Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
Bom dia. Oi. For me, this was an informative and interesting review. I am very seriously considering the purchase of an SDR-1000. In preparation, I have upgraded my computer, purchased the Delta44 and Eric's ground isolation kit. The only thing that has prevented me from purchasing one to date is that I had to leave the country for 2 months on business. I am going into my SDR-1000 adventure with my eyes wide open. I am aware that the software is a work in progress and that this is not an appliance operator type of radio. No problem. I've lived on the cutting edge before so I know what to expect. The support and contributions of this group also has lessened my fears that the ~$1500 will be a well spent future investment. What concerns me is that a core part of my reasoning for going ahead with the SDR-1000 purchase was based on the assumption that the hardware component of the radio was, for the most part solid. I am aware that there have been minor improvements in the past to correct issues. That is to be expected. But the e-ham review brought up some interesting issues. Mostly about the construction quality, PA oscillations and RF susceptibility. I realize that one review doesn't properly describe the true state of things, but along with the other threads on this forum about problems being attributed to cold solder joints, I started wondering about my future purchase. The rebuttal e-ham review by KD5RD clearly defined the well known accolades and potential issues of *software* defined radios but doesn't address any of the hardware construction issues raised by AA8VL. Therefore I am interested in the discussion that this review will generate in this forum and also on e-ham. Hopefully my fears will be abated by the responses. Até logo 73 de W4TME -Tim --- Integrated Technical Services You can't close the door when the walls cave in --Robert Hunter -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of VA3MA - Dan Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 11:16 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Eham Review http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4108#42946 Not a nice review - yet is buying another! ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
Here's the post that I plan to put on Eham I’ve had my SDR1000 since the beginning of the year. It is my 3,018 radio-yes I’ve owned over 3000 rigs during 45 plus years of hamming. The only rig I’ve not used is the Yaesu FT9000. In the beginning, pre-Delta 44 sound card, I had to deal with a few problems. I expected the problems because, at the time of purchase, the SDR was still in development. And, although, at times I got frustrated, I really enjoyed the challenge of working with a radio on the cutting edge of technology. Today, the radio is not a work in progress but a fully capable radio that exceeds all my expectations. In short, it ranks number 1 on my list of all time favorite radios. Here are just a few reasons why I like my SDR1000. The best receiver that I’ve ever owned-any filter combination I desire! The best sounding transmitter I’ve ever owned-any transmitter width I desire up to 20 KHz! The most versatile radio I’ve ever owned-I can save all operating parameters by just storing them in a data base file! The best and easiest to use display panel of any radio I’ve ever owned! Unique and/or superior features like a lab grade spectrum scope, noise gate, 31 band EQ on receive and transmit, sweep generator, absolute control of receiver sensitivity and power output and much, much more The simplest computer controlled radio I’ve ever used! The most fun radio I’ve ever used! And, because software updates are issued several times a month, I feel like I have a new radio every time new software is released. To put it simply, I have a radio that performs like a radio costing over $10 grand but costing well under $2K and it will only get better! As for RF, until recently, I ran a Henry 4K amp without a single bit of RF in my audio. To ensure the SDR1000 was RFI proof I ran tests by increasing the RF in my shack to the point where all five of my rigs had RFI. The solution to eliminating all RFI was the same on all rigs-I put snap-on beads on the microphone cables. [The ultimate solution is to have an RF shielded shack.] The SDR had no more or less RFI than the other radios. [Note: users of the early SDRs reported RFI, which was really audio distortion from improper bias settings. This has been corrected.] With regard to the SDR1000 not being for the faint of heart, this might have been true in the early days, but the Flex Radio’s turn key system is as finished a product as any other radio on the market. The biggest difference is the Flex Radio gets significantly better every time you download new software. If you want PERFORMANCE and EXCITEMENT and LOW COST get a FLEX RADIO SDR1000! In a message dated 10/6/2005 8:24:33 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Bom dia. Oi.For me, this was an informative and interesting review. I am very seriously considering the purchase of an SDR-1000. In preparation, I have upgraded my computer, purchased the Delta44 and Eric's