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CX2SA > SATDIG 04.01.11 13:58l 879 Lines 27635 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Howard Long)
2. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL)
3. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Iain Young, G7III)
4. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Gordon JC Pearce)
5. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL)
6. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL)
7. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Greg D.)
8. Re: ISS visable (Larry Gerhardstein)
9. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Andrew Rich)
10. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Howard Long)
11. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (K8TB)
12. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Jim Walls)
13. Re: ISS visable (Jim Jerzycke)
14. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Fred Spinner)
15. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Fred Spinner)
16. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (Mark L. Hammond)
17. Re: Need Advice for SDR choice (David Barber)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 21:01:30 -0000
From: "Howard Long" <howard@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: "'Gordon JC Pearce'" <gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <00b201cbab89$656e2e60$304a8b20$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello Gordon
Thank you for your comments.
In case you didn't know it, the original manufacturers for the FCD pulled
out one day _after_ they were due to deliver to me. That has meant that
rather than having time to fully document the API and provide a full
interface, I have had to build the Dongles myself. I have now built over 100
units, placing over 10,000 parts, since mid December, while doing a day job
too, in order to keep up to my promise of having devices available before
Christmas. I hope that puts the position into some kind of context for you.
All this information is freely available on the website.
> Okay, but how can we write software for it without access to the spec
> for the chip?
In the meantime, other people have already had success writing software for
Linux, including both getting the Qt source to work and writing their own
HID interface for Hamlib using the source code I provided plus the
documentation on the API I provided on the website.
> There *are* sample programs, but none of them appear to build in Linux.
> Maybe I'm missing something. I got somewhere with the Qt version, but
> it moans about libusb not being installed. Why it can't see libusb
> sitting there happily in /lib/ is beyond me.
My notes tell me that from a vanilla Ubuntu 10.10 install, you need g++ and
libusb-1.0-0-dev.
As I have explained I am pretty much a newbie to programming for Linux, and
I pretty much had to start from scratch and produce an application in three
weeks. If you don't like it, others have found that there is sufficient
information for them to write their own stuff. If there's something you
specifically can't figure out, you can always ask.
> Well, if it uses class-compliant devices then great - that *does* make
> it all a bit easier.
It is. That was specifically part of the design criteria very early on, and
it's another one of those USPs, and is well documented as a feature.
> Well, if the software doesn't run in Linux then people won't use it in
> Linux. If there was enough documentation to let me write software to
> support it, then I'd buy one as soon as they next became available.
Not sure what to say here, it _does_ run in Linux. There is API
documentation on the website. Yes I would like to enhance the documentation,
but this has not stopped others. I had a choice of delaying the promised
delivery date spending the time only improving the firmware, documentation
and software. In the end, during the time I worked on the all those three
_and_ made the boards, although compromises had to be made under the
circumstances when the manufacturer pulled out, which I freely accept, and I
hope that you can try to understand.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Now, back to making Dongles....
73, Howard G6LVB
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20110103141753.00be3770@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>Check out:
>
>http://www.funcubedongle.com/
>
>Assuming you only need receive, of course...
>
>Works great...just had a QSO on FO-29 using it for receive (thanks KB1RVT!).
>
>73,
>
>Mark N8MH
You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed
into a unit.
KB7ADL
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:35:42 +0000
From: "Iain Young, G7III" <g7iii@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4D22412E.9010205@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 03/01/11 21:26, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>> Check out:
>>
>> http://www.funcubedongle.com/
>>
>> Assuming you only need receive, of course...
>>
>> Works great...just had a QSO on FO-29 using it for receive (thanks
KB1RVT!).
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Mark N8MH
>
>
> You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
> enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
>
> Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
USB is not going to make *that* kind of distance, and I wouldn't
reccomend it anyway, due to lightning etc...*BUT* you can get
USB Opto Converters...
I must confess, once I've played a bit more with my USRP, There's
likely to be a USRP2 going up the mast, with an ethernet<->fibre
adapter on the end...
73s
Iain
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:04:14 +0000
From: Gordon JC Pearce <gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <1294095854.31998.27.camel@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
On Mon, 2011-01-03 at 14:26 -0700, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
> You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
> enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
>
> Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
>
I thought about doing it with a Softrock 6.2 Lite right at the
feedpoint, and fed with phantom power over the audio cable...
