Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR puzzlement
For what it's worth, it is actually more expensive in terms of CPU cycles to playback from a wave file. This is because you are actually utilizing the CPU for soundcard input and output as usual PLUS you are buffering the wave file data and stuffing the soundcard buffers. Eric Wachsmann FlexRadio Systems > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > radio.biz] On Behalf Of Alan NV8A > Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 7:20 PM > To: FlexRadio Reflector > Subject: Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR puzzlement > > On 01/27/07 05:37 pm I wrote: > > > A while back I tried PowerSDR 1.6.2 on my old 850MHz PIII notebook with > > 512MB RAM and an Extigy Sound device and ran it with the sample .WAV > > files. It seemed pretty good and I started thinking about possibly > > getting an SDR-1000 or its successor, although I was warned that that > > computer probably would not cut the mustard. > > > > Since then I have upgraded a couple of other computers and realized that > > I had enough stuff left over to put together a 1GHz PIII desktop with > > 768MB RAM. (In fact I've since found another 128MB but haven't yet > > installed it.) > > > > So now I have tried both 1.6.3 and 1.8.2 on this "beefier" machine but > > without success. The Extigy works for all the normal sounds, and the > > settings in PowerSDR are the same as on the notebook, but when I click > > the Standby/On button I just get a raspy burst of sound and the machine > > either slows right down (pointer can take minutes to move) or locks up > > altogether. > > > > Both machines have WinXP SP2, but the notebook has Pro while the desktop > > has Home. > > > > Where do I start looking? I am neither a Windows guru nor even a Windows > > fan. > > Some other things seemed flaky on that desktop computer too, so I > reinstalled WindowsXP Home. Even then it took a while to get PowerSDR > and the Extigy talking to each other OK: at first, even though the > Extigy diagnostics gave it a clean bill of health, PowerSDR said it > couldn't find it. > > I'm still not sure what I did that got it working, but at least it is > working now with PowerSDR 1.8.0 (the "1.8.2" in my earlier message was a > typo), but since it shows approx. 70% CPU utilization while processing > the sample .wav files, I'm wondering how it would handle processing data > from the sound "card" while also controlling a real SDR1000 and running > Ham Radio Deluxe and keeping in touch with the DX cluster and sometimes > even looking up QRZ and controlling my rotator. > > Alan NV8A > > ___ > FlexRadio mailing list > FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz > http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz > Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ > FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ > > FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/ ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR puzzlement
On 01/27/07 05:37 pm I wrote: > A while back I tried PowerSDR 1.6.2 on my old 850MHz PIII notebook with > 512MB RAM and an Extigy Sound device and ran it with the sample .WAV > files. It seemed pretty good and I started thinking about possibly > getting an SDR-1000 or its successor, although I was warned that that > computer probably would not cut the mustard. > > Since then I have upgraded a couple of other computers and realized that > I had enough stuff left over to put together a 1GHz PIII desktop with > 768MB RAM. (In fact I've since found another 128MB but haven't yet > installed it.) > > So now I have tried both 1.6.3 and 1.8.2 on this "beefier" machine but > without success. The Extigy works for all the normal sounds, and the > settings in PowerSDR are the same as on the notebook, but when I click > the Standby/On button I just get a raspy burst of sound and the machine > either slows right down (pointer can take minutes to move) or locks up > altogether. > > Both machines have WinXP SP2, but the notebook has Pro while the desktop > has Home. > > Where do I start looking? I am neither a Windows guru nor even a Windows > fan. Some other things seemed flaky on that desktop computer too, so I reinstalled WindowsXP Home. Even then it took a while to get PowerSDR and the Extigy talking to each other OK: at first, even though the Extigy diagnostics gave it a clean bill of health, PowerSDR said it couldn't find it. I'm still not sure what I did that got it working, but at least it is working now with PowerSDR 1.8.0 (the "1.8.2" in my earlier message was a typo), but since it shows approx. 70% CPU utilization while processing the sample .wav files, I'm wondering how it would handle processing data from the sound "card" while also controlling a real SDR1000 and running Ham Radio Deluxe and keeping in touch with the DX cluster and sometimes even looking up QRZ and controlling my rotator. Alan NV8A ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR puzzlement
