There is a lively discussion on the Flex Community forum about this very issue right now. Sounds like all the pieces are close, but not quite there, for a convenient satellite operation rig.

73s,

Alan WA4SCA

<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Edward R Cole <Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 3:09 PM <To: [email protected] <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio < <David, < <Transverters are merely used to allow you to operate a radio on <another frequency band. They are not duplex as a rule. < <Since satellite operation is cross-band duplex and not duplexing on <two separate frequencies in a single band, you probably will be using <two transverters if the radio does not operate either satellite <band. If so, then one will Tx on the uplink band and the other will <Rx on the downlink band. I assume the FLEX-6000 is a HF/6m radio. < <The larger question is whether the FLEX-6000 is a duplex <radio? Earlier FLEX radios were not duplex. Some had two receivers <but one could not transmit while receiving (ie operate duplex). < <------------- <I own Elecraft radios and will eventually set up for full cross-band duplex by: <1. Tx on my K3+DEMI 28/432 xvtr in the 435-437 band <2. Rx on my KX3-2M (KX3 with internal 2m transverter) <I can reverse which Rx and which Tx, so able to operate either mode <UV or VU; either will output up to 25w. < <Both radios are multi-mode permitting CW/SSB/FM/digital <operation. Only caveat is 9600-baud data which will require me to <use my SDR-IQ or the K3 IF output to separate SDR which I already use for eme. < <The biggest hurdle will be Frequency control of two radios. Haven't <gotten into that, yet. < <73, Ed - KL7UW <Not currently QRV for satellite. < <Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:33:49 -0500 <From: "David" [email protected] <To: "'AMSAT BB'" [email protected] <Subject: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio <Message-ID: 00f301d12785$edb794a0$c926bde0$@net <Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" < <Hi all and Happy Thanksgiving, < < Question.. how many of you are doing SAT work with a <FLEX-6000 series rig? I'm in the processes of pursuing just that, got my <first Transverter to build, while I'm waiting figured I'd start the <conversation on how do you have everything setup? I had a 9100 and could do <full duplex and am wondering if the FLEX with transverters will allow the <same full duplex operation (I'm assuming it will) < < Keep in mind here I am new to this transverter thing and have never set one <up before.. < <Thanks <David < < <73, Ed - KL7UW <http://www.kl7uw.com < "Kits made by KL7UW" <Dubus Mag business: < [email protected] < <_______________________________________________ <Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed <are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

Jeff,

You are thinking of the Flex VU5K. Basically the 5000 with 2 meters and 70 cms integral. A very nice rig, though there are a few loose ends and some features such as a digital FM mode were never delivered. The hardware is very flexible, and you can add external equipment such as mode-L and mode-S without the interfacing issues common with other rigs. They come up for sale around $2500, and are in my opinion well worth having.

73s,

Alan WA4SCA

<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff <Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 5:19 PM <To: Amsat [email protected] <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio < <Am I having a senior moment or didn't Flex at one time have a full duplex <sat op compatible system with their 5000 series some years ago? I'm <building my station up here in my winter home in Florida and would love to <have a Flex solution to my full duplex sat op needs... < <73 Jeff kb2m < <-----Original Message----- <From: Alan <Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 4:49 PM <To: 'Edward R Cole' ; [email protected] <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio < <There is a lively discussion on the Flex Community forum about this very <issue right now. Sounds like <all the pieces are close, but not quite there, for a convenient satellite <operation rig. < <73s, < <Alan <WA4SCA < < < < <<-----Original Message----- <<From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Edward R <Cole <<Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2015 3:09 PM <<To: [email protected] <<Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio << <<David, << <<Transverters are merely used to allow you to operate a radio on <<another frequency band. They are not duplex as a rule. << <<Since satellite operation is cross-band duplex and not duplexing on <<two separate frequencies in a single band, you probably will be using <<two transverters if the radio does not operate either satellite <<band. If so, then one will Tx on the uplink band and the other will <<Rx on the downlink band. I assume the FLEX-6000 is a HF/6m radio. << <<The larger question is whether the FLEX-6000 is a duplex <<radio? Earlier FLEX radios were not duplex. Some had two receivers <<but one could not transmit while receiving (ie operate duplex). << <<------------- <<I own Elecraft radios and will eventually set up for full cross-band duplex <by: <<1. Tx on my K3+DEMI 28/432 xvtr in the 435-437 band <<2. Rx on my KX3-2M (KX3 with internal 2m transverter) <<I can reverse which Rx and which Tx, so able to operate either mode <<UV or VU; either will output up to 25w. << <<Both radios are multi-mode permitting CW/SSB/FM/digital <<operation. Only caveat is 9600-baud data which will require me to <<use my SDR-IQ or the K3 IF output to separate SDR which I already use for <eme. << <<The biggest hurdle will be Frequency control of two radios. Haven't <<gotten into that, yet. << <<73, Ed - KL7UW <<Not currently QRV for satellite. << <<Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2015 08:33:49 -0500 <<From: "David" [email protected] <<To: "'AMSAT BB'" [email protected] <<Subject: [amsat-bb] SAT work with FLEX radio <<Message-ID: 00f301d12785$edb794a0$c926bde0$@net <<Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" << <<Hi all and Happy Thanksgiving, << << Question.. how many of you are doing SAT work with a <<FLEX-6000 series rig? I'm in the processes of pursuing just that, got my <<first Transverter to build, while I'm waiting figured I'd start the <<conversation on how do you have everything setup? I had a 9100 and could <do <<full duplex and am wondering if the FLEX with transverters will allow the <<same full duplex operation (I'm assuming it will) << << Keep in mind here I am new to this transverter thing and have never set <one <<up before.. << <<Thanks <<David << << <<73, Ed - KL7UW <<http://www.kl7uw.com << "Kits made by KL7UW" <<Dubus Mag business: << [email protected] << <<_______________________________________________ <<Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <<to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions <expressed <<are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of <AMSAT-NA. <<Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <<Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb < < <_______________________________________________ <Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions <expressed <are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of <AMSAT-NA. <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb < <_______________________________________________ <Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed <are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

What Mark states is absolutely true. I use my FLEX-5000A SDR with the RX2 option for full duplex operations with external transverters. See my qrz.com page for information on my satellite equipment.

In addition, I can call CQ, monitor my CQ frequency and at the same time tune the downlink passband for other signals concurrently using the MultiRX capability of the PowerSDR software. If I wish, I can direct the CQ downlink to one ear and the other receive frequency to the other ear.

I can also view the satellite downlink's passband with the radio's panadapter.

I also use the SATPC2 tracking program for computer controlled doppler correction with my FLEX-5000A.

73, Bill NJ1H

On 11/25/2015 10:17 PM, Mark Lunday wrote:

Edward Cole said "The larger question is whether the FLEX-6000 is a duplex radio? Earlier FLEX radios were not duplex. Some had two receivers but one could not transmit while receiving (ie operate duplex)."

With respect, Sir, this is not accurate. I have a Flex 5000 with the second receiver installed, and absolutely can listen on the second receiver while transmitting on the first. It's a setting under GENERAL->RX2

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be [email protected] http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

---

Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb