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FlexRadio Systems FLEX-6400 Hardware Reference Manual Download Page 5

FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 Hardware Reference Manual

Page

5 of 45

Copyright 2018 FlexRadio Systems. All Rights Reserved.

1

INTRODUCTION

1.1

WELCOME

Thank  you  for  purchasing  the  FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600  direct  sampling  software  defined
radio  (SDR)  from  FlexRadio  Systems.    The  FLEX-6400  and  FLEX-6600  are  top  performing
HF/6m  transceivers  that  make  use  of  the  latest  SDR  technology  using  direct  digital
sampling  at  the  RF  input  for  exceptional  performance  and  distortion  free  reception.
Direct  sampling  technology  eliminates  analog  mixing  and  amplification  to  minimize
spurious  output  and  in-band  intermodulation  distortion  to  ensure  ultra-clean  RF
transmission.

The FLEX-6400 and FLEX-6600 along with the

SmartSDR software “ecosystem” represents

the ultimate operating experience for amateur radio operators.

1.2

MANUAL LAYOUT

The

FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 Hardware Reference Manual

is designed as a guide for use

while installing, configuring, and integrating your FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 into your amateur
radio station. This manual expands on the

FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600 Quick Start Guide

regarding connection details and hardware configuration including basic connectivity
information for interfacing with the more common types of third-party hardware. It is
designed for use in conjunction with the

SmartSDR Software User

’

s Guide

. References to

the

SmartSDR

Software User’s Guide

will be provided to assist you.

Throughout this manual, important references will be highlighted for your information
and safety. The following symbols and styles will be used:

!

–

WARNING: THIS MEANS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF THE RADIO

IS CONFIGURED OR OPERATED IMPROPERLY. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION

TO ALL “!”

WARNINGS.

Δ –

CAUTION: This is a precautionary statement to acknowledge there is a risk to

damaging your radio or operating it in an unintended manner. Pay special attention to

the “Δ” symbol to get the most from your

FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600.

I

–

Information: Important information will be highlighted with the “i” symbol. Read

these notes for helpful hints and details about your FLEX-6400/FLEX-6600.

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Summary of Contents for FLEX-6400

Page 1: ...ts Reserved FlexRadio Systems is a registered trademark and SmartSDR is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems All other brands or names are trademarks of their respective owners FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 HARDWARE REFERENCE Version 2 1 30 29 January 2018 ...

Page 2: ... 4 3 Receiver 14 5 UNPACKING AND INSPECTATION 15 5 1 Unboxing 15 5 2 Visual Inspection 15 5 2 1 General 15 5 2 2 Radio 15 5 2 3 Included Accessories 15 5 2 4 Additional Items Not Included but Required 16 5 3 Reporting Damage 16 6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS 17 7 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS 19 7 1 DC Power Input 19 7 1 1 Fused Internally at 30 Amps 20 7 2 Transceiver Antenna Ports 1 2 20 7 3 Po...

Page 3: ... w GPSDO option 25 7 12 10MHz Reference Output w GPSDO option 25 7 13 Ethernet Connector 26 7 14 USB 2 0 Ports 26 7 15 External Display 26 7 16 10 MHz Input 26 7 16 1 Radio Oscillator Startup 26 7 17 TX Relay Outputs 1 2 3 26 7 18 RX B RF Input FLEX 6600 only 27 7 19 XVTR B Transverter Port FLEX 6600 only 27 7 20 Microphone Jack 27 7 21 XVTR A Transverter Port 28 7 22 RX in RX A RF Input 28 7 23 H...

Page 4: ...Connections Split IF 36 10 4 PTT Connections 36 10 5 Sequencers 36 10 6 Multiple Transverters 36 11 DIGITAL MODE SETUP SOUND CARD INTERFACE 37 12 ANTENNA CONSIDERATIONS 39 12 1 Antenna Selection 39 13 ANTENNA TUNER UNIT ATU 41 13 1 Specifications 41 14 OPTIONAL GPS DISCIPLINED OSCILLATOR GPSDO SETUP 42 14 1 GPSDO Introduction 42 14 2 GPS Antenna Placement 42 14 3 GPSDO Lock Sequence and Status Ind...

Page 5: ... integrating your FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 into your amateur radio station This manual expands on the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 Quick Start Guide regarding connection details and hardware configuration including basic connectivity information for interfacing with the more common types of third party hardware It is designed for use in conjunction with the SmartSDR Software User s Guide References to the Smart...

Page 6: ...ened and or serviced by a qualified technician Unauthorized repairs may damage the radio and void the manufacturer s warranty Please study the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 Quick Start Guide and the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 Hardware Reference Manual and SmartSDR Software User s Guide prior to operating the unit These documents contain important information for safe operation For any questions due to misunderstan...

