After some experimentation and installing the Power
SDR on my workshop computer (Pentium 450 Mhz running XP) I have a couple of
questions.? I did check the CPU usage and it is close to 60% but this is ok
since when I am using the softrock I won't be using the computer for anything
else.
My wife said that the Power SDR icon on her desktop
looked ugly and if I wanted to keep the program on her laptop that I would have
to remove the program from the desktop and access it from Program Files.?
So I decided to just try the slower workshop computer since the computer in our
office has a pathetic sound card for this application.
Here are my questions:
- As described in ?the configure and Use part
of the Softrock manual under item #5, I went in and set the frequency tab to
7.040 Mhz and -60 dBm (this is what my generator was set to).? Do I have
to click on the start buttons to the right of the fields to calibrate?or
just Apply and OK?? This computer reads -70 dBm for the test signal, and
the computer in our office read -60 dBm which is correct but I couldn't
remember if I had clicked Start before and now that almost everything is right
I don't want to hose up anything else.? I was able to null the image way
down there to where it was almost undetectable,?much lower with this
really old 1999 vintage desktop than with my wife's new laptop.? Less
noise I guess.
- I checked my generator 's display against a
recently calibrated frequency counter and it is 7.040 on the dot.? But
when I tune to 7.040 with VFO A on the SDR console I hear and see
nothing.? I have to tune to 7.042 to hear the signal and the signal is
over near -800.?? I have found that the signal peak must be within
the green box on the panadapter to be heard.? How does one zero beat a
signal with this- is the frequency listed under VFO A at the extreme right or
left of the screen?
- When installing the program?with
the?various 3 computers I used for this installation experience I have
had to go in and change things like PTT disable , Audio-Direct vs MME and
enabling the Softrock board and entering the LO frequency. ?I have had to
uninstall the program a few times, and I do so using the
Add/Remove?programs icon under Windows control panel.? When I went
back to reinstall the programs, these options were already selected for
me.? How did the new install know these things??Did teh Add/remove
programs not remove everything?? I was just curious on this one in case I
ever needed to do a clean uninstall?
Thanks again for such a neat little rig and all the
help.?
?
Chris
KD4PBJ
Raleigh, NC
