Wouldn't conventional radios including the K3 be better defined as a "Firmware Defined Radio FDR"?
73's Bret WX7Y -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 1:42 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Misinformation about k3 being srd From Wikipedia: "A *software-defined radio* system, or *SDR*, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices." If you have a recently produced cell phone, it is probably implemented as an SDR. I have worked on commercial and military projects that implement an SDR using one or more embedded CPUs. In one case, we implemented all of the DSP and the CPU in a single-chip ASIC (custom chip). No external PC at all, yet it was still a software-defined radio. The key to a software-defined radio is software. Where that software is executed is merely a matter of implementation preferences or requirements (nobody wants to lug around a laptop so that their cell phone will work). The Flex family of radios is implemented using software on a personal computer to do most of the traditional RF functions. The K3 is implemented with an embedded computing device that implements most of the traditional RF functions in software. Both radios provide a mechanism for upgrading that software. If you look at the schematics of the K3 you will see that the architecture is very similar to the 3000 or 5000A, except that it uses a double-conversion front end rather than single conversion and the processor is embedded in the radio. The fact that the processor is embedded in the K3 is irrelevant - it is still an SDR. That said, the Flex radios offer a much nicer user interface and a lot more potential for future upgrades. That's why I own a Flex 5000A and a 1500, but not a K3. 73, Clay W7CE On 12/11/2011 9:54 AM, Robert Costa, KB6QXM wrote: > All, > > There are many hams that swear up and down that their K3's are software defined. I try to explain to them that their k3 rigs are software enhanced, but not truly software defined. > > Many hams including some very bright engineers that are in the club still think that their k3's are SRD. > > I try to explain it that it is not srd as it can be run standalone, where a Flex cannot. > > I still get that glazed deer in the headlights look when I try to explain SDR. > > Any suggestions? > > > > _______________________________________________ > FlexRadio Systems Mailing List > [email protected] > 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.flexradio.com/ Homepage: > http://www.flexradio.com/ > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1415 / Virus Database: 2102/4074 - Release Date: > 12/11/11 > > _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List [email protected] 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.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List [email protected] 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.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
