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Re: softrock40
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýI would agree that my RXII could use some pre-amp gain above 15
meters.? I would expect the sensitivity to be pretty constant across the
bands if the attenuators are removed.? I think the issue is signal-to-noise
ratio and mostly a change in antenna noise.? I live on a farm away from any
large city and my 210 foot G5RV antenna is pretty quiet on 10 meters so that
when I connect it to the RXII there is hardly any change in the spectrum
display.? A good Norton low noise pre-amp helps a lot on 15-10
meters.
?
Someday when I have time, I have been ¡°retired¡± for over 21 years, I will
make some measurements using my HP-8640 generators and HP-8566 spectrum analyzer
to see if the mixer noise changes with frequency and how much my antenna noise
changes to get an idea of the signal-to-noise ratio for different bands.? I
would expect the OP-Amp noise to be pretty constant and the noise level in my
Delta 44 sound card to also be constant.? But I need to do some research
and measurements on the Tayloe mixer to see how it performs at different
frequencies.
?
Mike? W6MXV? in KY
? From: allgyer@...
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2014 10:26 AM
To: softrock40@...
Subject: Re: [softrock40] Re: softrock40 ?
Sorry Alan but I have to disagree. It, of course, depends on your definition of sensitivity. When a given level of RF input produces the same level of IF output then, by my definition of sensitivity, the "sensitivity" of the receiver is the same on all bands. And that is the case with the Softrocks platform. The only gain in the Softrocks receivers is supplied by the op amps. The op amps operate over the same frequency range no matter what the operating frequency you choose. The only difference in "sensitivity" for a Softrocks at 28 MHz versus 1.8 MHz is the loss in the filters and in the mixer. And, over the range of 2-30 MHz, in a properly built RXII, that difference has been shown to be negligible. The attenuators are in line in the low ranges of the RXII not because the receiver gain or "sensitivity" is greater at those frequencies, but because high power interference is more prevalent at those frequencies. Once a high power signal is applied to the op amps to the point that they overload then the overall performance of the receiver is greatly degraded. That can easily happen from 1-10 MHz.... and rarely above. The fact that Roger's RXII does not produce a noise rise at 24 MHz, when his reference receiver does using the same antenna, indicates that the total gain of the Softrocks system is insufficient to overcome the noise of the sound card. This has been demonstrated not to be a design problem so there is either too much loss in the filter/mixer or insufficient gain in the op amp/PC input. Warren Allgyer 9V1TD ---In softrock40@..., wrote : Original Message ----- Subject: [softrock40] Re: softrock40 >Roger, Warren, These attenuators are there because the Softrock is too sensitive on the lower bands when used with a good TX antenna. In fact I've put an attenuator in a LF RXTX. > I don't think you are going to find a substantial fault in the design that contributes to insensitivity. It is much more likelyBut there are not any in the higher bands on an Ensemble RX because antenna noise is (should be) lower on the higher frequencies. The fact that the snsitivity is the same over the whole range does not mean it's sensitive enough on the higher frequencies. Yes, I remember Warren, you think your Softrocks are sensitive enough on 10m:) Maybe my Softrocks are different. Personally I do not think a soldering issue is likely to make a few dB difference, more likely a few tens of dBs? 73 Alan G4ZFQ > |
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Re: HDSDR - FLDIGI and RXTX Ensemble
Hi... Where can we find this article? Thanks Bill....wa8bda On Sat, Mar 29, 2014 at 7:28 AM, <iz2oos@...> wrote:
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Re: softrock40
Sorry Alan but I have to disagree.
