Hank Wolfla
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:45:46 -0800
Quality Audio for SDR radio's. As most everyone knows the quality of computer speakers is not the greatest, and the amplifier's used in these speakers is rather poor with limited power output. I have installed a quality 75 watt per channel stereo amplifier and a set of speakers used as rear audio for a theater system. These speakers have a good low and medium frequency response. Using this setup, the radio quality of the SDR 5000 can be appreciated. I think that by having plenty of power, but running the power at a low range gives me excellent range with the speakers. Look around for a used stereo amplifier and a set of small theater speakers and I think you will be impressed on how your SDR radio sounds. I have not problems with RFI using a ALS 600 solid state amplifier. RFI chokes on all leads. 73, Hank K9LZJ Hank Wolfla hwol...@comcast.net 317-861-0186 -----Original Message----- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of flexradio-requ...@flex-radio.biz Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 12:00 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: FlexRadio Digest, Vol 58, Issue 6 Send FlexRadio mailing list submissions to flexradio@flex-radio.biz To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to flexradio-requ...@flex-radio.biz You can reach the person managing the list at flexradio-ow...@flex-radio.biz When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of FlexRadio digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') (K0DAN) 2. New 5000a owner (James E Watts) 3. Re: New 5000a owner (Alan NV8A) 4. Fw: Re: New 5000a owner (dan edwards) 5. Re: New 5000a Owner (James E Watts) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 12:09:42 -0600 From: "K0DAN" <k0...@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') To: "Richard W. Solomon" <w1...@earthlink.net>, <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Message-ID: <043201caa68f$abd493d0$6601a...@k0dan> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original A build-our-own speaker project is ineed a worthy and interesting project. With that said, I have never had the time nor inclination to do so...for my home theater interests, I buy comercial products. For my ham radio interests, I have gotten VERY good results from visiting Salvation Army, Goodwill, and other thrift stores....they always carry some inventory of stereo tuner/amplifiers, speakers, etc. Some of these are junk, and sometimes you will be surprised when you find pretty decent stuff (I once got a pair of big JBL speakers for $50...woodwrok was a little messed up, but the speakers sounded great). Generally the prices on this stuff are pretty low...and they are plug & play, and with a right/left balance control you can mix two audio inputs. If you don't have great apeakers, the addition of a small subwoofer will make ESSB or plate modulated AM on 75M sound really good. This is not audiophile (audiophool?) quality, but is VERY good for ham applications, and might be another option for FLEX (and other) operators who want to have some decent speakers and audio. It's a case of apples and oranges: are homebrew or commercial speakers intended for the hamshack, or studio monitors, or high-end home theater? Once size does not fit all. BTW, I have two thrift-store tuner/amplifiers in the hamshack...one drives a pair of old Yamaha bookshelf speakers, the other drives a pair of the old Radio Shack "Optimus" bookshelf speakers. Both have a small subwoofer...the audio is really good. Would I use this for my home theater? Probably not, but works great in the hamshack. I use ZIP cord to feed the speakers, I have no idea if theyr are "shielded" or not (what does this mean, anyway?), and ditto with the tuner/amplifiers (both Yamaha in my case)...I have never had RFI with these devices, and I often run full limit QRO and have both coax and ladderline feeders in the shack. As always YMMV! GL es 73 Dan K0DAN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard W. Solomon" <w1...@earthlink.net> To: <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 12:08 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') > Radio Shack sold a small Stereo Amplifier that appears on the > "evil empire" every so often. I use one with a pair of Bose > "Cube" speakers. Works very well. > > 73, Dick, W1KSZ > > > -----Original Message----- >>From: Tim Ellison <telli...@itsco.com> >>Sent: Feb 5, 2010 12:02 AM >>To: "audio...@charter.net" <audio...@charter.net>, Dudley Hurry >><jhu...@austin.rr.com> >>Cc: 'FLEX USERS' <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> >>Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') >> >> You could use a stereo kit PA. Like one of these >>http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/complete.htm#Amplifier%20Kits%2 0And%20Modules >> >> >> >>-Tim >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz >>[mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Jim Barber >>Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:42 PM >>To: Dudley Hurry >>Cc: 'FLEX USERS' >>Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Speaker project (was the 'bose speakers') >> >>Hi Dudley, >> >>The time... The 'audioguy' always has the time for speaker projects, but >>I'll concede that you may not. :-) >> >>The size - yes, even the "small" version may be bigger than a pair of >>micro PC speakers. Once cab I was tinkering with tonight is 6x6x6" >>internal volume and made from 1/2" MDF. They can get bigger and smaller. >> >>Well shielded from RF - That will be attended to in the separate amplifier >>section. Both for goes-in and goes-out, since the amp module I'm working >>with is Class D and can generate some hash unless put in a metal