SoftRock40

Re: SoftRock Emsamble RX II HF And LF

jd2dale@... (James Dale) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:12:47 -0700

They have been sold.
Jim W0PPA

SoftRock Emsamble RX II HF And LF

jd2dale@... (James Dale) — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 10:02:46 -0700

I have two Soft Rock Ensamble RX II for sale. I have both a HF and LF model for sale. Both were built buy Tony Parks KB9YIG.
I haave not used them for a while so U want to sell them.
Not sure what they are worth so give me an offfer.
Jim W0PPA

Re: SoftRock Ensemble RX II How to use?

wirtz.mjw@... (Mike W) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:49:49 -0700

I setup my Ensemble II Rx last year with the in-built sound card of a very cheap Dell Windows 10 Laptop and also with a Behringer UCA202 USB sound card in a desktop Linux PC w/o in-built sound card. Both work well for me, providing a 96kHz slice of spectrum (these are 48kHz sound cards). I experimented with the Startech 7.1 USB sound card, which worked but not as well. No super-duper sound card at present, but I will probably try upgrading to a Behringer 96kHz USB sound card soon. Performance is impressive, I mainly snoop on the ham bands in the evening and occasionally listen to the few SW broadcast stations still transmitting that reach the US east coast. There is an AM broadcast station about 1/2 mile from my house, and I seem to have few issues with overloading/images.

I use the Ensemble II Rx with HDSDR in Windows 10 and with Quisk SDR software in both Windows and Linux, but personally I prefer Quisk. Jim Ahlstrom (Quisk author) is active in �� and that FW is still being updated. It was easier for me to set things up for the sound card in Linux, but eventually I stumbled my way through the Windows settings. Alan's notes were a great help setting things up. If you use windows, I suggest to start at "First-time installation with a Softrock-type soundcard SDR" on his page. I found I really needed CFGSR to verify that the Ensemble was talking over USB before setting up the SDR software, Alan explains how (and why) to install it.

I believe it is important that the antenna provide close to 50 ohms impedance to the Ensemble II input across the HF band, and for that reason I use a Magnetic Loop (the amplifier has a controlled output impedance). I started with the Cross Country Wireless magnetic loop (https://www.crosscountrywireless.net/loop_antenna_amplifier.htm) and am experimenting with other simple magnetic loop amplifiers. I also have a mini-whip antenna to try, but have not yet turned that on. I found the Cross Country Wireless loop amp just works, no fuss or fooling around. There is a null with magnetic loops, it can help to rotate the antenna if you are pulling in a weak station.

Once I got the SDR software working, I had to tune the I/Q offset and gains especially for the Behringer, which was pretty easy. The Behringer sound card has a 1 sample fixed offset, but my (newer technology) laptop did not. After configuring out the 1 sample offset, I tuned into a strong station and varied the "analog" offset and gain until the image more or less went away.

Aliexpress was great for all the BNC to SMA adapters, RG-318 coax with connectors, DC power adapters and splitters, RCA to 3.5 mm cables, USB cables and so forth. I just bought a bunch of that stuff and threw it in a shoe box which I dig into regularly.

I power the Ensemble Rx with a small 12V wall wart and have had no issue with DC switcher noise. I saw no difference when I ran the receiver and antenna from 12V worth of AA batteries.

I only check into this groups once or twice a week, but I did take a lot of notes and can walk you through the setup of either HDSDR or Quisk by email.

Mike W

Re: SoftRock Ensemble RX II How to use?

w9sz.zack@... (Zack Widup) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:42:54 -0700

I use a Soundblaster SB1095 sound card. It plugs into USB and you use a
stereo 3.5 mm cable to connect to the Softrock Ensemble. You can still get
the SB1095 from various places.

I think Rocky is one of the favorite software programs for the Softrock
SDR's. But it also works with HDSDR.

73, Zack W9SZ

On Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 2:18 AM Clinton McClure via groups.io <cmclr123=
[email protected]> wrote:

You can use it couple different ways , standalone , or as a panadapter. In
either case you need a stereo sound card with a flat response curve .
M-Audio cards seem to work the best but they are out of production and need
the older PCI slot. The higher the sampling rate the better. You can use
most any I and Q spectrum software , but not all will control the Softrock
for standalone. If your using it as a panadapter you can just set it with
the softrock software to a frequency close to your receivers IF frequency ,
Ideally the software your using will allow you to set an offset . Of
course as panadapter you connect it to your receiver's IF out.

There are several spectral display programs available , most of the ones I
've seen are based on GNU Radio , or you can roll your own with GR. You can
also try Quisk and Rocky.

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM James Dale via groups.io <jd2dale=
[email protected]> wrote:

I have an SoftRock Ensemble RX II and do not know how to use it. Can any
provide it to me.
Thanks James Dale W0PPA

Re: SoftRock Ensemble RX II How to use?

cmclr123@... (Clinton McClure) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:18:28 -0700

You can use it couple different ways , standalone , or as a panadapter. In
either case you need a stereo sound card with a flat response curve .
M-Audio cards seem to work the best but they are out of production and need
the older PCI slot. The higher the sampling rate the better. You can use
most any I and Q spectrum software , but not all will control the Softrock
for standalone. If your using it as a panadapter you can just set it with
the softrock software to a frequency close to your receivers IF frequency ,
Ideally the software your using will allow you to set an offset . Of
course as panadapter you connect it to your receiver's IF out.

There are several spectral display programs available , most of the ones I
've seen are based on GNU Radio , or you can roll your own with GR. You can
also try Quisk and Rocky.

