Welcome to the July 2025 Flex Insider.
I get asked this a lot — why make the move to Aurora? So, here’s what I’ve been thinking, and honestly, what I’m looking at for my own station.
First off, it’s all about the all-in-one design. A 500-watt transceiver built into a single, compact package — and yes, it’s that first 500 watts that really matters. Another 7dB of RF power out.
They can’t work you if they can’t hear you.
It’s cleaner, tidier, and cuts down on the clutter on and behind the desk. Fewer interconnect cables mean fewer opportunities for RFI and common-mode current issues, which also translates to less receive noise. That alone is a big win.
It’s also surprisingly portable. You can easily take it to your summer place, cottage, or camp — anywhere you want to get on the air. And yes, this rig delivers full QRO performance for things like POTA, while drawing less power than your average toaster.
Aurora is simply a cool, next-gen HF radio that fits right into the SmartSDR and remote ecosystem FlexRadio is known for.
If you love performance, simplicity, and cutting-edge design, you won’t be disappointed. If you want to more, email us: aurora@flexradio.com.
Mike, VA3MW
P.S. I can’t wait to set this up as the ultimate remote QRO station.
Aurora CTO Update
As you might imagine, taking a product from concept to full-scale production involves many complex steps. With Aurora, this has been especially true. As a completely new platform with significant technical innovation, it has demanded deep design effort, extensive testing, and the development of entirely new systems—both in hardware and software.
At FlexRadio, we typically iterate through several versions of our printed circuit boards (PCBs), labeling each revision with a letter. It’s not unusual for a product to begin shipping around revisions A through D. With Aurora, some boards are already at revision H—underscoring the depth and rigor of the design process. In fact, this may be the most thoroughly engineered product we’ve ever built, rivaled only by the FLEX-6700 in development scale.
When we arrived at Dayton Hamvention this year, we had assembled about 15 radios. These units were allocated for various purposes: alpha testing, software development, and final validation of both electrical and mechanical design elements. One of these radios has just completed the full suite of ETSI and FCC regulatory tests, including power output, conducted and radiated emissions, surge and immunity testing. Safety testing is next and starts next week. We’re confident based on a thorough pre-review by our safety lab consultant that we’re well-prepared. We’ve already implemented several design tweaks to meet regulatory requirements, reducing risk in this phase.
On the software front, our team is actively refining the SmartSDR user interface, API, and factory test systems. Each production unit undergoes a detailed verification process—including filter calibration, clock accuracy checks, ATU functionality, and subsystem testing. While many procedures are shared with the FLEX-8000 platform, the test environment has been substantially upgraded to support 500W output levels unique to Aurora including a brand-new test fixture capable of testing at 500W.
Meanwhile, our production team is finalizing engineering documentation and preparing for the initial manufacturing run. Thousands of components—some custom and long-lead—are already on order or in hand. This effort ensures that when production begins, it proceeds smoothly and efficiently.
We are currently on track to begin shipping Aurora radios in Q4 of this year. While any complex product carries the potential for unexpected delays, we have not encountered any significant obstacles so far, and we remain confident in our schedule.
Thank you for your trust in FlexRadio and for choosing Aurora. We’re excited to deliver a product that we believe will set a new standard in performance and innovation—and we can’t wait for you to experience it.
73, Steve, N5AC
CTO & Aurora Program Manager
FlexRadio Equips ARRL with FLEX-8000 Series Station for W1AW
There is a new addition to Studio 1 at W1AW, the Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Station at ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut: a complete station of the latest gear from FlexRadio, including a FLEX-8600™ Signature Series SDR transceiver, a Maestro C Control Console, Power Genius XL (PGXL) amplifier, and Radiosport RS60CF headset.
During his visit to present the station to ARRL on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, FlexRadio Chief Technology Officer Stephen Hicks, N5AC, described the station as an addition for the benefit of ARRL members and all visitors to W1AW. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, and CEO David Minster, NA2AA, were on hand to receive the equipment on behalf of ARRL.
“The FLEX-8600 provides all of the latest features that we have,” said Hicks. “And with all the Flex radios, they are continuously upgradable, so we have software releases on an ongoing basis and add features and functionality to it. … ARRL members and W1AW visitors can come in here and try this equipment out and get used to it.”
ARRL Director of Marketing and Innovation Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with FlexRadio, saying “We’re grateful to have W1AW equipped with a full FlexRadio station, allowing members and visitors to operate and enjoy this current-generation technology when they come to experience the latest in amateur radio innovation.” Inderbitzen explained that ARRL’s partnership with FlexRadio and its ongoing arrangement with manufacturers highlights a shared commitment with the industry to advance amateur radio by offering a hands-on experience to W1AW visitors.
Product Updates
Great news!
Flex-8000 Series
All FLEX-8000 Series radios are in stock and shipping! Depending on your selected options, it may take up to 10 business days to process—but we’re working hard to get every order out the door as quickly as possible.
