Premium Rcvrs, FlexRadio, HPSDR, SoftRock, SDR, DSP, PCs, OSs, etc.!

[KF1Z]

Yeah, as soon as I saw that email in the user group about needing framework.net installed for it to work, I went to the website and found the new version and it installed via the 'install wizard' in seconds.

That was me, by the way....

Took 3 hours to download the darn thing...

But, It is an update that I should have done a while ago apparently!

In about 3 weeks or so... I'll be on 2 way sat. high speed... I'm disgusted with super-slower-than-turd-rolling-uphill internet!

[KF1Z]

Well, I doubt very much he "forgot" to turn it on!

He may just be working out buglets...

I have no clue how many boards he has ready to go....
Also remember, he could be changing the clocks on some boards, since he decided to make that standard....

If you want to order one... just email him and ask when they'll be available...
Likely you'll get the same answer I did....

Who knows exactly what he's up to....
I'd like to think he's making sure everything is as ready to go as he can, before he has to start mailing them out!

[KF1Z]

Did you read the user's manual on how to install the software?

[KF1Z]

Where's the user manual???

Well, so far the manual says nothing about needing to compile any code.........

This link was sent to me after I purchased.......

http://www.philcovington.com/qs1r_latest/

[KF1Z]

Yup it IS compiled with visual C....

The "setup file"  is compiled from the other files you see on the SVN.


Anyhow, nothing gonna happen much without the board hooked to the USB, and firmware loaded....



The ONLY file you need to download is the SETUP file. That's it.
(well yes, the manual and app notes...)

If you're downloading a bunch of files off the SVN or the other site.....
Then you're "on the wrong track..."

The 737kb setup prog. creates 3.59mb worth of files in the folder.


The server file that you say is only 4k on your machine.... mine (qs1rserver.exe) is 161kb


Anyhow... I'm not stressed at all.... still 4 or 5 days at least before the board even arrives!

[WA1GFZ]

It will be interesting to know any performance reports you guys have since the HPSDR vesion is a a few months away.

[KF1Z]

Just got an email notice that my QS1R has shipped.
So, in a couple of days or so, I should be able to fire it up!

oooooh , the excitement!

:-)

[KF1Z]

Yep, that's about right....

And then next week, when my motherboard and dual-core 2.8ghz processor, and 2 gig of ram show up...........


Looks like if your machine can take it, you can get up to 8mhz of spectral display!

yep, you can be looking at 160 through 30 meters all at once!

Now....where'd I put that wide-band antenna drawing............


Chances are, that even with the new computer toys, I'll only be able to see 4mhz at a time.... but we'll see..

Right now, the software only supports 192khz....

The upgrades to the software will include that upgrade, multiple receiver, band segment recording, etc.....


fun fun fun!!

[KF1Z]

The seperate TX board...functionally...good idea...

But, of course that makes it much more expensive!

Not planning on that myself....

I'll stick to the homebrew class-e for the TX.


I'll be doing something for a bandpass filter board..
The Spectrum analyzer board....depending on just what that will cover...


I STILL have 2 other SDR "kits" to build!

Maybe by then the slight case of "buyer's remorse" will subside...

I REALLY hope the dough rolled   will be worth it!

[KF1Z]

I wonder how much computer horsepower will be required for all this shuck and jive. I'm pretty sure my 1 GHz machine will be done.

Frank,
I got this reply by email from Phil about this question.....



""A dual core is definitely recommended as well as a good video card to
offload the pandapter updates.

I am running it with a Dell Precision 380 (Pentium 4 dual core 3.4Ghz, 1GB, NVidia FX card) and
a HP Pavilion A6152 Quad Core with NVidia 8600 GT video card.
 
CPU usage is about 5-9% on the quad and 10-11% on the dual.

The main issue is the larger the panadapter, the more CPU power
required due to screen updates.""

[KF1Z]

Yipee!!

Got my QS1R in the mail a little while ago!!

Already fired up, and trying it out!

I will report back later...

[WA1GFZ]

Flex is so yesterday and overpriced.
Phil's HPSDR and QSR designs are the today.
Flex copied the HPSDR audio section and threw in a computer board for the 5K.

