HPSDR HERMES

[WA1GFZ]

TAPR is working on the order page on their web site  so it won't be long
A 4 inch by 6 inch transceiver board with ethernet 100T/1000T interface.
10hKz through 6 meters. >100dB dynamic range RX and TX IP3 > -50db.

[KX5JT]

What's this thing going to cost?

[Pete, WA2CWA]

The price for the Hermes is:

    $ 895 US for members of TAPR
    $ 895 US for non-members
    + shipping/handling if applicable.

[Mike/W8BAC]

Add the Anan-10 kit $399 and you have a nice extruded aluminum case and a 15-20 watt PA/LPF. Abhi Arunoday (Hermes designer) is working on the next generation and says that rig will be a 100 watt version.

 Hermes overview http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=HERMES

Abhi's Blog http://www.hpsdrhermes.blogspot.com/

[WA1GFZ]

Abhi is one heck of a good PC board designer. He sent me a copy of his artwork for Hermes so I could study it.

[kb3ouk]

The price for the Hermes is:

    $ 895 US for members of TAPR
    $ 895 US for non-members
    + shipping/handling if applicable.

Are the prices as you wrote them, or should it really be $895 US for members of TAPR and $895+shipping/handling US for non-members? They way you quoted the prices makes it rather confusing.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

The price for the Hermes is:

    $ 895 US for members of TAPR
    $ 895 US for non-members
    + shipping/handling if applicable.

Are the prices as you wrote them, or should it really be $895 US for members of TAPR and $895+shipping/handling US for non-members? They way you quoted the prices makes it rather confusing.

See here under Ordering information: http://www.tapr.org/kits_hermes.html
As them your question. I have no clue.
I have no interest in this product.

[WA1GFZ]

Everybody pays S&H but usually cheap. In the past TAPR gave members a break on the price but only a few bucks. This time they are trying to keep the cost as low as possible for everyone.
The WEB page is not complete yet but you can see it.
I suspect it will be any day now

[Mike/W8BAC]

The order link is displayed on the TAPR site but orders are not being taken yet as the final ordering details are not finalized. In other words that may or may not be the final pricing schedule. I would wait until the site is officially open. Here is how one admin put it.

Again, the TAPR Board, of which I am a member, has not approved specific parts
of what is on that page, and it is incomplete. I'm sorry that you've found the
page before it has been ready to be released, but it's not ready yet. This is
why there are significant pieces missing from the "Availability" section.
Unfortunately this is a byproduct of how our web page management software works.
There's really no "staging" area. I, or another TAPR official, will make an
announcement when we are ready to accept orders.
--
Jeremy McDermond (NH6Z)

[WA1GFZ]

That price was based on a 300 board production run. Last week the interest page showed 440 signed up. If we get lucky this could drive price down a bit. TAPR will do 1 run then turn it over to a commercial guy who will add profit margin into the price.

[KF1Z]

$915 including shipping for non-members is what it says right now.
( in the 'cart')

[KX5JT]

So is this thing sort of a hobby version of the Flex?  Comparisons anyone?

[KF1Z]

Could possibly be compared to the NEW flex series.
Not the 5000 or earlier versions.

[WA1GFZ]

As usual Flex copied Hermies idea but went with a faster (2X) clock and Dual A/Ds, Still 16 bits though.

Flex 5000 no contest different hardware old design.

[WA1GFZ]

$20 difference is the usual spread. TAPR dues are $20.
Nothing official yet on HPSDR site.
It should be soon.
HERMES will also run on Power SDR but there are other options in the works.

[KF1Z]

$940 Plus shipping for non-members.

"cut-off" date is July 25th.

[WBear2GCR]

Perhaps one of you fine gentlemen who has been following all this can encapsulate the whole deal in easy to digest terms. I started to look, but this project is spread all over, as such there is not much that I have read that is in one place that is concise and complete that explains the major considerations.

I'm looking at this, trying to see if it is something to consider or rule out.

Things that come to mind - is it stable and fully tested?
What if there is an unfixable bug or bugs?
What are the real requirements for operation with a computer - will a P4 laptop run it, or do i need a high speed dual or quad core desktop with a plug in ethernet card? (portable with a laptop might be more betterer)
What's the native power out? So can I make my own linear for it?
What is it doing for T/R with or without the linear?
Full schematics provided? (I would expect - it is open source?)
PCB layouts/parts placements?
Does it have output protection - will it smoke with a weird load or no load?

