开云体育

On 22/07/2024 21:55, Tech Guy via groups.io wrote:

Where is a good place for operating instructions?

John,

These pages were started when I was using Softrocks. Other pages cover most Softrock topics.
Operating is basically connecting up and using software.
Robby's pages should give a clue to the bands available, maybe core colour and turns of the LPF.

73 Alan G4ZFQ

Thanks! I have a StarTech usb sound card on order. Hopefully I can get it working better. The bands seem to be good one minute and bad the next. I heard a lot of cw the other night. Tonight I have nothing on my regular radio. I guess that's just conditions today.
73's John N4HNO

The best source of information about your Ensemble RXTX and other recent
Softrock models is Information about older ones
can be found at

www.fivedash.com (not dashfive) does appear to be down at this time. But it
never was the best source for building and operating information; it's
where you went to order the radios.

The Softrock receivers are still excellent performers in 2024 if coupled
with a high quality sound card. The transmitter is a bit more work to get
working well, as you need the ability to monitor your own signal to get the
I/Q levels and phasing right for best opposite sideband rejection.

On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 6:55?PM Tech Guy via groups.io <tech48055=
[email protected]> wrote:

I picked up a Ensemble at a hamfest with no documentation or knowledge of
bands it was built for. I loaded a driver and HFSDR . I can get it to
receive cw. I noticed that dashfive.com has recently been taken down. It
was there day before yesterday. Where is a good place for operating
instructions? I also have the Flex software.
73s John N4HNO

I picked up a Ensemble at a hamfest with no documentation or knowledge of bands it was built for. I loaded a driver and HFSDR . I can get it to receive cw. I noticed that dashfive.com has recently been taken down. It was there day before yesterday. Where is a good place for operating instructions? I also have the Flex software.
73s John N4HNO

I've got a couple of Hams interested already. Thanks for the responses.

Mark

I see that you are in Marshall County. I am in Jefferson County. Will you
be at the Cullman Hamfest next week? I could bring them to you then.

Larry N4LKY

I would use them. I’ve been undertaking a lot of reading about SDRs, found
out about the SoftRock and was sorry to have missed out on the early days
of inexpensive kits.

Mark KI4HQK

On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 7:34?PM mail@... via groups.io <mail=
[email protected]> wrote:

If I can jump in on your thread - I have two softrock receivers (HF and LF)
built by Tony. They are both in metal cases. I am not using them and
doubt I will ever do so. I have hesitated putting them on the list because
someone would grab them and not ever use them. That is not what I want
done with them. Is there anyone here who would actually use them?

Larry

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 2:08?PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
[email protected]> wrote:

--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB,

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)冲(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

If I can jump in on your thread - I have two softrock receivers (HF and LF)
built by Tony. They are both in metal cases. I am not using them and
doubt I will ever do so. I have hesitated putting them on the list because
someone would grab them and not ever use them. That is not what I want
done with them. Is there anyone here who would actually use them?

Larry

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 2:08?PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
[email protected]> wrote:

--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB,

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)冲(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Hello Phil,

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024, 3:30 PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
[email protected]> wrote:

Just checked your site, very nice. I see Collins Gray,

32S-3, 75S-3, and 312B-4. All modified.


Heathkit green


SB-200. Once modified for 160m.


and I think Drake there.


R-4C with all the *Ham Radio* magazine contest modifications.


Not sure what the newer black xceiver is.


Icom IC-765 is the main rig. Many modifications.


What

is the rack setup, a converted BCB transmitter for 160?

It's a legal limit linear amplifier using two 833-C tubes in parallel. Pegs
the 2000 watt scale into a dummy load on 160 and 80. ;-) There's a page
there that explains that.

My QRZ page goes into more detail. My email address is there; if you want
to continue this, we should probably use email. V-)

73, Mike
W0BTU



Looks like a

very nice location too, with room for beverages etc. Me, I'm in a
mobile home with almost NO yard space, so not a lot of antenna room.

Actually, I haven't done much homebrewing for quite some time due to
severe arthritis in my hands (especially the right one). The picture on
my web site of my operating position is way out of date, most of the
gear has been changed out (wifey bought me the FTDX101MP (May 2020) and
FTDX3000 (May 2019) for our anniversaries. She knew her time was very
short and wanted me to have radios to remember her by, like I could ever
forget her! Yes, I did tell her those radios were too expensive and
tried to dissuade her from buying them, but she wouldn't listen to me
;-) She was great at saving money and wanted to use some of her "stash".
. .

