You can buy various models of the Softrock from the original source,
fivedash.com. Currently you can get the Ensemble II receiver (kit or built,
HF or LF), the Ensemble RXTX HF (kit or built), the Ensemble RXTX LF (built
only), and the Softrock Lite II receiver (kit only).
Various models of Softrock radios show up used from time to time, on this
list and elsewhere. Sometimes you'll see one with a KM5H Kase, a metal
enclosure customized for the Softrock that was formerly available; that's
nice to get if you can.
What you choose will depend on how you want to use the radio and how much
money you want to spend. The Lite II is the low priced entry level radio;
it's crystal controlled, so you only get to receive a segment of one band.
(You get to choose which band when you build it.) All of the other models
use an Si570 programmable oscillator, so they can cover the entirety of one
or more bands. I'd sum up your choices as follows:
1. Minimum investment: Lite II
2. Most versatile receiver: Ensemble II HF
3. Transmit capability: Ensemble RXTX HF
You probably don't want either of the LF models (Ensemble II LF (receive)
or Ensemble RXTX LF (transceive)), unless you do :) Those will not be the
starting point for most hams.
In addition to the Softrock itself and some way to power it, you need a
computer. For receive, you will need a stereo audio input. Most desktop
computers have a suitable input. Most laptops do NOT (the input is
mono-only), so you will need some sort of external audio interface. (USB
connection is the most common; a wide range of price and performance points
are available.) For transmit, you will need a stereo audio output; just
about every computer has one of those.
You also need an audio output (mono or stereo) to hear the radio (unless
you only plan to operate digital modes), and if you plan to transmit voice
you will need an audio input (mono or stereo) for a microphone. The
computer's own speaker or headphone output will suffice for receive. For
transceive operation, many operators find a USB headset is convenient.
Finally, you need SDR software. You'll encounter a lot of opinions here. If
you get a receive-only radio and you're running Windows, I think SDR#
(available from airspy.com) is the easiest to set up. Rocky is another
popular choice (and you can transmit CW with it on an RXTX) but it has
never worked well for me.
For SDR software to work correctly, you need to set the I/Q balance and
phase settings to get optimum suppression of the unwanted sideband. (That
would not be necessary if both the I and Q channels had the same gain and a
phase relationship of exactly 90 degrees, but real world radios aren't like
that.) On a receiver you can do it by ear, and some SDR software can set
them automatically. If you get an RXTX, you MUST have another radio that
can receive the band or bands you transmit on to set up your SDR software.
Another SDR is ideal because of the displays, but you can do it by ear with
any receiver.
Fivedash does not offer any enclosures for the Softrock. If you want yours
in a box you will have to provide one.
On Wed, Nov 18, 2020 at 2:33 PM michal.gordon via groups.io <michal.gordon=
yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:
Hi everyone.
I'm looking into getting Softrocks. Any thoughts or tips on how to go
about it?
Thanks,
Michal
Shirley Dulcey KE1L