Maestro
Maestros are available for immediate shipping.
Note: Any dates published here are subject to change but are current as of the date on the top of the newsletter. Please check the website for the most current pricing and shipping times.
🎉 Maestro Bundle Sale – Gear Up and Go! 🎉
Get everything you need to make your Maestro even more portable and user-friendly:
- ✅ Soft Travel Case – travel with confidence
- ✅ RRS Battery – up to 10 hours of portable operation
- ✅ Tilt Hinge Feet – for that perfect viewing angle
- ✅ TRRS Y-Cable Adapter – stay connected, wherever you are
🚨 Bonus Offer: Add the Maestro Protective Cover to your order and enter code FN979BKH27J at checkout to get it FREE – but hurry, this won’t last long!
Maestro Kit Bundle
$1,888.00
SmartSDR Update
SmartSDR 3.9.19 is now available
[SMART-11274]: Fixed SmartControl display issues when anything other than a single panadapter is in use
[SMART-11280] CAT: Frequency tracking no longer fails on band change
[SMART-11300]: Fixed incorrect ‘Interlock is preventing transmission’ message appearing immediately after connecting FLEX-8000s to SmartSDR
[SMART-11378] SmartSignal (APD): Improved handling of TX Slice removal Please refer to the SmartSDR v3 Changelog for a complete listing of all software changes in SmartSDR v3.
Genius Line Update
- Power Genius XL – Currently out of stock. New units expected to ship by mid-July.
- Tuner Genius SO2R – Temporarily out of stock. More arriving mid-July. .
- Tuner Genius 1×3 – In stock now! Ships within 2 business days of a paid order.
- Antenna Genius – On backorder. Next shipment expected mid-July.
Pre-Loved Radios
We’re thrilled to announce the availability of a limited number of previously-loved FlexRadios for purchase!
These radios have undergone rigorous testing and a full alignment to ensure they meet our high standards of performance. Each one ships in brand-new packaging and includes all the essentials: power and Ethernet cables, a hand microphone, and the latest firmware
At this time we have some stock of:
No M models are available at the moment.
Please drop us a note at hams@flexradio.com with your interest and we’ll be pleased to assist you.
Education
We have four unique and engaging talks that we are excited to deliver to your club members.
Each presentation is delivered by Mike VA3MW.
Aurora 500 watt Transceiver. Mike (VA3MW) from FlexRadio will be giving a detailed presentation on the new Aurora HF Series, an exciting advancement in SDR technology. This new platform integrates a high-efficiency 500 W transmitter, amplifier, tuner, and power supply into a single compact unit—bringing high performance and modern design together like never before. Mike will cover how Aurora offers reduced heat, lower power input, and full network control, all while keeping the familiar operating experience FlexRadio users appreciate. It’s a big step forward in the evolution of HF/6m transceivers.
FlexRadio – Not Your Dad’s HF Radio. Our most popular presentation, this talk explores the differences between traditional HF radio using Super Heterodyne Receivers and today’s Software Defined Radios. We’ll showcase and explain the advantages of these advanced technologies. If you have received this one already, then possibly consider one of the other 2.
FlexRadio – The FLEX-8000 Series Overview. This talk is ideal for those with some FlexRadio experience who want to learn more about the recently announced FLEX-8000 series’ hardware and software features. The FLEX-8000 series is the successor to the FLEX-6000 series.
Getting Started in Remote HF Radio. Remote HF Radio Operation has become mainstream. This presentation is perfect for those planning to set up a remote station or just interested in how easy it is today. We’ll cover radio choices, power control, and more!
If any of the clubs you are associated with would like to schedule a presentation, please reply to this email with your preferred dates and times and the talk you are interested in.
We’ll get it on the calendar for the coming season.
Email michael@flexradio.com.
Trade ins / Trade ups
Are you ready to upgrade to the FLEX-8000?
For customers in the United States, we are thrilled to offer a trade-in program for your current radio towards a new FLEX-8000 order. If you are outside of the United States, you may wish to consult one of our International Distributors.
Trade in any Current HF Radio Gear!
We aim to provide the most equitable trade-in values, which will be assessed approximately 30 days before your scheduled shipping date.
This timing ensures that we can offer you the best value based on the most current market conditions.
Until that time, we will not provide a trade-in dollar valuation.
Event Calendar
Huntsville Hamfest: August 16-17th, 2025, Huntsville, AL
HamX: August 21-24, 2025, Marlborough, MA
Come visit us and also enjoy the FlexRadio talks being delivered or just stop by the booth and say hi.
Bread Financing
FlexRadio has partnered with *Bread Pay® to offer purchase financing options.
Learn how it works by visiting https://www.breadpayments.com/choose-how-you-pay/
Subject to approval of credit application.
Bread Pay® loans are made by Comenity Capital Bank, a Bread Financial® company.
Contact us
If you need to reach out to us, you can find us at:
512-535-4713 — Option 1