ground isolation kit. The only thing that has prevented me from purchasing one to date is that I had to leave the country for 2 months on business.I am going into my SDR-1000 adventure with my eyes wide open. I am aware that the software is a work in progress and that this is not an "appliance operator" type of radio. No problem. I've lived on the cutting edge before so I know what to expect. The support and contributions of this group also has lessened my fears that the ~$1500 will be a well spent future investment.What concerns me is that a core part of my reasoning for going ahead with the SDR-1000 purchase was based on the assumption that the hardware component of the radio was, for the most part solid. I am aware that there have been minor improvements in the past to correct issues. That is to be expected.But the e-ham review brought up some interesting issues. Mostly about the construction quality, PA oscillations and RF susceptibility. I realize that one review doesn't properly describe the true state of things, but along with the other threads on this forum about problems being attributed to cold solder joints, I started wondering about my future purchase.The rebuttal e-ham review by KD5RD clearly defined the well known accolades and potential issues of *software* defined radios but doesn't address any of the hardware construction issues raised by AA8VL.Therefore I am interested in the discussion that this review will generate in this forum and also on e-ham. Hopefully my fears will be abated by the responses.Até logo73 de W4TME-Tim---Integrated Technical Services "You can't close the door when the walls cave in" --Robert Hunter-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of VA3MA - DanSent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 11:16 PMTo: FlexRadio@flex-radio.bizSubject: [Flexradio] Eham Reviewhttp://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4108#42946Not a
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
Hello Tim, I'm confident that the hardware issues related to the Eham review are the exception and not the rule. Remember, many early purchasers of the SDR-1000 assembled their radios in sections, probably purchasing the board stack first, with the remainder to follow. That leaves a lot of opportunity to benfit from careful assembly technique, or to suffer from poor assembly technique. I've had my SDR-1000 for about a year and a half, and started with just the board stack. Later on, I purchased the 100 watt PA, and when I realized that keeping all of them out in the open was just inviting disaster via a dropped tool or metal cable connector, I ordered the cabinet. Regarding assembly of the radio, the only 'extra' precaution I took was to thoroughly remove every last bit of paint on all mating surfaces of the panel. The documention recommended removing the paint where the screws connect the cabinet sections together, but I carried it a bit further figuring it couldn't hurt. Right from the beginning, I had concerns about the fact that the total radio 'system' was actually distributed between a computer and the SDR-1000 hardware, and took the precaution of assuring that both the computer and the power supply for the radio were connected to the same isolated power source via an APC brand UPS system, model # Back-UPS XS 1500. Regarding the microphone connector on the front panel of the radio, I used it only once, then realized that it made more sense to plug the microphone directly into the sound card via a homemade adapter. There are no ferite beads on any external wiring to either the SDR-1000 or the computer. Frankly, I'm amazed that none were needed, but that's the way it is. So, the removal of paint on adjoining panel surfaces on the cabinet, and the use of a common AC mains power source (UPS) are the extent of any extraordinary measures taken with this radio. I've used it on 160M through 17 meters, with and without an external Ameritron AL-811H amplifier, and on 2 meters with an Elecraft XV144 transverter and have never experienced *any* rf feedback. I've also never experienced any instability with the 100 watt PA. To the contrary, I've found the PA to have been particularly tolerant of my multiple inadvertent attempts to destroy it by transmitting into 'thin air' or the wrong antenna. The antennas here are resonant, with SWR's that are below 2:1, but they're not perfect. I can honestly say that except for the 1/8 phone jacks, I have no complaints about the hardware, and have had no problems related to hardware. Regarding the 'work in progress', yes, to the extent that algorithms improve, new modulation modes appear, and new features and functionality are added, the radio is a work in progess. How fortunate for all of us! However, remember that Flex-Radio maintains an official stable release of the software. Those of us who enjoy trying the absolute latest updates, and are willing to accept the inevitability of bugs but enjoy the adventure will continue to download and experiment with the latest Beta releases as soon as the become available. Those who have no time for such nonsense, or who just want to get on the air with the best radio on the market can do so by using the