It, of course, depends on your definition of sensitivity. When a given level of RF input produces the same level of IF output then, by my definition of sensitivity, the "sensitivity" of the receiver is the same on all bands. And that is the case with the Softrocks platform. The only gain in the Softrocks receivers is supplied by the op amps. The op amps operate over the same frequency range no matter what the operating frequency you choose. The only difference in "sensitivity" for a Softrocks at 28 MHz versus 1.8 MHz is the loss in the filters and in the mixer. And, over the range of 2-30 MHz, in a properly built RXII, that difference has been shown to be negligible. The attenuators are in line in the low ranges of the RXII not because the receiver gain or "sensitivity" is greater at those frequencies, but because high power interference is more prevalent at those frequencies. Once a high power signal is applied to the op amps to the point that they overload then the overall performance of the receiver is greatly degraded. That can easily happen from 1-10 MHz.... and rarely above. The fact that Roger's RXII does not produce a noise rise at 24 MHz, when his reference receiver does using the same antenna, indicates that the total gain of the Softrocks system is insufficient to overcome the noise of the sound card. This has been demonstrated not to be a design problem so there is either too much loss in the filter/mixer or insufficient gain in the op amp/PC input. Warren Allgyer 9V1TD ---In softrock40@..., <alan4alan@...> wrote : Original Message ----- Subject: [softrock40] Re: softrock40 >Roger, Warren, These attenuators are there because the Softrock is too sensitive on the lower bands when used with a good TX antenna. In fact I've put an attenuator in a LF RXTX. > I don't think you are going to find a substantial fault in the design that contributes to insensitivity. It is much more likelyBut there are not any in the higher bands on an Ensemble RX because antenna noise is (should be) lower on the higher frequencies. The fact that the snsitivity is the same over the whole range does not mean it's sensitive enough on the higher frequencies. Yes, I remember Warren, you think your Softrocks are sensitive enough on 10m:) Maybe my Softrocks are different. Personally I do not think a soldering issue is likely to make a few dB difference, more likely a few tens of dBs? 73 Alan G4ZFQ > |
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Re: softrock40
Alan
Original Message -----
Subject: [softrock40] Re: softrock40 Roger, Warren, These attenuators are there because the Softrock is too sensitive on the lower bands when used with a good TX antenna. In fact I've put an attenuator in a LF RXTX. I don't think you are going to find a substantial fault in the design that contributes to insensitivity. It is much more likely that the title of your post is correct and there is a soldering issue somewhere. :-)But there are not any in the higher bands on an Ensemble RX because antenna noise is (should be) lower on the higher frequencies. The fact that the snsitivity is the same over the whole range does not mean it's sensitive enough on the higher frequencies. Yes, I remember Warren, you think your Softrocks are sensitive enough on 10m:) Maybe my Softrocks are different. Personally I do not think a soldering issue is likely to make a few dB difference, more likely a few tens of dBs? 73 Alan G4ZFQ
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Re: softrock40
Hi Roger
I have an Ensemble RXII and I have done measurements in the past that indicated to me that it's sensitivity was pretty uniform across the 160 - 10 meter range. I just made a quick check with a signal generator calibrated at -73 dBm using HDSDR, where I set this level for S9 on 20 meters. Here is what I measured: 1.840 ??? -73 3.540??? -73.5 7.040??? -73 10.140??? -72 14.040??? -73 (calibration point) 18.240??? -71 21.040??? -70 24.040??? -71 28.040??? -74 I have long since removed the attenuator from the two low ranges just so I could use the RXII for such measurements. As you can see, the sensitivity is within 2 dB across this range. This is a standard build with no heroics other than removal of the attenuators. I don't think you are going to find a substantial fault in the design that contributes to insensitivity. It is much more likely that the title of your post is correct and there is a soldering issue somewhere. :-) The MFJ is a great diagnostic tool. It's output is a little rich and will overload the receiver (but will not hurt it) if you connect it directly. But if you can put a 20 dB pad in the ouput then, as you tune across the bands, you should see pretty close to the same levels. It is a great tool for the RXII to check as you cross band boundaries and be sure your filters are ok. Hope that helps. Let us know how you make out. Warren Allgyer 9V1TD ---In softrock40@..., <tharlam@...> wrote : The sensitivity of my SoftRock Ensemble II is not adequate on 12 meters. This unit was purchased assembled and tested. On 12 mtrs, on a good day, the band noise on my yagi is very low, but (just) above the sensitivity floor of my ICOM 738. The band noise is below the floor of the SoftRock however. I checked the design of the bandpass filters to see if that might be the problem. According to a SPICE network analysis, the passband of the 8-16 mHz and 16-30 mHz filters is perfect for 50 ohm source and load. Thus, as long as the component values on the board accord with those shown on the schematic parts list, and if the cap Q is adequate at these frequencies, the filters do not appear to be the problem. Next I checked the input SWR of the SoftRock. While I do not have a lab grade analyzer, I connected my MFJ 259B analyzer to the input of the SoftRock. For all the following tests, the local oscillator frequency was about 10 kHz above the test frequency. Measured input impedances were: 1.810 mHz: R=37, X=8, SWR=1.4. ??? At this frequency the bandpass filter is preceded by a resistor attenuator, ??? so a good SWR is to be expected. 14.193 mHz: R=10, X=28, SWR=5.9 24.944 mHz: R=16, X=44, SWR=5.5 28.010 mHz: R=229, X=178, SWR=5.7. Assuming that the filters are correct, then I infer from these measurements that there is a problem with the load presented to the filters. Assuming resistive impedances (and that I did the calculation correctly), an SWR of 5.5:1 corresponds to a loss of about 10 dB over that of a perfectly matched load. This could well be the sensitivity difference I observed between the ICOM and the SoftRock. Has anyone else done sensitivity or input impedance measurements of the Ensemble II rx? Does anyone on this list have the expertise (I certainly do not) to analyze the sampling mixer circuit including the coupling transformer to determine what impedance this is presenting to the filter? Thank you. Roger, VE7VV |
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Re: SoftRock Ensemble II - inadequate sensitivity - transformer problem?
