Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-07 Thread Alberto di Bene

On 8/7/2013 6:02 PM, Russ Ramirez wrote:


/Hi Alberto, can you say which SDR software this is? I have a TI TIVA board
that is M4F based and am wondering if this new SDR code will support boards
like this./


Hi Russ,


   I am afraid it is not a software untied to a specific hardware...
The prototype was shown at the Ham Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, last June :

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15089947/FDM_DUO.jpg

So the source code, being a commercial product, will not be released.

Anyway, the STM Discovery STM32F4 board, which I used for the development,
has a couple ADCs on the M4F chip, which I will use to sample RF at 
approximately
1.5 MHz. Using portions of the above software, I will implement an SDR meant for
VLF, LF and the first part of MW, whose source code I will release. So you will 
be
able to adapt it to your TIVA board.

Keep an eye to my soft_radio Yahoo group where I will announce (probably in the
October - November time frame) the availability of it.

73  Alberto  I2PHD



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question... (Burt I. Weiner)

2013-08-07 Thread Tammy A Wisdom
Hey didn't you all see the list owner say this topic isn't for the time nuts 
list?


Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 7, 2013, at 10:35, Dan Kemppainen  wrote:

> I don't think the state of the art is exceeding the need. Because by
> nature that is part of what ham radio is. Experimentation is part of the
> game.
> 
> Nothing wrong with appliance operators, if one chooses to be that. There
> are plenty of appliance radios out there. SDR just may not be there yet.
> Of course, lots of the 'modern' radios include technology that was once
> state of the art, and had problems at.
> 
> As for time-nuts and radio, I think SDR is a great place to tie them
> together.
> 
> Dan
> N8XJK
> 
> On 8/7/2013 12:00 PM, time-nuts-requ...@febo.com wrote:
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 08:25:13 -0700
>> From: "Burt I. Weiner" 
>> To: time-nuts@febo.com
>> Subject: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question...
>> Message-ID: <590479.76849...@smtp119.sbc.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>> 
>> Chris and all,
>> 
>> It seems to me that a lot of the new software is being developed by 
>> people who don't live in the real world or don't use the end product 
>> in the real world - or maybe not at all.  Maybe I'm just old and 
>> senile, but a lot of the stuff I'm seeing is not intuitive, stable or 
>> even consistent.
>> 
>> Is the State of The Art exceeding the state of the need?
>> 
>> Burt, K6OQK
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


[time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question... (Burt I. Weiner)

2013-08-07 Thread Dan Kemppainen
I don't think the state of the art is exceeding the need. Because by
nature that is part of what ham radio is. Experimentation is part of the
game.

Nothing wrong with appliance operators, if one chooses to be that. There
are plenty of appliance radios out there. SDR just may not be there yet.
Of course, lots of the 'modern' radios include technology that was once
state of the art, and had problems at.

As for time-nuts and radio, I think SDR is a great place to tie them
together.

Dan
N8XJK

On 8/7/2013 12:00 PM, time-nuts-requ...@febo.com wrote:
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 08:25:13 -0700
> From: "Burt I. Weiner" 
> To: time-nuts@febo.com
> Subject: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question...
> Message-ID: <590479.76849...@smtp119.sbc.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> Chris and all,
> 
> It seems to me that a lot of the new software is being developed by 
> people who don't live in the real world or don't use the end product 
> in the real world - or maybe not at all.  Maybe I'm just old and 
> senile, but a lot of the stuff I'm seeing is not intuitive, stable or 
> even consistent.
> 
> Is the State of The Art exceeding the state of the need?
> 
> Burt, K6OQK
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-07 Thread Russ Ramirez
>Much less is needed... next September it will be released a new SDR that
runs on
>an ARM Cortex M4F, single core, that does not need a PC to work. And on
that
>ARM there will be no Linux nor Windows... programming just to the bare
metal...
>FFTs are done, fast convolutions, spectrum and waterfall computations, FIR
filters,
>etc. etc.And barely 50% of the CPU power is used
>
>73  Alberto  I2PHD

Hi Alberto, can you say which SDR software this is? I have a TI TIVA board
that is M4F based and am wondering if this new SDR code will support boards
like this.

Russ
K0WFS
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question...

2013-08-07 Thread J. Forster
The trend to add more and more fearures to electronic gadgets is a real
pain, IMO.

