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| MSRP | $2,499.00 | $3,649.00 | $4,899.00 | $5,899.00 |
| Integrated Display | x |  8″ Touchscreen |
x | 8″ Touchscreen |
| Control Interface | External (PC, Maestro) | Built-in Front Panel | External (PC, Maestro) | Built-in Front Panel |
| Receivers (Slices) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Spectral Capture Units (SCUs) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Diversity Reception | x | x | |
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| SO2R (Single Operator 2 Radios) | x | x | |
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| Bandpass Filters | 3rd Order | 3rd Order | 7th Order (Contest Bands), 3rd Order (WARC Bands) | 7th Order (Contest Bands), 3rd Order (WARC Bands) |
| Receive-Only Antenna Ports | 1 (RXA) | 1 (RXA) | 2 (RXA, RXB) | 2 (RXA, RXB) |
| Transverter Ports | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Balanced Mic Input (XLR/TRS) | x | x | |
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| Integrated HDMI Output | x | |
x | |
| GPSDO Option | |
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| GNSS GPS | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| SmartLink Remote Access | |
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| SmartSDR Version | Current | Current | Current | Current |
| MultiFlex | |
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| SmartSDR iOS & MAC | Optional | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Power Output | 100W HF/6m | 100W HF/6m | 100W HF/6m | 100W HF/6m |
Key Differences Explained
- Integrated Display & Controls: The “M” models (8400M and 8600M) feature an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen with an intuitive front panel, allowing for standalone operation without a PC. The non-M models (8400 and 8600) require an external control interface like a PC running SmartSDR or the Maestro control console.
- Receivers & SCUs: The FLEX-8600 series boasts four slice receivers and two SCUs, enabling advanced operations like diversity reception and true SO2R. In contrast, the FLEX-8400 series offers two slice receivers and a single SCU, suitable for standard operations.
- Filtering: The FLEX-8600 series is equipped with 7th order bandpass filters on contest bands, providing superior adjacent signal rejection. The FLEX-8400 series utilizes 3rd order filters, which are adequate for general use.
- Antenna Connectivity: The FLEX-8600 series includes two receive-only antenna ports (RXA and RXB), facilitating advanced configurations like diversity reception. The FLEX-8400 series provides a single RXA port.
- Transverter Support: With two transverter ports, the FLEX-8600 series simplifies integration with multiple transverters, ideal for satellite or VHF/UHF operations. The FLEX-8400 series includes one transverter port.
- Audio Inputs: The FLEX-8600 series features a balanced XLR/TRS microphone input, catering to high-quality audio setups. The FLEX-8400 series lacks this feature.
Choosing the Right Model
- FLEX-8400: Ideal for operators seeking a cost-effective, high-performance SDR with remote operation capabilities via SmartSDR or Maestro.
- FLEX-8400M: Suited for those who prefer a traditional radio interface with an integrated display, eliminating the need for external devices.
- FLEX-8600: Designed for advanced operators requiring multiple receivers, diversity reception, and robust filtering for contesting and complex setups.
- FLEX-8600M: Combines the advanced features of the 8600 with an integrated display and controls, offering a comprehensive standalone solution.
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