current stable release of the software, and upgrade to the next stable release when it becomes available. I know of NO other radio on the market which offers this flexibility. As an owner of the wonderful Elecraft K2, and an ICOM 746PRO, and being in the fortunate position of living about a mile away from AES Cleveland where I can always check out the latest and greatest from those other 'hardware-bound' manufacturers, I can say with all sincerity that the receiver of the SDR-1000 is the best that I have ever heard or used, anywhere. Period. I've been a ham for 40 years, and it's the greatest hobby around, and I remember with fondness the excitement of the 'old days', trying out new antennas, modes, and equipment. But things have become a bit 'stable' over the last 30 years or so with fewer of those exciting moments. Well, the excitement is back; over and over again, with each new release of the PowerSDR console! Looking forward to hearing you on the air with your own SDR-1000, Tim. 73, Dale WA8SRA Tim Ellison wrote: Bom dia. Oi. For me, this was an informative and interesting review. I am very seriously considering the purchase of an SDR-1000. In preparation, I have upgraded my computer, purchased the Delta44 and Eric's ground isolation kit. The only thing that has prevented me from purchasing one to date is that I had to leave the country for 2 months on business. I am going into my SDR-1000 adventure with my eyes wide open. I am aware that the software is a work in progress and that this is not an appliance operator type of radio. No problem. I've lived on the cutting edge before so I know what to expect. The support and
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
Well, let’s look at the complaints. “RF suppression is inadequate. The SDR has little to NO RF shielding. This means if you run an external amplifier...GOOD LUCK! If you run the internal 100W PA... you will need some luck as well. This radio was originally designed as a QRP 1 watt transmitter... since then they added a 100W PA without adding suppression...youre just asking for problems.” It’s a metal enclosure. If you use shielded cables to connect to it, you may be okay. I remember decades ago when I used to get an RF burn on my lip when it touched the microphone. RF in the shack is often an antenna/feedline issue. I haven’t hooked up an external amplifier yet, but I am running the 100 Watt internal PA. I was disappointed with the output power until the software version 1.4.4 came out. Now there's lots of power. I don’t use a direct microphone input, but I use an old Shure microphone mixer ($20 on eBay) that gives me flexibility on transmit audio sources, and I can turn down the sound card gain and avoid RFI issues. “The SDR's PA board oscillates between 1 watt and 200 watts all by itself (most notably when running an external amplifier on the lower frequencies, but occasionally if you're not running an amp and on the higher bands). I have partially cured this instability by running additional grounding.” I have not observed this. My SDR-1000 was ordered at Dayton 2005. I have since done the PA bias adjustment ECO. One fellow was having problems until he re-soldered some suspicious-looking solder joints on the PA “-The radio locks up in receive, transmit, or both a little more often than periodically. I talked to flex and this is a known issue that should be taken care of in newer models.” I have not observed this. Note: by applying the Engineering Change Orders and updating the software, you have the latest version of the transceiver. “-The sound card recommended is a Delta 44 which has 1/2 inch Phono connectors...the SDR connectors are sloppy 1/8 inch connectors. When you plug the cables in you can feel the guts of the radio shift back and forth...and the 1/8 inch input cables are cheesy and prone to just fall out of the radio. The power terminals to the SDR are cheesy. The whole 4 pin mic connector just spins when you try to screw on a mic. Basically all the connectors on the SDR chassis are cheesy and weak. You can plug the parallel cable upside down into the radio and not even know it!!!” Yeah, the miniature phone jacks are not the most elegant choice, but it was originally designed for a PC sound card. There are a bunch of these connectors in use in the world. If you don’t have a plug with extra molding around it that keeps it from seating properly through the back panel holes, it works. The power terminals are traditional binding posts. I’d like to use a banana plug, but it won’t handle the high current. I crimped a lug on to 12 gauge stranded wire and it handles more than 20 Amps. I couldn’t measure any voltage drop across the posts. The red and black insulated “nuts” will unscrew all the way off the post, so you can use a lug with a hole; you don’t need one that is open. One guy modified it for the RACES connectors, if that’s what you like. Parallel cable: I look before I screw a cable on to see the orientation. I suppose that I could put it on upside down. The external control connector is a DB-15 high-density; very standard in the industry. The microphone connector is a traditional one; mine doesn’t spin. Perhaps he got one that wasn’t