 or FLEX-3000 after the installer has rebooted your PC to complete the Firewire driver installation. The need for manually installing the FLEX Firewire driver is not required for Windows Vista and greater, as the Firewire device driver installation is completed automatically without manual intervention.
New frequency allocations for EU countries - PowerSDR v2.6.4 allows users in the UK that have had their radios modified for 60m operation (requires a NOV and TURF software from your FlexRadio Dealer) to operate on the new 11 frequency segments in the 60m band. Swedish operators now have access to their 60m band segments (requires the radio to be TURFed for Sweden). Radios TURFed for operation in France, Italy and Russian have minor updates to their transmit frequency allocations. Please refer to the PowerSDR v2.6.4 Release Notes for additional information regarding the TURF software process for certain countries where transmit regulatory compliance is required.
Additional Time & Frequency stations added to WWV bandstack, Easy frequency select for frequency calibration and a centered Panadapter for the FLEX-1500 - The CHU frequencies with their default mode have been added to the WWV band button (bandstack) to provide additional frequencies for the user to choose for frequency calibration purposes. To complement the new CHU additions, there is new a feature in the Frequency Calibration routine that will allow the user to select the current VFO-A frequency eliminating the need to manually enter it. Also included with this version of PowerSDR, the default display settings for the FLEX-1500 have been refactored so that the VFO-A carrier line is now better centered in the middle of the Panadapter rather than being skewed to the right hand side of the Panadapter so that equal amounts of spectrum above and below the VFO carrier frequency can be viewed.
Thanks to so many of you who have provided constructive feedback during the development process. We would like to express our special appreciation to our internal alpha/beta team for their tireless testing of internal test releases.
- The FlexRadio Software Development & Product Management team