On 22 Sep 2008 at 16:03, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Hello All, > > > Like to get some good solid advice re laptops and USB sound cards. > > After having played with sound cards and benchtop computers > I am forced to look into a laptop for portable SDR applications. > > Min. requirement is one high speed USB for SDR ( 2 channel minimum > input sound card ) and at least one other USB port for Frequency control > of LO for SDR ( Si570 DSS or the like ) > > First question: > > What are the specs for a laptop to do 2 channel separate audio I/Q ? > What is there to look for in terms of hardware and OS? > Is is possible to disable on board sound chips in laptops and select > external sound devices and do 2 channel audio?. Are these standard > capabilities or special functions for newer standard laptops. > What about extra USB ports? > What if any, are differences in USB matters between benchtops and laptops. > > I would like to get in contact with an amateur running, lets say Winrad or > Linrad , PowerSDR SDR software plus an USB external 2 channel sound card and > a SDR transceiver with software control of other functions as frequency > control > via USB. > > In short how to identify a laptop for SDR applications. > > 73 Rein W6SZ > The most inportant thing is to have a stereo line in. Most new laptops only have mono. I just got a used T42 Thinkpad and a dock on EBay for $300. It has a 1.8GHz Pentium-M, 512MByte RAM, and a 60 GByte hard disk. Running PowerSDR, CPU utilization is only about 25%. The T4X line is widely available used as a lot have just come off of lease. The Thinkpad only has mono input, but the dock provides stereo line in. It is 48 KHz and works very well with Power SDR. USB is the same on Desktops and Laptops. If using a USB soundcard, be sure the computer has USB 2.0 rather than USB 1.1. I also have a EMU-0202 USB 192 KHz card and it works on the notebook and the desktop.
Dave - WB6DHW <http://wb6dhw.com>