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM James Dale via groups.io <jd2dale=
[email protected]> wrote:

I have an SoftRock Ensemble RX II and do not know how to use it. Can any
provide it to me.
Thanks James Dale W0PPA

Re: SoftRock Ensemble RX II How to use?

alan4alan@... (Alan G4ZFQ) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 01:06:19 -0700

On 24/03/2025 00:46, James Dale via groups.io wrote:

I have an SoftRock Ensemble RX II and do not know how to use it. Can any provide it to me.

James

Here https://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/installing-and-using-hdsdr#h.20fy2xenzndf and on the rest of that page are my notes.

Once you have setup GFGSR you may use other software.

73 Alan G4ZFQ

SoftRock Ensemble RX II How to use?

jd2dale@... (James Dale) — Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:03:47 -0700

I have an SoftRock Ensemble RX II and do not know how to use it. Can any provide it to me.
Thanks James Dale W0PPA

Re: Email Test

alan4alan@... (Alan G4ZFQ) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:32:32 -0700

On 20/03/2025 15:52, Guy Mengel N1GMM via groups.io wrote:

Hi Alan. Email works.

Hi Guy!

I had a few "bounce" messages from groups.io, I normally just debounce and forget it.
But another email group was saying my ISP is blocked for spamming. If it is just that group I'm not bothered.

I must admit to almost abandoning my many Softrocks. I've a collection of USB sound devices still connected but not often used.

The QRPLabs QDX and QMX are more convenient, just one USB lead for power/sound/CAT but becoming more pre-built SM as they progress.

I've not used W11 for SDR yet, it does seem they have had a few audio setting mix-ups.

I'm using Linux but unlike you, I do not know what is happening! Maybe get the hang of it someday:-)

Thanks for the reply. Alan

Re: Email Test

guy@... (Guy Mengel N1GMM) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:52:57 -0700

Hi Alan. Email works. Not much being posted here. I Just built a complete RXTX I had. Physically it works great. Operating system wise. Well. On windows 11 newest. Rocky. Not so much. USB cards are getting discombobulated p
Powersdr prob ok. But it. Needs to have a hardware key attached. Linux. Same on Quisk. With Keyer.

I like Linux. I know what’s happening. Windows 11. Well. Lots has changed there.

Good to hear from you. Ping! Back.

Guy

--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

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

Have a good day!

Email Test

alan4alan@... (Alan G4ZFQ) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 01:49:59 -0700

Test

Re: I want to operate my Softrock

triggertech@... (EI7CLB) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:08:08 -0800

Thank you Alan. I appreciate this. 73, Tryg

Re: I want to operate my Softrock

alan4alan@... (Alan G4ZFQ) — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 00:07:03 -0800

On 06/02/2025 21:43, Alan G4ZFQ via groups.io wrote:

It should all be on my pages but I do not remember where everything is.

An overview here https://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/configuring-a-softrock-sdr

Re: I want to operate my Softrock

alan4alan@... (Alan G4ZFQ) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 13:43:30 -0800

On 06/02/2025 19:50, EI7CLB via groups.io wrote:

Hi to all, I was gifted a FiveDash Softrock Ensemble RX/TX a number of years ago but I have never used it nor have I any knowledge of the way to do so. I need help with this. Can anybody help? TIA, Tryg
--

Tryg,

It is a long time since I wrote my pages.
There is quite a lot to learn to get a RXTX going, try RX first, ignore the second soundcard.
A start maybe here https://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/installing-and-using-hdsdr#h.20fy2xenzndf

It should all be on my pages but I do not remember where everything is.

73 Alan G4ZFQ

I want to operate my Softrock

triggertech@... (EI7CLB) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:50:42 -0800

Hi to all, I was gifted a FiveDash Softrock Ensemble RX/TX a number of years ago but I have never used it nor have I any knowledge of the way to do so. I need help with this. Can anybody help? TIA, Tryg
--

Re: need reference IQ .WAV files

g8jcfsdr@... (G8JCF) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 07:40:46 -0800

Hi Bill

Are U wanting IQ .WAV files centered around 12KHz, sampled at 48Kbps for example, ie what would have been fed into a PC soundcard for a SDR ?

Peter - GM8JCF

https://www.g8jcf.uk/

need reference IQ .WAV files

bill@... — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:01:06 -0800

Hi folks -

[Seems like a good place to ask... but if inappropriate, please delete.]
This is for testing some of my C demod code work.

Need pointers to smaller I/Q .WAV files of LSB/USB, AW, & (NB)FM signal repos...
Only has to be ~30 sec long each, preference for fairly continuous voice.
Sampling rate should preferably be well below 256Hz

I can live with 8bit - but 16 bit or float is nice. Just Need to know parameters of
signal(s) in recording - i.e. recording center freq vs the signal frequency(-ies).

Thanks!
73 de Bill N6AOT

Re: Favorite current software?

ve7vv@... (Roger) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:12:12 -0800

Brent,
The setup I used for a paddle with PowerSdr is described at
https://qsl.net/ve7vv/Files/PowerSDR%20-%20instruction%20for%20paddle.pdf
73,
Rod

Re: Favorite current software?

bdewitt@... (Brent DeWitt) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 17:31:45 -0800

Would it be possible for you to post your setup? I have a 2.4.4 version that connects, but I could use some ideas for xmit. Will it work with the paddle input on the radio?

TNX,
Brent - AB1LF

Re: Favorite current software?

groups@... (Andrew UR8QP) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 01:42:26 -0800

PowerSDR :)

73!

Favorite current software?

bdewitt@... (Brent DeWitt) — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:59:57 -0800

Preface: I've been using Rocky almost exclusively since about 2013 with my two RXTX radios. I works great, but the band steps vs continuous tuning is a bit of a bother and other modes would be nice (NOT FT8).

So my question is, what do folks prefer in 2025?

TNX and 73!
Brent - AB1LF