tightened properly. The antenna connector is a BNC. I am glad to see this instead of the SO-239 “UHF” connector. The Delta-44 sound card does have a remote dongle with phone jacks. I soldered phone plugs on some miniature phone cables, so it works fine. There is a kit that plugs right into the sound card and does away with the dongle and supports using a off-the-shelf miniature phone cord jumper. “-The inside of the SDR is wired by a lot of loosely connected stereo speaker like connectors. You know the ones that always dont seat properly, always get noise, and you just end up cutting them off and hard wiring them. Well that is how most of the jumpers connect to the PA boards are configured etc etc etc. Almost all of the connectors visible from the top don't even snap on they are just pushed in and hope for the best.” No problems here yet. “-No Vox, QSK or the like” I think VOX is coming. No QSK. I believe that this is a PC issue, not a SDR-1000 hardware one. Definitely not a “full-break-in” transceiver. “-No ON/OFF LED on the chassis.” No power indicator on the transceiver. I went to AutoZone and bought an illuminated power switch that fits in the same hole. Works fine. “-Don't plan on surfing the web or working on documents while RX / TX with the SDR...the audio will get choppy like a skipping CD and or PowerSDR will lock up.” I’m running on a 2 Ghz PC. I use other software (Ham Radio Deluxe and
[Flexradio] What to do with the break-out box?
Hi all, First, the D44 interface kit works a charm. Nice advantage other than getting rid of the rats nest of cables is that thegood old Radio Shack audio cables seat much better in the SDR's connectors than do those from Hosa, which are prone to falling out. Thanks to all for putting this kit together. Now, what to do with the break-out box? Mine is currently an interesting looking paper weight. I guess you could also modify the inside to give "easier" access to selected X2 connections, such as PTT and the like. I've also seen the suggestion of an anchor for a small boat. Any other ideas? 73 de Joe, AB1DO
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
At 08:34 AM 10/6/2005, Gerald Youngblood wrote: Hi Tim, I am afraid I must chime in on this topic because of some misperceptions that may arise from the exam review. One thing that has been different about this radio is that the purchaser of serial number uno over two years ago has had the opportunity to upgrade to the latest performance. It would be handy if the flex-radio website gave details on this process: which radios, which s/n, what upgrades needed, what's the cost, etc. Or is it individually negotiated? the PERCEPTION of instability. We have discussed creating a separate discussion board for beta only because of the confusion that may cause new visitors. We would be interested in hearing from you on the reflector as to whether that would be a good idea. This would be a good idea... Jim , W6RMK
[Flexradio] Software development with C#^H^H lisp
Frank wrote: KD5NWA wrote: Lip anyone? :-P Don't I wish. All you need to be convinced is to see the edifice that Bill Schottaedt of CCRMA has built around CLM, CMN, and snd to see the value of that kind of programming environment. His stuff works across all the current Lisps. He doesn't consign you to using Lisp, either. You can leverage his work in C, guile, Ruby...pretty astonishing. Lisp is definitely an amazing environment in which to work. Once you're tasted first class functions, closures, garbage collection, good performance and programmable syntax (real macros, not the lame text replacement you get with C/C++), you'll never want to go back. One of the reasons we're rolling much of the effort over into Python is the extent to which that platform provides much of what you'd like to have from Lisp, except the programmable syntax. It wouldn't be surprising if the same considerations weighed heavily in the choice of Python as the medium for gnuradio. True. Python gives us most of what we were looking for (closures, first class functions, garbage collection, reasonable object system). The part where lisp kicks Python's butt is performance. Contemporary lisp compilers generate code that's within a factor of 2 of C/C++. And they do that while giving the programmer 10x leverage in terms of abstraction. 73 Eric K7GNU
Re: [Flexradio] Sample rates
The software is currently locked to 48KHz. We will open this up eventually to allow higher (and perhaps lower?) rates. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] radio.biz] On Behalf Of richard allen Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 1:45 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Sample rates Can someone tell me if it is yet possible to use sample rates higher than 48 kHz? Richard W5SXD ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Delta 44 Interface
I have grounded all of the points on my interface card, and it works great on my Dell computer. My external mike connection provides great audio, and when I connect the mike input to the speaker output of my Dell Computer, I have been able to work the digital modes with MixW and other software programs. 73, Hank - K9LZJ
[Flexradio] Firewire sound card?
