Haven't been in here much lately. I've been busy, very busy, with my new radio. http://www.flex-radio.com/ A SDR5000A, software defined radio. no knobs, no dials. You control all functions of the radio with a mouse. It's a bit daunting to begin with as the company believes in open source. So not just the company guys write the code, also user/programers write feature code and submit it. It's not unusual to have multiple updates each day. The hottest receiver, best dynamic range, and brickwall fully adjustable filters with NO RINGING. 100 watts 6 meters to 160. and already set up for transverters. As a cw op...I managed to work a few 160 countries that I'd never have even heard with my other radios.
It takes a bit of 'new thinking' as there are no com port wires. The com ports are actually virtual. using a free peice of software that creates pairs of null modem cables. Each end is called a com port. So the virtual null modem cable would have a pair called Com3<>Com6 You would set the Cat Control port to 3 and in DXBase, you set rig control to 6. (as DXBase doesn't yet, the Flex5K emulates a Kenwood with extra commands) So I use two free programs vComm, the com port program DDTutility, a free port duplicator that allows my SDR to control the Quadra amp as if it was a Yaesu exciter One have to pay for program, VAC, that creates the virtual Audio cables. That's right, no cables with those audio filters to prevent rfi. The Cables are inside the computers cpu chip. PWSDR, the program you see on the screen does suck a bit of cpu use. With my 3.2 winxp pro/sp2 machine it uses 26% cpu when running with DXBase on the othe monitor. You can use one monitor, I just always used two so it's really quite functional this way. PWSDR, has a major panadaptor that makes finding that qsx during a split operation a lot easier. I drag the xmit passband over the signal working the DX or place it in a hole between the visual signals. Soon a full DVK will be included (free) to complement the existing 10 band equalizer. While I concern myself with sounding loud, some say they get the best AM style performance they ever heard from a SSB rig. Each week the software gurus add features or improve already available features, always free and open source so other can build on them. I can't program a VCR, but I sure can make good use of the features the programmers supply. And one big feature for all you CW ops. PWSDR provides a full featured real time CW memory and paddle utility that sends PERFECT code. With the wideband receiver, you can operate full duplex, and the soon to arrive 2nd receiver board (user installable) you can listen to two bands at the same time, call stations on either band in full duplex. (this should really blow the anti SO2R contest guys minds) I'm not a FlexRadio employee, but I'd sure like to play one. There is no internal power supply, I use a 30amp supply. This may not be everyone's radio/lDXBase combo, but I'm happier than an ice water supplier in Miami during Spring Break. ----------------------------------------------------- We rush for the stars as we crawl toward our graves. -----------------------------------------------------
