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Re: kb9yig retirement
Tony,
Thank you for your great contributions to our hobby. A 40-30-20 RXTX was my introduction to the world of SDRs. Many hours were spent learning how to set up and effectively use my RXTX in CW Mode. A modification engineered by members of this forum allowed me to use my RXTX in CW Mode with HDSDR utilizing semi-break-in with a real time side tone, making it very useful during many CW events. My 15-17-10 RXTX has been sitting here patiently waiting for this new sunspot cycle to mature so that I can put it to work. Enjoy your retirement and your place in the history of ham radio, 73, Jody - K3JZD |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Dear Tony,
I like to add our very best wishes to you for producing the many successful softrock designs over the years. As SDR-Kits we enjoyed contributing to your softrock design, first of all withthe QRP2000 Si570 VFO, making the softrock RX full frequency and multiband, then followed by the very first design of the softrock RXTX transceiver kit. I like to thank you for accepting these contributions into your product line. I like to mention the contributors on this side of the pond; Tom Baier DG8SAQ for the first QRP2000 design and firmware, John Law G8BTR (sk) and Alan Rowe M0PUB for their work in the RXTX hardware and firmware. Special thanks to Fred Krom PE0FKO for providing Driver support including Amateur Radio Certificate for Driver installation and so many others!! I am sure we all can say we had lots of fun and satisfaction! As SDR-kits we finally retired the QRP2000 kit at end of 2021. Getting hold of si570 chips was becoming impossible, whilst the 570 has been completely overtaken by the newer Si5351 designs. Tony, we wish you all the very best in retirement! Jan G5BBL (ex G0BBL) Jan & Tracy Verduyn SDR-Kits |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Hi thank you for the kits over the years i have here a softrock 6.2 tx/rx and the orignal softrock 40 and an unbuilt 6.3 kit? enjoy your next venture? ? Mick
On Saturday, 16 July 2022 at 08:30:32 BST, Alan G4ZFQ <alan4alan@...> wrote: > Thank you again for your support of the SoftRock radio kits over the years. Tony, And thank you for all you have done to provide us all with the kits. I still am running 24/7? a 6.2 RXTX a 6.3 RXTX and two Lites. All the best Alan G4ZFQ | | Virus-free. www.avg.com | |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Tim Tyler II
It was a Softrock RX/TX Ensemble that launched me into building. I’d been licensed for maybe 2 years when I took the plunge on the kit and learned to solder. When that little rig came to life, I realized what amateur radio was supposed to be all about.
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The little board still features as a centerpiece in my lab/bench/shack, and I am still fond of it. Thank you, Tony. You are responsible for getting me started in this amazing avocation. I wish you well, congratulations on your retirement. —Tim NC0Q On Jul 15, 2022, at 12:59 PM, EB4APL <eb4apl@...> wrote: |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Tony,
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Thank you for all your work designing the SoftRock radios and making them available as kits. You got a lot of us started in SDRs! 73, Glen Overby, KC0IYT/1 On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 8:47 AM Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:
The message below has been posted on the fivedash.com home page. |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Tony,Thank You for bringing affordable SDR to the masses.?Frank WA1GFZ
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On Friday, July 15, 2022, 10:41:33 AM EDT, Bruce Tanner <bet110@...> wrote:
Tony, just adding my “Thanks!”, for your contribution to our hobby, with designs, and construction practices, well done. You and your associates provided my first introduction to SDR. After hours of enjoyment and relaxation constructing a number of your kits, and tuning in to the short waves, and long ones, I still have a couple to work on should I find time and inspiration to do so. Congrats and enjoy your retirement. 73 Bruce, K2BET -B On Jul 15, 2022, at 9:48 AM, Dave Sublette <k4to.dave@...> wrote: ?Let me add my thanks to you, Tony, and to all of the "support" team.? I have built and used the Ensemble II HF and VHF kits and enjoyed great success with them.? I have since switched to the Mac Mini computer and as soon as I can get the control program to run the Softrocks on it, I will continue to use them. Wishing you the best in retirement. 73, Dave, K4TO On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 9:35 AM pe0fko <pe0fko@...> wrote: Hi Tony, |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Tony, just adding my “Thanks!”, for your contribution to our hobby, with designs, and construction practices, well done. You and your associates provided my first introduction to SDR. After hours of enjoyment and relaxation constructing a number of your kits, and tuning in to the short waves, and long ones, I still have a couple to work on should I find time and inspiration to do so.