I have a Garmin Nuvi and you basically have to do a royal flush of every
stored parameter to simply clear the 'trail of bread crumbs'.

The thing has so many modes that it is really annoying to use and there
seems to be no way of turning unwanted features off. For example, if you
simply want to pan the display, likely as not the address of where you
touched will pop up.

Furthermore, the positions are not reliable. If you are close too, but not
on, a road, or are on the sidewalk going against traffic, like AutoCAD it
will 'snap' to where it thinks you should be. Off road mode is better.

YMMV,

-John

===



> Got some examples?  Without specific you risk sounding like some old guy
> says "to days music is no good the old stuff was better"  Which of course
> was every year for the last three hundred years.
>
> But it could be that much software is poorly designed. It is so easy now
> to
> write something and publish it so many people do and the markethas to
> decide what's good and not.  But you can't talk about generalities. So
> which specific software don't you like.
>
> One thing about Open Source SDR software, if you don't like it, you can
> change it.
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Burt I. Weiner  wrote:
>
>> Chris and all,
>>
>> It seems to me that a lot of the new software is being developed by
>> people
>> who don't live in the real world or don't use the end product in the
>> real
>> world - or maybe not at all.  Maybe I'm just old and senile, but a lot
>> of
>> the stuff I'm seeing is not intuitive, stable or even consistent.
>>
>> Is the State of The Art exceeding the state of the need?
>>
>> Burt, K6OQK
>>
>>
>> --
>
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
>


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question...

2013-08-07 Thread Chris Albertson
Got some examples?  Without specific you risk sounding like some old guy
says "to days music is no good the old stuff was better"  Which of course
was every year for the last three hundred years.

But it could be that much software is poorly designed. It is so easy now to
write something and publish it so many people do and the markethas to
decide what's good and not.  But you can't talk about generalities. So
which specific software don't you like.

One thing about Open Source SDR software, if you don't like it, you can
change it.




On Wed, Aug 7, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Burt I. Weiner  wrote:

> Chris and all,
>
> It seems to me that a lot of the new software is being developed by people
> who don't live in the real world or don't use the end product in the real
> world - or maybe not at all.  Maybe I'm just old and senile, but a lot of
> the stuff I'm seeing is not intuitive, stable or even consistent.
>
> Is the State of The Art exceeding the state of the need?
>
> Burt, K6OQK
>
>
> --

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


[time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question...

2013-08-07 Thread Burt I. Weiner

Chris and all,

It seems to me that a lot of the new software is being developed by 
people who don't live in the real world or don't use the end product 
in the real world - or maybe not at all.  Maybe I'm just old and 
senile, but a lot of the stuff I'm seeing is not intuitive, stable or 
even consistent.


Is the State of The Art exceeding the state of the need?

Burt, K6OQK



From: Chris Albertson 

Subject: Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

Funny that those "toys" that come with Linux pretty much run the entire
Internet and every Android phone and almost every TV set top box and
firewall/router. But in the end as a developer you either follow the
market and the dollar or you do what your boss pays you to do.   What tools
are needed anyway but a few terminal windows and a text editor?

Anyways the hot market now if you are chasing the dollar and customers is
phone apps.  That is what users want and that is who the companies are
hiring.   I'd really like to see SDR move to phones and tablets.   It would
make them even more portable.   These phone now days have quad core 32-bit
CPUs and GPUs that can be tapped for compting power for thing like FFTs and
other DSP.

As for development tools, there is no shortage.

We also need some new ideas.  So muct SDR software tries to emulate a
1980's radio.






Burt I. Weiner Associates
Broadcast Technical Services
Glendale, California  U.S.A.
b...@att.net
www.biwa.cc
K6OQK 


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-07 Thread Alberto di Bene

On 8/7/2013 3:44 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:


/These phone now days have quad core 32-bit CPUs and GPUs that can
be tapped for compting power for thing like FFTs and other DSP./


Much less is needed... next September it will be released a new SDR that runs on
an ARM Cortex M4F, single core, that does not need a PC to work. And on that
ARM there will be no Linux nor Windows... programming just to the bare metal...
FFTs are done, fast convolutions, spectrum and waterfall computations, FIR 
filters,
etc. etc.And barely 50% of the CPU power is used

73  Alberto  I2PHD




___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread MailLists
It depends what you mean under "professional"... an individual that 
pushes buttons for a wage, having no clue about what's actually 
happening underneath, or an individual that knows his business in, and out?
The definition in my book is the second one, and I met many "amateurs" 
(aka hobbyists, with a passion for a certain domain, with deep 
knowledge, but not necessarily their main income source) which 
outclassed most "professionals".