[KF1Z]

I was kinda surprised at a couple of the comments made today...
Especially from the pres of flex!

Listening to Brent, and Bob, and Wayne on 3.885 right now with the QS1R....

Neat stuff...


So far I believe it to be better than the SDR-IQ....

Definately needs the pre-amp/att board..

[WA1GFZ]

look out for the for the groupies. Say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question and you will receive some nasty email.

[KF1Z]

I was kinda surprised at a couple of the comments made today...
Especially from the pres of flex!

I mossed the one from the prez of Flex? Don't read most of their emails. I did see where the guy from Wood Box Radio (distributor of the Perseus) posted something to the Flex user group about his website, I thought that was a little off.

#239
The post just previous to Frank's.

[WA1GFZ]

It was aimed right at Phil.
I have a lot of respect for the guy and he got the ball going on HPSDR.
I am very critical of anything new and when I asked him some performance questions within a couple days I received some interesting screen shots of his display with two signals side by side coming out of the noise floor at an input level of plus 10 dBM. Then a second one with the levels jacked to plus 20 dBM showing the spurs coming out of the noise floor. The noise floor was up a bit as one would expect but the performance matched the data sheet for the A/D he is using so it was easy to buy. Another Company sent me a crock only a rice box driver would believe.
Phil gets no cash from HPSDR but he told me there was no advantage buying his product over HPSDR mercury except that it was all on one board. I thought that was pretty honest of him.
Still in the real world full of signals I think a good preselector is required. Perseus guys are seeing problems with strong local stations getting into the A/D. We will see. Perseus only has the 80 mHz A/D.

[WA1GFZ]

good job Mack,
I just read it. Maybe Phil will share the email he sent to me this morning which was most entertaining. I don't think I should.
 

[WA1GFZ]

As a Long Islander would say......yea

[KF1Z]

Gerald has posted an explanation, and an apology to the group....

His comment wasn't aimed at Phil...

It was addressed to someone else......
About trying to please hams I guess......

[WA1GFZ]

bull puckey

[WA1GFZ]

I will sign up for Alex as soon as the list is repaired. I need to check my stock and may have an enclosure.

[WA1GFZ]

I'm interested in what the noise floor does when a real strong signal comes in. Also what happens when there is a really a lot of signals coming in. I would like to see where it falls apart. Also how does it handle weak signals near the noise floor. I usually run two different receivers when my SDR set up is going to compare performance.
I won't share what I hear until you post your observations. 

[KF1Z]

 That date is the cabinet....


Anyway, I don't know why you're having problems installing the software...
It's only a couple mouse-clicks...

http://qs1r-sdrmax.googlecode.com/svn/sdrmax-win/trunk/SDRMAXII/installer/

click on the installer file with the latest date code....

Right now...   03062008


I'm not holding out on anything.... I can't say much about it untill the features I'm interest in are added....and the software is more complete.


(The usefulness at this point  is somewhere between a softrock, and an sdr-iq)

When I get a pre-amp/attenuator board with bandpass filters, and the software is good-to-go...
Then, I'll be able to comment.

[KF1Z]

Frank,
So far it looks like the noise floor stays consistent  even with a strong signal nearby.

Signals near the noise floor right now are lost.... the noise reduction etc, are not finished in the software yet....

On AM a strong station, with lots of modulation, causes "clicks and pops.."..
The AGC is key, and I was able to listen to Steve QIX this morning, after I fiddled with the AGC settings a bit....


If you tell me how to check what you want to know, I can give it a try, and let you know what I find out....

Like I say (and Phil has said) the software is getting more complete every day...
And I am confident that once all the features are implemented, It'll be a different tune altogether....

I can, if you want do some tests, and post screen-shots on my web-site....

I might even be able to make a recording somehow....
(That option is not in the software yet)

[KF1Z]

Ok Mack, I misread your post a few back about the software...

I don't know which emails you're refering to... may have been mine....

When you download a new installer file, you need to reinstall the .inf file...
Or at leats I did....


If the board had a pre-amp on it... I could put the "usefullness" scale up to an even plane with the IQ.


Since 90% of the features in an SDR are in the software ( go figure)  makes it difficult to give any real review!