Re: [Flexradio] Flex 6000 Family Dynamic Range
Hi Bob,
If it's OK with everyone, I'd like to count this as my "oh duh" moment
for today (my target is no more than one per day). I wasn't thinking
about decimation. However, assuming a bandwidth of 192 kHz and a sample
rate of 245 MHz, doesn't that only give an extra 5 bits or so of
effective resolution? That still leaves us 3 bits short of the 5000A
ADC, which still means 18 dB less dynamic range.
Maybe I missed it in the PDF file, but I didn't see a dynamic range spec.
73,
Clay W7CE
On 5/18/2012 3:44 PM, Robert McGwier wrote:
Clay :
The difference is more than made up in the the fact that the new AD
operates at 245 MHz and the old AD is 200 kHz and you get huge
processing gain in the downsample and filter process greatly increases
the dynamic range.
Bob
On May 18, 2012 4:46 PM, "Clay W7CE" <mailto:w...@curtiss.net>> wrote:
Did anyone else notice that the receivers on the 6500 and 6700 use
a 16-bit ADC rather than 24-bit like the 5000A? That reduces the
dynamic range by up to 48 dB (same dynamic range as the 1500).
That will probably be fine on HF, but I already have occasional
problems with ADC saturation on 6M when locals (within 25 miles)
running 1500 watts are transmitting in the 96 or 192kHz bandpass
of my current frequency. Of course, I can eliminate the
saturation by turning off my preamp, but then I can't hear the
weak station I was trying to work.
73,
Clay W7CE
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[Flexradio] Flex 6000 Family Dynamic Range
Did anyone else notice that the receivers on the 6500 and 6700 use a 16-bit ADC rather than 24-bit like the 5000A? That reduces the dynamic range by up to 48 dB (same dynamic range as the 1500). That will probably be fine on HF, but I already have occasional problems with ADC saturation on 6M when locals (within 25 miles) running 1500 watts are transmitting in the 96 or 192kHz bandpass of my current frequency. Of course, I can eliminate the saturation by turning off my preamp, but then I can't hear the weak station I was trying to work. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] DC on Headphones
The 5000A uses an LM4911MM for the headphone amp. It is configured as an OCL (output capacitor-less) amp. The advantage is great low-frequency response without the need for very large capacitors. The disadvantage is DC on the output. 73, Clay W7CE On 3/15/2012 3:09 PM, Jim Barber wrote: This is just idle speculation, but I'll guess that the headphone amp is single-ended, so uses a fairly large coupling cap for good bass response with low-impedance headphones. Large coupling cap = big "pop" when first plugging the cans in. Again, idle speculation but if someone with a service manual took a look it would be interesting to know if it turned out to be true. 73, Jim N7CXI On 3/15/2012 3:03 PM, Rob Keijzer wrote: Hello everybody, Picked up my new Flex 5000A yesterday and I must say, I'm very pleased with it. It is so extremely configurable that it invites to experiment with the different settings. Installation was very easy and presented no problems. I have installed the new PowerSDR v2.3.5. Found a firewire card that has a TI chipset and a PCI-Express strip that fits in my Computer. The only issue I have is, that when I plug in a headphone (or unplug it) I get a very loud crack in both earpieces, indicating there may be DC on the terminal. I took my voltmeter and plugged in an empty jack, and measured 2.4 volts on both channels. Now, this DC is only present if PowerSDR is running and the headphone is selected (ticked) in the Mixer form, not if the Flex and the pc are simply on. As long as I don't fry my Headphones I can live with this, but maybe this can be improved. All in all I'm very happywith this new radio. 73, Rob ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1424 / Virus Database: 2113/4872 - Release Date: 03/15/12 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Misinformation about k3 being srd
From Wikipedia: "A *software-defined radio* system, or *SDR*, is a radio communication system where components that have been typically implemented in hardware (e.g. mixers, filters, amplifiers, modulators/demodulators, detectors, etc.) are instead implemented by means of software on a personal computer or embedded computing devices." If you have a recently produced cell phone, it is probably implemented as an SDR. I have worked on commercial and military projects that implement an SDR using one or more embedded CPUs. In one case, we implemented all of the DSP and the CPU in a single-chip ASIC (custom chip). No external PC at all, yet it was still a software-defined radio. The key to a software-defined radio is software. Where that software is executed is merely a matter of implementation preferences or requirements (nobody wants to lug around a laptop so that their cell phone will work). The Flex family of radios is implemented using software on a personal computer to do most of the traditional RF functions. The K3 is implemented with an embedded computing device that implements most of the traditional RF functions in software. Both radios provide a mechanism for upgrading that software. If you look at the schematics of the K3 you will see that the architecture is very similar to the 3000 or 5000A, except that it uses a double-conversion front end rather than single conversion and the processor is embedded in the radio. The fact that the processor is embedded in the K3 is irrelevant - it is still an SDR. That said, the Flex radios offer a much nicer user interface and a lot more potential for future upgrades. That's why I own a Flex 5000A and a 1500, but not a K3. 73, Clay W7CE On 12/11/2011 9:54 AM, Robert Costa, KB6QXM wrote: All, There are many hams that swear up and down that their K3's are software defined. I try to explain to them that their k3 rigs are software enhanced, but not truly software defined. Many hams including some very bright engineers that are in the club still think that their k3's are SRD. I try to explain it that it is not srd as it can be run standalone, where a Flex cannot. I still get that glazed deer in the headlights look when I try to explain SDR. Any suggestions? ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1415 / Virus Database: 2102/4074 - Release Date: 12/11/11 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Interesting 100W amp for Flex 1500
It looks nice. The price isn't bad either. Too bad it doesn't support 6M. 73, Clay W7CE On 11/27/2011 4:39 PM, Brian Lloyd wrote: Someone sent me this link today. It looks like the bee's knees for the 1500. http://www.nikkemedia.fi/juma-pa100/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex-5000A TX1, TX2, TX3
TX1/TX2/TX3 do work as a sequencer (see Eric Wachsmann's 5/31/2011 reply to the FlexEdge reflector titled "TX1 -2-3 info?"). Tim's example is correct for a single TX line connected to an amp. However, TX1/TX2/TX3 are sequenced when using multiple TX lines with delays. In other words, TX1, TX2 and TX3 do not all turn on (connect to ground) simultaneously. Here's how the sequencing works when TX1, TX2 and TX3 are all selected for a given band: Push PTT 1. Flex 5000A switches to transmit, but no RF out 2. TX1 On (no delay) 3. Wait TX1 Delay 4. TX2 On 5. Wait TX2 Delay 6. TX3 On 7. Wait TX3 Delay 8. Flex 5000A RF Out Starts Release PTT 1. Flex 5000A RF Out Stops 2. Wait TX3 Delay 3. TX3 Off 4. Wait TX2 Delay 5. TX2 Off 6. Wait TX1 Delay 7. TX1 Off 8. Flex 5000A switches to RX **TXn On indicates that TX port n is connected to ground causing the relay to close; TXn Off indicates that TX port n is open (not connected to ground) causing that relay to open. This is exactly how you want a sequencer to behave. This also works if only pairs TX1/TX2, TX1/TX3 or TX2/TX3 are selected. Just skip the appropriate steps above involving the unused TX port and its delay. 73, Clay W7CE On 9/6/2011 2:28 PM, Tim Ellison, W4TME wrote: That isn't how the TX relays operate. it isn't a sequencer. When you press (assert) PTT, the TX relays close immediately. If there is a time delay value set, then RF is not transmitted until the delay time period expires. Example: TX Relay-1 is connected to an AMP and it has a TX time delay of 100 ms. ANT-1 is connected to the amp I press PTT The amps keys immediately No RF is allowed to egress the ANT-1 until 100 ms pass after pressing PTT. I hope that clarifies how it works, but I suspect that is not how you had intended it to operate. -Tim --- Tim Ellison, W4TME Product Management, Sales & Support FlexRadio Systems^(TM) 4616 W Howard Ln Ste 1-150 Austin, TX 78728 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 223 Email: t...@flexradio.com <mailto:t...@flexradio.com> Web: www.flexradio.com <http://www.flexradio.com> logo /Tune In Excitement^(TM) PowerSDR^(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems/ On 9/6/2011 4:50 PM, Kevin Hobbs wrote: Tim . can you please confirm if this is correct??? Looking for some further explanation of TX1, TX2, TX3. The manual could still use a little help or a good example. I want to use TX1 and TX2 as a sequencer. I want TX1 to control transmit/receive relays, TX2 to control 8877 amp. I think: TX1 delay 250 TX2 delay 150 Will cause: TX1 to switch 250ms before the Flex actually transmits TX2 to switch 150ms before the Flex actually transmits Resulting in: T/R relay to switch, followed by amp to key 100mS later, followed by Flex to transmit another 150mS later. Is this correct (or backwards)? 73 Kevin ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1392 / Virus Database: 1520/3880 - Release Date: 09/06/11 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] S-meter Calibration Question
Yes. And my lab tests show that it is very accurate (better than +/- 1 dB). 73, Clay W7CE On 3/25/2011 9:45 PM, Tony wrote: All, Is the Flex 5000A S-meter calibrated to Collin standard, i.e., S-9 = -73dbm and 6db per s-unit? Thanks, Tony -K2MO ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR Wishlist Item
I haven't noticed the latency when enabling headphones because I always have speakers, headphones and line out enabled. When I hear someone I want to work, I just grab the Heil headset and transmit. Having the speakers enabled while using the headset has never caused a problem. 73, Clay W7CE On 2/28/2011 10:01 AM, Gary Robertson wrote: I wish you could turn on and off your external speakers and headphones directly from the PowerSDR screen rather than having to click on the Mixer and using its controls. I primarily use my speakers to listen to activity on the bands. When I decide to transmit, I have to click on the Mixer so that I can turn off the speakers and turn on my headphones. I can easily adjust the volume using the slider on the left side of the MultiRX/Swap controls at the bottom center of the PowerSDR screen. While easy enough, these steps take precious time when I am trying to quickly respond to that rare DX station. I leave the Mixer open but minimized on my screen to reduce this time, but I wish there was another way to accomplish this task. I wish there were two additional buttons on the PowerSDR screen - one to turn on and off the speakers and and second button to turn on and off the headphones. They could be located near the MultiRX/Swap controls at the bottom center of the PowerSDR screen. Then, it would be simple and quick to control your speakers, headphones, and volume directly from the main PowerSDR screen without having to engage the Mixer. I know that some Hams already feel that the PowerSDR screen is already populated with too many buttons and controls. However, adding these two buttons is definitely on my wish list . A minor complaint - when I click on the headphone's check box in the Mixer, it takes way too long for sound to appear in my headphones. Do I have something not configured correctly or is this just the way that PowerSDR works? Thanks, Gary Robertson W5SAT groberts...@austin.rr.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] USB3 - Firewire
I'm sure there will be Firewire support available in one form or another for several more years. The problem is with laptop choices. If you look at most of the new inexpensive laptops on the market, most of them have neither Firewire support nor an expansion port to plug a Firewire card into. I was think of replacing my aging Toshiba laptop with a newer, faster version. There are lots of laptops available for under $1000, but most of them cannot support Firewire. As far as I can tell, you have to buy a high end laptop if you want Firewire support for a 3000 or 5000A. I really doubt that vendors will start putting Firewire back into the low-cost systems in the future. The trend seems really clear to me. Bottom line is that you can still buy laptops with Firewire capability, but the selection is getting smaller and smaller and the relative price is getting higher and higher. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] VU module
A 60W power level doesn't mean it isn't a transverter. Everything about the V/U module design and description indicates that it is a pair of internal transverters. Downeast Microwave offers a 60W 2M transverter for $539 and a 50W 70cm transverter for $599, for a total price of $1138. However, you will have two external boxes, in addition to your 5000A, plus power cables, TX relay cables, and IF cables and switches to make it all play together (the 5000A only supports one external transverter unless you provide your own means for switching the IF between transverters). DEMI has updated their transverters recently, but historically their transverters drift all over the place as the box heats up during transmit. My 25W 222MHz DEMI transverter drifts as much as 2 kHz as it heats and cools during long transmit sessions. I finally mitigated most of that with a fan that only runs during transmit, but it still drifts a few hundred Hertz. You will have much, much better frequency stability and accuracy with the FlexRadio V/U module. If you use an external 10 MHz Rubidium frequency reference with your 5000A you will have +/- 2 Hz accuracy on 70 cm, and even better with a GPS disciplined reference. DEMI is working on that option, but they don't currently have it. I have the V/U module installed in my 5000A and I'm quite happy with it. I haven't done as much on the air testing as I'd like, but bench tests show that it has the lowest noise figure of any 2M or 70cm receiver that I've ever owned. Sure, I wish the software was done, but since I do mostly weak signal work and very little FM, I can be patient. I have no doubt that FlexRadio will eventually add all the software enhancements that they have promised. $1300 seems like a very competitive price for this module from my perspective. 73, Clay W7CE On 2/8/2011 10:34 AM, Tim Ellison wrote: At 60 watts on V and U, it isn't a transverter. Having a ~100 dB dynamic RX on V and U with a ultra-low NF, yes, the price is worth it if you are a V/U/microwave enthusiast . If you want to talk on repeaters, then there are better suited and priced options other than a F5K+V/U As far as the software not being finished for the V/U, yes, that can be a deterrent for those wanting to do FM. It rocks on SSB and non-FM digital modes right now. BTW, the F5K +U/U is about the same price as what is estimated for the IC-9100 if it ever gets FCC approved. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Robert Costa Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 1:17 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] VU module As I have a no option 5k, I eventually want to add all of the options; which almost doubles the cost of the base model. I do want the VU option, but considering what I have read with no 2 modules from Flex's vendor being the same, the module having to be aligned in your radio to meet spurious emission standards and lastly a power supply mod has to done to the 5K to install the module. All this in addition to powersdr not presently working well on fm or PL tones; one has to seriously consider the upgrade. I personally was taken back by the cost of the module, but now the price has gone up 200 bucks. 1300 for the transverter? Huh, did I miss something here? ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] VU Frequency
The TCXO used in the 5000A is spec'd at +/-0.5ppm (0.5Hz at 1 MHz) frequency stability over temperature (0-50C). This is +/- 72Hz at 144MHz. Also, the TCXO can drift +/- 1ppm per year as it ages. The amount that a crystal drifts as it ages typically slows down as it gets older, but the manufacturer of this TCXO doesn't provide a spec for that. So, assuming it is on frequency when new, 2M frequencies could drift as much as 144Hz/year. Now add in the fact that most rigs used by 2M ops have less frequency stability than the 5000A, only having to tune +/-100 Hz on 2M isn't bad. I use a rubidium oscillator for an external 10MHz reference. When it is giving a lock indication, the frequency accuracy is better than 5 ppb (5Hz at 1 GHz). So at 144 Mhz, my frequency error is less than 0.72 Hz. I still find myself tuning +/- 100-200Hz for most of the local 2M hams. 73, Clay W7CE On 1/26/2011 6:52 AM, Kevin Hobbs wrote: Hi When listening on 144 MHz . I notice that I need to tune a little low to make voices readable . ie: I have to listen on 144.199900 or so instead of 144.2. Anyone else notice this? 73 Kevin ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Question on TX!,TX2,TX3
Hi Ed, I saw your previous email on the subject also. Keying the sequencer with TX1 is fine, but by using an output from the sequencer to then key the 5000A you have created a latch. Once the PTT input to the 5000A is asserted, TX1 will never release, and if TX1 doesn't release, then the sequencer keeps asserting PTT to the 5000A. I'm not sure why it worked for you in earlier releases, but I wouldn't have expected it to. Instead of keying the 5000A with the sequencer,enable and then set the TX1 delay in the Antenna form. That value (in milliseconds) is how long the 5000A delays transmitting after asserting TX1. When PTT is released, the 5000A will stop transmitting that many milliseconds before releasing TX1. Essentially, the 5000A becomes part of your sequencer. I haven't used my V/U module for 2M EME yet (waiting for good weather to get my antenna back up), but I do use it for 6M EME. I'm not currently using an external sequencer. Instead I program the delays for TX1 and TX2 to control the preamp and amplifier switching, respectively. With this configuration I get conventional sequencer behavior. When going to transmit the preamp switches out first, then the amp turns on and finally the 5000A starts transmitting. When going to receive, the 5000A stops transmitting first, then the amp switches off and finally the preamp switches back in. I'll have an external sequencer soon, but this is working fine for now. Hope this helps. 73, Clay W7CE On 1/11/2011 4:31 PM, Ed White wrote: Hi Gang: Have a question on the TX1, TX2, TX3 with respect to the U/V upgrade and 2.0.16? Before I sent the 5000A back all worked with the EME set up 1.18.6 and WSJT 7. and the TX1 would work with my sequencer ARRL handbook with relay's Now with the new SDR program and the mod U/V TX1 allows the sequencer to activate but will not allow it to drop back to normal. The spectrum screen on the SDR program has a band width of only the transmit and nothing in the rest of the spectrum screen. If I turn power off on the sequencer all goes normal. Question did something change in the TX1-3 or did the SDR program change this. Any EME op that is using the Flex5000A U/V with 2.0.16 have any problems? Ed WA3BZT ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Best Transverters?