box and >>bypassed/choked. If someone comes up with an inexpensive linear amp >>module, kit or design that meets spec we can look at that too. Class D is >>nice because it can be tucked away in a diecast box without heat issues. >> >>Sound quality vs size - not sure what you mean there. The point of doing >>this is to build a first rate speaker. Unless you're talking trade-off, >>which is a matter of preference. You may prefer small for convenience. >>I'm a believer that where speakers are concerned, QRO is the way to go, >>although a 7" cube isn't what I'd call all THAT large. >> >>Price - It would be tough to match the $69 you mention, yes. The smaller >>design may do it, we'll certainly try. >> >>73, >>Jim, N7CXI >>(going where angels fear to tread) >> >> >>Dudley Hurry wrote: >>> Jim, >>> >>> There are just a few issues with the speaker project as far as I am >>> concerned, for the Flex. . >>> First is the time. >>> Second the size >>> Third being well shielded from RF. >>> Fourth, guess sound quality verses size. >>> I have been extremely happy with my Boses, mainly for the sound/size, >>> they will fit in a brief case, sound very good for the size, even in >>> CW, and were only $69.. And they are well shielded, and self powered.. >>> Very hard to beat.. >>> Now for my stereo system, I just might do something like that, a >>> good set , even in a kit will be in the $350 range. >>> Good luck in the project >>> >>> 73, >>> Dudley >>> >>> WA5QPZ >>> >>> >>> >>> Jim Barber wrote: >>>> Tim, W4TME made some excellent suggestions regarding the speaker >>>> project. >>>> >>>> I'll work up a high quality, medium-size design as a "case study", >>>> then provide notes, design details and construction info for perhaps >>>> two alternatives - one larger and one smaller, for example. That way >>>> those who really want to dig into the details can, while those that >>>> just want to build a great-sounding speaker for their great-sounding >>>> radio can do that too. >>>> >>>> Suitable amplifiers will be handled as a separate section, since in >>>> some cases it won't be required. >>>> >>>> 73 and more later, >>>> --jim >>>> >>>> Jim Barber, N7CXI >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> FlexRadio Systems Mailing List >>>> FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz >>>> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz >>>> Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ >>>> Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: >>>> http://www.flex-radio.com/ >>>> >>> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>FlexRadio Systems Mailing List >>FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz >>http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz >>Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ >>Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: >>http://www.flex-radio.com/ >> >>_______________________________________________ >>FlexRadio Systems Mailing List >>FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz >>http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz >>Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ >>Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: >>http://www.flex-radio.com/ > > > _______________________________________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flex-radio.com/ ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 16:51:12 -0500 From: James E Watts <rag...@suddenlink.net> Subject: [Flexradio] New 5000a owner To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Message-ID: <41e17f68-afab-4aab-a1c6-a93fec93e...@suddenlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Well, I took the plunge and received my Flex 5000a with second receiver Wednesday, 2-03-2010. This is my second try with the Flex 5000 as I purchased one about 2 years ago and I just wasn't happy with it and sent it back after 2 weeks. I had lots of drop outs and constantly had to stop and start the PowerSDR software. This time, I decided to dedicate a computer for the Flex with Windows 7 installed and all the necessary services removed, in other words a very basic, stripped down OS. I'm having much better luck this time. This seems very stable and I haven't had to restart the PowerSDR software any at all because of drop outs or non responsiveness. I believe this is the way to go with a Flex radio. Now, on to a few observations: Receiver 1 can't be muted without muting both receivers, is this by design or have I missed a setting somewhere? RX2 can't remember where I was on other bands, I have to constantly reset Mode and filter settings each time I change bands on the 2nd receiver, again, have I missed a setting here? Besides these 2 or 3 minor annoyances, I'm very happy with my Flex this time around. Also, I thought I would pass on a performance enhancer for Vista and Windows 7 users. I was fortunate to be able to find a PCI slot to put my TI Firewire card in that didn't share IRQ's with anything else, but theres a tweak that will allow you to set your 1394 PCI card IRQ to have number one priority. It's called IRQpriority and the link will have a step by step guide. Caution, it does require editing your registry and adding a key, but this guide will step you through it with screen shots. http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-vista-tips/manage-irq-settings-windows-vista -7/ I look forward to hearing from other flexers, James, W8GN ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:14:04 -0500 From: Alan NV8A <n...@charter.net> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000a owner To: FlexRadio Reflector <FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz> Cc: James E Watts <rag...@suddenlink.net> Message-ID: <4b6c982c.40...@charter.