Gordon MM0YEQ
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:41:49 -0700
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20110103163647.00be3850@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 09:35 PM 1/3/2011 +0000, g7iii@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>On 03/01/11 21:26, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
>>At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>>>Check out:
>>>
>>>http://www.funcubedongle.com/
>>>
>>>Assuming you only need receive, of course...
>>>
>>>Works great...just had a QSO on FO-29 using it for receive (thanks
KB1RVT!).
>>>
>>>73,
>>>
>>>Mark N8MH
>>
>>
>>You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
>>enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
>>
>>Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
>
>USB is not going to make *that* kind of distance, and I wouldn't
>reccomend it anyway, due to lightning etc...*BUT* you can get
>USB Opto Converters...
>
>I must confess, once I've played a bit more with my USRP, There's
>likely to be a USRP2 going up the mast, with an ethernet<->fibre
>adapter on the end...
>
>
>73s
>
>Iain
I didn't think so, you never see any really long USB cables. I went back
and found a couple issues of the Amsat Journal that gave an introduction to
SDR, and you know it's really quite ingenious.
73
KB7ADL
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:50:06 -0700
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20110103164204.00bf88e8@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 11:04 PM 1/3/2011 +0000, gordonjcp@xxxx.xxx wrote:
>On Mon, 2011-01-03 at 14:26 -0700, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
>
> > You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
> > enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the
antenna.
> >
> > Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
> >
>
>I thought about doing it with a Softrock 6.2 Lite right at the
>feedpoint, and fed with phantom power over the audio cable...
>
>Gordon MM0YEQ
I was just thinking. Placing the SDR at the antenna makes the setup only
usable for reception. You couldn't use the antenna for uplinking unless
you added relays to switch the SDR in & out, but if you wanted a dedicated
receive setup and had a separate setup for uplinking it would be
interesting to compare mast mounted SDR with the in the shack receiving.
KB7ADL
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 16:19:13 -0800
From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <BLU133-W165906A0D306373ADB5580A9080@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> From: vlfiscus@xxx.xxx
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>
> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>
> I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed
> into a unit.
>
That was my first thought too, but R-7000 receiver's IF is at 10.7 MHz and
the FCD only goes down to 64 MHz.
On the other hand, the R7000's tuning range isn't that different from the
FCD, and I bet the FCD has better specs, so why bother with the receiver?
Greg KO6TH
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 18:00:10 -0700
From: Larry Gerhardstein <gerhardstein@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS visable
To: Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4D22711A.9000701@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
My 5500 az/el does the same thing.
Larry W7IN
On 1/2/2011 6:53 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote:
>
> Happy New Year
>
> I just watched the ISS pass over Seattle. Always glad to help! I was
watching my satellite array track the ISS and noticed how "jerky" it is
every time it increments. I have a 5400 az/el with LVB tracker. Made me
wonder if I could get more life out of the rotors if there were a "soft
start" of sorts for the rotors. The bouncing back and forth with each
adjustment made me think the gears are getting a workout.
>
> 73 Bob W7LRD
>
> Seattle
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 11:01:03 +1000
From: "Andrew Rich" <vk4tec@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>, <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>,
<amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <2CDEDFB93EF044F7B7E4D2ADB16D8650@xxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Can someone please explain to me how the IF is usefull ?
Does the radio become "narrow band" after the IF stages ?
What determines the radio IF bandwdith ?
Say my ICOM 706 can RX 430 - 450 MHZ, does that imply the whole 20 MHz is
there centered on 10.7 MHz ?
- Andrew -
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>; <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 10:19 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
>> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
>> From: vlfiscus@xxx.xxx
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>>
>> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>>
>> I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could
>> feed
>> into a unit.
>>
>
> That was my first thought too, but R-7000 receiver's IF is at 10.7 MHz and
> the FCD only goes down to 64 MHz.
>
> On the other hand, the R7000's tuning range isn't that different from the
> FCD, and I bet the FCD has better specs, so why bother with the receiver?
>
> Greg KO6TH
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 02:48:21 -0000
From: "Howard Long" <howard@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: "'Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL'" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <00e401cbabb9$d9e93570$8dbba050$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Vince
For info, I have tested the FCD running on a 20m USB cable. I believe it
might make 30m. That is the maximum you can do. This is achieved by using
active extenders. In my 20m test, I used three 5m active extenders and a 5m
passive extension.