On 12/27/2010 9:21 PM, Paul Delaney - K6HR wrote: I'm considering purchasing 2m/440 transverters for use with my 5000A. Can anyone make a recommendation? Paul Delaney - K6HR paul.hamra...@verizon.net http://k6hr.dyndns.org:8080 You could buy a pair of Downeast Microwave transverters. Fully assembled 60W (50W on 432) units will set you back $1188 for the pair. Plus you'll need external switching for the 5000a's transverter IF. Receive performance will be roughly the same as the FlexRadio V/U module, but the frequency stability will not be anywhere near as good, and you'll have two external boxes to provide cabling and desk space for. I own a Downeast transverter and it's ok, but not great. Another option is the Elecraft 2M and 432 transverters. They only put out 20-25W and have a reputation for drifting all over the place, even with the crystal ovens (this is all hearsay, since I haven't ever owned them). A pair of those with the crystal ovens and high accuracy crystal for 432 will cost about $920. The V/U upgrade is on sale of $1197 + installation. That sounds like a much better deal than external transverters. BTW, I opted for the V/U upgrade for my 5000A. I've had it back for a few weeks now and have used it a few times. So far, I'm really happy with it. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] QST for FLEX-1500 users having USB driver installation / operational issues
The new DLL works here. I'm now running a 5000A and a 1500 concurrently on an Intel I7-860/P55 machine (Asus P7P55D motherboard). Thanks! 73, Clay W7CE On 11/20/2010 5:39 AM, Tim (W4TME) wrote: To all FLEX-1500 Users, As you are probably aware, there have been some installation and operational issues related to the new USB streaming device driver for the FLEX-1500. These issues, which didn't show up during alpha testing, effect a small percentage of FLEX-1500 users. There were actually several individual issues that arose during the public beta testing including difficulty getting the drivers to install properly to adverse interactions with using certain newer USB chipsets (controllers). The FlexRadio development team has been working very diligently to characterize the issues over the past two weeks and believe that they understand the problems fairly well. As a result of those efforts, there is an updated FLEX-1500 Driver Patch Kit for PowerSDR v2.0.16 (Rev.D) along with a multi-procedure troubleshooting guide that describes how to install the FLEX-1500 Driver Patch Kit for PowerSDR v2.0.16 along with additional troubleshooting steps to get your radio operational using PowerSDR v2.0.16. If none of these troubleshooting procedures resolve your problems, there is a final procedure for reverting back to PowerSDR v2.0.8 which uses the higher latency Windows sound card drivers. Please feel free to contact FlexRadio Support (supp...@flexradio.com) if you need assistance in running any of the troubleshooting procedures and particularly if none of the procedures work for your setup, as we need to collect this information in order to better understand the issues and get them resolved before the next beta release of PowerSDR 2.0.x The FLEX-1500 Driver Patch Kit for PowerSDR v2.0.16 Installation & Troubleshooting Guide can be downloaded here: http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=356 The updated FLEX-1500 Driver Patch Kit for PowerSDR v2.0.16, rev D. can be downloaded here: http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=355 -Tim --- W4TME FlexRadio Systems Internet Systems Admin. Product Verification Team Tune In Excitement™ ___ Flexedge mailing list flexe...@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist who are using beta versions of the software. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Important upgrade notice to FLEX-1500 customers
I tried the patch, but unfortunately the 1500 panadaptor is still flat line. The computer here is an Asus P7P55D motherboard with an Intel I7-860 CPU, 8 GB memory, an Asus EN9800GT video card (Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT chipset) and a Creative I/O PCI card with 6 RS-232C serial ports. I'm running Win7 Ultimate 64-bit. Both the 5000A and 3000A work fine. 73, Clay W7CE On 11/13/2010 8:39 AM, Gerald Youngblood wrote: Dear FLEX-1500 customers, While the vast majority of FLEX-1500 owners have had no problem installing PowerSDR(TM) v2.0.16, a small number have not been able to get the release running properly when upgrading from Beta v2.0.8 or earlier versions. They symptom is a flat line Panadaptor display and S Meter reading of -240 dBm or so. Note, this applies to upgrades and thus does NOT apply to virgin installations of v2.0.16. In around 90% of the cases, this problem has been solved by properly removing the old drivers. We have just posted a new version of the “1500_DriverPatchKit_2.0.16.zip Rev B” on the download site. This contains a PDF document entitled, “PowerSDR 2.0.16 Driver Repair” that explains how to run the associated batch file called “Repair.bat.” If after installing PowerSDR v2.0.16, you have a flat line Panadaptor, please download the file and follow the directions provided. Once you have v2.0.16 running properly, the repair program will not be required for future upgrades. Note that customers who tried the earlier version of Repair and did not find it to resolve the problem should try the new Rev B version. This should fix most problems. However, there are some machines that experience hardware conflicts due to the much lower latency of the new USB driver. Some laptops for cost reasons use USB on the motherboard for control of many devices, even wireless adapters. These can cause conflict problems. Some customers have found that installing a PCI Express USB card on desktops or a hub on some machines fixed their problems. These are unique to specific hardware configurations but we are looking into ways to identify those issues. If after running the repair program, you still have problems running v2.0.16, please contact FlexRadio technical support for assistance. Sincerely, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President and CEO FlexRadio Systems(TM) 13091 Pond Springs Road, #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 Ext. 202 Email: ger...@flexradio.com Web: www.flexradio.com<http://www.flex-radio.com/> Tune In Excitement (TM) PowerSDR(TM) is a trademark of FlexRadio Systems ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] SPEC mode and Noise Blanker on the 5000A
Dudley,
It was a generic question since I doubt that noise blanker insertion
point is moving from version to version. Currently, I'm running 2.0.8,
but would be interested in knowing if any PowerSDR version has the noise
blanker before the generation of the Spec mode data.
I'll ask the question again on the FlexEdge reflector.
Thanks,
Clay W7CE
On 10/27/2010 1:32 PM, FlexRadio Support, Dudley Hurry wrote:
Clay,
To be precise, in what version of PowerSDR?
For a really good answer, that is really a Eric or Bob McGwier
question and best asked on the FlexEdge, where they monitor alittle
closer than here, both are really busy right now.
73,
Dudley
WA5QPZ
FlexRadio Systems
(512) 250-8595, Option 2
Email: dud...@flex-radio.com <mailto:dud...@flex-radio.com>
Web: www.flex-radio.com <http://www.flex-radio.com>
"Tune in excitement!" ™
On Wed, Oct 27, 2010 at 2:37 PM, Clay W7CE <mailto:w...@curtiss.net>> wrote:
I asked this question a couple of days ago with no answer, so I'll
try a slightly different subject line and see if it gets any
attention this time.
When in SPEC mode is the I/Q data stream supplied before or after
the PowerSDR noise blanker?
73,
Clay W7CE
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[Flexradio] SPEC mode and Noise Blanker on the 5000A
I asked this question a couple of days ago with no answer, so I'll try a slightly different subject line and see if it gets any attention this time. When in SPEC mode is the I/Q data stream supplied before or after the PowerSDR noise blanker? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] SPEC mode and Map65-IQ ( was: vac sample rate)
When in SPEC mode is the I/Q data stream supplied before or after the PowerSDR noise blanker? All this talk of using the 5000A with Map65-IQ has me thinking about how to directly interface the two programs without needing Linrad in the middle. I believe that the only processing Linrad provides when used with Map65-IQ is the noise blanker. If the SPEC mode data is post-noise blanker, then it should be fairly straight forward to modify Map65-IQ to receive it's data from the 5000A directly. The other option would be to modify PowerSDR to broadcast the I/Q data in the same format that Linrad uses on on a TCP/IP port. 73, Clay W7CE On 10/23/2010 12:28 PM, Roger Rehr W3SZ wrote: I got Linrad working with the Flex5000 back in 2007 and made a webpage detailing how to do it at that time. It is really pretty simple, and is just as Clay describes: http://www.nitehawk.com/w3sz/flex-linrad.html I haven't played with it recently, and I didn't take the next step to make it work with MAP-65 as I have the Linrad Hardware [WSE boxes] that I use as my receiver for 2 meter EME. Don't forget that you need both H and V channels for MAP65 [but not for MAP65-iq]. Hope that helps, 73, W3SZ On 10/23/2010 3:02 PM, Clay W7CE wrote: On 10/23/2010 11:31 AM, Brian Lloyd wrote: On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 11:09 AM, wrote: I need to have vac operate at 96000 with Flex. Flex only offers a max sample rate of 48000 from a drop down menu on main screen. Vac is capable of 96000. Sample rate is needed to send info to an eme decoding program which requires 96000. I talked to Greg at Dallas eme convention and introduced him to Joe Taylor the author of the program I am trying to use. Joe also wrote wsjt and WSPR program featured on the cover of this month's QST. Joe's program has been in use for years but so far I know of no one who has made it work with the Flex using vac even Gary KB8RQ who recenty tested the beta VU modules. Paul, wa3qpx Which program are you talking about? And why does it need a 96kHz sampling rate? EME stuff tends to be narrow bandwidth which favors low, not high, sampling rates. Both WSJT and WSPR work with PowerSDR (although it takes quite a bit to get WSPR to work with PowerSDR due to limitations within WSPR -- see http://flexradiowiki.com). Map65 is like CW Skimmer but for WSJT. It expects the data to be at a 96 kHz sample rate and once per minute it decodes all of the WSJT signals found in the bandpass. Much easier than trying to tune and find signals that you can't hear. If I'm not mistaken, Map65 receives it's data from Linrad which broadcasts the data over a TCP/IP port, so the real task at hand is getting Linrad working with the Flex 5000A. I did that once a long time ago, but don't recall all the details now. However, if I remember correctly, I was able to get Linrad to connect directly to the Flex 5000A I/Q data stream by selecting Flex Audio as the Linrad sound card. I know others have done this, so we just need to find someone who will share the details. I plan to get this working this winter with the 5000A and my new V/U module. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] vac sample rate
On 10/23/2010 11:31 AM, Brian Lloyd wrote: On Sat, Oct 23, 2010 at 11:09 AM, wrote: I need to have vac operate at 96000 with Flex. Flex only offers a max sample rate of 48000 from a drop down menu on main screen. Vac is capable of 96000. Sample rate is needed to send info to an eme decoding program which requires 96000. I talked to Greg at Dallas eme convention and introduced him to Joe Taylor the author of the program I am trying to use. Joe also wrote wsjt and WSPR program featured on the cover of this month's QST. Joe's program has been in use for years but so far I know of no one who has made it work with the Flex using vac even Gary KB8RQ who recenty tested the beta VU modules. Paul, wa3qpx Which program are you talking about? And why does it need a 96kHz sampling rate? EME stuff tends to be narrow bandwidth which favors low, not high, sampling rates. Both WSJT and WSPR work with PowerSDR (although it takes quite a bit to get WSPR to work with PowerSDR due to limitations within WSPR -- see http://flexradiowiki.com). Map65 is like CW Skimmer but for WSJT. It expects the data to be at a 96 kHz sample rate and once per minute it decodes all of the WSJT signals found in the bandpass. Much easier than trying to tune and find signals that you can't hear. If I'm not mistaken, Map65 receives it's data from Linrad which broadcasts the data over a TCP/IP port, so the real task at hand is getting Linrad working with the Flex 5000A. I did that once a long time ago, but don't recall all the details now. However, if I remember correctly, I was able to get Linrad to connect directly to the Flex 5000A I/Q data stream by selecting Flex Audio as the Linrad sound card. I know others have done this, so we just need to find someone who will share the details. I plan to get this working this winter with the 5000A and my new V/U module. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] flexradio.com blacklisted by spamhaus.org: was 2-meter Transverter for Flex-1500 and Microwave Transverters
I'm not really sure why flexradio.com being blacklisted should have affected my ability to reply off list to a message. I've looked at the headers in the email I sent and there is no reference to flexradio.com in them. The only reference in the entire email is the web site link at the bottom of the email. Maybe the ARRL mail server is aggressively searching for blacklisted domains referenced anywhere in the email. I've sent an additional email to the ARRL postmaster for further clarification on the issue. I'll post the results when I hear back from him. 73, Clay W7CE On 10/8/2010 12:45 PM, Tim (W4TME) wrote: There are no e-mail servers or has there ever been any e-mail servers setup for the new flexradio.com domain. This seems to be an issue where our domain registrar for the flexradio.com domain has a compromised mail server that was inadvertently pointing to the flexradio.com domain. This situation has been resolved for now, as you can no longer resolve MX records for flexradio.com Thanks to Dave an Neal for you info. -Tim --- W4TME FlexRadio Systems Internet Systems Admin. Product Verification Team Tune In Excitement™ On 10/8/2010 1:42 PM, David McKenzie wrote: I ran an RBL search and spamhaus is the only list currently blocking flexradio.com; however, some of the lists feed off of other lists so it may propagate before it is removed. Just an FYI http://mxtoolbox.com/SuperTool.aspx?action=blacklist%3a67.23.32.140 On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 1:06 PM, Neal Campbell wrote: I filled out the removal form, not sure if it mattered who did it but its up for manual removal! 73 Neal Campbell Abroham Neal Software www.abrohamnealsoftware.com (540) 645 5394 On Fri, Oct 8, 2010 at 12:24 PM, Clay W7CE wrote: I tried to respond directly to Paul at the email address he gave below, but it was rejected by the ARRL's mail server. The error response was: : host mx2.arrl.net[38.126.103.57] said: 554 5.7.1 Blacklisted by dbl.spamhaus - contactpostmas...@arrl.net for resolution. I contacted the postmaster email for resolution and the response was that flexradio.com is black listed by dbl.spamhaus. I check www.spamhaus.orgmyself and found that indeed flexradio.com is on their black list. Here's the link: http://www.spamhaus.org/query/dbl?domain=flexradio.com This is probably worth resolving with spamhaus.org. BTW, Paul in case you didn't get the email from my gmail account, I want two of the 2M miniverter PCBs. Thanks. 73, Clay W7CE On 10/7/2010 8:30 PM, Paul Wade W1GHZ wrote: I've put together a small, low-power 2-meter Transverter to put the Flex-1500 on microwaves. you can see a preview at www.w1ghz.org/new/Miniverter-F.pdf if there is any interest, I'll have some PC boards made up. please reply to w1...@arrl.net 73 paul ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] flexradio.com blacklisted by spamhaus.org: was 2-meter Transverter for Flex-1500 and Microwave Transverters
I tried to respond directly to Paul at the email address he gave below, but it was rejected by the ARRL's mail server. The error response was: : host mx2.arrl.net[38.126.103.57] said: 554 5.7.1 Blacklisted by dbl.spamhaus - contactpostmas...@arrl.net for resolution. I contacted the postmaster email for resolution and the response was that flexradio.com is black listed by dbl.spamhaus. I check www.spamhaus.org myself and found that indeed flexradio.com is on their black list. Here's the link: http://www.spamhaus.org/query/dbl?domain=flexradio.com This is probably worth resolving with spamhaus.org. BTW, Paul in case you didn't get the email from my gmail account, I want two of the 2M miniverter PCBs. Thanks. 73, Clay W7CE On 10/7/2010 8:30 PM, Paul Wade W1GHZ wrote: I've put together a small, low-power 2-meter Transverter to put the Flex-1500 on microwaves. you can see a preview at www.w1ghz.org/new/Miniverter-F.pdf if there is any interest, I'll have some PC boards made up. please reply to w1...@arrl.net 73 paul ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] USB3 USB3 USB3
I wouldn't get too excited about USB3 yet. Intel does not support USB3 in any of their chip sets yet and is not expected to until sometime in the middle of 2011. Until Intel jumps on the bandwagon (which they will), there will be too many computers without USB3 for it to be a serious contender. Even then, it will take a couple of years before most computers support it. A company like FlexRadio should not even consider USB3 before 2012. 73, Clay W7CE On 9/13/2010 7:10 PM, Eddie DeYoung wrote: I just couldn't keep quiet now that a new kid has entered the fray of connectivity! USB3... is now creeping onto most new home and laptop PC's... and IEE1394a is disappearing from all but the 'top end' laptops. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Multitasking while running 5000A--or dedicated computer?