If you appreciate more the "point and click" features to "program" 
something rapidly, without any control of the generated code, you're 
better served with the nicely integrated toys for windumb & co.


Ever wondered why low latency audio is working nicely on linux 
(eventually with the appropriate kernel settings, if you intend to load 
the system heavily), and is such a nightmare on windoze? Or why 
microsuxx castrated the network bandwidth usage (btw, a very 
"professional" solution) when a multimedia application is running under 
Vista 1, 2 (aka 7), or 3 (aka 8)?



On 8/7/2013 12:03 AM, Alberto di Bene wrote:

On 8/6/2013 5:12 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:


/It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands
radios and
can build and design them or the kind who would have never remove the
cover
off his commercial built radio. Linux is the best OS for developers and
those who like to build gear. Windows is better for the "appliance user"
crowd./


When I developed Winrad and my other SDR programs, a few years ago, I
examined which
were the tools available to a serious developer.

My conclusion was that under Windows you could find professional tools,
geared towards
professional developments. What was available under Linux were little
more than toys,
meant for the hobbyists and the tinkerers. For example, at the time I
was unable to find
under Linux a development environment with the features and the power of
the Embarcadero
Rad Studio, which is what I use. This made me to choose Windows as my
main platform.

73 Alberto I2PHD



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Tom Van Baak

This thread does not belong on time-nuts. Please stop.

/tvb
http://www.leapsecond.com/time-nuts.htm

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Chris Albertson
Funny that those "toys" that come with Linux pretty much run the entire
Internet and every Android phone and almost every TV set top box and
firewall/router. But in the end as a developer you either follow the
market and the dollar or you do what your boss pays you to do.   What tools
are needed anyway but a few terminal windows and a text editor?

Anyways the hot market now if you are chasing the dollar and customers is
phone apps.  That is what users want and that is who the companies are
hiring.   I'd really like to see SDR move to phones and tablets.   It would
make them even more portable.   These phone now days have quad core 32-bit
CPUs and GPUs that can be tapped for compting power for thing like FFTs and
other DSP.

As for development tools, there is no shortage.

We also need some new ideas.  So muct SDR software tries to emulate a
1980's radio.





On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 6:27 PM, Mark C. Stephens wrote:

> That is true, Windows is great for Mr. Joe average, because of the ease of
> use,
> and because of the ease of use and user-base size, a lot of software has
> been developed for it.
> I use windows for a most tasks including software development and just to
> be compatible to everyone else.
> As you say, a lot of software is written for winders including
> professional programming IDE's etc.
> However, if Windows gets a virus or something breaks or corrupt, 9 times
> out of 10 you are screwed and have to reinstall.
>
> The great thing about Linux (Unix), there is always 101 ways to do the
> same thing,
> If something breaks, you can work around it until its fixed. Heck you can
> reinstall the GUI if you feel like it :)
> Each day I am drawn back to using Unix CLI and I have to say, I learn
> something new each day.
>
> As OS X roots are in a mature, robust OS (BSD), it is getting a great
> reputation as a robust but easy to use operating system.
> In fact, my next door neighbour has kicked his Windows out and bought a
> MAC!
> He is 82, and learning a new computing environment was not a trivial task
> for him and his wife.
> But he says he has never looked back.
>
>
> --marki
>
> -Original Message-
> From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On
> Behalf Of Alberto di Bene
> Sent: Wednesday, 7 August 2013 7:04 AM
> To: time-nuts@febo.com
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question
>
> On 8/6/2013 5:12 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:
>
> > /It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands
> > radios and can build and design them or the kind who would have never
> remove the cover
> > off his commercial built radio.Linux is the best OS for developers
> and
> > those who like to build gear.   Windows is better for the "appliance
> user"
> > crowd./
>
> When I developed Winrad and my other SDR programs, a few years ago, I
> examined which were the tools available to a serious developer.
>
> My conclusion was that under Windows you could find professional tools,
> geared towards professional developments.  What was available under Linux
> were little more than toys, meant for the hobbyists and the tinkerers.  For
> example, at the time I was unable to find under Linux a development
> environment with the features and the power of the Embarcadero Rad Studio,
> which is what I use.  This made me to choose Windows as my main platform.
>
> 73  Alberto  I2PHD
>
>
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>