I have an SDR-1000 on order and haven't yet purchased a suitable sound card. Since I want to use it with a laptop computer, I was thinking of buying the Extigy, but Gerald mentioned at the TAPR DCC that there was a soundcard with a firewire interface that might be suitable. Which card is this and has anyone tried it yet? Stan Slonkosky KE6ZC
[Flexradio] Fw: 1.4.5 Old keyer keys with MOX
This problem was fixed by removing and re-installing 1.4.5 - I assume some file or maybe DB was corrupted. I have it working ok now. Mel, K0PFX - Original Message - From: Mel Whitten To: FlexRadio Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 11:46 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 1.4.5 Old keyer "keys" with MOX I may have found abug in 1.4.5 - Problem: "Keys" the SDR in "any mode" when MOX is activated -after- the "old keyer" window has been opened and closed. As long as the old keyer window is "open", MOX will not "key" the SDR, but when closed, MOX will key the SDR in any mode (LSB, USB, FM etc), If the old key window is re-opend, the problem goes away. The 'New keyer" does NOT cause this problem and if it is activated (checked) old keyer closes and problem goes away.Note: this old keyer problemis not cleared after PowerSDR console is re-booted. :-) Mel, K0PFX ___FlexRadio mailing listFlexRadio@flex-radio.bizhttp://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
t the risk of over beating a dead horse, I've got get this off my chest. I'm sorry Chris had some issues, hopefully they will be resolved through the proper channels. It certainly looks like Gerald is trying on his end. But you know..what amazes me about Eham Reviews, is the disparity of opinions. Take for example the GAP Titan DX antenna that I bought recently. It had any number of this is a pretty good antenna entries, and one or two this is the worst piece of @%$# I've ever seen report(s). Sometimes when things don't work the way we THINK they should we totally get out of even believing that there is something we are not seeing and write the thing off as an impossible piece of @%#. That's the nice thing about this reflector. If we're having issues, there is going to be someone out there who has knowledge of the issue that we can turn to. I stand in awe of the expertise of some of the guys on this reflector. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Bill AD5OL Gerald Youngblood [EMAIL PROTECTED] 10/06/05 10:34AM Hi Tim, I am afraid I must chime in on this topic because of some misperceptions that may arise from the exam review.
Re: [Flexradio] Fw: 1.4.5 Old keyer keys with MOX
To be clear, we are moving away from the old keyer. As soon as we have an alternative to the existing memory and keyboard buffer options (which will likely come in the form of 3rd party applications), we will be dropping the old keyer completely. I would believe that there is an initialization/setup issue in v1.4.5 preview 1 that causes problems with the old keyer. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mel Whitten Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 3:42 PM To: FlexRadio Subject: [Flexradio] Fw: 1.4.5 Old keyer keys with MOX This problem was fixed by removing and re-installing 1.4.5 - I assume some file or maybe DB was corrupted. I have it working ok now. Mel, K0PFX - Original Message - From: Mel Whitten To: FlexRadio Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 11:46 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 1.4.5 Old keyer keys with MOX I may have found abug in 1.4.5 - Problem: Keys the SDR in any mode when MOX is activated -after- the old keyer window has been opened and closed. As long as the old keyer window is open, MOX will not key the SDR, but when closed, MOX will key the SDR in any mode (LSB, USB, FM etc), If the old key window is re-opend, the problem goes away. The 'New keyer does NOT cause this problem and if it is activated (checked) old keyer closes and problem goes away.Note: this old keyer problemis not cleared after PowerSDR console is re-booted. :-) Mel, K0PFX ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
[Flexradio] Shuttle settings
Looking to see if anyone has been able to program other buttons on the shuttle pro. Or...can you point me to where I can find the keystrokes required for turning on or off functions other than what is on the keyboard screen of the powerSDR console? Thanks Greg AB7R
Re: [Flexradio] Shuttle settings
Greg, Take a look at www.flex-radio.com/keymap.xls Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] radio.biz] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 4:46 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz; FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Shuttle settings Looking to see if anyone has been able to program other buttons on the shuttle pro. Or...can you point me to where I can find the keystrokes required for turning on or off functions other than what is on the keyboard screen of the powerSDR console? Thanks Greg AB7R ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] What to do with the break-out box?