I built an i7-860 machine running 64-bit Win7 Ultimate in December for my 5000A. In addition to PowerSDR, Ham Radio Deluxe, DDUtil, a couple of web browsers (with lots of tabs open), a VNC connection to my Linux machine and WSJT for meteor scatter and moonbounce digital modes, I am also running custom antenna optimization software that I wrote. My antenna program runs eight floating point intensive simulations in parallel (using hyperthreading on all four processor cores). I have this running sometimes while I'm listening to the radio and I've never even heard a glitch in the PowerSDR audio. Your mileage may vary, but I think you'll be very happy with the performance of a Core i7 machine running PowerSDR. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dan & Jean" To: "Flex Reflector" Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 5:26 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Multitasking while running 5000A--or dedicated computer? I'm planning the purchase of a 5000A. I'm also going to purchase a new computer--probably a Core i7 machine with a fast video card and two monitors. I'm used to having a logging program running (DXLab Suite), and some Internet windows open. Can you run a 5000A with these other things going on at the same time? What is your experience in this regard? Thanks, Dan - W4TQ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
[Flexradio] Flex 1500 Service Manual
Is the service manual for the Flex 1500 available yet? If not, is there an ETA? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] anyone tried remote PC software to operFlexRadioremotley
I also use TeamViewer and Skype on my Toshiba laptop. I tried to use the TeamViewer audio, but the audio reports were so bad that I replaced it with Skype. I also have TeamViewer and Skype on my iPhone and have made contacts that way. I use DDUtil to control my Orion 2800 rotator and view the PowerMaster wattmeter output. The combination works well. I've even used it while up on the tower to control my rotator from my iPhone. That was very cool! 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Mike WA8BXN" To: ; "W8HW" Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 10:37 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] anyone tried remote PC software to operFlexRadioremotley I have used team viewer (its free). It will also handle the audio fairly well but I use Skype for audio most of the time. 73 - Mike WA8BXN ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex 1500 on 10 GHz weak signal
Paul, Sign me up for one. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Paul Wade W1GHZ" To: Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 6:56 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Flex 1500 on 10 GHz weak signal got a chance to try out my new Flex 1500 on 10 GHz last Saturday. the N.E.W.S. Group was running MDS (Minimum Discernable Signal) testing on 10 GHz. (you can read more details in August QST - Microwavelengths) basically, a distant signal is reduced in 1 dB steps with each station recording the level where it is no longer audible. then it is moved in frequency a few KHz, and the level increased in 1 dB steps with folks trying to find it again. with the Flex, I lost the signal 2 or 3 dB before the best stations, but I found it again at the same level, using the waterfall display. the other stations, by ear, needed about 5 dB more signal to find it coming up out of the noise - a typical difference. I could not hear any signal when it first appeared in the waterfall. this should be great for portable operation. I was running this on a Netbook, making a nice portable package. the only problem is that the PowerSDR display is bigger than the Netbook screen in the vertical direction. any way to make display size an option? now for the two meter transverter for the microwave IF. I dug out my Miniverter (www.w1ghz.org/miniverter.zip) and am considering updating it to mate with the Flex 1500. any interest? 73 paul ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 and Heil Traveler Headset
Thanks for the responses. As suspected, I received the wrong adapter. I got an ADM817 and what I need is an HSTA-YM. I call Flex on Tuesday. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Alfred Green" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 10:13 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex-1500 and Heil Traveler Headset Clay W7CE wrote: I just received my Flex-1500 today. I ordered the adapter for a Heil Traveler Headset and received an ADM-817 Heil adapter with the shipment. I suspect that this is not the correct adapter because there is no headphone plug and the the 1500 RJ-45 connector doesn't have the headphone sound brought out to it. Is anyone else using a Traveler headset, and if so what adapter are you using. Currently it's a little awkward because I'm wearing a set of headphones and trying to talk into the Traveler headset mic. On the positive side, so far the radio seems to work well. 6M is wide open right now and I've been working some double-hop to Florida. I have a 100W brick, but for fun just worked one FL station running 5W. Hello Clay, I don't know the part number for the adaptor, but the Heil Traveler 2 that I use with my FT817 works just fine with my F1500. I had to turn the mic gain down a bit as it was quite a bit louder than my MH-31. It has a floating headphone jack that plugs into the 'phones' socket and sounds good. Just like with the FT817. PTT works the same. Six was incredible today. Worked several stations in New England using the 1500 barefoot, but switched over to the F3K to get the C6 and KP4. Three new grids today, 2 with the 1500. Life is good! Glad to work you the other day; look forward to another opportunity this E-season. 73 Alf NU8I Scottsdale AZ DM43an ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Flex-1500 and Heil Traveler Headset
I just received my Flex-1500 today. I ordered the adapter for a Heil Traveler Headset and received an ADM-817 Heil adapter with the shipment. I suspect that this is not the correct adapter because there is no headphone plug and the the 1500 RJ-45 connector doesn't have the headphone sound brought out to it. Is anyone else using a Traveler headset, and if so what adapter are you using. Currently it's a little awkward because I'm wearing a set of headphones and trying to talk into the Traveler headset mic. On the positive side, so far the radio seems to work well. 6M is wide open right now and I've been working some double-hop to Florida. I have a 100W brick, but for fun just worked one FL station running 5W. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex-3000 FireWire driver doesn't see it.
It was the same Firewire cable that I plugged into both rigs. I've advised the owner to return the radio for repair. Thanks for the info. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; "'Reflector'" Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 5:07 AM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Flex-3000 FireWire driver doesn't see it. Assuming you were using the same Firewire cable that was connected to the FLEX-5000 when you were doing the test with the FLEX-3000 and you were using the Firewire control panel to validate connectivity, then it looks like there may be a problem with the Firewire interface in the FLEX-3000. You do not need to reboot the PC. Just connecting up the other radio and powering it up will determine if it is communicating or not. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2010 12:11 AM To: 'Reflector' Subject: [Flexradio] Flex-3000 FireWire driver doesn't see it. A friend recently purchased a used 3000 from a mutual friend. When he first powered the radio up, everything worked fine. When he tried to start it later, nothing. He un-installed everything and tried again but his Firewire driver didn't see the radio. I brought the 3000 home with me and connected it to my laptop (last used with my 5000). The radio appeared to power up normally but the driver (3.4.0.7171) didn't find it. At a last resort, I unplugged my 5000 from the desktop machine, and plugged in the 3000. The Firewire driver (3.5.2.8028 and V2.0.0 Beta) on that machine doesn't see it either. I moved the Firewire cable back to my 5000 and it works fine, so I'm sure there isn't a cable problem. At this point, do I assume that the 3000 should be returned for repair, or is there some other step that I may have missed? When changing radios, do I need to reboot the PC? Thanks, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Flex-3000 FireWire driver doesn't see it.
A friend recently purchased a used 3000 from a mutual friend. When he first powered the radio up, everything worked fine. When he tried to start it later, nothing. He un-installed everything and tried again but his Firewire driver didn't see the radio. I brought the 3000 home with me and connected it to my laptop (last used with my 5000). The radio appeared to power up normally but the driver (3.4.0.7171) didn't find it. At a last resort, I unplugged my 5000 from the desktop machine, and plugged in the 3000. The Firewire driver (3.5.2.8028 and V2.0.0 Beta) on that machine doesn't see it either. I moved the Firewire cable back to my 5000 and it works fine, so I'm sure there isn't a cable problem. At this point, do I assume that the 3000 should be returned for repair, or is there some other step that I may have missed? When changing radios, do I need to reboot the PC? Thanks, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Wow, the F3K receiver is HOT on 6 meters
Noise floor numbers only make sense when the receiver bandwidth is also specified. -150 dBm is theoretically possible at 250 Hz bandwidth for a receiver with a 0 dB noise figure that has a dummy load connected to the antenna terminal (at room temperature). -150 dBm is believable if your receiver bandwidth was set to 100 Hz and you were connected to a dummy load. That would imply a receiver noise figure of 4 db, which is acceptable for 6M. If you had the receiver bandwidth set to something higher than 100 Hz and/or were connected to an antenna, then -150 dBm is impossible. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Mark Lunday" To: Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2010 10:52 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Wow, the F3K receiver is HOT on 6 meters I have an ARR mast-mounted pre-amp, since my LMR-400 coax is a killer 300 feet to the elevated yagi from the shack. The ARR failed on Sat morning. So I only used the PRE2 preamp on the F3K. Holy smokes! I had noise floor at -150 dBm, and the band was on fire for Es. Easily worked all over US with 100 watts and a 4 element yagi at 40 feet. I even worked 9H1XT. Amazing receiver. No need for a pre-amp at the antenna, save yourself some $$$. Mark Lunday, WD4ELG wd4...@arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com http://wd4elg.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Strange CW Heard on another Flex-5000A
During a Sporadic E opening on 6M last night, I worked an out-of-state station running a Flex 5000A that was S9+20. A few minutes later I heard him working CW and when he was transmitting there was a constant carrier 600 Hz below him that was about -50 dB from his CW signal. As soon as he unkeyed the 5000A the carrier would go away. I observed this for several minutes. Is this a symptom of a rig that needs image calibration, or is there something else going on? It's probably unrelated, but on SSB his signal was also about 15 kHz wide at the -50 dB point. He was running an amp, so he might have just been overdriving it. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Mirrors
Ed, I'm curious what mode, bandwidth and preamp settings you had when you measured the noise floor at -114 dBm. With the internal preamp turned on and my Flex 5000A still connected to the antenna (an M2 6M9KHW at 48'), I have a noise floor of about -119 dBm on 50.125. When I enable the external preamp (an ARR P50VDG connected to the RX1 In/Out loop), the noise floor drops to -125 dBm, and I don't have a particularly quiet location. In both cases, the mode is SSB and the bandwidth is 2.4 kHz. I didn't take time to connect a 50 ohm load to the antenna terminal, but I've done this before and the noise level drops substantially (to less than -135 dBm). The 3000 is supposed to have a better 6M front-end than the 5000A. Something is not right if you are only seeing a -114 dBm noise floor on your 3000A when connected to a dummy load. It should be a lot better than that unless you are running a very high (>15KHz) bandwidth. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Ed Wilson" To: Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:36 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Mirrors Colleagues, My wife is away tonight so I thought I would follow-up on our recent discussion regarding possible QRM from Linksys (and other) routers and switches. I will not go into detail about my Linksys model numbers, but I connected my Flex-3000 to a dummy load at 50.125 MHz and the average noise floor was -114 dBm, according to the meter (Sig Avg). I then disconnected power from my wireless router and an 8-port switch and observed that the noise floor stayed the same at -114 dBm. FYI, there is a Cat-5 Ethernet cable running from the switch to the computer where I run PowerSDR that sits next to the Flex3K. The router and switch are about six feet away from the Flex3K and computer. I also tried this experiment on 40 meters (7.030) with a noise floor of -122 dBm with or without the router and switch powered-up. Both of these measurements were with the pre-amps turned off. The same behavior (with different noise floors) was observed with pre-amp 1 turned on. I also did not observe any spurs disappear as I unplugged the Linksys units or reappear as I powered them back up. Conclusion: it appears that my marriage and my Flex3K are compatible...at least for now! :) Ed, K0KC > Your mirrors2.jpg looks almost identical to the RFI I get from my Linksys wireless router. I had 3 wireless routers in the house and fixed 2 of them by giving them away (hihi). For the remaining router I live with the RFI and just unplug it when one of the spikes lands on something interesting. x-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Revisited - firewire
The Sock Puppet of Doom has no firewire problems using the stock Windows 7 64 Pro drivers other than the Flex driver occasionally doesn't start and I have to power cycle the radio. I have yet to see a BSOD in Windows 7 64. Windows 7 64 mostly just works. Same here. On rare occasions, the Flex driver doesn't start when I power up the 5000A. Power cycling the radio always work. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX
Thanks for the info. It sounds like that would do the trick. However, I understand that it is only available for XP and I'm running Win7 now. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "FireBrick" To: Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 6:36 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX I think it does Clay. Windows PowerToys for XP Select TweakUI For Windows XP Select Mouse>X-Mouse That give focus to whatever program the mouse cursor is over. There's a time delay factor to allow tranversing an open window I don't know if there is a Win7 version. my logging program is next to my PSDR so it's really fast On 3/28/2010 8:25:58 PM, Clay W7CE (w...@curtiss.net) wrote: Many Unix/Linux Window Managers have an option that gives focus to whatever window the mouse is pointing to, even if it is partially covered by other windows. I find that feature handy and use it a lot. Too bad Windows doesn't offer the same flexibility as the free software. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Neal Campbell" ; "Laurie" Cc: Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 6:06 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX > This is the infamous "focus problem". > > > > -Tim > > -Original Message- > From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz > [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Neal Campbell > Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 9:04 PM > To: Laurie > Cc: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX > > When the 1500 comes, we can try that out! > > Try one of Wooden Box Radio's Tmate knobs. They are a bit pricey but the > feel of the tuning mechanism is very smooth, it has 4 buttons you can ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX
Many Unix/Linux Window Managers have an option that gives focus to whatever window the mouse is pointing to, even if it is partially covered by other windows. I find that feature handy and use it a lot. Too bad Windows doesn't offer the same flexibility as the free software. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Neal Campbell" ; "Laurie" Cc: Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 6:06 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX This is the infamous "focus problem". -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Neal Campbell Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 9:04 PM To: Laurie Cc: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000A and WPX When the 1500 comes, we can try that out! Try one of Wooden Box Radio's Tmate knobs. They are a bit pricey but the feel of the tuning mechanism is very smooth, it has 4 buttons you can assign to various functions and it doesn't change the focus off your contest radio. The knob itself is rather plain but you can change it with something else (I like a rubber coated knob with ridges). I have one and really like it. 73 Neal Campbell Abroham Neal Software www.abrohamnealsoftware.com (540) 645 5394 NEW PHONE NUMBER Amateur Radio: K3NC Blog: http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/blog/ DXBase bug reports: email to ca...@dxbase.fogbugz.com Abroham Neal forums: http:/www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/community/ On Sun, Mar 28, 2010 at 8:44 PM, Laurie wrote: Hello, Just a short note whilst it is still fresh in my mind(what's left of it). I have just completed nearly 2000 qso's as a single op the WPX contest with the Flex 5000A. I run a small contest previously just to make sure I was familiar with everything. To be fair I did not use the second receiver this time around as I had enough to contend with without it, the point and shoot screen opened up a whole new world for me. The receiver I simply cannot fault, as the say - bloody terrific... Transmit audio - bloody terrific. The downside, always has to be something - the most annoying detail was when I was running a pileup, logging one after the other at a rate 0f 250p/hr or better you don't remember some of the minor details - log the contact, someone comes up alongside creating a bit of noise, you grab the mouse and hit a narrower filter button, back to the keyboard and start typing - OOPs forgot to bring the mouse back and click on the logging programme again, the radiois taken off into the never never land because what you thought you typed into the logger was actually telling the radio to do something. This little detail is the same of course whether it's the filter, vox button, noise blanker or whatever. Now there is probably actually nothing at all that can be done about it and people will say you just have to be more careful. That's fine to say but I don't contest 7 days a week, so it is not second nature and it is one more step that takes time in a busy environment. Don't get me wrong either, I am not having a whinge. Maybe there is someone real smart out there that can fix it - as the control of the radio is software, one idea was to possibly have a contest mode where the radio is only in the background until you actually physically do an adjustment and then it reverts to the background automatically. I know that sounds back the front to what you would normally want - but in this case as opposed to normal operationI want the logger to be the main focus. I hope someone understands what I am saying and may have a suggestion or two.. All in all the radio performed flawlessly and gets the thumbs up. It's a keeper. Tnx 73 LaurieVK7ZE PS Neal, if you wish to arrange a sked on PSK one day, I would be happy to try on the long path with that sort of power. Have had SSB qso's with quite a few stations running 50W from indoor/attic antenna on the East coast of USA. Also have used 3 watts to Europe long path on SSB, 18,750 miles. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archiv
[Flexradio] RX1 Preamp still affects RX2 Panadapter and S-Meter in 1.18.5
According to the release notes for 1.18.4, the effect that the RX1 preamp has on RX2 should have been fixed, but I still see the problem (PowerSDR 1.18.5, Firmware 1.3.0.8 Firewire 3.5.0.7171). On 20M with RX2 set to RX1 Tap, turning the RX1 preamp on and off affects the RX2 S-Meter and Panadapter by about 15-30 dB, depending on the state of the RX2 preamp. The final S-Meter reading seems independent of the RX2 preamp setting. More importantly, the received noise level on RX2 increases to about S9+10 and S9 signals become unreadable. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] External transverter/amplifier control with the 1500
You're correct. There is more than one way to accomplish the goal. Unfortunately, it looks it will take hardware external to the 1500 regardless of the approach. I can't think of any other commercially available ham transceiver that requires the ham to generate his own PTT signal for amplifiers or transverters. I will concede that some of them like the TS-2000X, which can only sink 2 mA, are almost worthless without an external interface. Since I expect to be controlling multiple transverters, I'm going to need external switching anyway. I think I'll start designing a FlexWire interface to control it all. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Brian Lloyd" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: "David McKenzie" ; "Reflector" Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 11:58 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] External transverter/amplifier control with the 1500 On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 9:29 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: I looked at the 5000A manual for the pinout of the FlexWire port and there are no unused pins. That means someone needs to design and build a FlexWire adapter to provide PTT out for external devices. Based on the currently available information, I'm not sure how I can use the 1500 with my transverters without such an adapter. Does FlexRadio plan to offer a FlexWire to PTT adapter or do I need to design something myself? Sometimes you just have to think of things from a different angle. The solution is to use your external sequencer to generate a PTT signal (dry contact closure to ground) for the F1500 through the mic connector. Use something else to generate the PTT signal. While a sequencer is needed for more sophisticated amplifier/preamplifier applications, it isn't always needed. I'm just looking for simple PTT relay control, similar to the relay output jacks on the 5000A. Well, as I suggested, don't think in terms of the Flex being the source of the key-down signal (PTT), think of it as being the destination of it. Something else is going to generate that. With the availability of really cheap microcontrollers, throwing something like this together is generally a no-brainer. The F1500 is just a module in a larger system. -- 73 de Brian, WB6RQN/J79BPL ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] External transverter/amplifier control with the 1500
I looked at the 5000A manual for the pinout of the FlexWire port and there are no unused pins. That means someone needs to design and build a FlexWire adapter to provide PTT out for external devices. Based on the currently available information, I'm not sure how I can use the 1500 with my transverters without such an adapter. Does FlexRadio plan to offer a FlexWire to PTT adapter or do I need to design something myself? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "David McKenzie" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: "Reflector" Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 7:23 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] External transverter/amplifier control with the 1500 Fairly certain that PTT is on the FlexWire port. On Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 8:38 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: I've been looking at the Flex 1500 front and rear panels and just realized that something obvious seems to be missing - an external T/R relay control line for controlling transverters and amplifier. Many low power amps can be RF keyed, although that is less than desirable. However, all of the transverters that I'm aware of require a hard T/R relay control. Am I missing something? If not, how does Flex propose that we key our transverters? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] External transverter/amplifier control with the 1500
I've been looking at the Flex 1500 front and rear panels and just realized that something obvious seems to be missing - an external T/R relay control line for controlling transverters and amplifier. Many low power amps can be RF keyed, although that is less than desirable. However, all of the transverters that I'm aware of require a hard T/R relay control. Am I missing something? If not, how does Flex propose that we key our transverters? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Transverter RX Audio bug in 1.18.4?