Remote operation - depends on the software package??
Will it do it ok?

This thing comes stuffed, tested?

There is going to be one initial run, then the price goes UP? IF there is ever another run?

It does wide AM bandwidths?

Anything else??

                      _-_-bear

[Pete, WA2CWA]

Schematics: http://openhpsdr.org/support/Hermes/Hermes_Final_Changes.pdf
User Guide: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/Hermes/Documentation/Hermes_User_Manual_V1.4.pdf
Quick Start-up Guide: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/Hermes/Documentation/Startup_Hermes_V1.0.pdf

[KL7OF]

This seems like a very high performance package...I worry that my lack of computer and general solid state knowledge will be a big handicap..

[Steve - K4HX]

Add in the cost of assembly, debugging, endless computer glitches and gotchas and you are looking at about $5000 (even if you only pay yourself $20).     As a kit, they could learn a ton from the old Heathkit manuals on how to make an assembly of parts actually work the first time. It's a nice set of hardware but not anything unusual.

[W2PHL]

Steve, from the website:
The Hermes board is basically a group buy that we have chosen to pre-build because of the difficulty of assembly.

It seems like it's almost turn key. Please correct me if I'm wrong.


Phil

[KF1Z]

$4000 to put it in an enclosure seems a tad high.

 

It is NOT a kit.

[KA0HCP]

Bear,
The HPSDR project has been going on for about 6 years.  For a volunteer, internet project it has achieved astounding results in developing and fielding a modular SDR radio system.

While it was envisioned that most unit would be kits, it has worked out that the majority are prebuilt and tested.  Over the last couple years several vendors have begun selling units after the TAPR initial build is exhausted.  Support is limited to the peer reflector.  There is a healthy sellers market of used and unbuilt components.

Software is based on the Flex Power SDR, with modifications specific to HPSDR.  Updates and troubleshooting have been timely and responsive over the years.  Again support is limited to the peer reflector.  If you want to write or modify the software-have at it.

The HPSDR project is intended for experimenters and tinkerers, no guarantees, no manuals (except for the components), support is thru the very active reflector.   The community just continues to grow each year, so it seems to be meeting a need.     Bill

[WBear2GCR]

Right - i know all this already.

My questions were aimed at those who have been following all of this, and have the technical chops to respond with concise and encapsulated information.

For example, the computer. The page on that (in the pdf) tells one how to determine if the computer you already have is a go/no go for real time operation. It won't tell me and doesn't give a hint at what sort of power and resources are required in general terms to successfully operate the HERMES. If it is going to take a $300-$500 investment in a SOTA desktop machine, then I'd have to take it off the table for myself. Go- NoGo, that is the question.

It also doesn't say if this design is truly tested, on the air, and relatively free of glitches and fully functional, or if this is a good guess going forward.

Yeah, I could try to go to their forum and read a few hundred posts and try to learn this, but my point is that it would be helpful if those who are up to speed give those who are not a running start, especially given the short fuse on the pre-order. And you folks who are following this, did post here, not on the other forum, right?

And as far as someone else producing future versions of this, what historically, up to now, happened with that? Is this buy now or never??

A run down on if anyone had the previous multicard version, and how that worked out might be nice too... might give a good context looking forward.

Being NOT a kit, makes this (potentially) much more interesting than the earlier multi board rig...

              _-_-bear

[Steve - K4HX]

Much. If you haven't messed with an SDR system yet, I would not recommend this offering. You can get your feet wet for about 0.1x the cost. The Hermes sports better specs than the low cost options but these are irrelevant for 99% of the signals/situations you are likely to encounter.

Being NOT a kit, makes this (potentially) much more interesting than the earlier multi board rig...

Another thing to keep in mind is the SDR hype. Too many yuppies have got caught up believing SDR is the holy grail. Yes, they are cool, versatile and make pretty pictures and are fun to play with. Bottom line, for HF, hook this or any other SDR up to a mediocre antenna and you wind up with a mediocre receiving system. Garbage in = garbage out. Spend the money and effort on antennas first. Then worry about the receiver, SDR or otherwise.