That's right, Tom--the same thought occurred to me as the list was growing: "Hey, that sounds like the Flex-5000 with uhf/vhf modules!"
By my early calculations (but poor memory!) it's approaching $4000-5000, depending on the options added. It's a signficant radio, and it has a signficant price tag to match. Most of us (me in that group) wish it was more like $2-3k...but it's understandable why it's not in that range.
It may stay on my dream list for a while...
73,
Mark N8MH
On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 4:55 PM, Tom Clark, K3IO tom.k3io@gmail.com wrote:
There is one US made radio on the market today that will meet >>>ALL<<< the desires & requirements discussed in this thread -- and it is made by an AMSAT member (K5SDR)! It was on view at last fall's AMSAT Symposium. I say "ALL" contingent on the release of one module RSN (Real! Soon! Now!).
I'm talking about the software-defined Flex 5000 (see http://www.flex-radio.com/). When the new V/U module is released (by Dayton), the F5K can be used at the 100W level on 160-6M, and 60W on V=2M & U=70cm. It will operate Full-Duplex in any combination of V/U (+10 meters). Greg, K5GJ described the new V/U module fully at the AMSAT Symposium. Flex has offered significant door prizes (like half of a base 5K) at all the recent AMSAT & TAPR meetings (I won a prize that I converted to a V/U upgrade for my personal F5K; I eagerly expect it in the next month or so).
For some more info, this is clipped from the Flex advertising describing the new V/U module:
The FLEX-5000 V/U module is a fully integrated all-mode, all-band (144-148/430-450 MHz) full-duplex VHF/UHF module that adds both 2m and 70 cm capabilities to the already outstanding FLEX-5000 family of software defined radios. All of the FLEX-5000 V/U module's oscillators are locked to the 500 MHz master oscillator in the FLEX-5000, which in turn is locked to the internal 0.5ppm reference or it may be connected to an external 10 MHz reference for even greater frequency stability.
If want additional HF capability, you can add a second receiver and/or automatic antenna tuner. You can tie the entire radio to a GPS or Rubidium frequency reference for accuracy/stability at levels better than a part per billion.
For any of the microwave bands (23 cm and up), either the V or U channel can serve as the IF for a transverter. For the wider bandwidth modes discussed for the "HR-956-Pro", the F5K is capable of supporting anything up to a few hundred kHz. For these SDRs, new software support shows up daily, contributed (free) by a significant cadre of amateurs. If a modem for some different mode, is needed, IOS (It's Only Software! ).
And the price for a fully decked out is less than half of that forecast for the "fictional HR-956-Pro" (even including a suitable PC).
SUPPORT THE US MANUFACTURERS! THEY ARE A RARE BREED!
73, Tom
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