Let me address a few more concerns: > RFI: Most of us are aware that a radiating > feedline could cause RFI in the shack.
I definitely have a problem here. Alan Davis, N2WS, helped explain why. Basically, I built a cheapo G5RV without the balun at the feedpoint (based on bad advise, many field days ago). I need to get around to putting in a Balun -- I even have one, but I don't think it's good for a KW, so I haven't done this yet. My biggest problem was solved when I put a ferrite bead (the usual one available everywhere for about a dollar) on my PC's keyboard cable. Still have some problems (e.g. get into my own TV), but it's workable until I get around to the KW capable balun. It has not inhibited progress any more than it would have with previous rigs where I made similar mistakes :-) . > > -------------------------------------------- > > "So where does the "hardware" go? 2 soundcards has > been suggested? 2 computers with one processor > dedicated to being the hertbeat of the radio and the > other dedicated to being a console/control? Gigabit > networking to connect these now three boxes? Maybe a > multi-processor multi-soundcard workstation? Now the > $1500 radio starts looking like a $4000 radio." > > Two sound cards is, strictly speaking, only necessary for RTTY. You can't have VOX without it, but at least in my case, I did without VOX years ago. Even on my nice TS 930S, I found it more trouble than it was worth. But, it's only an absolute necessity for RTTY unless you think VOX is absolutely necessary. The second sound card can be practically anything if you have a Delta 44 for the one running the SDR. I had a 35 dollar Turtle Beach card I was using before the D44 and using it for RTTY has worked superb. I could probably use it for other things (e.g. SSB input maybe), but it isn't a priority for me. As for horsepower, I think it could be true (especially for CW, perhaps) that a slower PC is marginal. Make sure you have [EMAIL PROTECTED] and things like that turned off, too. But, my 2.4 GHz box hardly breathes when running this. Typically around 30 per cent, peak. My 1.4 GHz Celeron laptop (not bought with this in mind) is going to Belize, having already shown it can do the job (more marginally, to be sure, but it works). But, it just isn't that hard or expensive to get a desktop PC above 1.5 GHz nowadays that's either a good Athlon or a true Pentium IV type. Compared to a 10K rig, even the extra 500 dollars (and, if you work at it, less) for a stronger PC is a bargain comparing this radio to its conventional competition. The desktop will, of course, permit the Delta 44, which by itself solves a host of problems and raises quality a bit. Larry WO0Z