-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Mark C. Stephens
That is true, Windows is great for Mr. Joe average, because of the ease of use, 
and because of the ease of use and user-base size, a lot of software has been 
developed for it.
I use windows for a most tasks including software development and just to be 
compatible to everyone else.
As you say, a lot of software is written for winders including professional 
programming IDE's etc.
However, if Windows gets a virus or something breaks or corrupt, 9 times out of 
10 you are screwed and have to reinstall.

The great thing about Linux (Unix), there is always 101 ways to do the same 
thing,
If something breaks, you can work around it until its fixed. Heck you can 
reinstall the GUI if you feel like it :)
Each day I am drawn back to using Unix CLI and I have to say, I learn something 
new each day.

As OS X roots are in a mature, robust OS (BSD), it is getting a great 
reputation as a robust but easy to use operating system.
In fact, my next door neighbour has kicked his Windows out and bought a MAC!
He is 82, and learning a new computing environment was not a trivial task for 
him and his wife.
But he says he has never looked back.


--marki

-Original Message-
From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On Behalf 
Of Alberto di Bene
Sent: Wednesday, 7 August 2013 7:04 AM
To: time-nuts@febo.com
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

On 8/6/2013 5:12 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:

> /It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands 
> radios and can build and design them or the kind who would have never remove 
> the cover
> off his commercial built radio.Linux is the best OS for developers and
> those who like to build gear.   Windows is better for the "appliance user"
> crowd./

When I developed Winrad and my other SDR programs, a few years ago, I examined 
which were the tools available to a serious developer.

My conclusion was that under Windows you could find professional tools, geared 
towards professional developments.  What was available under Linux were little 
more than toys, meant for the hobbyists and the tinkerers.  For example, at the 
time I was unable to find under Linux a development environment with the 
features and the power of the Embarcadero Rad Studio, which is what I use.  
This made me to choose Windows as my main platform.

73  Alberto  I2PHD



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to 
https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Chris Albertson
Yes.  I rememebr.  I used one back when it was new.

Getting back to the OP, what he was looking for.  And SDR has two parts, a
hardware front end and some software.   Those two parts can be mostly
independent.

I'd suggest finding one or two or so SDR software system you like then
collecting hardware.   Make sure the software is free and open source.  You
don't want a closed source .exe file.   That is like buying a radio with
the cassis welded shut or potted in epoxy.


On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 4:06 PM, Orin Eman  wrote:

> Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenix
>
> Microsoft DID sell a re-branded Unix.
>
> On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 2:34 PM, Chris Albertson
> wrote:
>
> > Yes,  I'm writing this on an iMac.  I'm a long time BSD Unix user going
> > back to about 1980.
> >
> > Now, FINALLY we can say the UNIX and Linux are the most commonly used
> OSes
> > in the wold as one of those runs on most phones.  Linux is in Androids
> and
> > a unix varient is on iPhones and Macs
> >
> > I remember going to a talk by Bill Gates, this was in the  pre-Windows
> ears
> > when his main product was MS-DOS.  He said that he would make DOS more
> and
> > more unix-like as PC hardware grew in power.  At that time he did not
> > understand what an OS was and they UNIX was just the shell, and worked
> like
> > DOS.  It was was an amusing speak he was completely ignorant about OS
> > design.  But he was the exec not the engineer so he did not have to know.
> >  Still  Had Windows not surprised them Gates would have done have Apple
> > (and Sun and man others) did and simply sold a re-branded UNIX.   What
> much
> > better off we'd all have been
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 12:43 AM, Mark C. Stephens  > >wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Chris,
> > >
> > >
> > > The Mac OS X user base is also growing rapidly, with many preferring
> the
> > X
> > > desktop to Winders.
> > > And, under the hood is BSD unix (sort of).. And there is MkLinux if you
> > > don't like OS X..
> > >
> > > >> It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands
> radios
> > > and can build and design them
> > > >> or the kind who would have never remove the cover off his commercial
> > > built radio.
> > > >> Linux is the best OS for developers and those who like to build
> gear.
> > > >> Windows is better for the "appliance user" crowd.
> > >
> >
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>



-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Orin Eman
Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenix

Microsoft DID sell a re-branded Unix.

