I completely agree with {and I added my comments and I underlined key important
concepts}:
1. The machine has to be able to run PowerSDR with two receivers sampling at
192KHz, VAC, com0com, ddutil, HRD, DM780, fldigi ... at least. Anything less is
not enough. BTW, I consider VAC, com0com, and a digital mode program; e.g.
DM780, fldigi, MixW, etc.; to be part of the base software needed to run a Flex
radio. I cannot imagine anyone running an FxK without them.
2. So what I am proposing is primarily for the person who isn't really
interested in tinkering with the computer.
3. {for this application} The radio really needs its own dedicated processing
engine.
4. Certainly someone could purchase an F5Kc but that doesn't help for the
person who wants an F5Ka or F3K. { Also, the F5Kc computer is for the Flex,
the third party software is not installed as a part of the purchased package.}
5. Having a prepackaged computer with software installed and configured turns
a Flex radio into a turn-key system.
6. There is a lot that is going on in Windows that isn't obvious, and the
quality of drivers is *not* consistent, which greatly influences the
reliability of the final system.
Great topic!
Ted
NX6C
________________________________
From: Brian Lloyd <brian-wb6...@lloyd.com>
To: George Allen <gal...@townsoft.com>
Cc: FlexRadio List <flexradio@flex-radio.biz>
Sent: Friday, March 6, 2009 9:42:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] small, dedicated computer for F5Ka
On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 10:52 AM, George Allen <gal...@townsoft.com> wrote:
> Your offer was intriguing and a very reasonable price; however, there
> are other thoughts that one might consider.
Yes, I had considered those things. I agree -- the machine has to be able to
run PowerSDR with two receivers sampling at 192KHz, VAC, com0com, ddutil, HRD,
DM780, fldigi ... at least. Anything less is not enough.
What I was proposing is not really for the computer-savvy. I agree with you
that people like you and me will want to build their own machine anyway. OTOH,
it might be for the person who is computer savvy and plans to build a dedicated
machine but wants to be sure that he/she gets hardware that is known to work
without any problems. Having all the base software pre-configured and tested is
just icing on the cake.
(BTW, I consider VAC, com0com, and a digital mode program; e.g. DM780, fldigi,
MixW, etc.; to be part of the base software needed to run a Flex radio. I
cannot imagine anyone running an FxK without them.)
So what I am proposing is primarily for the person who isn't really interested
in tinkering with the computer. This person wants to get on the air and have
the radio system be 100% reliable. Perhaps their thing is contesting. I would
expect that this would be the ham who would otherwise purchase a Yaecomwood,
plug it in, turn it on, and start calling CQ. Having a prepackaged computer
with software installed and configured turns a Flex radio into a turn-key
system. Certainly someone could purchase an F5Kc but that doesn't help for the
person who wants an F5Ka or F3K.
> When I configured my computer to run my F5K, I wanted a lot of extra
> power for the future and also wanted a computer that I could install
> other applications on...to run other things beside the F5K.
I am guessing that you mean other programs that run in conjunction with
PowerSDR to make a complete radio. I hope you are not implying that one should
use one's general-purpose home machine with the radio. The radio really needs
its own dedicated processing engine.
And as for future power, remember, cost is going to come down for more
processing power in the future so perhaps it is worth considering right-sizing
the system as opposed to over-sizing the system.
Another thing to consider is how the systems will work in the future. I think
you will find that, instead of having one really big/fast processing engine,
you will have multiple smaller engines each performing a different function. I
can certainly see the radio controlling engine multicasting the IF to several
different machines, each performing a different function.
> Consequently when I looked for a small dedicated computer, I could not
> find an off-the-shelf one that had additional extra power for the future
> that would meet my needs.
I understand that. One needs to build up a system. OTOH, the little AOpen
machines are compact and I have now figured out how to configure them to
reliably run the Flex radio(s). The only real question is which processor to
put in.
> I suspect that many people looking for a system to power the F5K have a
> similar feeling that they need a lot of extra power for possible future
> expansion. The system that you proposed will run the F5K; but, may not
> have the power for future expansion and enhancements...
>
> I suspect that a ham who buys an F5K is probably computer savvy and
> would think nothing of configuring and building his own system.
>
> In my case, I bought a "Shuttle" and put a Quad Core processor in it.
> It pretty well loafs along when it runs the F5K; but, also handles some
> other applications at the same time. I had no problem making the F5K or
> the computer work! I installed the software on the Shuttle, followed
> the F5K instructions, and it all worked.
That is great! You hit the jackpot on the first try! OTOH, that has not been my
experience with any of the three machines on which I have run PowerSDR. I have
had to fiddle with them until they worked. But I have ultimately been
successful. Still, I have a fair bit of background making systems work and
doing so wasn't necessarily obvious. There is a lot that is going on in Windows
that isn't obvious, and the quality of drivers is *not* consistent, which
greatly influences the reliability of the final system.
73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL
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