So we haven't changed the level calibration to my knowledge. This means that there is likely some difference between the two versions that causes this difference. I'm not sure what that would be though. Another thing to check would be the ADC levels coming directly out of the radio. You can do this on the RX Meter using the ADC_L and ADC_R settings. Compare those in the 2 versions and let us know what you see.
Eric On Sat, Nov 13, 2010 at 9:20 AM, Gerald Youngblood <[email protected]>wrote: > Clay, > > This is all about the calibration tables in the database. If your radio > was calibrated with the FLEX-VU5K at the factory, then its data should be > accurate. Going back to v2.0.8 may be incompatible due to the changes made > in 2.0.16. I have copied Eric who is more familiar with these issues. > > Gerald > > > Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR > President and CEO > FlexRadio Systems(TM) > 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 > Austin, TX 78729 > Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 > Email: [email protected] > Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> > > > Tune In Excitement (TM) > > PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems > > > On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 6:27 PM, Clay W7CE <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Thanks for the info Gerald. I ran the same test using my 5000A with an >> external 26 dB preamp on 6M. Same settings as below. PowerSDR 2.0.8 showed >> a 2.9 dB improvement in noise floor compared with v2.0.16 (same as the >> 3000). However, the 2.0.8 numbers weren't believable since they indicated a >> noise figure of 0.7 dB. However, the 3.6 dB NF indicated by v2.0.16 is in >> the right ballpark when you do the math for a 26 dB, 0.5 dB NF preamp in >> front of the 5000A on 6M. I'll do more testing when I get a chance to put >> the 5000A on the bench, but for now it looks like the v2.0.16 numbers are >> more realistic. >> >> What's strange is that I've done this noise floor measurement before with >> v2.0.8 and earlier and always showed a noise figure around 3.5 - 4.0 dB >> (with the ext. preamp and a 50 ohm antenna termination). Now that the 5000A >> has upgraded firmware (done at the factory for the V/U upgrade), when I run >> with v2.0.8 I get different results from before. Any idea what might be >> causing this? >> >> 73, >> Clay W7CE >> >> >> On 11/12/2010 3:15 PM, Gerald Youngblood wrote: >> >>> 2.0.16 sounds more like the correct noise figure for the FLEX-3000. >>> Gerald >>> >>> >>> Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR >>> President and CEO >>> FlexRadio Systems(TM) >>> 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 >>> Austin, TX 78729 >>> Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 >>> Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com/> >>> >>> Tune In Excitement (TM) >>> >>> PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 4:59 PM, Clay W7CE <[email protected] <mailto: >>> [email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> I tried the comparison again, this time in a more controlled >>> manner. I connected a 50 ohm termination to the antenna input of >>> the 3000. In CW mode with a BW of 500Hz (50.192600 MHz), PowerSDR >>> 2.0.8 shows the noise floor to be -142.5 dBM, which corresponds to >>> a noise figure of 4.5 dB. PowerSDR 2.0.16 shows the noise floor >>> to be -139.6 dBm, which corresponds to a noise figure of 7.4 dBm, >>> which is 2.9 dB worse. Both measurements were taken with RX1 >>> meter set to "Sig Avg", and in the Setup Dialog, "Show Decimal" >>> was checked, the meter Average Time was set to 10000 ms, and >>> Digital Refresh was set to 1000 ms. Shorter averaging times give >>> similar values, but the digital meter display fluctuates around >>> the center value. The preamp was set to Pre2 for both versions. >>> >>> I hope the additional data helps. >>> >>> 73, >>> Clay W7CE >>> >>> >>> On 11/12/2010 2:03 PM, Clay W7CE wrote: >>> >>> Gerald, >>> I tried what you suggested and reset the database for both >>> 2.0.8 and 2.0.16. PowerSDR 2.0.16 still shows the noise >>> floor, as measured by RX1 Meter in "Sig Avg" mode, to be 3 dB >>> higher than 2.0.8. Using SpecJT, both versions show the same >>> average noise power when AF and AGC-T are set to 50 and 60, >>> respectively. It appears that something has changed in the >>> way the S-Meter reading is calculated. Rough calculations >>> based on RX noise figure and current sky temperature, lead me >>> to believe that the 2.0.8 reading is more accurate. >>> >>> I'm getting ready to hook up my 5000A, which I just got back >>> with the V/U upgrade, and will see if it behaves similarly. >>> I'll also try the 1500 later. >>> >>> 73, >>> Clay W7CE >>> >>> On 11/12/2010 6:11 AM, Gerald Youngblood wrote: >>> >>> Clay, >>> >>> Try starting with a clean database on both versions. This >>> is probably calibration data in the database and not an >>> actual change in the noise floor. >>> >>> Gerald >>> >>> >>> Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR >>> President and CEO >>> FlexRadio Systems(TM) >>> 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 >>> Austin, TX 78729 >>> Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 >>> Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >>> Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flexradio.com> >>> >>> <http://www.flex-radio.com/> >>> >>> Tune In Excitement (TM) >>> >>> PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems >>> >>> >>> On Fri, Nov 12, 2010 at 1:39 AM, Clay W7CE >>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>> wrote: >>> >>> I just installed 2.0.16 on a Win7 Ultimate 64-bit machine >>> (upgrading from 2.0.8). Initially, I'm running it with >>> a Flex >>> 3000, and it upgraded the firmware in the 3000 to >>> 2.0.4.1. The >>> FlexRadio Firewire driver stayed the same at >>> 3.5.2.8028. After >>> initial manual setup, I checked the local noise floor >>> on 6M with >>> the antenna pointed in what is typically my quietest >>> direction and >>> with the antenna elevated 40 degrees (to minimize the >>> effects of >>> any man-made QRN). The noise floor seemed high, so I >>> shutdown >>> 2.0.16 and started 2.0.8. It seems to work with the >>> firmware >>> upgrade, so I went to the same frequency and the >>> indicated noise >>> floor is 3 dB lower (better). Several iterations of >>> switching >>> versions yielded the same results. As far as I can >>> tell, the two >>> versions are configured identically. Both versions of the >>> software are set to USB, 2.7k BW with the NB and SR >>> off. Also the >>> RX1 Meter is set to "Sig Avg" in both cases, and they >>> both have >>> AGC-T set to 69 and Pre2 selected. I've also noticed >>> that the >>> noise displayed in the panadapter seems to have a >>> larger range of >>> min and max peaks on 2.0.16 compared with 2.0.8. >>> >>> Why do the two versions show a different noise floor >>> when used >>> with the same receiver and antenna? Also, if there is >>> a reason >>> for the difference, which is more accurate? >>> >>> Tomorrow I should get a chance to try 2.0.16 with a >>> Flex 5000A and >>> a 1500. It will be interesting to see if there are >>> differences in >>> the indicated noise floor on those two receivers when I >>> switch >>> PowerSDR versions. >>> >>> 73, >>> Clay W7CE >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Flexedge mailing list >>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> <mailto:[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> >>> >>> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >>> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called >>> FlexEdge. >>> It is used for posting topics related to SDR software >>> development >>> and experimentalist who are using beta versions of the >>> software. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Flexedge mailing list >>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> >>> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >>> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called >>> FlexEdge. It is used for posting topics related to SDR >>> software development and experimentalist who are using beta >>> versions of the software. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Flexedge mailing list >>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >>> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. >>> It is used for posting topics related to SDR software development >>> and experimentalist who are using beta versions of the software. >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Flexedge mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz >> This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is >> used for posting topics related to SDR software development and >> experimentalist who are using beta versions of the software. >> > > _______________________________________________ Flexedge mailing list [email protected] http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist who are using beta versions of the software.