Alan
Original Message -----
Subject: [softrock40] SoftRock Ensemble II - inadequate sensitivity - transformer problem? The sensitivity of my SoftRock Ensemble II is not adequate on 12 meters. This unit was purchased assembled and tested.Roger, It is my opinion, backed up by some others, that the Softrock is just not sensitive enough for the higher bands. (But others, maybe with a higher noise floor? disagree.) I have several Softrocks covering up to 10m. In all cases the op-amp noise is the limiting factor. I have added an 8dB RF preamp to overcome this. With a low noise soundcard it may be possible to reduce the gain of the opamps but I have not properly invesigated this. I have disabled the mixer and saw no change it the Softrock noise level. That's why I think the op-amp noise is the problem. 73 Alan G4ZFQ I checked the design of the bandpass filters to see if that might be the problem. According to a SPICE network analysis, the |
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SoftRock Ensemble II - inadequate sensitivity - transformer problem?
The sensitivity of my SoftRock Ensemble II is not adequate on 12 meters. This unit was purchased assembled and tested.
On 12 mtrs, on a good day, the band noise on my yagi is very low, but (just) above the sensitivity floor of my ICOM 738. The band noise is below the floor of the SoftRock however. I checked the design of the bandpass filters to see if that might be the problem. According to a SPICE network analysis, the passband of the 8-16 mHz and 16-30 mHz filters is perfect for 50 ohm source and load. Thus, as long as the component values on the board accord with those shown on the schematic parts list, and if the cap Q is adequate at these frequencies, the filters do not appear to be the problem. Next I checked the input SWR of the SoftRock. While I do not have a lab grade analyzer, I connected my MFJ 259B analyzer to the input of the SoftRock. For all the following tests, the local oscillator frequency was about 10 kHz above the test frequency. Measured input impedances were: 1.810 mHz: R=37, X=8, SWR=1.4. ??? At this frequency the bandpass filter is preceded by a resistor attenuator, ??? so a good SWR is to be expected. 14.193 mHz: R=10, X=28, SWR=5.9 24.944 mHz: R=16, X=44, SWR=5.5 28.010 mHz: R=229, X=178, SWR=5.7. Assuming that the filters are correct, then I infer from these measurements that there is a problem with the load presented to the filters. Assuming resistive impedances (and that I did the calculation correctly), an SWR of 5.5:1 corresponds to a loss of about 10 dB over that of a perfectly matched load. This could well be the sensitivity difference I observed between the ICOM and the SoftRock. Has anyone else done sensitivity or input impedance measurements of the Ensemble II rx? Does anyone on this list have the expertise (I certainly do not) to analyze the sampling mixer circuit including the coupling transformer to determine what impedance this is presenting to the filter? Thank you. Roger, VE7VV |
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Re: RXTX Ensemble Local Oscillator Test
Cecil Bayona
Rarely is the problem the ATTINY85 chip, it can happen but usually you have a hardware or software issue.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Check for solder shorts, chips in backwards, power problems, make sure the diodes in the USB lines are not backwards. I would work with it on Windows 7 to get the board going, if it's 64 bit Windows, then you need the certified drivers. At 10:12 PM 3/28/2014, you wrote:
--
Cecil - k5nwa < > < > Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway. |
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Re: RXTX Ensemble Local Oscillator Test
Hello all,
I'm having the same issue as the original poster. ?I purchased an Ensemble RXTX from Tony back in 2011, and didn't actually start working on it until this week. ?I'm at the LO testing stage, and also can not get the ATtiny85 chip to get recognized on multiple Windows 7 boxes, a Macbook Pro, and a copy of Linux Mint. ?I've tried all the steps that are listed on the web pages, and I'm stumped. ??I've reworked the connections, checked all the resistors, and I'm at the point where I think I might need to get a new ATtiny85 chip.? Has anyone come across this? ?Is there a way to get the firmware so I can try and flash a new chip with AVRDude and an Arduino? ?Can I order a new ATtiny85 and Si570 (might as well, just in case one gets fixed and the other fails...)? Thanks in advance! Cody |
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Re: Suggestions for an amp to use with my SR RXTX?
Jim,
My Hardrock with pre-amp is on it's way today (shipped)
2 Things please.
1) How hard is it going to be to wind all the coils? What is the details on getting pre-wound coils?
