Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-16 Thread Alberto I2PHD 
Andy,

   the suggestion given by Jim Lux is a sound one.  If you are worried more by 
raw sensitivity as opposed to dynamic 
range, then a good low-noise preamplifier can do miracles.

In any case, the answer to your question "would I get as much as 3dB 
sensitivity improvement" is "probably yes", if you 
take as comparison the Delta 44. The Delta 44 is a good card, but not a 
terribly low noise one. As an example look at 
these two screen captures :

http://sundry.i2phd.com/delta44.gif and
http://sundry.i2phd.com/alesis.gif

The Alesis IO|2 external USB adapter. had it not the limitation of 48 kHz as 
max sampling rate, would be an excellent 
sound device. From the two captures, taken in exactly the same conditions, 48 
kHz and the inputs unconnected, you can 
see that its noise floor is a few dB lower than that of the Delta 44, and that 
of the EMU, even I don't have a screen 
capture, is still better. The only problem of the EMU device is the price...

73  Alberto  I2PHD


Andy Smith wrote:
> Thanks for all the suggestions, in this case I am not looking to use it with
> PowerSDR, it is for another project with a Winradio G305. I am looking to
> try and improve the VHF/UHF sensitivity, I currently own a Firebox, FA-66
> and Delta 44 which I use with the SDR1000. 
> 
> In your expert opinion Alberto, would I get as much as 3dB sensitivity
> improvement over these other high end sound cards, if not I probably could
> not justify buying it.
> 
> Best regards,
> Andy.

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-16 Thread Jim Lux 
At 04:08 AM 10/16/2006, Andy Smith wrote:
>Thanks for all the suggestions, in this case I am not looking to use it with
>PowerSDR, it is for another project with a Winradio G305. I am looking to
>try and improve the VHF/UHF sensitivity, I currently own a Firebox, FA-66
>and Delta 44 which I use with the SDR1000.
>
>In your expert opinion Alberto, would I get as much as 3dB sensitivity
>improvement over these other high end sound cards, if not I probably could
>not justify buying it.


Are you looking for raw sensitivity (which would seem to equate to 
gain and noise figure) or dynamic range?  if it's just minimum 
detectable signal that you're worried about, why not a very low noise 
opamp.  There's a fair number of low noise op amps, and if you're 
really obsessive about 1/f noise, there are some very, very quiet 
JFETs out there, but more likely, things like construction practices 
(the kind of resistor you use, and whether you use a board or 
"floating in air on teflon post" construction.


>Best regards,
>Andy.
>
>-Original Message-
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alberto I2PHD
>Sent: 16 October 2006 11:06
>To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
>Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only
>
>Bob Bailey wrote:
> > I tried using the EMU 1212 card (PCI) and had no luck. Any suggestions
> > Alberto or possibly know why I could not get it to run without pops.
> > Bob
> >
>
>Bob and Tim,
>
>well, to be honest, I haven't tried it with the SDR-1000, as I don't own
>one. I have tested the EMU-1616M with my
>software Winrad at 192 kHz sampling rate, using the ASIO driver distributed
>by M-Audio, and the working was excellent.
>Very low background noise, flat response, absolutely no pops. I had it on
>loan, and it was with chagrin that I returned
>it:-(
>
>73  Alberto  I2PHD
>
>
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James Lux, P.E.
Spacecraft Radio Frequency Subsystems Group
Flight Communications Systems Section
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Mail Stop 161-213
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA 91109
tel: (818)354-2075
fax: (818)393-6875 



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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-16 Thread Andy Smith 
Thanks for all the suggestions, in this case I am not looking to use it with
PowerSDR, it is for another project with a Winradio G305. I am looking to
try and improve the VHF/UHF sensitivity, I currently own a Firebox, FA-66
and Delta 44 which I use with the SDR1000. 

In your expert opinion Alberto, would I get as much as 3dB sensitivity
improvement over these other high end sound cards, if not I probably could
not justify buying it.

Best regards,
Andy.

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alberto I2PHD
Sent: 16 October 2006 11:06
To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

Bob Bailey wrote:
> I tried using the EMU 1212 card (PCI) and had no luck. Any suggestions 
> Alberto or possibly know why I could not get it to run without pops.
> Bob
> 

Bob and Tim,

   well, to be honest, I haven't tried it with the SDR-1000, as I don't own
one. I have tested the EMU-1616M with my 
software Winrad at 192 kHz sampling rate, using the ASIO driver distributed
by M-Audio, and the working was excellent. 
Very low background noise, flat response, absolutely no pops. I had it on
loan, and it was with chagrin that I returned 
it:-(

73  Alberto  I2PHD


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Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 


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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-16 Thread Alberto I2PHD 
Tim Ellison wrote:
> It has great specs, but it doesn't work.  I tested the E-MU 1616 PCI and
> it failed to work with PowerSDR.  It appeared that their ASIO drivers
> were the culprit.  Something was not compatible.  Calls to their Tech
> Support engineers were disappointing. 
> 
> -Tim

Tim,
   just a wild guess... maybe you have given for granted that the ASIO Sample 
Type is ASIOSTInt32LSB, which is what is 
used by the Delta 44. The Sample Type used by the EMU card is ASIOSTInt24LSB, 
so you have to reformat it, e.g. by 
calling the routine int24to32inPlace of the Steinberg ASIO SDK.