Anyway, I DID just order two Softrock receiver kits to give me something
to do this summer. With my hands I'll have to be careful, but think I
can do it (I miss building stuff). I wanted an LF and an HF version for
a project, but it appears that all they have now are the HF receivers.
I do have a Divide/16 board so I should be able to figure something
out. Biggest problem will be figuring out and getting the proper toroid
cores for the filters.

<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB,
...

--
73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

Hi Guy,

Sorry, I just realized that I failed to answer your email.? Seems to happen more often than I like.
YES, I've always loved homebrewing radio stuff.? First got my interest in 1953 (I'm 80 now) when a neighbor gave me an old defunct console radio that he was going to toss out.? I was 10 years old and knew nothing about radio.? But I dragged it home and played with it.? Burnt my fingers on hot tubes and it threw me across the room a few times when I touched things I shouldn't. Don't know what I did, probably a loose wire or tube in a dirty tube socket but I got that beast playing.? WOW, BBC London, Quito Ecuador and so forth.? Those stations were a LOOOOONNNNNG way off.? I was hooked!

I've built many many different radios, bought many 'junkers' and fixed them and sold/swapped them.? Probably hundreds if the truth be known.? Don't do as much now-a-days, fingers being stiff and sometimes? painful due to RA (arthritis).?? But I'm not going to let me get it down :)

Anyway Guy (had an Uncle on mom's side named Guy).? Keep on doing what you enjoy most and keep us posted about all those Softrocks.

<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>

Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB,

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)冲(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Well, I'm doing it again!?? In years past I've built a number of Softrock receivers, primarily the Ensemble LF versions and inevitably sold, traded or gave them away.? The last time a friend was kind enough to give me one he'd built years ago and wasn't using (he once loaned it to me).? Well, awhile back I gave that one to a local ham friend who was very interested in listening to some longwave ham activity and found his hf rig was a very poor performer down in the basement.

Now, before I go any further, let me say that my longtime primary DX interest are NDBs (longwave nav beacons), and I DON'T really need a Softrock receiver as my primary go-to LF receiver is a very nice and capable Perseus (the older version, the new Perseus 22 is WAY out of my price range).

No, this is more of an exercise and experiment as I have VERY BAD RA (arthritis) in my hands, joint soreness and stiffness.? I sort of want to prove to myself "I can still do it", and I'm certain I can, just need to take my time at it!!!? In other words, I refuse to give in to it.

So, I ordered TWO of the Softrock II receiver kits. ? All they have left are the HF version but Ben was kind enough to include extra wire for the coils and capacitors for the BPFs? and the divider chips needed for the LF LO. ? Thank you Ben.? I just got on Amazon and found I could order 10 packs of the different Toroid Cores needed for the LF version.? My intent is to build one HF version and one LF version, but who knows.? I might build two of the LF versions.? I'll "play it by ear" (or hands ;-)

Now I DO have a question.? I downloaded and printed the build instructions for bot the HF and LF version and it mentioned something about different board builds.? Shown is the board layouts for the 6/20/2013 dated board, my boards are dated 12/28/2020.? Is that just a later "Manufacturing Run" of the board, or are there differences?

Thank all.? I'll keep the list informed as the build progresses (probably be a long slow process).

--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB,

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)冲(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Mike:

I'm not sure what Z these isolation transformers are. What is standard?
Line 10k?

Here's what my AI said:

Audio transformers are designed to provide specific impedance ratios for
different audio equipment, such as microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers,
and recording equipment. The input impedances of signal level devices, like
mixing console outputs, loud-speaker processors, and equalizers, are
typically around 10K ohms or more.

Chuck w8mqw

On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 9:12?AM Mike W via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
[email protected]> wrote:

Chuck,
Really appreciate the tip, but I must be a bit thick these days -- can't
find the photo you mention.
I do have some 600 ohm to 600 ohm EL-14 transformers, is that the idea?
Like in the QRP Labs QSD receiver module?
Mike W

Chuck,
Really appreciate the tip, but I must be a bit thick these days -- can't find the photo you mention.
I do have some 600 ohm to 600 ohm EL-14 transformers, is that the idea? Like in the QRP Labs QSD receiver module?
Mike W

Mike:

You may require audio isolators like the 3.5mm in/out in the photo.
Improves performance.