Hi Tim, I let PowerSDR create the new database. I re-entered all of the user settings manually. I haven't tried the K9DUR utility yet. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 5:42 AM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Transverter RX Audio bug in 1.18.4? Did you allow PowerSDR to create a new database for the new version of PowerSDR and use the K9DUR utility to replace your user settings? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 12:17 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Transverter RX Audio bug in 1.18.4? I just upgraded from 1.18.3 to 1.18.4 (Firmware 1.3.0.8, Firewire 3.5.0.7171, both unchanged). If I have a transverter band (VHF0 in this case) selected and NR selected, and then shut down PowerSDR, there is no RX audio when I restart PowerSDR. I must either deselect NR and change bands to get audio started. Once audio is working I can reselect NR or switch back to VHF0 and all is fine. I checked 1.18.3 and this doesn't happen in that version. Anyone else seeing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Transverter RX Audio bug in 1.18.4?
I just upgraded from 1.18.3 to 1.18.4 (Firmware 1.3.0.8, Firewire 3.5.0.7171, both unchanged). If I have a transverter band (VHF0 in this case) selected and NR selected, and then shut down PowerSDR, there is no RX audio when I restart PowerSDR. I must either deselect NR and change bands to get audio started. Once audio is working I can reselect NR or switch back to VHF0 and all is fine. I checked 1.18.3 and this doesn't happen in that version. Anyone else seeing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] More pictures of the FLEX-1500 production SDR
I'm really pleased to see separate BNC connectors for transverter operation. I had assumed the the common transverter port would be the 5W port and that low power would be selected in software. This is excellent. Now I don't have to worry about operator and/or software errors destroying the transverter input. Is it possible to post the 1500 mic connector pin-out on the web site so that we can build the necessary cables before the box arrives? Also, let us know if the pin-out is compatible with any existing radios such as the IC-706MKG or the FT-817. I'm also curious if headphone audio will be provide on this jack for compatibility with headsets the the Heil traveller single and dual headsets. Will an RJ-45 to 8-pin mic adapter be provided with the 1500 or offered separately for sale? One last question: Has Flex Radio considered offering the 1500 without the 5W amp? If the design can work without the 5W amp board, it seems like the price could be noticeably lower. Even more interesting would be replacing the PA board with the necessary relay switching to provide multiple transverter ports that could be selected from the transverter menu in PowerSDR. From the rear panel view, it looks like an additional 4 BNC connectors could be supplied, allowing either 2 more split transverter ports or 4 common I/F transverter ports. This would really minimize external switching for those of us with multiple transverters. Thanks & 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim (W4TME)" To: ; "Flexradio" Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:09 AM Subject: [FlexEdge] More pictures of the FLEX-1500 production SDR To all Flexers, There are two additional views of the FLEX-1500 available for download and viewing from the web site. The direct links to the images are listed below. "Head on" view of the front panel: http://www.flex-radio.com/Data/Image/F1500_Front_view_med.png "Head on" view of the rear panel: http://www.flex-radio.com/Data/Image/F1500_Rear_view_med.png -Tim -- W4TME FlexRadio Systems - Info Management Admin. "Tune in Excitement" ___ Flexedge mailing list flexe...@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist who are using alpha and beta versions of the software. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [FlexEdge] The FLEX-1500 to make its debut at Hamcation 2010
Thanks for the link. I'm anxiously waiting for mine. Do you know if it will be possible to run two copies of PowerSDR simultaneously - one for the 5000A and the other for the 1500? I assume that two copies of PowerSDR loaded in different directories will be required to keep the databases distinct. Other than that, will there be any problems? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim (W4TME)" To: ; "Flexradio" Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 7:36 PM Subject: [FlexEdge] The FLEX-1500 to make its debut at Hamcation 2010 To all Flexers, The FLEX-1500 will make is debut at the Hamcation 2010 hamfest in Orlando this upcoming weekend. The first pre-production (S/N #B1) unit has been readied for operation and will be on display. It will be running a modified version of PowerSDR that supports the the new FLEX-1500 hardware architecture. Greg, Steve and Matt will be on hand to do demos and I am sure will let you give it a quick test drive using some pre-recorded, pre-processed IQ data files. There is an actual photo of the FLEX-1500 they re taking to Hamcation now on the web site. http://www.flex-radio.com/Products.aspx?topic=F1.5k_features If you are planning on attending Hamcation or are in the area, please stop by the booth and be one of the first to see and actual FLEX-1500 is action! -Tim -- W4TME FlexRadio Systems - Info Management Admin. "Tune in Excitement" ___ Flexedge mailing list flexe...@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz This is the FlexRadio Systems e-mail Reflector called FlexEdge. It is used for posting topics related to SDR software development and experimentalist who are using alpha and beta versions of the software. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] iPad and Flex
I have to admit that would be pretty cool. Two major roadblocks though: 1). I doubt that the iPad has the CPU horsepower to run PowerSDR, and 2) even if it does, I'd be really surprised if it supports Firewire. On the other hand, I can see a app running on the iPad that lets you access your computer remotely via the Internet or locally with WiFi, so you can run PowerSDR remotely. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "H.L." To: Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 11:15 AM Subject: [Flexradio] iPad and Flex Just watched the preview of Apple's iPad. Wonderful capabilities, ease of use, and portability! I have long wished that Flex would work directly with the Mac operating system without going through a PC lobotomy with BootCamp. If technically feasible, I think the FLEX-3000 or the FLEX-1500 combined with the iPad would be a dream combination. Mr. Flex, please investigate the possibility of a Mac version of your software. 73 Hal KK6HY ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] VU-Module status update
Thanks for the update Greg. Going to separate VHF/UHF connectors is an excellent idea and will make my intended use of the VU-Module easier. I have no problem waiting for the upgrade until you guys are satisfied that you have it right. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Greg Jurrens" To: ; Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 11:49 AM Subject: [Flexradio] VU-Module status update Dear FLEX and FLEXEDGE Reflectors: Today I sent an update to all those that have placed pre-orders for the FLEX-5000 VU-Module. I thought it would be good to post this information on the reflectors in case I have some incorrect email addresses. Please let me know if you ordered a VU-Module but didn't get a separate email from me today. I'm sure there are others that are watching our progress and would be interested. Thanks for the bandwidth and have a good weekend. 73, Greg Dear VU-Module customer: You are receiving this email because you currently have a FLEX-5000 VU-Module on order. We would like to update you on the status of the VU project: The initial design, development, and prototyping stages of the VHF/UHF module have gone as expected with very good results. We've had the typical issues that most challenging designs face but we've worked through them. When we began final integration of the VU-module into the FLEX-5000 for the Alpha stage, we discovered that the UHF noise figure performance degraded below our standards. The root cause turned out to be the switching matrix we believed was required to integrate both VHF and UHF onto the existing RFIO interface board. The FLEX-5000 was originally designed to support only a single low power VHF transverter. UHF operation was never contemplated in the design. This is a case where FlexRadio was trying to be "All things to all operators" and the design crashed headlong into reality. The good news is that the solution is straightforward: We've made the decision this week to bypass the complex switching and dedicate the existing connector for VHF only. We then will add a new connector for UHF. This drastically simplifies the switching matrix routing path from your antenna to the VU-Module receiver pre-amplifiers. It also removes the need for an external "Antenna Switching Box" to split out VHF and UHF connectors for duplex work such as satellite operations. Going with separate RF paths for VHF and UHF is a win-win for performance and flexibility. Just to review some of the final features: VHF Range: 144MHz - 148MHz UHF Range - 430MHz - 450Mhz TX Power: Low - 50mW. High - Variable 6W to 60W (60w version) Low Noise Preamplifier-based (<1dB NF) receiver front end Switchable IF amplifier gain (Useful when using remote pre-amplifiers) Full Duplex modes Simultaneous VHF, UHF, or HF operation with optional second receiver FM Operation including CTCSS Very sophisticated transverter interface software Plus.. all the great features that our PowerSDR software has to offer! The change we've made to the VU-Module architecture has forced us to do a redesign of the VU-Base board. This will impact our already delayed schedule. Our current production planning process now shows that we should begin accepting early customer radios into FlexRadio Systems for the VU-Module upgarde in March. Our plan is to schedule radios in on a weekly basis for upgrade. To expedite this process, we have already added support staff to focus on this work. Please note that we must issue you a Return Material Authorization (RMA) number BEFORE you ship your radio to FlexRadio Systems. You will receive an email with your RMA and shipping instructions when we are ready for your radio. We're happy to work with you for special handling or to add other upgrades. Please contact sa...@flex-radio.com for assistance. We understand many people placed orders for the VU-Module several months ago expecting delivery at the end of the year and we apologize for the additional delay. FlexRadio Systems is a customer and technology driven organization and we know as a current FLEX-5000 owner, you demand the highest performance. The design change we've made to the VU-Module will deliver the performance and features you expected when you placed your VU-Module order. Please be assured that we haven't charged your credit card and will not until we are ready to ship your upgraded unit back to you. If you have any specific concerns or questions, please contact us at sa...@flex-radio.com or via telephone at 512-535-5266. Thank you for your patience and your continued business with FlexRadio Systems. We are just as anxious and excited as you to get the VU-Module "on the air" very soon. Watch for updates and more pictures on our website at http://www.flex-radio.com . Thanks and 73, Greg -- Greg Jurrens - K5GJ VP, Sales and Marketing FlexRadio Systems Inc. Phone: 512-535-5266 SKYPE: WD0ACD “Tune in
Re: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs?
Ray, Thanks for the warning. I haven't tried to modify the database, but will be sure to backup the current one first. I looked at the BandText for 222 MHz and found the following: 222.15 222.24 1.25M Local Option true 223.4 223.51 1.25M FM Simplex true It appears that the frequency range of interest was simply omitted from the database. I think I can insert the following between the above two frequency ranges: 222.25 223.39 1.25M Repeater Inputs true 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "K9DUR" To: "'Clay W7CE'" ; Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 5:54 AM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? Clay, Be careful. You cannot simply add new data to the BandText table. You also have to remove the old data covering that frequency range. The BandText table covers the entire frequency spectrum. Gaps are allowed, but there must be NO duplications. There is an article in the Knowledge Center called "Editing the PowerSDR BandText Table" which explains the steps you must go through, complete with examples. The link to the article is: http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50276.aspx The article was written back when the PowerSDR setup data was stored in an Access database. However, the principles involved are the same. In the current .XML version of the database, the data is still stored with the same structure (tables, records, fields, etc.), just stored in a text file that can be more easily modified. 73, Ray, K9DUR http://k9dur.info ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs?
Thanks. I've never looked at the database file before, so it looks I can just add the missing band data. Last time I had the 5000A on the lab bench I tested the XVTR interface and it was able to transmit from 28 to 32 MHz. I was surprised because I also expected it to be limited to the 10M band. Supporting a full 4 MHz bandwidth on that interface makes sense though since the power level is only 0 dBm and some of the common transverter bands are greater than 1.7 MHz wide. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Ray J" To: Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 11:06 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? The IF would only go to 29.7, the upper edge of 10 meters.. the oob warnings are created in the database.. I don't think they anything to do with firmware.. the firmware should actually inhibit transmit at the band edges.. the firmware does not control the bandtext data. you just need to edit the band data for what you want.. - 222 222.024999 1.25M EME/Weak Signal true - 222.025 222.04 1.25M Weak Signal true - 222.05 222.05 1.25M Propagation Beacons true - 222.06 222.09 1.25M Weak Signal true - 222.1 222.1 1.25M SSB/CW Calling true - 222.11 222.14 1.25M Weak Signal CW/SSB true - 222.15 222.24 1.25M Local Option true - 223.4 223.51 1.25M FM Simplex true - 223.52 223.63 1.25M Digital/Packet true - 223.64 223.7 1.25M Links/Control true - 223.71 223.70 1.25M General true - 223.71 223.84 1.25M Local Option true - 223.85 224.98 1.25M Repeater Outputs true Clay W7CE wrote: Hi Tim, I'm not sure if I understand the question. As far as I know, the 5000A XVTR interface IF is always from 28 to 32 MHz (4 MHz bandwidth). If I program one of the XVTR (VHF+) buttons from 432.0 to 436.0 MHz, I do not get OOB warnings for the entire 4 MHz range, but if I program 222 to 225 MHz, then I get the OOB warnings I listed earlier. I assume that the firmware must have a bug and is incorrectly reporting OOB for 222.250 to 223.400 MHz. I think it should be reporting "1.25M Repeater Inputs" instead of OOB. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message ----- From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 6:04 AM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? What is the frequency of the IF? Is it OOB? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 1:55 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? I'm getting ready to try out a 222MHz transverter with my Flex 5000A (PowerSDR 1.18.3, Firmware 1.3.0.8, Firewire Driver 3.5.0.7171). I've programmed the XVTR settings for a begin frequency of 222.0 and an end frequency of 225.0 (LO = 194 MHz). I'm getting Out Of Band whenever I go to frequencies in the range 222.250 to 223.400 MHz and also from 224.980 and up. Unless something has changed recently, the US allocation for this band is from 222.0 to 225.0 continuous. The local 222 repeater that I sometimes listen to is 223.980 out and 223.380 in (out of band according to PowerSDR). It appears that it will still transmit, even with the Out of Band warning, but I need to hook up the spectrum analyzer to be sure. So this is probably just a cosmetic bug. Also, if I stop and close PowerSDR while I have the 222 MHz band selected, and then restart it, the Band Buttons come up in HF mode, even though the frequency is correct. Has anyone else noticed either of these behaviors, or am I doing something wrong? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to r...@w9ray.org No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.124/2597 - Release Date: 01/02/10 02:22:00 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.b
Re: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs?
Hi Tim, I'm not sure if I understand the question. As far as I know, the 5000A XVTR interface IF is always from 28 to 32 MHz (4 MHz bandwidth). If I program one of the XVTR (VHF+) buttons from 432.0 to 436.0 MHz, I do not get OOB warnings for the entire 4 MHz range, but if I program 222 to 225 MHz, then I get the OOB warnings I listed earlier. I assume that the firmware must have a bug and is incorrectly reporting OOB for 222.250 to 223.400 MHz. I think it should be reporting "1.25M Repeater Inputs" instead of OOB. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 6:04 AM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? What is the frequency of the IF? Is it OOB? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 1:55 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs? I'm getting ready to try out a 222MHz transverter with my Flex 5000A (PowerSDR 1.18.3, Firmware 1.3.0.8, Firewire Driver 3.5.0.7171). I've programmed the XVTR settings for a begin frequency of 222.0 and an end frequency of 225.0 (LO = 194 MHz). I'm getting Out Of Band whenever I go to frequencies in the range 222.250 to 223.400 MHz and also from 224.980 and up. Unless something has changed recently, the US allocation for this band is from 222.0 to 225.0 continuous. The local 222 repeater that I sometimes listen to is 223.980 out and 223.380 in (out of band according to PowerSDR). It appears that it will still transmit, even with the Out of Band warning, but I need to hook up the spectrum analyzer to be sure. So this is probably just a cosmetic bug. Also, if I stop and close PowerSDR while I have the 222 MHz band selected, and then restart it, the Band Buttons come up in HF mode, even though the frequency is correct. Has anyone else noticed either of these behaviors, or am I doing something wrong? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] 222 MHz transverter interface bugs?