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed On 02/05/10 04:51 pm, James E Watts wrote: >...I thought I would pass on a performance enhancer for Vista and Windows 7 users. I was fortunate to be able to find a PCI slot to put my TI Firewire card in that didn't share IRQ's with anything else, but theres a tweak that will allow you to set your 1394 PCI card IRQ to have number one priority. It's called IRQpriority and the link will have a step by step guide. Caution, it does require editing your registry and adding a key, but this guide will step you through it with screen shots. > > http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-vista-tips/manage-irq-settings-windows-vista -7/ I immediately looked this up because I thought it might help me too, although I have WinXP rather than Vista or Win7. This is what I found: 'Myth - "Adjusting the Priority of IRQs especially IRQ 8 improves system performance." Reality - "IRQs don't even HAVE a concept of "priority" in the NT family; they do have something called "IRQL" (interrupt request level) associated with them. But the interval timer interrupt is already assigned a higher IRQL than any I/O devices, second only to the inter-processor interrupt used in an MP machine. The NT family of OSes don't even use the real-time clock (IRQ 8) for time keeping in the first place! They use programmable interval timer (8254, on IRQ 0) for driving system time keeping, CPU time accounting, and so on. IRQ 8 is used for profiling, but profiling is almost never turned on except in very rare development environments. Even if it was possible it doesn't even make sense why adjusting the real-time clock priority would boost performance? The real-time clock is associated with time keeping not CPU frequency. I would not be surprised if this originated in an overclocking forum somewhere. This "tweak" can be found in most XP all-in-one tweaking applications. This is a perfect example of why they are not recommended."' 73 Alan NV8A ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 14:51:36 -0800 (PST) From: dan edwards <w...@att.net> Subject: [Flexradio] Fw: Re: New 5000a owner To: flex list <flexradio@flex-radio.biz> Message-ID: <465665.35375...@web180202.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 --- On Fri, 2/5/10, dan edwards <w...@att.net> wrote: From: dan edwards <w...@att.net> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000a owner To: "Alan NV8A" <n...@charter.net> Date: Friday, February 5, 2010, 10:51 PM i'm confused... should i hack my registry in win7 32 bit to 'prioritize' JUST the IRQ of myfirewire card ?? 73, w5xz, dan --- On Fri, 2/5/10, Alan NV8A <n...@charter.net> wrote: From: Alan NV8A <n...@charter.net> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000a owner To: "FlexRadio Reflector" <FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz> Cc: "James E Watts" <rag...@suddenlink.net> Date: Friday, February 5, 2010, 10:14 PM On 02/05/10 04:51 pm, James E Watts wrote: > ...I thought I would pass on a performance enhancer for Vista and Windows 7 users. I was fortunate to be able to find a PCI slot to put my TI Firewire card in that didn't share IRQ's with anything else, but theres a tweak that will allow you to set your 1394 PCI card IRQ to have number one priority. It's called IRQpriority and the link will have a step by step guide. Caution, it does require editing your registry and adding a key, but this guide will step you through it with screen shots. > > http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-vista-tips/manage-irq-settings-windows-vista -7/ I immediately looked this up because I thought it might help me too, although I have WinXP rather than Vista or Win7. This is what I found: 'Myth - "Adjusting the Priority of IRQs especially IRQ 8 improves system performance." Reality - "IRQs don't even HAVE a concept of "priority" in the NT family; they do have something called "IRQL" (interrupt request level) associated with them. But the interval timer interrupt is already assigned a higher IRQL than any I/O devices, second only to the inter-processor interrupt used in an MP machine. The NT family of OSes don't even use the real-time clock (IRQ 8) for time keeping in the first place! They use programmable interval timer (8254, on IRQ 0) for driving system time keeping, CPU time accounting, and so on. IRQ 8 is used for profiling, but profiling is almost never turned on except in very rare development environments. Even if it was possible it doesn't even make sense why adjusting the real-time clock priority would boost performance? The real-time clock is associated with time keeping not CPU frequency. I would not be surprised if this originated in an overclocking forum somewhere. This "tweak" can be found in most XP all-in-one tweaking applications. This is a perfect example of why they are not recommended."' 73 Alan NV8A _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/? Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 18:03:45 -0500 From: James E Watts <rag...@suddenlink.net> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] New 5000a Owner To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Message-ID: <c78a3cf1-43ae-413d-a93a-61816c65f...@suddenlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Dan, Call I can tell you is what I completed on my machine. Alan's research spoke of a tweak dealing with IRQ 8, but I just added an IRQPriority for the IRQ of my PCI 1394 Card, which happened to be IRQ18. Jim ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ End of FlexRadio Digest, Vol 58, Issue 6 **************************************** No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.435 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2670 - Release Date: 02/06/10 07:35:00 _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/