2) I have a alpha 91b amp I want to hook up to the Softrock TXRX?- Hardrock setup. I will only need 15-20 watts out of the HR.
With this setup, how do I go about the amp switching?
The Alpha today works well with the Ten-tec Orion II I have.
?
Looking forward to getting the kit and getting it on-the-air!
?
Thanks,
Lee
?
-----Original Message----- From: jim.veatch To: softrock40 Sent: Tue, Jan 28, 2014 2:38 pm Subject: Re: [softrock40] RE: Suggestions for an amp to use with my SR RXTX?
?
Hi Lee,
Yes that's a problem, we don't actually have any at the moment. We've made some improvements and are in the process of producing another 200 amplifier kits which will be available for pre-order in the next few weeks and shipping in early March. I have the prototype up and running on my bench right now. The lastest improvements are: 1. FCC Type Acceptance - the HR50 meets or exceeds FCC spectral purity requirements. 2. Fully machined enclosure - no drilling required. 3. Transceiver interface ready - plug and play with KX3, Flex-1500, Softrock ... 4. Diode T/R switch (QSK) option. 5. RG-316 coax for jumpers instead of RG-174. 6. Pre-wound toroid kits available. We've included lots of input from builders to make it an enjoyable kit. 73's Jim WA2EUJ |
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HDSDR - FLDIGI and RXTX Ensemble
Hello, I see now 1 watt output from my RXTX Ensemble... so it works with HDSDR!!! Next step: using Fldigi with HDSDR and the isuue is PTT. As I send a message from Fldigi it should switch the RXTX in transmit mode via HDSDR. I installed for this com0com but really don't know how to set both Fldigi and HDSDR! com0com has produced two virtual com ports: com19 and com20. Which settings should I use in Fldigi and HDSDR? 73, Franco iz2oos |
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Re: Softrock Lite II Smoked R1 R2
I replaced R1, R2, and the 5V regulator, as it had shorted on 2 pins, plugged board in, new 5V reg gets super hot instantly so I just powered it back off until I replace the other IC's.?? Haven't had time to look at the schematic to see what could be wrong or test the pins on the other IC's.? Guess I will have to move that RX antenna or unplug it when I run my Amplifier on the low bands.??
Thanks, Chris KF5JMD |
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Re: Softrock Lite II Smoked R1 R2
Robert Bajuk
Hi Chris,
I have similar experience 2 years ago, R1 and R2 were smoked including IC. 73 Robert, S57AW On 27. mar. 2014, kf5jmd@... wrote: ? -- Sent from mobile device with K-@ Mail. Please excuse my brevity. |
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Softrock Lite II Smoked R1 R2
Operating my station tonight on 40 meters, using my AL-811H running about 600 watts.? Afterwards,? I went to check my WebSDR server and noticed the 40 meter radio was out, took cover off the box it's mounted in (5 Lite II boards total in the box, all on same RX antenna) and noticed that R1 and R2 on the 40M radio are smoked?? Any ideas?? The antenna for these radios is pretty close to my low-band TX'ing station antenna, so I am sure it soaked up some RF, but I wouldn't have thought enough to really hurt it, have ran the amplifier on 10M forever, never had an issue with the SDR radios till I ran it on 40 meters, usually on 40 I just run rig power 100 watts, same antennas as tonight and never had a problem. The 10M antenna is quite a ways away from the SDR RX antenna, so I think maybe I might have to move the SDR RX antenna away from my 40M antenna......? Suggestions??? If R1 and R2 are smoked is it likely an IC is smoked as well?
Thanks, Chris KF5JMD |
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Re: Linux QUISK: issue with .quisk_conf.py. line "from softrock import hardware_usb as quisk_hardware"
Sid Boyce
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýWhat "fuser -v /dev/snd/*" is saying is
that cards 0 and 1 are available to pulseaudio, started by user
ubuntu and that quisk (python) run as root is connected to both
cards via pulseaudio, accessible and writeable so all looks fine.
73 ... Sid. On 26/03/14 00:53, Sid Boyce wrote: ? -- Sid Boyce ... Hamradio License G3VBV, Licensed Private Pilot Emeritus IBM/Amdahl Mainframes and Sun/Fujitsu Servers Tech Support Senior Staff Specialist, Cricket Coach Microsoft Windows Free Zone - Linux used for all Computing Tasks |
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Re: Build web pages Ensemble II RX
Did you copy the Si570 ExtIO dll from one of the locations I sent in a web post/email last weekend?? ( for example?) On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 1:19 AM, KF5ULI <angiharrover@...> wrote:
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