On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 2:34 PM, Chris Albertson
wrote:

> Yes,  I'm writing this on an iMac.  I'm a long time BSD Unix user going
> back to about 1980.
>
> Now, FINALLY we can say the UNIX and Linux are the most commonly used OSes
> in the wold as one of those runs on most phones.  Linux is in Androids and
> a unix varient is on iPhones and Macs
>
> I remember going to a talk by Bill Gates, this was in the  pre-Windows ears
> when his main product was MS-DOS.  He said that he would make DOS more and
> more unix-like as PC hardware grew in power.  At that time he did not
> understand what an OS was and they UNIX was just the shell, and worked like
> DOS.  It was was an amusing speak he was completely ignorant about OS
> design.  But he was the exec not the engineer so he did not have to know.
>  Still  Had Windows not surprised them Gates would have done have Apple
> (and Sun and man others) did and simply sold a re-branded UNIX.   What much
> better off we'd all have been
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 12:43 AM, Mark C. Stephens  >wrote:
>
> > Hi Chris,
> >
> >
> > The Mac OS X user base is also growing rapidly, with many preferring the
> X
> > desktop to Winders.
> > And, under the hood is BSD unix (sort of).. And there is MkLinux if you
> > don't like OS X..
> >
> > >> It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands radios
> > and can build and design them
> > >> or the kind who would have never remove the cover off his commercial
> > built radio.
> > >> Linux is the best OS for developers and those who like to build gear.
> > >> Windows is better for the "appliance user" crowd.
> >
>
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread gchafee
Have you ever looked at the unit put out by Ariel Rocholl called the RF 
Explorer? (link - http://micro.arocholl.com/) 

I bought one of these units and although they do not have everything ( I would 
love to have different demods on it), it has been an impressive unit, and 
inexpensive.

I believe as Ariel gets more people interested in the handheld spectrum 
analyzer concept,he will be building better units with more capabilities.

He has the spurs and birdies and other noise makers in any of these type of 
units, but he knows where they are and have taken them out ( mostly) in 
firmware.

I bought one of the wideband units and even though the standalone units does 
not look very impressive, the Windows software make it into a very nice 
inexpensive and quite accurate handheld spectrum analyzer.

I am not associated with Ariel, but he is approachable if you wish to talk to 
him ( I believe he is in Spain).

I got mine from China at Seedstudio and other than one minor battery issue that 
they resolved I am very happy with it.

Let me know if there is anything I could let you know if the online data does 
not tell you enough.

Thanks,

Jerry Chafee




 "J. Forster"  wrote: 
> OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?
> 
> I'd like something like:
> 
> <75 to >1300 MHz
> USB
> Ability to function as a crude SA.
> Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
> Will run on Win XP.
> Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
> In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
> <$150
> 
> Prefer:
> 
> SMA rather than RCA or F
> Receiver and SW from same vendor.
> 
> Suggestions, please.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -John
> 
> ===
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Chris Albertson
Yes,  I'm writing this on an iMac.  I'm a long time BSD Unix user going
back to about 1980.

Now, FINALLY we can say the UNIX and Linux are the most commonly used OSes
in the wold as one of those runs on most phones.  Linux is in Androids and
a unix varient is on iPhones and Macs

I remember going to a talk by Bill Gates, this was in the  pre-Windows ears
when his main product was MS-DOS.  He said that he would make DOS more and
more unix-like as PC hardware grew in power.  At that time he did not
understand what an OS was and they UNIX was just the shell, and worked like
DOS.  It was was an amusing speak he was completely ignorant about OS
design.  But he was the exec not the engineer so he did not have to know.
 Still  Had Windows not surprised them Gates would have done have Apple
(and Sun and man others) did and simply sold a re-branded UNIX.   What much
better off we'd all have been


On Tue, Aug 6, 2013 at 12:43 AM, Mark C. Stephens wrote:

> Hi Chris,
>
>
> The Mac OS X user base is also growing rapidly, with many preferring the X
> desktop to Winders.
> And, under the hood is BSD unix (sort of).. And there is MkLinux if you
> don't like OS X..
>
> >> It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands radios
> and can build and design them
> >> or the kind who would have never remove the cover off his commercial
> built radio.
> >> Linux is the best OS for developers and those who like to build gear.
> >> Windows is better for the "appliance user" crowd.
>
>
> --marki
>
>
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to
> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.
>



-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Alberto di Bene

On 8/6/2013 5:12 AM, Chris Albertson wrote:


/It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands radios and
can build and design them or the kind who would have never remove the cover
off his commercial built radio.Linux is the best OS for developers and
those who like to build gear.   Windows is better for the "appliance user"
crowd./


When I developed Winrad and my other SDR programs, a few years ago, I examined 
which
were the tools available to a serious developer.

My conclusion was that under Windows you could find professional tools, geared 
towards
professional developments.  What was available under Linux were little more 
than toys,
meant for the hobbyists and the tinkerers.  For example, at the time I was 
unable to find
under Linux a development environment with the features and the power of the 
Embarcadero
Rad Studio, which is what I use.  This made me to choose Windows as my main 
platform.

73  Alberto  I2PHD



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-06 Thread Mark C. Stephens
Hi Chris,


The Mac OS X user base is also growing rapidly, with many preferring the X 
desktop to Winders.
And, under the hood is BSD unix (sort of).. And there is MkLinux if you don't 
like OS X..  

>> It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands radios and 
>> can build and design them 
>> or the kind who would have never remove the cover off his commercial built 
>> radio.
>> Linux is the best OS for developers and those who like to build gear.   
>> Windows is better for the "appliance user" crowd.


--marki


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread Chris Albertson
>
>
> If you stay on Windows instead of Linux, you will find many more SDR
> programs, and more refined. If instead you prefer spend your time with
> configure, compilations, debugging, search of the correct version of the
> libraries, etc. then I warmly recommend you Linux...  << flame suits on >>
> :-)
>

It depends of it you want to be the kind of ham who understands radios and
can build and design them or the kind who would have never remove the cover
off his commercial built radio.Linux is the best OS for developers and
those who like to build gear.   Windows is better for the "appliance user"
crowd.

One of the best software setups for people who want to understand how this
all works is GNUradio
http://gnuradio.org/redmine/projects/gnuradio/wiki

It comes with a nice graphical drag and drop construction kit
http://gnuradio.org/redmine/projects/gnuradio/wiki/GNURadioCompanion

> --
>

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question - some links

2013-08-05 Thread Bill Ezell
I didn't see this mentioned (then again, I get tired of scrolling thru 
all the copies of all the responses).
January '13 issue of QST had a nice article by K3ACT about how to 
actually get all the pieces (hardware and software) hooked up, along 
with a simple upconverter to push the LF end down as far as you want. 
(www.arrl.org )


The author also posted a (relatively poor) pdf scan of his article: 
www.w3vpr.org/files/dongle%20article001_0.pdf or www.w3vpr.org/node/1252.


W6LSN has a writeup of his experiences, and some suggestions: 
w6lsn.com/blog/cheap-and-easy-sdr/


It's remarkably inexpensive, sounds like great fun just to play with.

--
Bill Ezell

They said 'Windows or better'
so I used Linux.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread Bob Camp
Hi

If it's cheap enough to make disappointment a minor issue - go for it. 

There will be spurs at the clock frequency(s) and harmonics there of.   At some 
input level you will seeintermod issues. Weather they are bad enough for you to 
care about - only a trial can tell. 

Bob

On Aug 5, 2013, at 6:45 PM, J. Forster  wrote:

