[SCCC] ARRL DX Phone Win with Flex Radio and Maestro

Sat Jul 30 20:08:18 EDT 2016

FlexRadio Systems
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Craig K9CT<http://email.getsatisfaction.com/wf/click?upn=Gf15zKkQ5xF-2FJchx2RlboMvO-2FV1xyhGnR11AM5mwtfqoCJD-2Fm5ToGHDBS-2FfFlohi5mudrNSP3q6sOjxDkkMIRmmx4dVoln1bDW28jl47649UOIFL717k16CpaQUJGe3hK6h7fPyzi5zQ67sglIBONlTc-2BD9a0B2dGLAFt60iyEx846zyDqG0d30sTbR8ORhJf-2F6QHlj7kuGfaZ4T3LXa1w4tir5Ez71IfXRkRLJX008-3D_1E3meEhMW0VSBBs3Inee1ewaCJ625S3u568X4EM-2FVFOEjYAO5GKQu-2BAdL-2BjXMswYAsHpJbarZDoKNZyD7BO-2BvPsxzDxgqqHmGREyV1Dq0HA5qDlLyoJV13QzIlo7OX60-2BY2m4U97LsS4k1UdxfW0mg5xASCkjz8z0pAh1tnWx9WOswQxAqq8U0dNENspMHz3RRf8i7oaRRwf-2BVoGDViXMQ-3D-3D> replied to this praise:
ARRL DX Phone Win<http://email.getsatisfaction.com/wf/click?upn=Gf15zKkQ5xF-2FJchx2RlboMvO-2FV1xyhGnR11AM5mwtfpjm-2Fia45CyNUsPKaIiXaBXA329AlpN-2FrV9L1PoLPt1xIKLP1KM9uTtwyXKAmHD-2B-2FREdofxeOxHUMsTgYJpfgC-2BDuyFlHm9oJxiv5988qaZ-2FearNIViyofro73zFVbEneFen1itrxN5SFQZX-2BT6lVJ9SzvaOMxQaY9SvtbImgUlyYD5oupZIwQ31sQzuwV9Gb0-3D_1E3meEhMW0VSBBs3Inee1ewaCJ625S3u568X4EM-2FVFOEjYAO5GKQu-2BAdL-2BjXMswYxnyHoQ7sAST-2BxKqhyjK9GYKlaPUFgTRE2MZkhHFu6MsBLcyyFpO9fEDDysMSSO7q53VJfai59ABqpU4z4gy9TBSTA7ATqE-2F5fAOLzJXJ-2FYfCtjiDtfuMllXXzq6sW6pYryLM4FjAKs8E-2FICgL5IRSA-3D-3D>

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Thanks! First of all, I had a team and didn't win by myself...so that is probably the most important aspect. I did not tell the team that they were going to be using Maestro interface until they arrived. I spent little time giving them instruction before we started the contest. This is a big deal as all the operators thought the interface was intuitive and easy to use. Very few questions and they figured how to use with no instruction or manual.

All of the operators noted the audio quality improvement from the previous setup. We had so many issues using the MKII interface and the K3. Hum, RFI, and poor audio were common issues almost every time. I had spent considerable time trying to get a good quality tx and rx audio. Needless to say, being able to "Record on the Fly" using the Flex interface with N1MM was a dream using the DAX. Both RX and TX quality are superb with the Flex setup.

I know that the K3S has a USB inte rface now and I believe that the need for an interface is unnecessary. However, there is definitely an important difference in RX audio. This is important because the long hours of contesting take a toll on your ability to be alert and not make errors. Audio that has a higher distortion element wears on an operator. Flex excels in higher audio quality mostly because of radio architecture.

The S&P operators loved being able to tap the screen and jump to the next station. This was not something that was on our radar screen when we switched. However the high resolution screen was commented on many times as a great tool. How did we do without it before? This is definitely an advantage over most other radios.

Ergonomics is helped. No way to calculate how much it helps an operator but it is convenient to have the radio next to the keyboard. No reaching over or away from the keyboard can save a few milliseconds here and there.

As a station builder, this is by far the simplest setup for any ham radio station. You can do so much so easily with little cabling. I can switch from the Multi-operator setup to SO2R in about 2 minutes. No way can any other radio setup do this with ONE radio.

One of the main reasons I switched to this setup is what is in the near future. Standby for more reasons to switch to Flex. Multi Client and Power Genius XL will be a big deal. I also like the idea of having team members be able to remote in and help out.

I also have to give props to the FlexRadio team. They have been very supportive to the contest community. I know they had no idea how fussy contest operators are. The expectations are very high...so the behind the scenes tweaking in the hardcore contesting community is tedious. There is a payoff for all operators regardless of their interest in contesting as you will see continuous improvements in latency, cw operations, etc.  Th e more radios that Flex sells the more FlexRadio can afford to do going forward.

This is probably too long winded of an answer and I still may have overlooked some important aspects....but you get the idea.

73, Craig K9CT

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