Local estate sale has a 5000A and a 6400 for sale. Obviously the 6400 is newer and its specs on Sherwood' site are "better", but there is a significant cost differential and specs do not reflect real world experience with a radio. I have a 1500 and it seems a very nice radio with KE9NS's software which makes me wonder if there is any reason reason to prefer the 6400 over the 5000A other than age and not needing to deal with the Firewire interface.
My question is whether there are any reasons to prefer on over the other from a real world performance/pleasure of using viewpoint. Especially from a DXing/Contesting standpoint.
Thank you.
K1VP
Ed
5000a v 6400
-
ke9ns
- Site Admin
- Posts: 624
- Joined: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am
- Location: Illinois, North West Suburbs
- Contact:
Re: 5000a v 6400
Assuming both radios are in working order....
As far as the receiver comparison, you wont find any receiver sensitivity or selectivity difference. I owned a 6300 for a few years and my friend has both the 6400 and 6600 radios.
It really depends on if the 5000 has any options like VU5K, 2nd receiver, or tuner?
And yes the FireWire can sometimes be an issue (i.e. finding a card that works well with a modern win11 PC)
and if you like SmartSDR vs PowerSDR
and if you like running remote, SmartSDR is seamless.
ke9ns
As far as the receiver comparison, you wont find any receiver sensitivity or selectivity difference. I owned a 6300 for a few years and my friend has both the 6400 and 6600 radios.
It really depends on if the 5000 has any options like VU5K, 2nd receiver, or tuner?
And yes the FireWire can sometimes be an issue (i.e. finding a card that works well with a modern win11 PC)
and if you like SmartSDR vs PowerSDR
and if you like running remote, SmartSDR is seamless.
ke9ns
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
Re: 5000a v 6400
Here is my take, having owned a 5000 and currently owning a 3000, a 6400, and a 6500.
I conducted tests over several months comparing the 5000/3000 VS the 6400 at various times of day and night and across different pile-up.
What I noticed was a substantial difference in noise levels: the 5000/3000 had a much lower noise floor than the 6400 when signal levels were matched. During CW pile-up, with both set to the same 500 Hz filter, the older Flex models created a "wall" toward interference from stations just above the kHz range, whereas with the 6400, the transmit frequency was literally swamped.
It may seem strange, but I actually find myself using the 3000 more often than the 6400 or 6500 except when I need multiple receivers to monitor several bands simultaneously.
Obviously, with the older Flex radios, you need auxiliary audio and CAT software to activate digital modes, whereas with DAX, you avoid all that. I no longer use SSDR; for months now, I’ve been using AESDR it’s revolutionary and, above all, free.
Lou IK8HCG
I conducted tests over several months comparing the 5000/3000 VS the 6400 at various times of day and night and across different pile-up.
What I noticed was a substantial difference in noise levels: the 5000/3000 had a much lower noise floor than the 6400 when signal levels were matched. During CW pile-up, with both set to the same 500 Hz filter, the older Flex models created a "wall" toward interference from stations just above the kHz range, whereas with the 6400, the transmit frequency was literally swamped.
It may seem strange, but I actually find myself using the 3000 more often than the 6400 or 6500 except when I need multiple receivers to monitor several bands simultaneously.
Obviously, with the older Flex radios, you need auxiliary audio and CAT software to activate digital modes, whereas with DAX, you avoid all that. I no longer use SSDR; for months now, I’ve been using AESDR it’s revolutionary and, above all, free.
Lou IK8HCG