>> Hi John,
>> 
>> I don't think you quite got it yet.  All of those types of "Dongles"
>> have no frontend filtering and no gain control (AGC).
> 
> Oh, I'm all too familiar w/ SAs without YIG preselectors. That's why I've
> always preferred AILtech to HP.
> 
>> Basically it is a
>> "diode" (so to speak) looking at the spectrum from DC to Daylight, even
>> though they have a limited range.
> 
> Understood. But, there are Image Rejection Mixers.
> 
>> So, yes, there will be birdies and
>> aliasing issues.  There is no software from a unit's manufacturer for
>> the "All Frequency" observation mode that Amateur radio and other
>> hobbyists are using it for.
> 
> What I'm looking for is something like the W-J, ACL, or CEI ELINT
> receivers, in digital form, and much cheaper. I just would like to play
> with one a bit.
> 
>> Aside from all that , they do come in a plastic case and there is some
>> excelent control software, notably Simon Browns HDSDR,  that can control
>> a number of these types of umits.  As for spectrum software, the best
>> one is Spectrum Labs which can take I/Q input.  See the respective web
>> sites for more information.  Both of these packages are FREE.
> 
> Free is good! LoL.
> 
>> http://www.hdsdr.de/hardware.html   The SDR software hardware page
>> 
>> http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.htmlThe Spectrum Lab software.
>> 
>> BillWB6BNQ
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -John
> 
> 
> 
> ___
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread J. Forster
> Hi John,
>
> I don't think you quite got it yet.  All of those types of "Dongles"
> have no frontend filtering and no gain control (AGC).

Oh, I'm all too familiar w/ SAs without YIG preselectors. That's why I've
always preferred AILtech to HP.

> Basically it is a
> "diode" (so to speak) looking at the spectrum from DC to Daylight, even
> though they have a limited range.

Understood. But, there are Image Rejection Mixers.

> So, yes, there will be birdies and
> aliasing issues.  There is no software from a unit's manufacturer for
> the "All Frequency" observation mode that Amateur radio and other
> hobbyists are using it for.

What I'm looking for is something like the W-J, ACL, or CEI ELINT
receivers, in digital form, and much cheaper. I just would like to play
with one a bit.

> Aside from all that , they do come in a plastic case and there is some
> excelent control software, notably Simon Browns HDSDR,  that can control
> a number of these types of umits.  As for spectrum software, the best
> one is Spectrum Labs which can take I/Q input.  See the respective web
> sites for more information.  Both of these packages are FREE.

Free is good! LoL.

> http://www.hdsdr.de/hardware.html   The SDR software hardware page
>
> http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.htmlThe Spectrum Lab software.
>
> BillWB6BNQ

Thanks,

-John



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread Alberto di Bene

On 8/5/2013 11:52 PM, J. Forster wrote:


<75 to >1300 MHz
USB
Ability to function as a crude SA.
Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
Will run on Win XP.
Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
<$150


I bought this from China :

http://tinyurl.com/oujy9nu

and it works quite well. It has the R820T tuner. I have another, with the
Fitipower FC0013 tuner, but it is quite deaf compared to the R820T.
And it stops at roughly 1100 MHz.

If you stay on Windows instead of Linux, you will find many more SDR
programs, and more refined. If instead you prefer spend your time with
configure, compilations, debugging, search of the correct version of the
libraries, etc. then I warmly recommend you Linux...  << flame suits on >> :-)

73  Alberto  I2PHD


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread wb6bnq

Hi John,

I don't think you quite got it yet.  All of those types of "Dongles" 
have no frontend filtering and no gain control (AGC).  Basically it is a 
"diode" (so to speak) looking at the spectrum from DC to Daylight, even 
though they have a limited range.  So, yes, there will be birdies and 
aliasing issues.  There is no software from a unit's manufacturer for 
the "All Frequency" observation mode that Amateur radio and other 
hobbyists are using it for.


Aside from all that , they do come in a plastic case and there is some 
excelent control software, notably Simon Browns HDSDR,  that can control 
a number of these types of umits.  As for spectrum software, the best 
one is Spectrum Labs which can take I/Q input.  See the respective web 
sites for more information.  Both of these packages are FREE.


http://www.hdsdr.de/hardware.html   The SDR software hardware page

http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.htmlThe Spectrum Lab software.

BillWB6BNQ


J. Forster wrote:


OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?

I'd like something like:

<75 to >1300 MHz
USB
Ability to function as a crude SA.
Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
Will run on Win XP.
Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
<$150

Prefer:

SMA rather than RCA or F
Receiver and SW from same vendor.

Suggestions, please.

Thanks,

-John

===

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.

 



___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread J. Forster
If the windo can be slid under SW control, that's enough.  Flat, in this
context is something like +/- 6 dB...  non-critical. I want to be able to
see spurs, etc. I don't need much dynamic range either.