I made the same mistake initially :-)

73  Alberto  I2PHD

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-16 Thread Alberto I2PHD 
Bob Bailey wrote:
> I tried using the EMU 1212 card (PCI) and had no luck. Any suggestions 
> Alberto or possibly know why I could not get it to run without pops.
> Bob
> 

Bob and Tim,

   well, to be honest, I haven't tried it with the SDR-1000, as I don't own 
one. I have tested the EMU-1616M with my 
software Winrad at 192 kHz sampling rate, using the ASIO driver distributed by 
M-Audio, and the working was excellent. 
Very low background noise, flat response, absolutely no pops. I had it on loan, 
and it was with chagrin that I returned 
it:-(

73  Alberto  I2PHD


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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread Tim Ellison 
No.  Native ASIO drivers

-Tim
---
Tim Ellison
Integrated Technical Services

"Noli nothis permittere te terere." 
- common phrase spoken by Roman slaves.



-Original Message-
From: Larry Taft [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 8:09 PM
To: Tim Ellison
Cc: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

Using ASIO4All? 

73, Larry  K2LT

Tim Ellison wrote:
> It has great specs, but it doesn't work.  I tested the E-MU 1616 PCI
and
> it failed to work with PowerSDR.  It appeared that their ASIO drivers
> were the culprit.  Something was not compatible.  Calls to their Tech
> Support engineers were disappointing. 
>
> -Tim
> ---
> Tim Ellison
> Integrated Technical Services
>
> "Noli nothis permittere te terere." 
> - common phrase spoken by Roman slaves.
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alberto I2PHD
> Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 6:37 PM
> To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only
>
> Give a look at this :
>
<http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&pr
> oduct=13552>
>
> The specs are outstanding...
>
> 73  Alberto  I2PHD
> ---
>
> Andy Smith wrote:
>   
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will
>> 
> give
>   
>> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume
>> 
> the
>   
>> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking
>> 
> for the
>   
>> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only,
>> 
> can the
>   
>> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Andy.
>> 
>
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>
>   

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread Larry Taft 
Using ASIO4All? 

73, Larry  K2LT

Tim Ellison wrote:
> It has great specs, but it doesn't work.  I tested the E-MU 1616 PCI and
> it failed to work with PowerSDR.  It appeared that their ASIO drivers
> were the culprit.  Something was not compatible.  Calls to their Tech
> Support engineers were disappointing. 
>
> -Tim
> ---
> Tim Ellison
> Integrated Technical Services
>
> "Noli nothis permittere te terere." 
> - common phrase spoken by Roman slaves.
>
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alberto I2PHD
> Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 6:37 PM
> To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
> Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only
>
> Give a look at this :
> <http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&pr
> oduct=13552>
>
> The specs are outstanding...
>
> 73  Alberto  I2PHD
> ---
>
> Andy Smith wrote:
>   
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will
>> 
> give
>   
>> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume
>> 
> the
>   
>> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking
>> 
> for the
>   
>> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only,
>> 
> can the
>   
>> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Andy.
>> 
>
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>
>
>   

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread Tim Ellison 
It has great specs, but it doesn't work.  I tested the E-MU 1616 PCI and
it failed to work with PowerSDR.  It appeared that their ASIO drivers
were the culprit.  Something was not compatible.  Calls to their Tech
Support engineers were disappointing. 

-Tim
---
Tim Ellison
Integrated Technical Services

"Noli nothis permittere te terere." 
- common phrase spoken by Roman slaves.



-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Alberto I2PHD
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2006 6:37 PM
To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz
Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

Give a look at this :
<http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=505&subcategory=491&pr
oduct=13552>

The specs are outstanding...

73  Alberto  I2PHD
---

Andy Smith wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will
give
> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume
the
> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking
for the
> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only,
can the
> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
> 
> Thanks,
> Andy.

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread James Courtier-Dutton 
Alberto I2PHD wrote:
> Give a look at this :
> 
> 
> The specs are outstanding...
> 
> 73  Alberto  I2PHD
> ---
> 
> Andy Smith wrote:
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will give
>> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume the
>> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking for the
>> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only, can the
>> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Andy.
> 

Just FYI. I am writing a Linux ALSA driver for the emu cards at the moment.
emu1212m and 1820m currently work. Still waiting for a hardware sample
for the emu1616m from emu.

James


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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread Alberto I2PHD 
Give a look at this :


The specs are outstanding...

73  Alberto  I2PHD
---

Andy Smith wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will give
> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume the
> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking for the
> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only, can the
> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
> 
> Thanks,
> Andy.

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Re: [Flexradio] Best Sound Card For Sensitivity Only

2006-10-15 Thread Ken - N9VV 
Andy, at one time Bob N4HY was experimenting with the Lynx series
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/sound_cards.html#lynx
and
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/lynxtwo.htm
but you should note that drivers aren't available for all the operating 
systems and the Lynx card has not been incorporated as a supported card 
for the Flex-Radio SDR-1000 PowerSDR console.

Have you looked at the HPSDR "Janus" board? the A/D chips in that board 
might offer just about the highest performance available at a reasonable 
price  http://hpsdr.org/janus.html

de ken n9vv



Andy Smith wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> Can someone please tell me which soundcard specs to look at that will give
> the ultimate in SDR sensitivity (not just for the SDR1000), I presume the
> number of bits and dynamic range make a difference but I am looking for the
> ultimate (ideally USB or Firewire) sound card for sensitivity only, can the
> FA-66 be bettered for sensitivity alone?
> 
> Thanks,
> Andy.
> 
> 
> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 
> 
> 
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> 

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