Page 7: ...s after the date of shipment FlexRadio Systems will fully repair or replace a defective product at their discretion For the remaining two 2 years after the date of shipment FlexRadio Systems will replace defective parts free of charge post paid for transceiver components only Any replacement hardware parts will be warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period or ninety 90 calendar da...

Page 8: ...E ENVIRONMENTS NEVER ATTEMPT TO INSERT WIRES OR ANY TOOLS INTO THE INTERIOR OF THIS UNIT DURING OPERATION THIS MAY CAUSE FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK THIS UNIT MUST ONLY BE OPERATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL POWER DESCRIBED IN THE FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 QUICK START GUIDE NEVER CONNECT THE 13 8VDC POWER CONNECTOR DIRECTLY TO AN AC OUTLET THIS MAY CAUSE A FIRE INJURY OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK NEVER CONNECT OR DISCONNECT...

Page 9: ...ners This documentation including all documentation incorporated by reference herein such as documentation provided or made available at support flexradio com downloads is provided or made accessible AS IS and AS AVAILABLE and without condition endorsement guarantee representation or warranty of any kind by FlexRadio Systems and FlexRadio assumes no responsibility for any typographical technical o...

Page 10: ...EREBY LIMITED TO NINETY 90 DAYS FROM THE DATE YOU FIRST ACQUIRED THE DOCUMENTATION OR THE ITEM THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE CLAIM TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW IN YOUR JURISDICTION IN NO EVENT SHALL FLEXRADIO SYSTEMS BE LIABLE FOR ANY TYPE OF DAMAGES RELATED TO THIS DOCUMENTATION OR ITS USE OR PERFORMANCE OR NON PERFORMANCE OF ANY SOFTWARE HARDWARE SERVICE OR ANY THIRD PARTY PROD...

Page 11: ...third party rights You are solely responsible for determining whether to use Third Party Products and Services and if any third party licenses are required to do so If required you are responsible for acquiring them You should not install or use Third Party Products and Services until all necessary licenses have been acquired Any Third Party Products and Services that are provided with FlexRadio s...

Page 12: ...stems All Rights Reserved reproduced stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic mechanical photocopying recording or otherwise for any purpose other than the purchaser s personal use without the prior express written permission of FlexRadio Systems ...

Page 13: ...rent Receive Transmit 1 7A Receive Typ 23A Transmit Max 2A Receive Typ 23A Transmit Max Operating Temperature Range 0 to 50C 32 to 122F 0 to 50C 32 to 122F Dimensions With Feet 7 17 8 cm H 14 35 5 cm W 12 30 5 cm D 7 17 8 cm H 14 35 5 cm W 12 30 5 cm D Weight 10 5 lbs 4 8 kgs 11 1 lbs 5 0 kgs Other modes may be available through the addition of third party waveform plug ins 4 2 TRANSMITTER Specifi...

Page 14: ...4 Maximum Spectral Displays Panadapters 2 4 ADC Resolution 16 bit 16 bit ADC Sampling Rate 122 88 Msps 245 76 Msps Reciprocal Mixing Dynamic Range 1 KHz 110 dB 2 KHz 116 dB 1 KHz 110 dB 2 KHz 116 dB Amateur Band Preselectors 3rd order 7th order contest bands 3rd order other bands Spurious and Image Rejection Ratio 80 dB 100 dB External Powered Speaker Output Impedance Level 10 kOhm 2 6Vpp max 10 k...

Page 15: ...all packing material in case you ever need to ship your FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 5 2 VISUAL INSPECTION 5 2 1 General Note the orientation of the radio in the packing foam It is important that the front of the radio be properly aligned to prevent damage if further shipment is required Remove the radio from the foam and the poly bag Retain this bag if further shipment is required WARNING POLY BAGS CAN BE...

Page 16: ...tabilized 13 8V DC power supply capable of 25A or greater continuous duty A Personal Computer PC running Windows 7 or above Both 32 and 64 bit operating systems are supported 64 bit recommended A 100 1000BaseT Ethernet Access either an open port on your computer or on your local area network LAN Ethernet switch 5 3 REPORTING DAMAGE Please report any missing items or shipping damage to FlexRadio or...

Page 17: ...onditions below SOLID BRIGHT RED Transmitting on PA SOLID DIM RED Transmit engaged but transmit interlocks are not ready Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for description of the transmit interlocks SOLID ORANGE Transmitting on XVTR port with low power SOLID PURPLE Radio is performing a software update FLASHING WHITE Radio is performing a reset to factory defaults OFF Radio is off When the option...

Page 18: ...n is solid purple Doing so may result in the radio becoming unresponsive Holding the power button down for 4 seconds while the radio is running will trigger an immediate shutdown This skips the database writing procedure so any changes will not be saved This is not a recommended shutdown procedure for regular use Reset Procedure With the radio powered off press and hold down the power button for a...

