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kb9yig retirement

 

Tony,
I want to add my voice with all the others with a big thank you for all you've done to advance amateur radio. My first adventure into the world of HF was a Softrock RXTX kit. I'm in SE VA near the coast and thought if I can make a contact?across the state, or maybe one or two states away, I'd be more than happy. Little did I know in 2014 I'd make a confirmed FT8 contact over 5300 miles away half-way between the Black and Caspian Seas! Not too shabby for 1W with a homemade dipole.
Once again, Sir, thank you and congratulations on your retirement. 73.
JimKV4JM
ROBIN Guillaume
 

I must also add a little word. I built my first SDR over ten years ago. It was based on the SoftRock plans (One oscillator, a 74AC74, a 4066 and a PC with a sound card).

I couldn't count the hours listening to the VLF and the HF bottom end. I then bought and assembled two official kits (a SoftRock RX Ensemble II HF and a SoftRock RXTX Ensemble Transceiver wired for the Citizen Band as I am only a SWL). I have to admit that even if the 11M band is more or less closed these days, I realized real little feats using the Watt of my SoftRock, JS8Call, ROS and a simple hand cut dipole!

Today I'm trying to develop a SDR receiver similar to the SoftRock but autonomous (ARM ?P, 16 bit ADC & touch LCD). All the signal processing is written and gives results similar to those obtained with a computer. I have to finish the assembly and it is not an easy task. It will probably remain a personal project, I would probably need some help to make something serious out of it. I'm also trying (with relative success) to write modulators and demodulators (RTTY, PSK, Hellschreiber ...) and you know what ? I always start by testing them with the help of my SoftRocks as signal source. Nothing easier than opening a sound card and getting the samples!

It's strange, I remember when this all started more than ten years ago. It's totally amazing what you can do with a handful of judiciously assembled components to receive radio signals. Life is Weird.
 

Thanks for all of your efforts to bring something unique and special to the ham community. I always think of you as a true gentleman.
It was a pleasure to work with you in the early days. I wish you all the best in the future.
73
Tom KM5H

Sent from my iPhone XR

On Jul 17, 2022, at 9:23 AM, Brent DeWitt <bdewitt@...> wrote:

?As many have said: Thank you Tony!

When I had the opportunity to do the harmonic measurements on the early RXTX Ensemble for you about 10 years ago, I was totally hooked! To this day, the RXTX (three of them) is my staple BPSK31 radio. With it and a wire antenna, I have worked ZL3TRR in Rolleston, NZ, from MA, which has been the biggest thrill of my QRP life.

Like so many clever things in the world of engineering: "the solution is obvious, after the fact". You pioneered what hobbyists could achieve for pocket change.

That contribution is truly worth a note in the history of ham radio.

Brent DeWitt, AB1LF
 

Hi Tony,
Thank you for your SoftRock radio designs. I have built your kits, gifted
your kits to friends in Japan, and purchased your pre-built boards. My
father (WV7F) has the most recent pre-built board I purchased from you.
This is a solid design. PLEASE open-source everything?
-73 KB9YIG DE W7QI KN

On Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 5:47 AM Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:

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
 

Hi,

My congratulations to Tony. Maybe he will pass the pass the torch to somebody else who wants to keep it going.

73,

Bill KU8H

bark less - wag more

On 7/20/22 02:47, Adam Jacobs wrote:
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your SoftRock radio designs. I have built your kits, gifted
your kits to friends in Japan, and purchased your pre-built boards. My
father (WV7F) has the most recent pre-built board I purchased from you.
This is a solid design. PLEASE open-source everything?
-73 KB9YIG DE W7QI KN

On Fri, Jul 15, 2022, 5:47 AM Tony Parks <kb9yig@...> wrote:

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
 

Congratulations Tony! I would be willing to "pick up the torch" and carry it forward. Email me at satman39@... if you would consider selling five dash.

Ben Cherry
AD8AW
 

Hi Tony,

You have been a great inspiration to many! Thank you very much!

Wishing you all the best, especially good health.

73,

Tom, PA2FZL




Op 15-07-2022 om 14:46 schreef Tony Parks:

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



--
Tom Fossen
Amersfoort
tel.06-52468584
www.tomfossen.nl
www.deluistering.nl
 

Tony,
Been with you from the start...It was a great run.
Still have my 6.3 conjoined with SDR2Go that still works great.
Enjoy Retirement...If that is what you are going to do..

Good luck to the new taker of the work

--
De N2AIE
qrz address ok
vince
 

Vince,

I am so glad to hear that you are using your SDR2GO!

Regards,

Charley W5BAA

On Wed, Aug 3, 2022 at 7:10 PM Vince Loschiavo <vince320@...> wrote:

Tony,
Been with you from the start...It was a great run.
Still have my 6.3 conjoined with SDR2Go that still works great.
Enjoy Retirement...If that is what you are going to do..

Good luck to the new taker of the work

--
De N2AIE
qrz address ok
vince
 

Hi Tony

Many thanks for your amazing efforts to introduce Ham Radio to SDR. Your management of Soft Rock Kits and fantastic back up service when I got it wrong is exemplary. So Many thanks Tony and have a good retirement.

73 Pete M0FMT

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