I'm getting ready to try out a 222MHz transverter with my Flex 5000A (PowerSDR 1.18.3, Firmware 1.3.0.8, Firewire Driver 3.5.0.7171). I've programmed the XVTR settings for a begin frequency of 222.0 and an end frequency of 225.0 (LO = 194 MHz). I'm getting Out Of Band whenever I go to frequencies in the range 222.250 to 223.400 MHz and also from 224.980 and up. Unless something has changed recently, the US allocation for this band is from 222.0 to 225.0 continuous. The local 222 repeater that I sometimes listen to is 223.980 out and 223.380 in (out of band according to PowerSDR). It appears that it will still transmit, even with the Out of Band warning, but I need to hook up the spectrum analyzer to be sure. So this is probably just a cosmetic bug. Also, if I stop and close PowerSDR while I have the 222 MHz band selected, and then restart it, the Band Buttons come up in HF mode, even though the frequency is correct. Has anyone else noticed either of these behaviors, or am I doing something wrong? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2
The only time I've seen this problem is when RX2 is set to RX1 Tap. However, I have a 2nd 6M antenna preamp connected to the RX2 in and don't have any other HF antennas to connect at the moment. I have observed the problem on 80-10M. I did a database reset before I started the calibration. I assume that doing another database reset will not affect the calibration, only the PowerSDR settings. I am also seeing something else that I don't remember. As I switch between bands, the RX2 mode seems to randomly change between USB, LSB and CWU. If set I set both receivers to the same mode on one band, then change to another band and make changes there, when I return to the 1st band the RX2 mode has usually changed, but the RX1 mode is ok. So everytime I change bands I need to reset the mode on RX2. I've never needed to do this before. If I turn off RX2 and do the same test, then PowerSDR remembers the RX1 mode everytime, so it appears that PowerSDR is only having trouble remembering the mode for each of the RX2 bands. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dudley Hurry" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 5:36 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 Clay, Does this happen only with RX2 on RX1 Tap? How about with it set to RX2 In? Also make sure that you have tried a reset on the database. On mine neither preamp effects the other RX.. 73, Dudley WA5QPZ Clay W7CE wrote: I'll try running the calibration later today. Would that explain why the RX1 preamp has any impact on RX2? Shouldn't the two receivers be fully independent? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 1:04 PM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 Sounds like you need to do a RX1 and RX2 level calibration. http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50140.aspx -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:01 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I should have mentioned the RX2 is connected to the RX1 tap. - Original Message - From: "Clay W7CE" To: Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I recently installed PowerSDR 1.18.3 on a new Windows 7 system (Flex 5000A, Firmware: 1.3.0.8, Firewire driver: 3.5.0.7171). The install went well and PowerSDR and the 5000A seem to be working fine. However, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the RX2 S-Meter reading to increase by about 20dB. With both receivers on 20M and VFO Sync enabled, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the signal to noise ratio on RX2 to get noticeably worse (RX2 preamp also on) by about 20 dB. I recall this problem being reported earlier this year, but I thought it had been fixed. Is this a known problem with 1.18.3? Is anyone else observing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to jhu...@austin.rr.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2
I reset the database, did a hardware reset, and then performed the RX1 level and image calibration, followed by the RX2 full calibration. I'm still seeing the same issue. On 20M USB (the band is dead now), with a dipole attached to Ant1, RX 1 set to Ant 1 and RX2 set to RX1 Tap, I start PowerSDR with both RX preamps turned off. Both S-Meters have the same reading in dBm. If I then turn on the RX1 preamp only, the RX1 S-Meter reading changes by -8 dB and the RX2 S-Meter changes by +8 dB. The change in RX to a lower noise level is expected, but I don't expect the RX2 S-Meter to change at all. The fact that it seems to be changing in the opposite direction with the same magnitude as RX1 seems suspicious to me. If I then turn the RX2 preamp on the S-Meter reading changes by -16 dB and now reads the same as RX1. This looks like a software bug to me. On a secondary note, when I ran the RX2 full calibration, the 6M filter test failed with the following values: (10.9, 9.4, 1.6). Is there anything I can do locally about this, or will it need to be checked out at the factory? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 2:20 PM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 Maybe. Since you recently did a firmware update, you may want to do a hardware reset too. http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50350.aspx -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:38 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I'll try running the calibration later today. Would that explain why the RX1 preamp has any impact on RX2? Shouldn't the two receivers be fully independent? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 1:04 PM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 Sounds like you need to do a RX1 and RX2 level calibration. http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50140.aspx -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:01 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I should have mentioned the RX2 is connected to the RX1 tap. - Original Message - From: "Clay W7CE" To: Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I recently installed PowerSDR 1.18.3 on a new Windows 7 system (Flex 5000A, Firmware: 1.3.0.8, Firewire driver: 3.5.0.7171). The install went well and PowerSDR and the 5000A seem to be working fine. However, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the RX2 S-Meter reading to increase by about 20dB. With both receivers on 20M and VFO Sync enabled, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the signal to noise ratio on RX2 to get noticeably worse (RX2 preamp also on) by about 20 dB. I recall this problem being reported earlier this year, but I thought it had been fixed. Is this a known problem with 1.18.3? Is anyone else observing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2
I'll try running the calibration later today. Would that explain why the RX1 preamp has any impact on RX2? Shouldn't the two receivers be fully independent? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 1:04 PM Subject: RE: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 Sounds like you need to do a RX1 and RX2 level calibration. http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50140.aspx -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 4:01 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I should have mentioned the RX2 is connected to the RX1 tap. - Original Message - From: "Clay W7CE" To: Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I recently installed PowerSDR 1.18.3 on a new Windows 7 system (Flex 5000A, Firmware: 1.3.0.8, Firewire driver: 3.5.0.7171). The install went well and PowerSDR and the 5000A seem to be working fine. However, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the RX2 S-Meter reading to increase by about 20dB. With both receivers on 20M and VFO Sync enabled, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the signal to noise ratio on RX2 to get noticeably worse (RX2 preamp also on) by about 20 dB. I recall this problem being reported earlier this year, but I thought it had been fixed. Is this a known problem with 1.18.3? Is anyone else observing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2
I should have mentioned the RX2 is connected to the RX1 tap. - Original Message - From: "Clay W7CE" To: Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2 I recently installed PowerSDR 1.18.3 on a new Windows 7 system (Flex 5000A, Firmware: 1.3.0.8, Firewire driver: 3.5.0.7171). The install went well and PowerSDR and the 5000A seem to be working fine. However, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the RX2 S-Meter reading to increase by about 20dB. With both receivers on 20M and VFO Sync enabled, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the signal to noise ratio on RX2 to get noticeably worse (RX2 preamp also on) by about 20 dB. I recall this problem being reported earlier this year, but I thought it had been fixed. Is this a known problem with 1.18.3? Is anyone else observing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] 5000A RX1 Preamp affects RX2
I recently installed PowerSDR 1.18.3 on a new Windows 7 system (Flex 5000A, Firmware: 1.3.0.8, Firewire driver: 3.5.0.7171). The install went well and PowerSDR and the 5000A seem to be working fine. However, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the RX2 S-Meter reading to increase by about 20dB. With both receivers on 20M and VFO Sync enabled, turning on the RX1 preamp causes the signal to noise ratio on RX2 to get noticeably worse (RX2 preamp also on) by about 20 dB. I recall this problem being reported earlier this year, but I thought it had been fixed. Is this a known problem with 1.18.3? Is anyone else observing this? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] FLEX-5000 VU-Module Ordering Information
If you'd like to learn more about the VU-Module, here's a link to a presentation I gave recently at the AMSAT 2009 Symposium: * http://support.flex-radio.com/Downloads.aspx?id=298* Greg, I looked at your presentation and am very interested in the VU Antenna Switch box, although, if I am reading the drawings correctly, I don't think it will work with my intended configuration. I currently am using RX1 in (6M meter preamp), RX2 in (2nd 6M preamp/antenna), and XVRX and XVTX for split input transverters. The only connector that I'm not currently using is the INT XVTR connector. On 2M/432, I want to be able to drive a separate amp and antenna for each band. From the drawings, it doesn't look like there is an option to use the single INT XVTR connector to automatically switch between the 2M and 432 amps/antennas. I think what I trying to do would be a fairly desirable configuration for those who aren't interested in full-duplex operation. I suppose I could connect the 2nd 6M preamp to Ant 2, but then I run the risk of blowing the preamp if the TX antenna configuration is accidently changed on any of the bands. I've seen enough unexpected database changes to think that could happen even without operator error. Do I correctly understand the drawings and configuration options when using the VU antenna switch? 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] V/U module is now available for ordering from theOLS
I don’t know anybody that wants a 60 watt factory installed VHF-UHF version! Maybe that should be a "high poweroptional upgrade". Also the very low power version is ridiculous – would take two monolithic amplifiers to get it up to customary power levels. Specifically: Serious VHF & UHF folks want about 25-30 watts to drive our KW linear amplifiers. Other folks want 10 to 25 watts to drive their Mirage or TE “brick” amplifiers. As a serious VHF/UHF op, I'm glad that the power output is 60W. Most (all?) legal limt 2M/432 amps will not reach full power with 30W. My Commander II requires about 35W for 1KW out. My Lunar Link LA-22A only needs 29W in for 1500W out but the typical spec is 40W in. I believe that an 8877 is going to require something closer to 50-60W in. For 432, my next amp will be a Lunar Link LA-72A which is spec'd at 65W in for 1500W out. Overall, I think 60W is the minimum power that I want in a 2M/432 radio, although I would have preferred 100W. If Flex Radio had decided to build a 10-25W module, then I would have had to buy a couple of bricks to get the power up to the level required by the "serious" amps. Like others, I was hoping the price would be a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but it is what it is. My order is already placed. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] iphone sdr
Since I bought an iPhone this summer, I've been thinking a lot about using it with PowerSDR. Personally, I'm not interested in jailbreaking the iPhone and voiding the warranty. What I am considering instead is modifying PowerSDR to include VOIP and remote control by TCP/IP. Properly done, PowerSDR could be used locally from your computer or be configured to listen for incoming connections from another copy of PowerSDR running in remote mode. With this capability in place, it would then be possible to write an iPhone app that handles the control and voice functions for remote station usage. I spend a fair amount of time on the road and would have access to my station from my iPhone during the day and from my laptop at night. I don't think it could get much better than that. No mess, no fuss, no third party apps. Anyone else think this is a good idea? I'm seriously thinking about buying a Mac so that I can start working on the iPhone app. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "W5CUL" To: Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 4:10 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] iphone sdr Maybe not knobs, but find or develop another app to assign functions to the 3 buttons on the iphone, that might work ;-) Mike W5CUL -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of FireBrick Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 11:03 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] iphone sdr On 10/17/2009 10:57:11 AM, Jim (technology.mag...@verizon.net) wrote: There are of course a bazillion reasons why this wouldn't work, but suspending practicality for a moment in favor of creativity - Wouldn't it be interesting if someone developed an SDR application for the iphone. yeah but where would we put the KNOBS? ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w5...@sbcglobal.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] Flex 5000 and Amp (SPE 1K or ACOM 2000)???
I recently bought an Expert 1K-FA to use mostly for portable operations. When I first got it, I hooked it up to my 5K to try it out. It works great! A solid KW out on HF and 900W PEP easily on 6m (spec is 700W on 6M). You don't need to worry about ALC because the built-in self-protection software will shut the amp down if you try to drive it too hard or if it starts getting too hot. Band switching is automatic. I have nothing but good things to say about this amp. I'm really looking forward to the introduction of the 2K-FA early next year (2KW out, all solid state). 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Stu Phillips" To: Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 11:58 AM Subject: [Flexradio] Flex 5000 and Amp (SPE 1K or ACOM 2000)??? This weekend's experience in the Cal QSO party has got me considering adding an amplifier to my remote controlled station with the Flex 5000 as the primary radio (what a great contesting radio it is!). Sorry to send this to the full list but I'm hoping that if you have a 5000 with either the SPE-1K or ACOM 2000 running in your station (even more so if you are fully remote controlled), you could share your experiences about the integration and operating quirks (such as coping without ALC feedback control). From reading the reflector archives, it looks like DDUTIL will be required... if so, I may have to revert to XP as I've been unable to get DDUTIL to work on Vista X64. Thanks & &3's Stu K6TU ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] Mobile Flex-Radios?
Is anyone using their Flex-5000A or 1500 mobile? If so, I'd be interested in hearing about your implementation. I'm exploring ways to install a Flex-5000A for both mobile and stationary use. I just spent the weekend in my motorhome using a 706MkIIG for the ARRL September VHF contest and want a better radio next time. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] Power meter reading
I've been seeing the same thing here for a while on my 5000A, although I'm not sure exactly when it started. According to my PowerMaster wattmeter, the output power is fine but the PowerSDR wattmeter is reading low. I'm running the latest versions of the software, firmware and driver (1.18.2, 1.3.0.06 and 3.4.0.5254, respectively). I was also seeing this on PowerSDR 1.18.1. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "dick kalt" To: Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:14 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Power meter reading For some time now I've been seeing a dramatic reduction in RF power output on the meter. I seem to be driving my linear to a reasonable level when I use it which indicates to me that it's more of a meter function that actual output, but when I put the 5KA in the tune position it indicates 3 watts out when I used to see 10 watts. On sideband I used to see average output from 20 to 30 watts give or take, but now it shows between 0 and 10 watts, little movement. I deleted the database and had it rebuild but I'm still seeing low power out indication. Am I missing a setting? Thanks and 73, Dick, W1FYI ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] Good weekend to try out your FlexRadio on 6M
The CQ VHF contest starts in about 25 minutes (1800Z) and runs for 27 hours. If you've been wanting to try out 6M, this is a great time. The activity levels will be much higher than normal. For SSB, listen on the calling frequency of 50.125 up to around 50.200 if the band is very busy. For CW, most activity will be from 50.080 to 50.100, and if we get really lucky there may be some DX from 50.100 to 50.125. I hope to hear some FlexRadios on 6M this weekend. Point your antenna towards the Pacific Northwest occasionally. I'm running 1500W and a 9el yagi on 6M, so if the band opens you may hear me. 73, Clay W7CE CN87oa Lacey, WA ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] firmware update
Gerald, thanks for the answering my question. I've loaded V1.3.0.6 of the firmware and everything is working fine with PowerSDR 1.18.1. Loading new firmware, which is pretty much the same as modifying a radio, just hours before the CQ VHF contest starts is contrary to my normal mode of operation, so I needed to be sure that everything would go smoothly. There's nothing like the panic you feel when a radio breaks just before a contest. Thanks & 73, Clay W7CE Clay, I want to apologize publicly for the confusion on this. We are feeling our way a bit as we transition to the new two reflector system introduced only one week ago. I am sure it will take a little while to sort it all out and get everyone, including us, familiar with what goes where. The answer to your question is that V1.3.0.6 of the firmware is officially released but is NOT required unless you are using one of the experimental branches on the SVN. You were asking in your post about using "Bob's new noise blanker branch" with the new firmware. I think that comment is what triggered Tim's suggestion that it be posted to the experimental FlexEdge reflector. Yours is one of those questions that falls into the gray area between reflectors. I agree that it was appropriate to post it here because the firmware is officially released. I am sure there will be more issues like this so I hope everyone will be patient as they get sorted out. We appreciate everyone's participation on both reflectors. The new FlexEdge reflector is off to a great start and seems to be serving its intended purpose of moving experimental discussion to its own venue. Best 73s, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President FlexRadio Systems 13091 Pond Springs Rd. #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 www.flex-radio.com "Tune in excitement!" (TM) -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 2:31 PM To: Tim (W4TME) Cc: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update Tim, I have to strongly disagree. I asked if version 1.3.0.6 of the firmware, which is listed on the Flex-Radio web page as the most current version, is indeed the latest release. My question is based on your comment, posted on this reflector, that 1.3.0.6 is for experimental versions. There seems to be a disagreement between you and Flex-Radio web page. It's a simple question. Is 1.3.0.6 really the latest release, or is your statement correct? This question seems very pertinent to this reflector since it pertains to the state of release software. 73, Clay W7CE ----- Original Message - From: "Tim (W4TME)" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 4:30 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update To: FlexRadio User Reflector subscriber The topic you posted to the FlexRadio User Reflector contains subject material that is best suited for the FlexEdge Reflector. This reflector, the FlexRadio Users Reflector, is designated only for discussion and support for officially released and supported hardware, system, and software configurations. Reason: Any and all discussion regarding experimental versions of PowerSDR (SVN versions) are no longer appropriate for the FlexRadio Users Reflector In the future, topics that pertain to discussions of "leading edge" experimental, alpha, and beta [SVN] software/firmware and hardware/system configurations should only be posted on the FlexEdge Reflector. For more information about the FlexEdge Reflector, please see the following web page: http://www.flex-radio.com/Support.aspx?topic=Reflector_Description To sign up for the FlexEdge Reflector, use the FlexEdge Reflector User Management web page (http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz ) and go to the Subscribing to FlexRadio section. Thank you for your cooperation while we transition to the new FlexEdge Reflector. -Tim --- W4TME FlexRadio Systems - Info Management Admin. "Tune in Excitement" On 7/17/2009 12:03 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: I'd like to play with Bob's new noiseblanker branch and need 1.3.0.6. I see that it is also listed as the most recent firmware on the Flexradio home page. Is this released firmware, or is it alpha firmware since it is for experimental versions of PowerSDR? Is there any risk to installing it and once installed can I go back to 1.3.0.0 if I need to? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: ; Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:16 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update 1.) The HRFIO board has nothing to do with the Firmware. 2.) PowerSDR v1.18.1 only requires firmware 1.3.0.0. The new firmware is for experimental versions of PowerSDR. 3.) HRFIO 34 rev C is the latest version. 4.) for your last question, see the following: http://