Page 19: ...n this manual NEVER CONNECT THE 13 8VDC POWER CONNECTOR DIRECTLY TO AN AC OUTLET This may cause a fire injury or electrical shock Δ The FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 requires 13 8 VDC 25 amps measured at the radio in order to transmit maximum wattage Multiple power cable connections between the power supply and the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 a poorly regulated power supply undersized power cable and very long powe...

Page 20: ...r and locate the fuse in the rear corner of the PA board just inside the case adjacent to the Anderson Powerpole connector NEVER USE A FUSE WITH A CURRENT RATING HIGHER THAN 30 AMPS FAILURE TO PROPERLY USE THIS SAFETY DEVICE COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR RADIO POWER SUPPLY OR CREATE A FIRE RISK 7 2 TRANSCEIVER ANTENNA PORTS 1 2 Transceiver antenna ports are SO 239 50 ohm connectors Refer to Smart...

Page 21: ...ll short circuit the right channel signal to ground 7 4 CW KEY PADDLE JACK For CW operation the inch 3 5mm TRS KEY connector accepts a TRS plug for operating a keyer with paddles or a straight key When Connecting a CW straight key a TRS plug must be used for proper connectivity to the radio Connect the key to the Tip and Sleeve leave the Ring unconnected When connecting a CW paddle and using the i...

Page 22: ...s a true differential input and can thus be used with balanced microphone or line input 7 5 1 MIC vs LINE Use The balanced input currently supports microphone level audio input only The microphone level is suitable for a dynamic microphone The balanced input does not have any DC bias capability If your microphone requires bias power 5VDC or phantom power 48VDC an external power supply is required ...

Page 23: ...used to feed consumer level 10dBV audio into the transmitter Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for information describing how to enable this input and what configurations are available 7 6 2 Pin 2 Line1 Out This audio line output is a buffered output of the POWERED SPEAKERS left channel 7 6 3 Pin 3 Line2 Out This audio line output is a buffered output of the POWERED SPEAKERS right channel 7 6 4 ...

Page 24: ...s pin is the data signal for an I2C serial communication channel It is to be used with external equipment Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for more information 7 6 9 Pin 13 Accessory TX REQ This pin is an additional transmitter interlock signal input Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for information on how to configure this input 7 6 10 Pin 14 PTT in This pin is a Push To Talk input Ground Pi...

Page 25: ...s a safety measure for external amplifiers It is NOT meant to be used in regular operation as an active power control input or to modify the attack of an external amplifier Almost all modern HF amplifier manufacturers discourage the use of ALC in normal operation In fact many amplifiers do not have ALC implemented The SmartSDR Software User s Guide describes the recommended method for setting the ...

Page 26: ...rk 7 15 EXTERNAL DISPLAY External displays are not supported on FLEX 6400 and FLEX 6600 models 7 16 10 MHZ INPUT The external reference clock input is used to synchronize the radio s master oscillator Requires a 1 0v p p minimum to 3 3v p p maximum 4dBm min 15dBm max sine or square wave signal 7 16 1 Radio Oscillator Startup The radio can use the external 10MHz reference the optional GPSDO referen...

Page 27: ...umentation for information describing how to select this input and how it can be used 7 19 XVTR B TRANSVERTER PORT FLEX 6600 ONLY This female BNC connector is a receiver input and low level exciter output for use with Transverters Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for information regarding using the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 with external transverters The FLEX 6400 has one transverter port and the FLE...

Page 28: ... the input of the first Spectral Capture Unit SCU A in the radio This port is for use as a RECEIVE ONLY input to the RXA SCU Refer to the SmartSDR documentation for information describing how to select this input and how it can be used 7 23 HEADPHONE JACK The PHONES connector accepts headphones with a standard 1 8 inch 3 5mm stereo TRS plug Recommended ratings for headphones are 25mW into 16 ohm l...

Page 29: ...All Rights Reserved length being as short as possible Braided wire is considered the best for ground applications Your station ground should be a common point where all grounds come together You will likely be using a PC and a DC power source so be sure to ground these devices together as well ...

Page 30: ...as of wide temperature extremes This includes placing the sides of the radio too close to the hot exhaust of an external amplifier Should the temperature inside the radio become too high the fans will automatically increase to a higher speed Note this can happen after long periods of transmit Δ Do not operate this unit in areas of extreme humidity Δ Avoid operating this radio in direct sunlight or...

Page 31: ...radio has a smart sensing feature that will detect a Link Local connection and make the proper adjustments internally 8 4 3 Connecting via a Local Network The most versatile method to connect your PC to your FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 is to connect your radio to your existing local area network LAN Using the included Ethernet cable or another appropriate cable plug one end into the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 Et...