Joe Thanks, we all enjoyed producing it! Actually perhaps we could reform the breakout box as an enclosure for the D-44 kit. Ill give give away a free d-44 interface to anyone who comes up with an enclosure method which does not need a machine shop to create! Thanks again Eric AA4SW From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Joe - AB1DO Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 11:42 AM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] What to do with the break-out box? Hi all, First, the D44 interface kit works a charm. Nice advantage other than getting rid of the rats nest of cables is that thegood old Radio Shack audio cables seat much better in the SDR's connectors than do those from Hosa, which are prone to falling out. Thanks to all for putting this kit together. Now, what to do with the break-out box? Mine is currently an interesting looking paper weight. I guess you could also modify the inside to give easier access to selected X2 connections, such as PTT and the like. I've also seen the suggestion of an anchor for a small boat. Any other ideas? 73 de Joe, AB1DO
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
At 12:08 PM 10/6/2005, Robert McGwier wrote: ALL of my three SDR-1000's are Mark I radios and they all have all of the ECO's. Bob N4HY I have not observed this. Note: by applying the Engineering Change Orders and updating the software, you have the latest version of the transceiver. Not all versions can be updated with the latest ECOs. If you have one of the Mark I versions, you might not be able to change some things. It's not *entirely* a software radio. ECO-002 will not fit on an original (sans RFE) radio. While not exactly an ECO (more a design change), the 5V regulator was originally a switcher and is now a linear. (not documented on the website list of ECOs) I suppose the point is that it still is a piece of hardware. -- Laziness is the number one inspiration for ingenuity. Guilty as charged! James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
Bill This was the last message on the topic that I read. Kill the horse, since you hit on the MOST important of all facts which make this radio different than others, in your last paragraph. The many comments about the 'review' hit on many aspects which make it a great radio but still not unique. The truly unique factor IS: it is the ONLY UDR, User Defined Radio. It IS the users who are 'building' this radio, and will keep it newer all the time. Newer is NOT always better, (vis a vis beta releases) but is always the key to constant evolution, TOWARDS better, which a fixed hardware system will do an order of magnitude slower than software. It IS the key, however, to making it better. You want better? Buy the next ricebox with new knobs for another 2 to 10 grand and a slight proprietary change in the control software! This version of the hardware is solid and reaching the practical limit of what this version of the hardware portion of the radio can be. Even the ECO's were initially user suggested or contributed by collective discussion or expertise from users. Hopefully Gerald is not too exhausted to be designing the next version of the hardware. After all it is contra entempreneur, and BIG Business oriented, in that the improvements are user contributed and use the SAME hardware! The SAME Radio (hardware) which keeps getting better is a death knell in conventional business. Just maybe there is a new Amateur paradigm at work? I hope so for Gerald's sake. I and others who bought the radio hardware early have MANY times mentioned, perhaps a revival of sorts of what Amateur Radio was meant to be, and if it is to survive MUST be! Innovation, Advancement of the state of the art of communications. In that current advancement, technology such as Internet, Teamspeak as well as HF communications actually play a synergistic role. All of these have contributed to the SDR-1000 to NOT DIE. It IS the users who are the momentum for this effort, NOT FlexRadio Systems, who just 'facillitated' our user effort to the platform we were offered. Almost EVERY new SDR-1000 owner becomes a contributor to the 'state of the art' serving as 'elmers' to the existing base as well as every new owner' THIS IS WHAT Amateur Radio was meant to be. If we are lulled to sleep by Yeasu, Icom, Kenwood with the profit, appliance motive in mind, AMATEUR radio will die. I still remember the long trip to the Lafayette Radio store RT 17, Paramas NJ. in 1964, as WN2WYK, and purchasing a NEW 7.187 crystal for my DX-60 being absolutely THRILLED by the thought of being able to work yet another fixed frequency as a novice. The SAME feeling is back when I bought the SDR-1000 and became a User Defining the Radio a UDR! Eric - AA4SW C'est La Vie Ham Radio! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Guyger Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 4:42 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review t the risk of over beating a dead horse, I've got get this off my chest. I'm sorry Chris had some issues, hopefully they will be resolved through the proper channels. It certainly looks like Gerald is trying on his end. But you know..what amazes me about Eham Reviews, is the disparity of opinions. Take for example the GAP Titan DX antenna that I bought recently. It had any number of this is a pretty good antenna entries, and one or two this is the worst piece of @%$# I've ever seen report(s). Sometimes when things don't work the way we THINK they should we totally get out of even believing that there is something we are not seeing and write the thing off as an impossible piece of @%#. That's the nice thing about this reflector. If we're having issues, there is going to be someone out there who has knowledge of the issue that we can turn to. I stand in awe of the expertise of some of the guys on this reflector. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Bill AD5OL Gerald Youngblood [EMAIL PROTECTED] 10/06/05 10:34AM Hi Tim, I am afraid I must chime in on this topic because of some misperceptions that may arise from the exam review. ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
At 01:31 PM 10/6/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: At 07:40 AM 10/6/2005, Dale Boresz wrote: I have often advocated that, someday, we minimize/get rid of this altogether with some sort of true USB interface to a small microprocessor, possibly sending in the I and Q stream as integers or IEEE floats, depending on what works best and then have either the D44 or an ordinary D/A A/D hidden inside either the current box or some sort of caboose for us old timers. Well, I can dream, can't I? Yep would be nice to have a digital output... but, practically speaking, designing high performance A/D,D/A stuff is a royal pain. But, it would get rid of _all_ the cable problems once and for all. I have the USB-to-parallel and it works fine on my underpowered laptop (1.4 GHz, Celeron) even without the latest recommended fix. Why not have it spit out on Ethernet? James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875
Re: [Flexradio] Eham Review
At 06:26 PM 10/6/2005, ecellison wrote: Bill This was the last message on the topic that I read. Kill the horse, since you hit on the MOST important of all facts which make this radio different than others, in your last paragraph. The many comments about the 'review' hit on many aspects which make it a great radio but still not unique. The truly unique factor IS: it is the ONLY UDR, User Defined Radio. for the amateur market, Matt Ettus and the gnuradio folk might differ with the ONLY... http://www.ettus.com/ The SDR1000 is certainly the closest to a plug and play ham rig. There's also a huge number of user defined radios in the commercial world. Check out companies like Pentek. For that matter, the new Electra radio used on Mars Reconaissance Orbiter is a software radio, in that most of the radio's processing is done in software. (Initially modeled in Matlab, for that matter. http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/mission/sc_instru_electra.html http://lists.contesting.com/pipermail/fourlanders/2005-August/000778.html Yep.. Electra's right at 437.1 MHz in the middle of the 70cm ham band. James Lux, P.E. Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group Flight Communications Systems Section Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109 tel: (818)354-2075 fax: (818)393-6875
[Flexradio] The most fun I've had in ham radio in years
... Or some variation of that sentiment is the persistent theme that I see those who have already joined the Flex Radio SDR-1000 owner's party express. Many of the eHam reviews say it; I've also seen it posted both here and on the Forum area numerous times as well. I also heard it several times at the Flex Radio hospitality sweet at Hamvention 2005. And I have even said it myself to others when I'm talking to them about the SDR-1000. With that in mind I have often wondered if this Flex Radio technology could be a key to getting a new, younger, and already computer savvy generation interested in radio. It really represents using computers to make a radio a truly better *radio*. So many of the other things that integrate radio with computers like packet, ham radio data networks (ham 802.11), IRLP and echolink et al. are geared more toward a utilitarian end goal of recreating public communications infrastructure. Useful for emergency communications work to be sure. However to me those applications don't really represent or capture the true magic and core spirit of experimenting with radio for the fun of it. That said it is also easy to see how much of what the SDR-1000 could theoretically do can also be applied to those more utilitarian end uses as well. My $.02, FWIW. Duane N9DG __ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com