Re: [Flexradio] firmware update
Tim, I have to strongly disagree. I asked if version 1.3.0.6 of the firmware, which is listed on the Flex-Radio web page as the most current version, is indeed the latest release. My question is based on your comment, posted on this reflector, that 1.3.0.6 is for experimental versions. There seems to be a disagreement between you and Flex-Radio web page. It's a simple question. Is 1.3.0.6 really the latest release, or is your statement correct? This question seems very pertinent to this reflector since it pertains to the state of release software. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim (W4TME)" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 4:30 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update To: FlexRadio User Reflector subscriber The topic you posted to the FlexRadio User Reflector contains subject material that is best suited for the FlexEdge Reflector. This reflector, the FlexRadio Users Reflector, is designated only for discussion and support for officially released and supported hardware, system, and software configurations. Reason: Any and all discussion regarding experimental versions of PowerSDR (SVN versions) are no longer appropriate for the FlexRadio Users Reflector In the future, topics that pertain to discussions of “leading edge” experimental, alpha, and beta [SVN] software/firmware and hardware/system configurations should only be posted on the FlexEdge Reflector. For more information about the FlexEdge Reflector, please see the following web page: http://www.flex-radio.com/Support.aspx?topic=Reflector_Description To sign up for the FlexEdge Reflector, use the FlexEdge Reflector User Management web page (http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexedge_flex-radio.biz ) and go to the Subscribing to FlexRadio section. Thank you for your cooperation while we transition to the new FlexEdge Reflector. -Tim --- W4TME FlexRadio Systems - Info Management Admin. "Tune in Excitement" On 7/17/2009 12:03 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: I'd like to play with Bob's new noiseblanker branch and need 1.3.0.6. I see that it is also listed as the most recent firmware on the Flexradio home page. Is this released firmware, or is it alpha firmware since it is for experimental versions of PowerSDR? Is there any risk to installing it and once installed can I go back to 1.3.0.0 if I need to? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: ; Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:16 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update 1.) The HRFIO board has nothing to do with the Firmware. 2.) PowerSDR v1.18.1 only requires firmware 1.3.0.0. The new firmware is for experimental versions of PowerSDR. 3.) HRFIO 34 rev C is the latest version. 4.) for your last question, see the following: http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50057.aspx (a KB search on "HRFIO") -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of y...@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:23 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] firmware update ??? I just bought a 5000a used. It is apx 1.5 years old. the seller didn't know which HRFIO board was in the rig. My question is, do I install the current firmware up date? 1.3.0.6 to the rig? From reading, if the 5000a still has the old board,I should not do the up grade to the firmware. If the rig has the new 34 board ,would it then have the most recent upgrade already installed? ??? My last question, what do I gain from installing the new HRFIO board? thanks for any help on this . dale wt4t ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to t...@flex-radio.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-
Re: [Flexradio] firmware update
I'd like to play with Bob's new noiseblanker branch and need 1.3.0.6. I see that it is also listed as the most recent firmware on the Flexradio home page. Is this released firmware, or is it alpha firmware since it is for experimental versions of PowerSDR? Is there any risk to installing it and once installed can I go back to 1.3.0.0 if I need to? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: ; Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 3:16 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] firmware update 1.) The HRFIO board has nothing to do with the Firmware. 2.) PowerSDR v1.18.1 only requires firmware 1.3.0.0. The new firmware is for experimental versions of PowerSDR. 3.) HRFIO 34 rev C is the latest version. 4.) for your last question, see the following: http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50057.aspx (a KB search on "HRFIO") -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of y...@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 5:23 PM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] firmware update ??? I just bought a 5000a used. It is apx 1.5 years old. the seller didn't know which HRFIO board was in the rig. My question is, do I install the current firmware up date? 1.3.0.6 to the rig? From reading, if the 5000a still has the old board,I should not do the up grade to the firmware. If the rig has the new 34 board ,would it then have the most recent upgrade already installed? ??? My last question, what do I gain from installing the new HRFIO board? thanks for any help on this . dale wt4t ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to telli...@itsco.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 6 Meter Preamp Settings
Gary, Unless your local noise floor is very high, you should see the displayed noise floor drop a lot when you enable the preamp. That's because you're lowering the total receiver noise figure from about 22 dB to about 2 dB. You can really see it if you connect a 50 ohm load to the antenna port and then turn the preamp on and off. That takes your local QRN out of the picture and lets you see the improvement in RX noise figure. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Gary Carter" To: "Flexradio" Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 1:05 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 6 Meter Preamp Settings Purchased an Advanced Receiver Research model P50VDG preamp for my Flex 5000A and just installed it today. Using two 3' RG59 75 ohm patch cables to connect the preamp in the RX1 loop. I read the KB article on the antenna setup for using the RX1 loop and have that setup per the instructions, but I want to pass this by the group to make sure I have all my other settings correct. Of course I have the RX1 loop enabled, but I also have the preamp controls for 6 meters enabled and the preamp (Power SDR) turned off. Since the gain of the P50VDG is listed as 24 dB I have the gain box in the antenna selection window set at 24 dB, and the AGC-T I left set at 110. Does this appear to be correct? The external preamp is working fine, I'm just a little concerned seeing the noise floor on the panadapter drop so significantly. I want to make sure my receiver S meter readings continue to be accurate. 73, Gary - WA4IAM ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] Antenna Selection
I agree that this selection should be moved to the main window. I have two 6M antennas (one on Ant3 and the other connected to RX2 through an ARR preamp). I use the TX2 relay output to control a transfer relay so I can select which one I'm transmitting on. I have to keep the Antenna form open all the time because I use it constantly, but it gets buried behind other windows and I waste time looking for it. Because 6M openings can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours, contacts are usually made quickly, almost like in a contest. You want the layout to be quick and easy to use so you can maximize the number of contacts without spending time looking for hidden windows. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Kevin Hobbs" To: Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 6:10 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Antenna Selection I have an idea for what I consider would be an improvement in operating the Flex. I can't say that I am all that fussy about opening the "Antenna" form whenever I want to change antennas. I really liked the way my FTDX-9000 handled the antenna selection . it has a simple set of 5 buttons (Ant1, Ant2, Ant3, Ant4, RX) . you can click any antenna for the Main or Sub or both . and then they simply light the LED color to match the Main, or Sub, or a Mixture color to indicate both Main and Sub sharing the same antenna. I found this to be very good. Perhaps the Flex could take advantage of a simple set of buttons like that? What does everyone else do . just leave that form open all the time? 73 de Kevin ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Flexradio] 6mtr amp
My primary 6M amp is a Command Technologies VHF-2000, running a pair of 3CX800s for legal limit out. Command Technologies was recently acquired by Palstar and their amps are shown on their web page. Other amps I've used include a VHF-1200 (single 3CX800, 1200W out), an Acom 1000 (single 4CX800, 1 KW out), an Expert 1K-FA (solid state, 700+W out) and a TE Systems 0552G (solid state, 350W out). The Acom and the Expert amps are 160 through 6M amps; the others are 6M only. They all perform well and I recommend any of them. Prices range from $850 to $3850 new, although I've always bought them used for quite a bit less. If you start looking now, you'll probably be able to locate a used one, especially in a couple of months when the 6M season starts slowing down for this year. While having a 6M amp is nice, I would invest in a bigger antenna first. It's less money than an amp and you improve both your RX and TX signal strength at the same time. If you have the room, go for a 7 element or larger beam. You'll be amazed at how much more you hear with the longer antenna, and you can't work them if you can't hear them. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dale Brown" To: Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 7:06 PM Subject: [Flexradio] 6mtr amp What kind of amp are the flexers using for 6 meters? There was a band opening today and I have just installed the ARR P50VDG pre-amp. I made a contact into Maryland from Texas on 50 watts with a 4 el yagi at 20 ft. It was marginal copy. I notice Yaesu's Quadra has a 6 meter coverage, but $3000+ is not in the cards for spotty band openings. Dale KC2PZ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to w...@curtiss.net ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
[Flexradio] Preamp gain on RX2 In
I'm just starting to use RX2 with a 2nd 6M antenna/preamp (connected to RX2 in). Because of the preamp gain, the S-Meter on RX2 is reading about 24 dB high (the preamp gain). Is there a place to set the preamp gain for RX2 In (similar to RX1 In/Out loop gain in the Antenna Selection dialog box) so that the S-Meter will read correctly? If not, I'll add it to the feature request list. I'm running PowerSDR 1.18.1 and Driver 3.4.0.5254. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] 6 meters receive on 5000
With all of the great features of this radio, this is one of the very few shortcomings and it can solved with a $79 preamp from ARR. The 5000A even has the preamp in/out BNC connectors on the rear panel so all you have to do is connect it and check a box in the Antenna dialog box. Even cooler, you can specify the preamp gain, so the S-Meter continues to read accurately (and according to my calibrated HP signal generator, it is accurate to below -140 dBm) when the preamp is enabled. 6M is my favorite band and my 756 ProIII has been very lonely since I got the 5000A. I just added a 2nd preamp to the RX2 input and am putting up a 2nd 6M antenna today so that I can listen on both receivers at once (RX1 on the left ear and RX2 on the right ear). Antenna 1 is 9el at 48' and antenna 2 will be 7el at 95'. I can look for beacons while monitoring the calling frequency or use it for diversity reception when signals are coming in at differing arrival angles. Yesterday, with a single antenna, I was decoding FSK441 on 50.260 (RX2) while listening to the band starting to open on 50.125 (RX1). I could never do that with the 756 ProIII. Also, the noise blanker really works. I've copied Q5 signals that were 4 S-units below the power-line noise. Don't let this one thing stop you from getting a really great radio. I don't think you'll ever regret it. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dennis Petrich" To: "Ed Helms" ; "flex radio" Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:32 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] 6 meters recieve on 5000 I agree with Ed's comments, I'm looking at a 5k but it bothers me that I will need to add a 6m preamp!! Thats my only issue, otherwise I think the Felx is a really exellent radio!! Congrats to all the hard work from the Flex engineers! Dennis, k0eoo - Original Message - From: "Ed Helms" To: "flex radio" Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:20 AM Subject: [Flexradio] 6 meters recieve on 5000 I guess I just dont understand why the 5000 needs to have a preamp on 6 meters. I will admit I like my 5000 better than my IC-7800 in every catagory except the recieve on 6 meters. The Flex, if we were scoring on a scale of 0 to 10, is about a 3 at best on 6 meter recieve compared to my 7800. Why cant there be a additional module or mod for the 5000 so it is up to par out of the box. No add on preamps. Just does not make sense to pay that much for a rig and it needs a recieve preamp on 6. Dont get me wrong, I love the Flex and would recommend it over any rig. I just think they missed the mark on this issue. N4zvn> Ed ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4193 (20090626) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4193 (20090626) __ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 and PowerSDR 1.16.1
Does .NET 3.5 SP 1 work with PowerSDR 1.16.1? I'm going to upgrade to the latest PowerSDR release also, but want to know if 1.16.1 will still work in case I have any PowerSDR upgrade problems. Thanks, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Why An Extra Pre Amp On Six Meters
I'm sorry for the delay in responding. I'm traveling on business and haven't had much time for email. I measured the receiver MDS (500 Hz bandwidth) without the external preamp at -126 dBm and with the preamp at -145 dBm. In both cases, the internal preamp was also on. I used a calibrated HP signal source, but only measured the signal strengths in dBm not microvolts. I don't have time to do the measurement conversions. However, for comparison, QST review of the 5000A measured the 500 Hz MDS at -128 dBm which is 2 dB better than my measurement, but still corresponds to a 19 dB noise figure. Their measured 10 db (S+N)/N, 1 kHz, 30% modulation sensitivity was 3.7 uV, and for 12 dB SINAD it was 1.4 uV. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dan Eisenman" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 7:10 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Why An Extra Pre Amp On Six Meters Hi Clay; Thanks for your observations , have you actually put a signal generator on it ? Just wondering what the microvolt sensitivity level is , then compared to having the preamp on ? 73 Dan K8ICB in Florida On Jun 21, 2009, at 2:17 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: Without a preamp, you haven't been hearing the weak ones. Assuming that your local noise level isn't incredibly high, the stations that sound weak without a preamp, won't sound weak with it. The stations that sound weak with the preamp on, are non-existant without it. I've measured the 6M noise figure and it is about 21 dB without the preamp and 2 dB with it. My preamp has 26 dB of gain, which is more than I really need. I've added an HP 0-12 dB step attenuator after the preamp to reduce the gain when desired. I typically see my noise floor drop 8-9 dB when I turn on the preamp (more when local QRN is minimum). I'm still experimenting with the best attenuator setting, but I'd say you want at least 16-20 dB of gain. I own five 6 Meter rigs, and the 5000A is the best by far since I added the preamp. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dan Eisenman" To: Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:52 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Why An Extra Pre Amp On Six Meters I have been using my 5000A on six meters , seems to work great as is , I have been reading about the 3000 not needing a Pre Amp but adding one on the 5000A. Just curious if any real lab test were run to confirm this data ? The 5000A seems fine to me , I don't seem to have any trouble hearing and working the weak ones . 73 Dan K8ICB in Florida ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Why An Extra Pre Amp On Six Meters
Without a preamp, you haven't been hearing the weak ones. Assuming that your local noise level isn't incredibly high, the stations that sound weak without a preamp, won't sound weak with it. The stations that sound weak with the preamp on, are non-existant without it. I've measured the 6M noise figure and it is about 21 dB without the preamp and 2 dB with it. My preamp has 26 dB of gain, which is more than I really need. I've added an HP 0-12 dB step attenuator after the preamp to reduce the gain when desired. I typically see my noise floor drop 8-9 dB when I turn on the preamp (more when local QRN is minimum). I'm still experimenting with the best attenuator setting, but I'd say you want at least 16-20 dB of gain. I own five 6 Meter rigs, and the 5000A is the best by far since I added the preamp. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Dan Eisenman" To: Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 10:52 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Why An Extra Pre Amp On Six Meters I have been using my 5000A on six meters , seems to work great as is , I have been reading about the 3000 not needing a Pre Amp but adding one on the 5000A. Just curious if any real lab test were run to confirm this data ? The 5000A seems fine to me , I don't seem to have any trouble hearing and working the weak ones . 73 Dan K8ICB in Florida ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Click tuning with a Locked panadapter operatation
I hope that the Classic GUI look remains an option. From the posts here, I know that many really like the new look, but I'm much more interested in an easy to read interface than a splashy skin. I haven't installed Pretty Betty yet (I will probably try it next weekend), but from the screen shots I've seen there may be some low contrast color combinations that are hard for me to read. After eight eye surgeries, my vision is actually quite good, but I don't do well with some color combinations now. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Jim R" To: "Gerald Y" ; ; "FlexRadioReflector" Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:27 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Click tuning with a Locked panadapter operatation Gerald Thanks for the update. You mentioned that the pretty betty GUI will be included in the next release but will the "Classic" flex GUI still be an option. Call me dull, but I kind of like the classic interface. I have used pretty betty but find Some of functions more legible and easier to operate in the classic interface. Don't get me wrong, although pretty betty is a feast for the eyes, my personal preference is the classic interface. If anyone concurs, please speak up. I have stuck my neck out and have "broken the ice". Is it just me? Jim K5HY From: ger...@flex-radio.com To: al.k...@yahoo.com; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:50:06 -0500 Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Click tuning with a Locked panadapter operatation We at FlexRadio agree that the locked Panadapter is an important feature to be added to PowerSDR. The most difficult part is to decide how to best implement the control interface. We will implement this capability in the Official Release that will include Pretty Betty and many DSP enhancements such as Wide Band Image Rejection. This release will go into public beta in the first part of August and Official Release in September. In the interim, we plan to do an Official Release based on 1.18.1 next week that has several important DSP improvements such as ALC, AGC, NR, ANF, etc. We appreciate everyone's suggestions as we continue to enhance the features and performance of the radios you already own. We have been doing this for over six years and there is still no shortage of ideas for enhancement. Regards, Gerald Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR President FlexRadio Systems 13091 Pond Springs Rd. #250 Austin, TX 78729 Phone: 512-535-4713 www.flex-radio.com "Tune in excitement!" (TM) -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Al K0VM Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:26 AM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: [Flexradio] Click tuning with a Locked panadapter operatation In various previous e-mails ... - The one gripe I have is the lack of an ability to lock the panadaptor. Operating this radio is a very visual process, and I would lose the pattern of activity when changing the main rx frequency. I realize I can leave that alone and hunt with the sub-rx, but really it would be desirable to have both freely available. I know this has been talked about before, but I can't remember where to go to add my support to the enhancement list. Overall, a very positive experience. - and - I agree with NU8I's comments on the need to be able to lock the panadapter. Oh, no kidding! This is perhaps the biggest problem of PowerSDR. It makes click-tune painfully difficult to use. You have to wait a second or two until the waterfall display starts to repaint in order to see what is going on and where the signals have moved. If Flex could fix only one feature this would be it for me! --- You can ALMOST do this now... If you wish to TEST DRIVE how this might feel in operation (assumes no RX 2) 1. Set VFO A to center the pan adapter to the range of interest. 2. Set Multi RX on.. Turn down the VFO A RX volume (right hand vertical slider in MulitRX box ) 3. Enable SPLIT and 'show TX filter on Display' 4. Click the RIGHT mouse button twice to get the RED cross hairs in the pan adapter. 5. Click the LEFT mouse button to set VFO B to the signal you wish to listen to. HINT: since most casual and net operation is on 1 Khz or 500 hz intervals, set tune step size to 500. CAVEATS: software limitations: 1. The mouse wheel currently only operates VFO A. To fine tune a signal move your mouse pointer into the VFO B window then use the mouse wheel. 2. Drag tunning can not be used.. 3. Only one RX (VFO B) is usable with this demo. 4. Its too easy to drop out of the VFO B ( read cross hair) click tune control mode. CAVEATS: hardware limitations. 1. The Spur Reduction algorithm attempts to avoid DDS spurs in the VFO A RX area (i.e. DDS + 9KHZ if).