-John

===



> Just be aware that they're not wideband units.  The sampling rate defines
> the bandwidth of any sample, and the fact that it's 8 bits limits the
> resolution.  So, you can essentially look at up to a 2MHz slice anywhere
> you want within 64MHz to 1.7GHz.  Of course, you could move your center
> frequency to move the window.  As to whether they have a flat response?  I
> can't tell you.  If you get a European consumer unit, you'll probably get
> one with a Belling-Lee connector.  I don't know if anyone has written SA
> software for one, yet.  When I was playing with mine, SDRSharp was pretty
> much the software standard.  I've never tried to use mine for anything
> other than an FM radio.  If I had a B-L adapter I'd be able to check some
> samples from my Tracking Generator, but it's not something I've ever
> looked into.  Look on ebay for "rtl2832" to find out what's most readily
> available
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>> From: J. Forster 
>>To: hp_agilent_equipm...@yahoogroups.com; tekscop...@yahoogroups.com
>>Cc: Time-nuts@febo.com; testequiptra...@yahoogroups.com;
>> armyrad...@yahoogroups.com
>>Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 4:52 PM
>>Subject: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question
>>
>>
>>OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?
>>
>>I'd like something like:
>>
>><75 to >1300 MHz
>>USB
>>Ability to function as a crude SA.
>>Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
>>Will run on Win XP.
>>Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
>>In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
>><$150
>>
>>Prefer:
>>
>>SMA rather than RCA or F
>>Receiver and SW from same vendor.
>>
>>Suggestions, please.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>-John
>>
>>===
>>
>>___
>>time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
>>To unsubscribe, go to
>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>>and follow the instructions there.
>>
>>
>>


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread J. Forster
I assume you mean XP?

Several reasons:

Used Thinkpads that will run XP are cheap and plentiful.
I hate Vista and Win 7...
I'm interested in a turnkey tool, not SW 'elegance', etc.

-John

==



> On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 2:52 PM, J. Forster  wrote:
>
>> OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?
>>
>>
>> Will run on Win XP.
>
>
> The above seems an odd requirement.   Why?
>
> --
>
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
>


___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread Chris Albertson
On Mon, Aug 5, 2013 at 2:52 PM, J. Forster  wrote:

> OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?
>
>
> Will run on Win XP.


The above seems an odd requirement.   Why?

-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


Re: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread Bob Stewart
Just be aware that they're not wideband units.  The sampling rate defines the 
bandwidth of any sample, and the fact that it's 8 bits limits the resolution.  
So, you can essentially look at up to a 2MHz slice anywhere you want within 
64MHz to 1.7GHz.  Of course, you could move your center frequency to move the 
window.  As to whether they have a flat response?  I can't tell you.  If you 
get a European consumer unit, you'll probably get one with a Belling-Lee 
connector.  I don't know if anyone has written SA software for one, yet.  When 
I was playing with mine, SDRSharp was pretty much the software standard.  I've 
never tried to use mine for anything other than an FM radio.  If I had a B-L 
adapter I'd be able to check some samples from my Tracking Generator, but it's 
not something I've ever looked into.  Look on ebay for "rtl2832" to find out 
what's most readily available

Bob





>
> From: J. Forster 
>To: hp_agilent_equipm...@yahoogroups.com; tekscop...@yahoogroups.com 
>Cc: Time-nuts@febo.com; testequiptra...@yahoogroups.com; 
>armyrad...@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 4:52 PM
>Subject: [time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question
> 
>
>OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?
>
>I'd like something like:
>
><75 to >1300 MHz
>USB
>Ability to function as a crude SA.
>Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
>Will run on Win XP.
>Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
>In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
><$150
>
>Prefer:
>
>SMA rather than RCA or F
>Receiver and SW from same vendor.
>
>Suggestions, please.
>
>Thanks,
>
>-John
>
>===
>
>___
>time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
>To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
>and follow the instructions there.
>
>
>
___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.


[time-nuts] SDR Radio Opinion- Next Question

2013-08-05 Thread J. Forster
OK. Thanks everybody. Can you please reccomend a make/model?

I'd like something like:

<75 to >1300 MHz
USB
Ability to function as a crude SA.
Not crawling w/ birdies or aliasing issues.
Will run on Win XP.
Demod selecttable for all modes at all frequencies.
In a package, rather than a loose PCB.
<$150

Prefer:

SMA rather than RCA or F
Receiver and SW from same vendor.

Suggestions, please.

Thanks,

-John

===

___
time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts
and follow the instructions there.