Chuck w8mqw

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 5:41?PM wirtz.mjw via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
[email protected]> wrote:

Thanks, I just placed an order for a HiFiBerry. I had been running Quisk
on Linux with an inbuilt laptop "sound card" and am looking forward to
playing with a Raspberry Pi to upgrade the ADC capability. Quisk on Linux
just seems to work better for me (vs. either HDSDR or Quisk on windows).

Mike

Thanks, I just placed an order for a HiFiBerry. I had been running Quisk on Linux with an inbuilt laptop "sound card" and am looking forward to playing with a Raspberry Pi to upgrade the ADC capability. Quisk on Linux just seems to work better for me (vs. either HDSDR or Quisk on windows).

Mike

Yes, I installed one. It's a good unit.

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 2:40?PM wirtz.mjw via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
[email protected]> wrote:

Chuck,
By chance have you used a "HifiBerry" ADC with the SoftRock?
I was just about to order one from PiShop.us. I understand that it is a
192kHz 24 bit I2S ADC which attaches via the Pi GPIO connector, apparently
fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS.
Mike

Chuck,
By chance have you used a "HifiBerry" ADC with the SoftRock?
I was just about to order one from PiShop.us. I understand that it is a 192kHz 24 bit I2S ADC which attaches via the Pi GPIO connector, apparently fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS.
Mike

Hi Chuck.
I will take you up on the card as I am more familiar with Linux than windows.
I will replace your sd card with one like it immediately. I have a couple of pi’s about.
Thanks! My qrz address is good.
Yours is too?

Thanks so very much.
72/73.

Ps. Quite the setup and place you have!
--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!

Guy:

I have worked out the kinks for the Quisk program to run the Softrocks via
a Raspberry pi 3 or 4. Quisk is much better than (the detested) HPSDR and
others. It's like a standard SDR radio interface.

I'll be glad to dup a micro SD card for you.

Chuck w8mqw

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 5:18?PM Guy Mengel N1GMM via groups.io <guy=
[email protected]> wrote:

My my;
What a joy to have someone post a "test". I was just on the phone with an
old parts supplier friend (you might know him.."dans small....". I was
lamenting that there were not more builders out there but he said that
there are! (mostly of the older bunch) but many are still building. This
makes me happy.
I enjoyed looking at both your sites and loved seeing what you are doing
or have done!

I currently have a box full of softrock units some built some not but I am
hoping to build these into usable rigs for me. I just bought a bunch of
older softrock units in boxes and the such with a ton of extra sound
devices to use for a song and a dance. I do have a perseus too for
listening too. Phil lists all the nice things he has. He has a wonderful
site to behold. And then there is Mike living in the sticks (like me) but
with far far fewer trees. Mikes site is also something to behold.

And to boot this is on the softrock40 site, which has be dear to my heart
for many years... and now that I have the time I can do something after
going into disability at 66. After dreaming of doing something like Phil
and Mike...I am 68 now.. with lots and lots of time and some equipment...
now where did I put that energy.. strokes do some horrible things.

Thanks for the "test" I really appreciate that.
72/73
Guy N1GMM


--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!

My my;
What a joy to have someone post a "test". I was just on the phone with an old parts supplier friend (you might know him.."dans small....". I was lamenting that there were not more builders out there but he said that there are! (mostly of the older bunch) but many are still building. This makes me happy.
I enjoyed looking at both your sites and loved seeing what you are doing or have done!

I currently have a box full of softrock units some built some not but I am hoping to build these into usable rigs for me. I just bought a bunch of older softrock units in boxes and the such with a ton of extra sound devices to use for a song and a dance. I do have a perseus too for listening too. Phil lists all the nice things he has. He has a wonderful site to behold. And then there is Mike living in the sticks (like me) but with far far fewer trees. Mikes site is also something to behold.

And to boot this is on the softrock40 site, which has be dear to my heart for many years... and now that I have the time I can do something after going into disability at 66. After dreaming of doing something like Phil and Mike...I am 68 now.. with lots and lots of time and some equipment... now where did I put that energy.. strokes do some horrible things.

Thanks for the "test" I really appreciate that.
72/73
Guy N1GMM


--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!