Re: [Flexradio] Flex-5000
Hi Tom, Are talking about using your 5000 on 6M in the ARRL June VHF contest this last weekend? If so ,the 5000 needs an external preamp connected to the RX1 In/Out ports to get the best possible performance out of your 5000 on that band. The 6M noise figure is pretty high without one, but once you add the preamp, you'll find the RX performance is great. I used my 5000 all weekend on 6M and am very happy with the overal performance. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "MILLER, Tom" To: Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 9:40 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Flex-5000 I the box thru the paces over the weekend, the ease of operation and the panadptor make it a winer. The receiver is a little hard of hearing, but the audio processing made ther difference. I had some high Q rates on sat and still was able to pick some off using the second receive. Nothing but great audIo reports. Only complaint is the auto tunner it sometimes takes three atemps to get the antenna to give good matches. This is on badly missed antennas Tom ac5tm Tom Miller 504 715-7185 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] question about cabeling a 6 meter preamp into thecircuit
I'm using an ARR P50VDG which as two female BNC connectors. I mounted the preamp directly on the back of the 5000 with a male-to-male BNC adapter and then used a short RG-58 jumper with two BNCs to connect the other port. I like the setup because I don't have one more small box floating around at the back of the desk. If your preamp is small and light you may be able to do the same. BTW, welcome to 6M. You picked the best time of year to start. Sporadic E openings will occur regularly for about 2 more months. When conditions are right you can work coast to coast on double hop and up to 1500 miles on single hop. Quite often the "DX" stations will be louder than the locals. When the band is open you can use almost anything for an antenna, but you'll get best results with a 3 el or larger yagi. I started with a J-pole and 100 watts, and over the last 4 years have upgraded from 5el to 7el to 9el running legal limit. WARNING: 6M is addictive! 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "FireBrick" To: "FlexRadio List" Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 10:14 AM Subject: [Flexradio] question about cabeling a 6 meter preamp into thecircuit Got a unit coming this week. I've read the KB, I know hot to connect, but my question is: Is the coax use a major factor? It would be easier to use rg58, just from a convienence factor. But I could use heavier stuff if it will buy me anything. 40 plus years, never did and 6 or higher operations. pse and tu -- By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends. -- TOWER/WEBCAMS @ http://71.57.45.48:8080 Weather Page @ http://hhweather.webhop.org ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Increased receive noise level on 6M after CWTransmit
I just tested again and I can't duplicate the problem on any mode but CW. Two new interesting observations though: 1. Using Tune causes the increased noise but only when in CW mode. 2. If I key the rig in CW mode, release the key, and then quickly switch to USB, the noise level does not go back down. After that, the only way that I've found to get the USB noise floor back where it belongs is to wait for the 5.5 seconds to expire, change to CW mode, and CW mode only, and then back to USB. Otherwise the noise floor stays higher than it should be. I hope all this helps in tracking down the root cause. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Mike - KM0T" To: Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 6:19 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Increased receive noise level on 6M after CWTransmit For whatever its worth, I have noticed this as well and was very puzzeled about it. I have been so busy here with things I have not been able to report it. I dont have specifics, but its there for sure. I think I have seen this on SSB however, I dont think its specific to CWU or CWL. Running an external preamp and 6M virgin here(i.e. not a transverter) 73 Mike -KM0T - Original Message ----- From: "Clay W7CE" To: Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 6:10 PM Subject: [Flexradio] Increased receive noise level on 6M after CW Transmit I see an interesting behavior on my Flex 5000A when transmitting 6M CW. When I transmit on 6M CW, either by pushing the CW key or the PTT on the rear panel (no output power in this case), and then go back to receive, the panadapter, S-Meter and audio output all show a 9 dB increase in receive noise level for about 5.5 seconds at which time everything returns to normal. This occurs in both CWU and CWL, and in Tune, but no other modes as far as I can tell. It also doesn't matter what the bandwidth is set to. I normally use an external 26 db gain preamp on 6M (connected to RX1 in/out loop). If I disable the external preamp, I still see the behavior, although the increased noise level is only about 2 dB. Next I connected a dummy load and repeated the experiment. Now the noise level increases by 15 dB for about 5.5 seconds (still about 2 dB with the preamp disabled). I assume that the larger increase is because I show a much lower noise level when connected to the dummy load vs. the antenna. I considered the possibility that the preamp was somehow responsible, so I disconnected it from the 5000A and still see about a 2 dB increase in noise after CW transmit. I don't observe this behavior on the other bands. It is repeatable every time on 6M and always lasts for about 5.5 seconds. Anyone have an idea what's causing this? BTW, I'm running PowerSDR 1.16.1, with Flex Driver 3.2.0 build 1556. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
[Flexradio] Increased receive noise level on 6M after CW Transmit
I see an interesting behavior on my Flex 5000A when transmitting 6M CW. When I transmit on 6M CW, either by pushing the CW key or the PTT on the rear panel (no output power in this case), and then go back to receive, the panadapter, S-Meter and audio output all show a 9 dB increase in receive noise level for about 5.5 seconds at which time everything returns to normal. This occurs in both CWU and CWL, and in Tune, but no other modes as far as I can tell. It also doesn't matter what the bandwidth is set to. I normally use an external 26 db gain preamp on 6M (connected to RX1 in/out loop). If I disable the external preamp, I still see the behavior, although the increased noise level is only about 2 dB. Next I connected a dummy load and repeated the experiment. Now the noise level increases by 15 dB for about 5.5 seconds (still about 2 dB with the preamp disabled). I assume that the larger increase is because I show a much lower noise level when connected to the dummy load vs. the antenna. I considered the possibility that the preamp was somehow responsible, so I disconnected it from the 5000A and still see about a 2 dB increase in noise after CW transmit. I don't observe this behavior on the other bands. It is repeatable every time on 6M and always lasts for about 5.5 seconds. Anyone have an idea what's causing this? BTW, I'm running PowerSDR 1.16.1, with Flex Driver 3.2.0 build 1556. 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter"
Based on my early experience with the 5000A, it seems like the FireWire interface is source of many of the latency and hanging issues, although I'm not sure if that is the case here. Firewire seems to work best when sending single threaded data streams, like from a video camera. I have no doubt that the Firewire-related issues that cause so many problems would totally disappear if Flex were to abandon it in favor of an Gigabit Ethernet interface. The PC and software vendors make Ethernet performance a much higher priority than Firewire performance. Given the small number of Firewire-compatible devices available on the market, I doubt if that will ever change. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 6:53 AM Subject: RE: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter" It really isn't a problem but more of an anomaly dependent on the PC and how well it performs with PowerSDR. Unfortunately, this condition is not only a function of raw processing power and I/O throughput in your computer, but also of timing when things happen in the software which all factors into the computational overhead used by PowerSDR. Setting the process priority to "Real Time" might help, but doing so can also cause other problems by taking away priority from operating system level processes that need to run when needed so that the entire computer operates correctly. The display thread is a low priority thread for a reason - to ensure that you have consistent audio out of the radio. There is no "silver bullet" fix as there are way to many inter-related variables in play from the hardware to the operating system and to the software itself that one setting fixes all systems. I know that Dudley wishes there was a silver bullet fix for PowerSDR and PC performance related issues. His life would get exponentially simpler. The bottom line is that if that trick works for your particular system, then that is great. Use it by all means. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 3:03 AM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Thanks Eric. Now I understand the issue. Could setting the PowerSDR process priority to "Real Time" be a possible solution? I found that my setup runs very well with this setting and I haven't seen any problems with the Panadapter when SR is off. My computer is a 1.8G Dual Core Centrino Laptop using the built-in Firewire adapter, so it's not exactly at the high power end of the computing spectrum. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Eric Wachsmann" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:45 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" This is a function of raw processing power and what else is going on in the machine. The point is that with SR off, dragging the spectrum is much more expensive computationally as it sends a tuning command for each pixel dragged. This can cause lower priority threads (like the display) to stall if the CPU can't keep up. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 7:44 PM, Clay W7CE wrote: I'm confused. I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging) regardless of the Spur Reduction setting. What am I missing here? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "NZ8J" To: "'Tim Ellison'" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Now I feel foolish.. Yes it was off and when I turned it on it works like I was accustomed to. Thanks Tim... 73 Tim NZ8J -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:08 PM To: NZ8J; flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: RE: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Is spur reduction turned off? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of NZ8J Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:05 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Wasn't really sure how to title this. Up until a day or so ago I was able to smoothly change the freq on my Flex 5K (1.18.0) by left clicking and holding while sliding across the
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter"
Thanks Eric. Now I understand the issue. Could setting the PowerSDR process priority to "Real Time" be a possible solution? I found that my setup runs very well with this setting and I haven't seen any problems with the Panadapter when SR is off. My computer is a 1.8G Dual Core Centrino Laptop using the built-in Firewire adapter, so it's not exactly at the high power end of the computing spectrum. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Eric Wachsmann" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:45 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" This is a function of raw processing power and what else is going on in the machine. The point is that with SR off, dragging the spectrum is much more expensive computationally as it sends a tuning command for each pixel dragged. This can cause lower priority threads (like the display) to stall if the CPU can't keep up. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems On Fri, May 22, 2009 at 7:44 PM, Clay W7CE wrote: I'm confused. I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging) regardless of the Spur Reduction setting. What am I missing here? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "NZ8J" To: "'Tim Ellison'" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Now I feel foolish.. Yes it was off and when I turned it on it works like I was accustomed to. Thanks Tim... 73 Tim NZ8J -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:08 PM To: NZ8J; flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: RE: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Is spur reduction turned off? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of NZ8J Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:05 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Wasn't really sure how to title this. Up until a day or so ago I was able to smoothly change the freq on my Flex 5K (1.18.0) by left clicking and holding while sliding across the panadapter. Now all of a sudden it will slide part way and then hang up. If I let up on the mouse and click again I can continue fine. I haven't changed anything that I can recall. Changing the freq this way on "Betty" works fine, no problems. The CPU usage is down around 10% to 15%. It doesn't change when the slider hangs up. Any suggestions? Thanks Tim NZ8J ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Frequency change by"slidingacrosspanadapter"
Here is the original statement: Up until a day or so ago I was able to smoothly change the freq on my Flex 5K (1.18.0) by left clicking and holding while sliding across the panadapter. Now all of a sudden it will slide part way and then hang up. Here is your answer: Is spur reduction turned off? The original problem didn't mention spur reduction at all, but rather mentioned the fact that that panadapter would hang when dragging it with the mouse. In response to that, you brought up spur reduction implying that there is a connection between the two. And apparently turning spur reduction on fixed the problem with dragging the panadapter to a new frequency. I commented that dragging the pan adapter worked the same for me both with and without spur reduction. My comment had nothing to do with spur reduction itself, but rather on the behavior of the panadapter. You are the one who made the connection between the panadapter dragging behavior and spur reduction. So let me rephrase my question in a way that you may understand. What prompted you to ask about spur reduction when the direct question had nothing to do with spur reduction, but rather with an unexplained hanging of the panadapter when dragging it with the mouse? I fail to see the connection that you yourself made. To me the implication of your question is that there is a difference in pan adapter behavior when dragging it with a mouse that is dependent on the position of the Spur Reduction button. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 7:15 PM Subject: RE: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Frequency change by"slidingacrosspanadapter" Clay, You are missing the point. You asked about dragging outside of the panadapter and the frequency still being changed (see where I reposted your quote). That has nothing to do with Spur Reduction being on or off. The state of the Spur Reduction control (on or off) has a secondary effect that manifests itself as a jittery display (not a smooth drag) and/or audio drop outs when dragging the console to tune the radio and it is related to the algorithm used to render the Panadapter when the DDS is being changed. My original reply to Tim contained a link to the Knowledge Center that describes the advantages and disadvantages of using Spur Reduction. Refer to the last paragraph. http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50380.aspx -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 10:01 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter" OK, but wasn't the original problem in this thread the fact that Tim couldn't drag the panadapter without it hanging when Spur Reduction is off? He turned Spur Reduction on and fixed that problem, and now you're telling me that Spur Reduction has nothing to do with dragging the current frequency. If that's the case then why did you ask him if Spur Reduction is off? Exactly what is the limitation when Spur Reduction is off that Tim was experiencing in the original question? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 6:07 PM Subject: RE: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter" "I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging)" It a "feature" of the software. Spur Reduction has nothing to do with the dragging of the spectrum. Having it off generates a ton of DDS MIDI control messages and screen re-paints that cause the jittery display when dragging. Turning SR on reduces the number of messages sent between the radio hardware and PowerSDR. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:45 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" I'm confused. I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging) regardless of the Spur Reduction setting. What am I missing here? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "NZ8J" To: "'Tim Ellison'" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Now
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Re: [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter"
OK, but wasn't the original problem in this thread the fact that Tim couldn't drag the panadapter without it hanging when Spur Reduction is off? He turned Spur Reduction on and fixed that problem, and now you're telling me that Spur Reduction has nothing to do with dragging the current frequency. If that's the case then why did you ask him if Spur Reduction is off? Exactly what is the limitation when Spur Reduction is off that Tim was experiencing in the original question? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Clay W7CE" ; "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 6:07 PM Subject: RE: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "slidingacrosspanadapter" "I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging)" It a "feature" of the software. Spur Reduction has nothing to do with the dragging of the spectrum. Having it off generates a ton of DDS MIDI control messages and screen re-paints that cause the jittery display when dragging. Turning SR on reduces the number of messages sent between the radio hardware and PowerSDR. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Clay W7CE Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:45 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" I'm confused. I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging) regardless of the Spur Reduction setting. What am I missing here? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "NZ8J" To: "'Tim Ellison'" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Now I feel foolish.. Yes it was off and when I turned it on it works like I was accustomed to. Thanks Tim... 73 Tim NZ8J -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:08 PM To: NZ8J; flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: RE: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Is spur reduction turned off? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of NZ8J Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:05 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Wasn't really sure how to title this. Up until a day or so ago I was able to smoothly change the freq on my Flex 5K (1.18.0) by left clicking and holding while sliding across the panadapter. Now all of a sudden it will slide part way and then hang up. If I let up on the mouse and click again I can continue fine. I haven't changed anything that I can recall. Changing the freq this way on "Betty" works fine, no problems. The CPU usage is down around 10% to 15%. It doesn't change when the slider hangs up. Any suggestions? Thanks Tim NZ8J ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter"
I'm confused. I can "click and drag" the panadapter for the full width of my computer screen (even outside the PowerSDR window once I start dragging) regardless of the Spur Reduction setting. What am I missing here? 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "NZ8J" To: "'Tim Ellison'" Cc: "flexra...@flex-radio. Biz" Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Frequency change by "sliding acrosspanadapter" Now I feel foolish.. Yes it was off and when I turned it on it works like I was accustomed to. Thanks Tim... 73 Tim NZ8J -Original Message- From: Tim Ellison [mailto:telli...@itsco.com] Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:08 PM To: NZ8J; flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: RE: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Is spur reduction turned off? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of NZ8J Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:05 PM To: flexra...@flex-radio. Biz Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Frequency change by "sliding across panadapter" Wasn't really sure how to title this. Up until a day or so ago I was able to smoothly change the freq on my Flex 5K (1.18.0) by left clicking and holding while sliding across the panadapter. Now all of a sudden it will slide part way and then hang up. If I let up on the mouse and click again I can continue fine. I haven't changed anything that I can recall. Changing the freq this way on "Betty" works fine, no problems. The CPU usage is down around 10% to 15%. It doesn't change when the slider hangs up. Any suggestions? Thanks Tim NZ8J ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Class A bias & DSB
In the Transmit tab of the Setup form there is an AM carrier level setting. I haven't tried it yet, but I suspect it will allow you to do DSB with minimal carrier. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: "Joe Roth" ; "Flex Radio" Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 7:16 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] [SPAM] Class A bias & DSB Hi Joe. Welcome to the club. No questions are dumb except for the ones about having the software generate more sunspots :-) As far as your first question, the FLEX-5000 PA has the ability be variably biased for class A operation. The software controls to do that have not been added to PowerSDR to do it. I have no idea where that enhancement is on the "to do" list. I know the engineering team has been VERY busy with the FLEX-3000 and the other new products that will be coming out later this year. As for question #2, I do not believe you can do what you are asking with the current software. I have not seen any control for reducing the carrier in AM, but the software gurus will have to answer that one. -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of Joe Roth Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:54 AM To: Flex Radio Subject: [SPAM] [Flexradio] Class A bias & DSB Hi gang. First I'm a newbie to the Flex 5000 so be gentle for my dumb questions. I checked the KB and it came back with nothing on my two questions. 1. I see the 5000 PA can operate class A. How does one do this? Is it controlled with the PowerSDR or is this a hardware mod? 2. Can one insert a low level carrier when operating DSB with PowerSDR? Sort of like AM with a greatly reduced carrier. TNX es 73 Joe www.wc4r.com www.WilliamsburgWX.com _ Rediscover Hotmail(r): Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Antenna Config Modes Questions