Active extenders are nothing more than one port hubs.
I also tried running it on 10m completely passive, again no problem although
technically out of USB spec.
73, Howard G6LVB
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL
Sent: 03 January 2011 21:27
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>Check out:
>
>http://www.funcubedongle.com/
>
>Assuming you only need receive, of course...
>
>Works great...just had a QSO on FO-29 using it for receive (thanks
KB1RVT!).
>
>73,
>
>Mark N8MH
You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed
into a unit.
KB7ADL
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:49:03 -0500
From: K8TB <k8tb@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4D2298AF.90206@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
What we need is an Ethernet interface to USB that uses POE. This
has got to be out there already.
I would put quite a few of these in remote locations for monitoring
a whole lot of things.
tom K8TB
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:27:18 -0800
From: Jim Walls <jim@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: Amsat-BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <4D22A1A6.50001@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
On 1/3/2011 1:26 PM, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
> You know what's really interesting to me about this. With a WX type
> enclosure you could put the receiver right at the feedpoint of the antenna.
>
> Well, maybe not, I don't know what the maximum USb cable length can be.
Remember that there are USB over Cat-5 devices that can carry USB much
farther than a native USB. We are using a bunch of them at work. We're
only trying to get about 75 cable feet, but they are supposed to work
much farther than that.
--
73
-------------------------------------
Jim Walls - K6CCC
jim@xxxxx.xxx
Ofc: 818-548-4804
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/
AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 05:03:58 +0000
From: Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS visable
To: gerhardstein@xxxxxxx.xxx
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4D22AA3E.9020703@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
What tracking program are you running? I know in the "Rotor Setup" of
SatPC32 there are parameters that you can adjust that will 'smooth out'
a lot of the start/stop jerkiness. You can command the rotor to move at
specified time intervals, or when the tracked object changes position by
an adjustable number of degrees.
You also have to consider the pattern of your antenna. If the 3dB points
of your antenna are 30*, it makes _no_ sense to move them every 5*. The
first time I ran a PC controlled Az/El setup I was using one of the
"Ultimate Charger" controllers, and I didn't think to 'open up' the
dead-band setting. I thought the antennas were going to shake themselves
(and the tower!) apart.
I don't recall the settings I'm using with SatPC32 and my Fox Delta LVB
'clone', but it tracks very smoothly. with little antenna shake.
Jim KQ6EA
On 01/04/2011 01:00 AM, Larry Gerhardstein wrote:
> My 5500 az/el does the same thing.
>
> Larry W7IN
>
> On 1/2/2011 6:53 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote:
>
>> Happy New Year
>>
>> I just watched the ISS pass over Seattle. Always glad to help! I was
watching my satellite array track the ISS and noticed how "jerky" it is
every time it increments. I have a 5400 az/el with LVB tracker. Made me
wonder if I could get more life out of the rotors if there were a "soft
start" of sorts for the rotors. The bouncing back and forth with each
adjustment made me think the gears are getting a workout.
>>
>> 73 Bob W7LRD
>>
>> Seattle
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:14:31 +0000 (GMT)
From: Fred Spinner <fred@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: k8tb@xxxxxxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <635564327.162961.1294118072547.JavaMail.mail@xxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
What you need for that is a version that uses a PIC32MX7xx (easy port if
there was source available and no NDA) that has a built in Ethernet
controller (needs external PHY but that's not a big deal). Then the PIC32
could either decode narrowband and send audio back, or more likely I/Q over
UDP.
Really, I'm not too negative about the NDA thing.. except it keeps others
from evolving the idea in ways like above.
I'm playing around now with the SDR-Cube and that could have probably been
adapted to work with the Funcube Dongle as well if there was access to the
firmware.
But, it's still a good toy the way it is and I don't blame Howard and crew
for doing it that way since it probably wouldn't have been done at all as a
small stick like it is.
Fred W0FMS
Jan 3, 2011 09:52:45 PM, k8tb@xxxxxxxx.xxx wrote:
===========================================
What we need is an Ethernet interface to USB that uses POE. This
has got to be out there already.
I would put quite a few of these in remote locations for monitoring
a whole lot of things.
tom K8TB
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 15
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 05:19:10 +0000 (GMT)
From: Fred Spinner <fred@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <555389446.162974.1294118350360.JavaMail.mail@xxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
He could go with a 10.7 MHz fixed IF Softrock for about $30 (with the
special crystal) instead of $175 for the FCD and maybe have a chance at
getting one sooner than later if he really wanted to use it with the ICOM.