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Congrats and enjoy your retirement. 73 Bruce, K2BET -B On Jul 15, 2022, at 9:48 AM, Dave Sublette <k4to.dave@...> wrote:
?Let me add my thanks to you, Tony, and to all of the "support" team. I have built and used the Ensemble II HF and VHF kits and enjoyed great success with them. I have since switched to the Mac Mini computer and as soon as I can get the control program to run the Softrocks on it, I will continue to use them. Wishing you the best in retirement. 73, Dave, K4TO On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 9:35 AM pe0fko <pe0fko@...> wrote: Hi Tony, |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Let me add my thanks to you, Tony, and to all of the "support" team. I
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have built and used the Ensemble II HF and VHF kits and enjoyed great success with them. I have since switched to the Mac Mini computer and as soon as I can get the control program to run the Softrocks on it, I will continue to use them. Wishing you the best in retirement. 73, Dave, K4TO On Fri, Jul 15, 2022 at 9:35 AM pe0fko <pe0fko@...> wrote:
Hi Tony, |
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Re: kb9yig retirement
Congratulations, Tony, on a well-deserved retirement. I have thoroughly
enjoyed working with you and on your kits. It is a bittersweet moment: sweet, because you are leaving on top; bitter because ham radio will miss you and your contributions in advancement of the hobby. If they built niches in the museum of amateur radio history, you'd be a shoo-in to get one of prominence. -- Good luck, my friend, Richard R. (Robby) Robson LTC USA (USA Retired) WB5RVZ |
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kb9yig retirement
The message below has been posted on the fivedash.com home page.
I want to thank everyone who has built or used SoftRock radios, all of those who have helped others in the group troubleshoot their builds or software setups, and those who contributed to the design in the early years. I especially want to thank those who made firmware and software contributions so that the SoftRock hardware would do a useful function. It has made my day each time I read one of your messages of success with or enjoyment from your SoftRock Radio. I currently have 48 SoftRock RX Ensemble II HF kits and two built RX Ensemble II HF boards listed for sale on the fivedash.com web site. These are the last SoftRock boards I have available, and once they are sold, Five Dash will close. Unfortunately, due to changes in customs rules over the past few years, I am only able to ship to addresses in the United States. Thank you again for your support of the SoftRock radio kits over the years. Tony Parks, KB9YIG |
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audio output lockup?
I am running an RX ensemble II with HDSDR and a Behringer UMC204(192 KHz) usb sound card on a windows 10 box.
I have a TX/RX switch to use this with an Icom 718 transmitter ( not always powered on) Quite often the audio output will either gradually fade out or be killed after a small electrical or noise glitch. The waterfall display does not change. Toggling the mode in HDSDR from LSB to FM and then back to LSB always fixes it. Any suggestions? |
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Anyone have a case for an Ensemble II Receiver for sale?
Philip Atchley
Hi,
I have a "built by Tony" Ensemble II LF arriving soon.? I've had a number of these over the years, most of which I assembled myself (to quote Joni Mitchel it's "The Circle Game" ;-) In times past I usually bought a generic plastic project box and "drilled & cut them to fit".? Yes, I have a generic box coming, but IF somebody had a custom box for sale it'd look nicer and be much easier on me.? I find that now-a-days with older eyes/hands I'd rather purchase than work (though funds are much tighter now-a-days). -- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, RADIOS: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Icom: IC-718 Xceiver, DSP. Uniden: SDS-200 Scanner, 25-1300MHz (2020) Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element) ~35 Feet AGL. 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 Diamond Discone ~35 feet AGL for Scanner. QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh |
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Re: Which transformer?
Philip Atchley
Thank you Alan,
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Yes, I remember you mentioning that before.? While I do try to make sure that everything is well grounded to a copper busbar under the operating bench (even the computer tower), there is so much equipment here all interconnected, it's unlikely to achieve a perfect no-ground-loop situation. . . Since it's been so long since I last did a Softrock install I'll probably have some more questions. <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, RADIOS: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Icom: IC-718 Xceiver, DSP. Uniden: SDS-200 Scanner, 25-1300MHz (2020) Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element) ~35 Feet AGL. 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 Diamond Discone ~35 feet AGL for Scanner. QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh On 6/23/2022 5:05 AM, Alan G4ZFQ wrote:
On 22/06/2022 21:18, Philip Atchley via groups.io wrote:I DO know that I always used a pair of transformers between my Softrock and the external soundcard.I never use transformers. |
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Re: Which transformer?
Philip Atchley
Thank you Patrick,
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That email sure looks familiar ;-)? Hey, that was over 4 years ago, is it any wonder that this old man forgot it. <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, RADIOS: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Icom: IC-718 Xceiver, DSP. Uniden: SDS-200 Scanner, 25-1300MHz (2020) Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element) ~35 Feet AGL. 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 Diamond Discone ~35 feet AGL for Scanner. QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh On 6/23/2022 10:54 AM, Patrick York wrote:
Phil, |
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Re: Which transformer?
Phil,
I did a little digging and found this: Re: Audio isolation transformer question From: Philip Atchley <ko6bb1@...> Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2018 11:15:15 EST Hi, I've used Triad SP-67 600:600 Ohm transformers with great success. Not cheap, but good quality, compact, and they seem to be well matched as images etc are nearly non-existent. NOTE: I have my HRD set up to display 192KCs of bandwidth, there is a very narrow "notch" right on the LO frequency. That is determined by the low frequency cutoff of the transformer, but it also prevents the sharp "spike" that you may otherwise see at the LO frequency. Think I got mine from Mouser Electronics. 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" I hope this helps. 73, Patrick KF4LMZ |
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Re: Which transformer?
On 22/06/2022 21:18, Philip Atchley via groups.io wrote:
I DO know that I always used a pair of transformers between my Softrock and the external soundcard.I never use transformers. With attention to ground loops any disturbance around the centre may be minimised, even eliminated. 73 Alan G4ZFQ |
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