Tim's suggestion is what I've done at my station. I too would have prefered setting up RX2 as the 6M receiver. However, since the preamp is connected to the RX1 in/out ports, you need to use RX1 for 6M. Unfortunately, using RX2 for the HF bands is not as convenient as RX1. I know of no easy way to connect a 6M preamp to RX2, but may eventually bite the bullet and install my own external relays. That way I can be monitoring 50.125 while operating HF on RX1. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: "Tim Ellison" To: ; "Flex Radio" Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 6:28 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Antenna Config Modes Questions The only options for the RX2 is ANT-1, RX2-IN and the RX1-TAP. Why not put the HF on ANT-2 or ANT-3 and put 6m on ANT-1 and use the RX loop for the preamp? -Tim -Original Message- From: flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz [mailto:flexradio-boun...@flex-radio.biz] On Behalf Of vtnn...@comcast.net Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 7:49 PM To: Flex Radio Subject: [Flexradio] Antenna Config Modes Questions I would like to set up my 5000 that has an RX2 and the latest HRFIO to the following; Antenna 1 is hooked up to a SGC-239 remote tuner for all HF bands. Antenna 3 is hooked up to stacked 6 meter loops and I have a DEMI preamp on the RX1 & RX2 BNC ports on the 5000 Is it possible to have Antenna 1 going to RX1 (all HF bands) and Antenna 2 to RX2 is for 6 meters only? I have read Different Antenna Configuration Modes for the FLEX-5000 http://kc.flex-radio.com/KnowledgebaseArticle50385.aspx?Keywords=antenna+modes but cannot see how to do what I want to do. Thanks Zack N8FNR ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings
Hi Bob, I know that for signals well above the noise level, the calibration between the 5000A and the HP 4396A were virtually identical (I'm using the 4396A in network analyzer mode with the frequency span set to zero, so that it generates a single frequency output). I don't remember exactly how close to the noise floor I could get and still have agreement, but it was down to less than 10 dB above the noise. Clay - Original Message - From: "Bob McGwier" To: "Clay W7CE" Cc: Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 9:08 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings The meter is calculated on a single filter with a large signal in its path and for the rest of the time, it is assumed that noise is negligible compared to the tones in the calibration. This assumption appears to break down near the noise floor if your measurements are correct. This is useful information. I will be in Austin Friday - Wednesday and we will simply make several measurements to see what gives. I do clearly recall making the meter measurements at all sorts of levels with my (calibrated) 8640B (as accurate as that can be with its analog level set) and it was definitely close but I cannot state emphatically that it was not (3.1 - 1.8) = 1.3 dB off since we just didn't have test equipment capable of that accuracy then. Bob Clay W7CE wrote: Hi Bob, It's certainly possible that I'm doing this wrong, so let me explain my procedure and then you can tell me if I'm making a mistake. All of the following is performed on 6M at 50.200 MHz with a 50 ohm termination connected to antenna port 1 and the bandwidth set to 500 Hz (mode CWU). Also, the multimeter average time is increased to 5000 mS and the Digital Refresh is increased to 2000 mS. The external preamp I am using is an ARR P50VDG preamp with a spec'd noise figure of 0.5 dB and a measured gain of 26 dB. Gain was measured on an HP 4396A Spectrum/Network Analyzer and confirmed using the ADC L and ADC R meters. First, I measured the receiver noise floor using the RX1 meter set to "Sig Avg". With the internal preamp turned on and no external preamp, the average noise level is -125.0 dBm (the value fluctuates some, but seems to be centered here). This indicates a receiver noise figure of 22.0 dB. Now if I enable the external preamp the average noise level decreases to -143.9 dBm, corresponding to a receiver noise figure of 3.1 dB. However if I do the math, adding my preamp and assuming connector, coax and internal relay losses of 0.3 dB in addition to the 0.5 dB preamp noise figure, I should see a receiver noise figure of 2.0 dB. For the receiver noise figure (including external preamp) to be 3.1 dB the external preamp noise figure and passive losses would need to add up to 2.2 dB which is much larger than I would expect. Next, I computed the receiver noise figure by measuring the receiver MDS using an external HP RMS volt meter at the speaker connector and the HP 4396A as a signal generator. Without the external preamp the measured MDS is -126 dBm and with the preamp the MDS is -145 dBm, corresponding to noise figures of 21 dB and 2 dB, respectively. If I do the math, adding my preamp in front of a 21 dB NF receiver, should yield a system NF of about 1.8 dB, so the measurements agree closely with the math. Based on the results, my MDS measurements (using the voltmeter) with the preamp enabled are more consistent with the calculated values than those using the internal meter. I suspect that measurements this close to the noise floor will not be as accurate and that I'm asking too much. I'm certainly not complaining though. The accuracy of the metering rivals that of my HP spectrum analyzer on measurements that I've made from -100 dBm to -30 dBm. 73, Clay W7CE -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. "It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.", Anatole France. Twitter:rwmcgwier Active: Facebook,Myspace,LinkedIn ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings
Eric, Yes, that was the point of the exercise. All measurements were made at 500 Hz bandwidth. With a 50 ohm load on Ant 1, I first measured the noise floor (with the RX1 meter) with the external preamp (in the RX1 loop) disabled and then again with it enabled (ARR preamp). I measured the gain of the ARR preamp two different ways: 1) with an HP 4396A network analyzer, and 2) by watching the ADC L and ADC R meter settings with a signal generator connected to Ant 1. This gain figure (26 dB in my case) was entered into the Antenna dialog box. I then confirmed that the S-Meter reading was the same for a given signal generator input both with and without the preamp. The second set of measurements were made with either a 50 ohm load or a signal generator/attenuator connected to Ant 1. The receiver MDS was determined by increasing the signal generator output until the measured noise on the speaker output was 3 dB greater than when the 50 ohm load was connected to Ant 1. The measurement was repeated both with and without the external preamp enabled. Per my comments below, the pair of MDS measurements makes sense. In other words if I add my 26 dB gain, 0.5 dB noise figure preamp (I actually used 0.8 dB noise figure to account for coax/relay/connector losses) in front of the 5000A with a measured noise figure of 21 dB on 6M (internal preamp enabled, external preamp disabled), my system noise figure will be 1.8 dB according to the math. My measurement was 2 dB, well within my measurement uncertainty. However, the numbers that I got using the built-in meter indicated a system noise figure of 3.1 dB, which is more than 1 dB higher than expected. As I mentioned before, I suspect that I am hoping for too much accuracy when making measurements this close to the theoretical noise floor of -147 dBm for a 500 Hz bandwidth receiver. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: Eric Wachsmann To: Clay W7CE Cc: Bob McGwier ; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 9:08 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings But were some with the RX1 Loop in line and some without it? Eric On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 12:57 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: Hi Eric, Yes. All measurements were made using antenna port 1. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: Eric Wachsmann To: Clay W7CE Cc: Bob McGwier ; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:56 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings Clay, Are you using the same antenna setting for all of the measurements? If not, this could account for the difference you are seeing. We offset the meter and display values to account for the loss through the switches in the antenna circuitry depending on the selected antenna. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 1:12 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: Hi Bob, It's certainly possible that I'm doing this wrong, so let me explain my procedure and then you can tell me if I'm making a mistake. All of the following is performed on 6M at 50.200 MHz with a 50 ohm termination connected to antenna port 1 and the bandwidth set to 500 Hz (mode CWU). Also, the multimeter average time is increased to 5000 mS and the Digital Refresh is increased to 2000 mS. The external preamp I am using is an ARR P50VDG preamp with a spec'd noise figure of 0.5 dB and a measured gain of 26 dB. Gain was measured on an HP 4396A Spectrum/Network Analyzer and confirmed using the ADC L and ADC R meters. First, I measured the receiver noise floor using the RX1 meter set to "Sig Avg". With the internal preamp turned on and no external preamp, the average noise level is -125.0 dBm (the value fluctuates some, but seems to be centered here). This indicates a receiver noise figure of 22.0 dB. Now if I enable the external preamp the average noise level decreases to -143.9 dBm, corresponding to a receiver noise figure of 3.1 dB. However if I do the math, adding my preamp and assuming connector, coax and internal relay losses of 0.3 dB in addition to the 0.5 dB preamp noise figure, I should see a receiver noise figure of 2.0 dB. For the receiver noise figure (including external preamp) to be 3.1 dB the external preamp noise figure and passive losses would need to add up to 2.2 dB which is much larger than I would expect. Next, I computed the receiver noise figure by measuring the receiver MDS using an external HP RMS volt meter at the speaker connector and the HP 4396A as a signal generator. Without the external preamp the measured MDS is -126 dBm and with the preamp the MDS is -145 dBm, corresponding to noise figures of 21 dB and 2 dB, respectively. If I do the math, adding my preamp in front of a 21 dB NF receiver, should yield a system NF of about 1.8 dB, so the m
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings
Hi Eric, Yes. All measurements were made using antenna port 1. 73, Clay W7CE - Original Message - From: Eric Wachsmann To: Clay W7CE Cc: Bob McGwier ; flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 8:56 AM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings Clay, Are you using the same antenna setting for all of the measurements? If not, this could account for the difference you are seeing. We offset the meter and display values to account for the loss through the switches in the antenna circuitry depending on the selected antenna. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 1:12 AM, Clay W7CE wrote: Hi Bob, It's certainly possible that I'm doing this wrong, so let me explain my procedure and then you can tell me if I'm making a mistake. All of the following is performed on 6M at 50.200 MHz with a 50 ohm termination connected to antenna port 1 and the bandwidth set to 500 Hz (mode CWU). Also, the multimeter average time is increased to 5000 mS and the Digital Refresh is increased to 2000 mS. The external preamp I am using is an ARR P50VDG preamp with a spec'd noise figure of 0.5 dB and a measured gain of 26 dB. Gain was measured on an HP 4396A Spectrum/Network Analyzer and confirmed using the ADC L and ADC R meters. First, I measured the receiver noise floor using the RX1 meter set to "Sig Avg". With the internal preamp turned on and no external preamp, the average noise level is -125.0 dBm (the value fluctuates some, but seems to be centered here). This indicates a receiver noise figure of 22.0 dB. Now if I enable the external preamp the average noise level decreases to -143.9 dBm, corresponding to a receiver noise figure of 3.1 dB. However if I do the math, adding my preamp and assuming connector, coax and internal relay losses of 0.3 dB in addition to the 0.5 dB preamp noise figure, I should see a receiver noise figure of 2.0 dB. For the receiver noise figure (including external preamp) to be 3.1 dB the external preamp noise figure and passive losses would need to add up to 2.2 dB which is much larger than I would expect. Next, I computed the receiver noise figure by measuring the receiver MDS using an external HP RMS volt meter at the speaker connector and the HP 4396A as a signal generator. Without the external preamp the measured MDS is -126 dBm and with the preamp the MDS is -145 dBm, corresponding to noise figures of 21 dB and 2 dB, respectively. If I do the math, adding my preamp in front of a 21 dB NF receiver, should yield a system NF of about 1.8 dB, so the measurements agree closely with the math. Based on the results, my MDS measurements (using the voltmeter) with the preamp enabled are more consistent with the calculated values than those using the internal meter. I suspect that measurements this close to the noise floor will not be as accurate and that I'm asking too much. I'm certainly not complaining though. The accuracy of the metering rivals that of my HP spectrum analyzer on measurements that I've made from -100 dBm to -30 dBm. 73, Clay W7CE You are not reading this correctly. The power displayed on the meter is integrated power in the receive filter, just as it should be. The computation is accurate to much more than 0.1 dB irrespective of what the display is doing. But as in all cases of such compromises, it is designed to work for the use case of 99.9% of amateurs (and others) and that is to measure the strength of the signals that are well above the noise floor. That is how it is calibrated. I do not believe your 1-2 dB number and will not without demonstration. You provide proof, I will believe and see what we can do. Bob N4HY Clay W7CE wrote: I've been looking through the PowerSDR code to see how the RX meter signal strength is computed. Based on what I've observed it appears to based on the maximum signal found within the currently selected bandwidth. So if I'm receiving two CW signals within the current bandwidth, it will show the strength of the stronger signal. Am I reading this correctly? If so, I'd like to add a new RX meter option that displays the true RMS power for the selected bandwidth and increases the display resolution to 0.1 dB. I think this addition will allow PowerSDR to accurately display the noise floor of the receiver when the antenna port is terminated with a 50 ohm load. The current implementation seems to give close, but not totally accurate results (my results seem to be off by about 1-2 dB) I have Microsoft Visual Studio .net 2003 and can build the source, but would appreciate it if one of the PowerSDR gurus could help point me in the correct direction in the source code. I think I've found most of the code, but I'm not sure whe
Re: [Flexradio] Thought on RIT
See comments below. Clay W7CE This also gets back to click-tuning. To me click-tuning is perhaps the most awkward feature of PowerSDR. Our brains expect things to stay in place and not jump from one place to another. Right now when I use click-tuning the entire display jumps to center on the new frequency. This makes historic information in the waterfall 100% useless. It also means that my natural tendency to make a small correction by moving the mouse slightly and clicking again (or trying at that point to drag- tune) insures that I will now be tuned to never-never land with no clue as to where the station I *was* trying to tune now is on the display (if at all). This certainly makes "pouncing" a [very frustrating to me] challenge. I agree. I would definitely like a feature where the display would stay locked when you click on the panadapter. This could be selected with a check box next to the pan slider. The RX frequency would shift but everything else would stay in place. To scroll the panadapter you could use the mouse wheel, click and drag the panadapter or manually enter a new frequency. Much of my operating takes place in small portions of the band (160M/80M DX, 6M from 50.125 to 50.200, etc). It would be nice to be able to select a static panadapter and move around within that fixed window. And while I am on this rant, why does the layout of controls for RX2 have to be so totally different from RX1? When switching between receivers is makes me crazy to have to stop and carefully scan the screen to locate the button I want because it is in a totally different location on the RX2 pane than it is in the RX1/TX pane. I would love to have two virtually-identical RX panes with a separate TX pane with some easy way to say, "oh by the way, TX is tied to RX1 or RX2." Heaven forbid that we should provide a way to decouple all three! I had the same thought the first time I used RX2. I'd like to see identical sets of controls. Personally, I'd move the RX1 controls and meter on the left side of the display, change the current RX1 controls to RX2 and move all of the controls currently on the left side of the display to the bottom (where RX2 currently is). In other words, just rotate the three sets of controls counter clockwise by one position. That way the RX1 meter and controls would be next to VFOA, and the RX2 Meter and controls would be next to VFOB. I'm sure there are other layouts that would also work well. BTW, I wasn't sure if I would like using the mouse to change frequencies, but I've found that I prefer it to a conventional tuning knob. There are several ways to change frequency and between them I can move from one portion of the band to another (e.g., CW to phone) more quickly than with a conventional knob. It only took a little practice with point and click to jump to the correct frequency for phone or CW stations. Overall, I'm very pleased with the way the PowerSDR/Flex 5000A combo works, and I fully expect that I'll sell off my old rigs in the near future. ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings
Hi Bob, It's certainly possible that I'm doing this wrong, so let me explain my procedure and then you can tell me if I'm making a mistake. All of the following is performed on 6M at 50.200 MHz with a 50 ohm termination connected to antenna port 1 and the bandwidth set to 500 Hz (mode CWU). Also, the multimeter average time is increased to 5000 mS and the Digital Refresh is increased to 2000 mS. The external preamp I am using is an ARR P50VDG preamp with a spec'd noise figure of 0.5 dB and a measured gain of 26 dB. Gain was measured on an HP 4396A Spectrum/Network Analyzer and confirmed using the ADC L and ADC R meters. First, I measured the receiver noise floor using the RX1 meter set to "Sig Avg". With the internal preamp turned on and no external preamp, the average noise level is -125.0 dBm (the value fluctuates some, but seems to be centered here). This indicates a receiver noise figure of 22.0 dB. Now if I enable the external preamp the average noise level decreases to -143.9 dBm, corresponding to a receiver noise figure of 3.1 dB. However if I do the math, adding my preamp and assuming connector, coax and internal relay losses of 0.3 dB in addition to the 0.5 dB preamp noise figure, I should see a receiver noise figure of 2.0 dB. For the receiver noise figure (including external preamp) to be 3.1 dB the external preamp noise figure and passive losses would need to add up to 2.2 dB which is much larger than I would expect. Next, I computed the receiver noise figure by measuring the receiver MDS using an external HP RMS volt meter at the speaker connector and the HP 4396A as a signal generator. Without the external preamp the measured MDS is -126 dBm and with the preamp the MDS is -145 dBm, corresponding to noise figures of 21 dB and 2 dB, respectively. If I do the math, adding my preamp in front of a 21 dB NF receiver, should yield a system NF of about 1.8 dB, so the measurements agree closely with the math. Based on the results, my MDS measurements (using the voltmeter) with the preamp enabled are more consistent with the calculated values than those using the internal meter. I suspect that measurements this close to the noise floor will not be as accurate and that I'm asking too much. I'm certainly not complaining though. The accuracy of the metering rivals that of my HP spectrum analyzer on measurements that I've made from -100 dBm to -30 dBm. 73, Clay W7CE You are not reading this correctly. The power displayed on the meter is integrated power in the receive filter, just as it should be. The computation is accurate to much more than 0.1 dB irrespective of what the display is doing. But as in all cases of such compromises, it is designed to work for the use case of 99.9% of amateurs (and others) and that is to measure the strength of the signals that are well above the noise floor. That is how it is calibrated. I do not believe your 1-2 dB number and will not without demonstration. You provide proof, I will believe and see what we can do. Bob N4HY Clay W7CE wrote: I've been looking through the PowerSDR code to see how the RX meter signal strength is computed. Based on what I've observed it appears to based on the maximum signal found within the currently selected bandwidth. So if I'm receiving two CW signals within the current bandwidth, it will show the strength of the stronger signal. Am I reading this correctly? If so, I'd like to add a new RX meter option that displays the true RMS power for the selected bandwidth and increases the display resolution to 0.1 dB. I think this addition will allow PowerSDR to accurately display the noise floor of the receiver when the antenna port is terminated with a 50 ohm load. The current implementation seems to give close, but not totally accurate results (my results seem to be off by about 1-2 dB) I have Microsoft Visual Studio .net 2003 and can build the source, but would appreciate it if one of the PowerSDR gurus could help point me in the correct direction in the source code. I think I've found most of the code, but I'm not sure where the average signal is computed. Thanks & 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. "It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.", Anatole France. Twitter:rwmcgwier Active: Facebook,Myspace,LinkedIn ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@fle
[Flexradio] PowerSDR S-Meter Power Readings
I've been looking through the PowerSDR code to see how the RX meter signal strength is computed. Based on what I've observed it appears to based on the maximum signal found within the currently selected bandwidth. So if I'm receiving two CW signals within the current bandwidth, it will show the strength of the stronger signal. Am I reading this correctly? If so, I'd like to add a new RX meter option that displays the true RMS power for the selected bandwidth and increases the display resolution to 0.1 dB. I think this addition will allow PowerSDR to accurately display the noise floor of the receiver when the antenna port is terminated with a 50 ohm load. The current implementation seems to give close, but not totally accurate results (my results seem to be off by about 1-2 dB) I have Microsoft Visual Studio .net 2003 and can build the source, but would appreciate it if one of the PowerSDR gurus could help point me in the correct direction in the source code. I think I've found most of the code, but I'm not sure where the average signal is computed. Thanks & 73, Clay W7CE ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