A soundcard is needed for a softrock, but I have used a $50 USB one in the
past from China no problem if he can't use the built in one (like on a
laptop).
Fred
Jan 3, 2011 06:26:01 PM, amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
===========================================
> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> From: vlfiscus@xxx.xxx
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>
> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>
> I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed
> into a unit.
>
That was my first thought too, but R-7000 receiver's IF is at 10.7 MHz and
the FCD only goes down to 64 MHz.
On the other hand, the R7000's tuning range isn't that different from the
FCD, and I bet the FCD has better specs, so why bother with the receiver?
Greg KO6TH
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 16
Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2011 07:21:21 -0500
From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <rQMN1f00656cfur05QMN51@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I think the most significant difference between the FCD and the Softrocks is
FREQUENCY, isn't it? Are there Softrocks that will do 64-1700 MHz?
I don't remember for sure, but I thought the Softrocks are good only up to
30 or 50 MHz. The FCD is from 60-ish to 1.7GHz. That makes them apples to
oranges in comparison.
So, if I have this right, I would need a Softrock and what---two or three
downconverters?--to cover just 2M, 70cm, and 23 cm. Oh, add a sound card.
That's more than the cost of a FCD shipped to the US...
If you're using an IF of a receiver, you need the receiver!! and the
Softrock. And a sound card.
I have three Softrock kits sitting on the bench right now, for those exact
reasons above. The FCD is a one piece, plug and play solution for the
bands I wanted to work (VHF, UHF). There really isn't a better option, far
as I can tell...
73,
Mark N8MH
At 05:19 AM 1/4/2011 +0000, you wrote:
>He could go with a 10.7 MHz fixed IF Softrock for about $30 (with the
special crystal) instead of $175 for the FCD and maybe have a chance at
getting one sooner than later if he really wanted to use it with the ICOM.
>
>A soundcard is needed for a softrock, but I have used a $50 USB one in the
past from China no problem if he can't use the built in one (like on a
laptop).
>
>Fred
>
>Jan 3, 2011 06:26:01 PM, amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>
>===========================================
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
>> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
>> From: vlfiscus@xxx.xxx
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>>
>> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond@xxxxx.xxx wrote:
>>
>> I'm going to look into SDR. My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed
>> into a unit.
>>
>
>That was my first thought too, but R-7000 receiver's IF is at 10.7 MHz and
the FCD only goes down to 64 MHz.
>
>On the other hand, the R7000's tuning range isn't that different from the
FCD, and I bet the FCD has better specs, so why bother with the receiver?
>
>Greg KO6TH
>
>
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>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
------------------------------
Message: 17
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 12:51:49 -0000
From: "David Barber" <david.barber@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx.xx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <B8E0DBB1238F466B9ED657F28A6CA385@xxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I would echo Mark's comments regarding the FCD.
I was also lucky enough to receive one of the first batch and have been
experimenting ever since. The device is excellent, its stability and
performance is remarkable throughout its intended operating range.
If you enjoyed Softrock at HF then for VHF and above this little unit is
your next step.
And of course it's supporting the Funcube Project.
David
G8OQW
********
http://www.funcubedongle.com/
http://funcube.org.uk/
********
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond
Sent: 04 January 2011 12:21
To: amsat-bb
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
I think the most significant difference between the FCD and the Softrocks is
FREQUENCY, isn't it? Are there Softrocks that will do 64-1700 MHz?
I don't remember for sure, but I thought the Softrocks are good only up to
30 or 50 MHz. The FCD is from 60-ish to 1.7GHz. That makes them apples to
oranges in comparison.
So, if I have this right, I would need a Softrock and what---two or three
downconverters?--to cover just 2M, 70cm, and 23 cm. Oh, add a sound card.
That's more than the cost of a FCD shipped to the US...
If you're using an IF of a receiver, you need the receiver!! and the
Softrock. And a sound card.
I have three Softrock kits sitting on the bench right now, for those exact
reasons above. The FCD is a one piece, plug and play solution for the
bands I wanted to work (VHF, UHF). There really isn't a better option, far
as I can tell...
73,
Mark N8MH
------------------------------
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Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 7
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