Page 32: ...FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 running multiple panadapters and receivers 8 4 4 Installing SmartSDR SmartSDR is the operating software that runs along with your FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 to provide the human interface to your radio Please refer to the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 Quick Start Guide and SmartSDR Software User s Guide for information regarding installation configuration and operation of your radio with this s...

Page 33: ... best practices are recommended NOTE Up Down and Fast buttons on the FHM 2 are not supported on the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 models Keep the microphone 1 2 inches away from your mouth All microphones including the FMH 2 experience the proximity effect in which lower frequencies become more pronounced as the microphone is brought closer to the mouth providing a higher fidelity frequency response Cross t...

Page 34: ...ardware Reference Manual Page 34 of 45 Copyright 2018 FlexRadio Systems All Rights Reserved you can record your voice and listen to the recording to set the EQ This is covered in detail in the SmartSDR Software Users Guide ...

Page 35: ...ansverter block diagram is shown below This transverter converts from 10m RF signals 28MHz to 1296MHz RF signals and back The transverter shown in the picture has three RF connectors RX IF the 10m receive port TX IF the 10m transmit port RF the RF input and output that goes to an antenna This type of transverter is known as a Split IF transverter since the IF side of the transverter utilizes both ...

Page 36: ... ANT1 or ANT2 ports for receive this is not recommended since these ports can produce high power RF at any time that could damage your transverter 10 4 PTT CONNECTIONS The radio will need to provide a PTT signal to place the transverter into transmit mode Most transverters will have a grounded PTT input This should be connected to a FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 TX1 TX2 or TX3 output to cause the transverte...

Page 37: ...ital mode program and will not delve into the details of configuring specific third party digital mode programs Connecting the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 to a PC sound card There are several audio inputs and outputs on the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 that can be used for connecting the radio hardware to a PC sound card Please refer to the SmartSDR Software User s Guide for a detailed description on configuring a...

Page 38: ...utput In the following example the left channel audio output on the Accessory connector is used to facilitate both the input and output audio connections to the PC sound card When connecting the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 to a PC sound card connect one of the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 inputs to the LINE OUT on the sound card and one of the FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 outputs to the MIC or LINE IN on the sound card ...

Page 39: ...can be used for transverter operation or as an additional receive antenna port For very high speed CW above 60WPM QRQ mode separate receive and transmit antennas should be used to remove any switching delays The transmit antenna must be connected to ANT A or ANT B and the receive antenna must be connected directly to RXA or RXB Consult the SmartSDR Software User s Guide for a complete description ...

Page 40: ... amateur bands Start by experimenting with your existing antennas to see how well they work For added performance across a wider frequency range consider adding a broadband receive antenna such as a beverage long wire log periodic traditional or shielded loop or multi band dipole yagi or vertical Using the antenna matrix you can receive over a wide range and then use your tuned narrowband antennas...

Page 41: ...ype L Network Antenna Connection Unbalanced coax Frequency Range 1 8 to 54 MHz VSWR Range 8 3 300 Ohms 80m 10m 6 7 150 Ohms 160m and 6m Tune Power 10W 2W on 6m automatically set by software Δ It is not recommended to attempt repeated tuning of antennas with the ATU connected to antenna systems that exceed the maximum VSWR on a frequency of interest Some antenna systems such as physically short mul...

Page 42: ... hemisphere the quicker the GPS will lock to a high accuracy level Some experimenting may be required to find the optimal location I The included low profile GPS antenna is not waterproof it is not suitable for outdoor use I The included low profile GPS antenna may be marked with the word PULSE This is actually the BOTTOM of the antenna and should be placed down and away from the sky An included a...

Page 43: ... no longer visible the GPSDO will enter holdover mode and the MSI will indicate SOLID YELLOW The radio will continue to be completely functional but the frequency accuracy could diminish to 2x10 8 over time The GPSDO is configured to remain powered even when the radio is off This maintains frequency accuracy of the GPSDO The MSI shows SOLID AMBER I Initial GPS acquisition and synchronization can t...

Page 44: ...wn as aging and may require periodic frequency calibration using a known frequency standard The FLEX 6400 FLEX 6600 without an installed GPSDO can be calibrated by the user utilizing the automated routine provided in the SmartSDR for Windows client software Before running this calibration routine allow for the radio to temperature stabilize for at least 30 minutes before calibrating the frequency ...

Page 45: ...RTERS USA FlexRadio Systems U S A 4616 W Howard Lane Suite 1 150 Austin TX 78728 U S A Phone 1 512 535 4713 Fax 1 512 233 5143 Email info flexradio com Support https helpdesk flexradio com Community https community flexradio com 16 2 OUTSIDE OF THE USA Please contact your local distributor See www flexradio com distributors www flexradio com ...

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