Alan NV8A wrote: >A while back I tried PowerSDR 1.6.2 on my old 850MHz PIII notebook with >512MB RAM and an Extigy Sound device and ran it with the sample .WAV >files. It seemed pretty good and I started thinking about possibly >getting an SDR-1000 or its successor, although I was warned that that >computer probably would not cut the mustard. > >Since then I have upgraded a couple of other computers and realized that >I had enough stuff left over to put together a 1GHz PIII desktop with >768MB RAM. (In fact I've since found another 128MB but haven't yet >installed it.) > > I'm not clear on how you're running, exactly, but I have an Creative Extigy USB sound card. While it is still supported, it would not be my choice for an actual SDR 1000 deployment these days. Others may chime in with some important improvements I don't know about, but last I knew, it still required the ASIO4ALL software and that software has never impressed me as to its stability. Some sound cards do not have this requirement. If this software has been fixed, then it probably is OK, and someone will say so. But, I've never heard that the ASIO4ALL is much better for us. Note that the ASIO4ALL is not a Flex product, but it is needed by the Extigy so far as I know. As Ken noted separately, you are relatively close to the stated minimums on the CPU side of it as well. The main thing I'd do is spend the circa 200 dollars on the Delta 44 PCI sound card. This gets rid of the need for the 3rd party ASIO4ALL code and will greatly improve your experience. Larry WO0Z ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] PowerSDR puzzlement
Hi Alan, good for you trying to put older equipment back into service. You *might* be able to get that PIII working with Linux, but certainly not with the current crop of WindozeXP. If you check on that PIII you will find that it has an incredibly SMALL L1 and L2 Cache shared for processing both Instructions and Data. The result is constant interrupts and cache flushing that robs the software from its much needed cycles. The PowerSDR C# architecture (and WindozeXP) does not optimize Cache hits and instead is optimized for ease of development, programming, and maintenance. There is indeed a very fine built-in "JIT" Just In Time optimizer that delivers great executable code *for modern processors* with their multiple "pipelines" and other instructions overlap capabilities. So, in my humble opinion, you are trying to apply 1993 technology (PIII) to 2007 software. It will probably be fruitless and very frustrating. A brand new 2.4Ghz Pentium-IV system from PacificGeeks is about $79.00US http://www.pacificgeek.com/nooner.asp so why mess with your old gear? It is an interesting exercise, but wouldn't you rather be on the air enjoying some great QSOs with your nice SDR-1000? BK de ken n9vv Alan NV8A wrote: > A while back I tried PowerSDR 1.6.2 on my old 850MHz PIII notebook with > 512MB RAM and an Extigy Sound device and ran it with the sample .WAV > files. It seemed pretty good and I started thinking about possibly > getting an SDR-1000 or its successor, although I was warned that that > computer probably would not cut the mustard. > > Since then I have upgraded a couple of other computers and realized that > I had enough stuff left over to put together a 1GHz PIII desktop with > 768MB RAM. (In fact I've since found another 128MB but haven't yet > installed it.) > > So now I have tried both 1.6.3 and 1.8.2 on this "beefier" machine but > without success. The Extigy works for all the normal sounds, and the > settings in PowerSDR are the same as on the notebook, but when I click > the Standby/On button I just get a raspy burst of sound and the machine > either slows right down (pointer can take minutes to move) or locks up > altogether. > > Both machines have WinXP SP2, but the notebook has Pro while the desktop > has Home. > > Where do I start looking? I am neither a Windows guru nor even a Windows > fan. > > Alan NV8A ___ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/ FlexRadio Knowledge Base: http://kb.flex-radio.com/
