More and more are obtaining ready-built SDRs thinking that will save them time and trouble. Be warned! Setting up a SDR can take more time and be more frustrating than the actual construction. Software Defined Radio says it all! Most of a SDR is within the computer. Because of the wide variety of soundcards, computers, operating systems and the way they are setup there can be no simple "Do it like this" instructions. If you are not familiar with these items you may find you have a lot to learn. Note many of the pages I refer to contain information for constructors as well as configuration, you may need to look carefully for what you want. This site, http://www.wb5rvz.com/ contains the construction details. IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL THE SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER SETUP INSTRUCTIONS. I suggest you go through it thoroughly. Most constructors use these pages and get their Softrocks working. This page is basically a summary of the techniques required. LINUX:- It is possible to use Linux but I cannot help. My main page, link at the bottom, has some references. Computer. Maybe a single core 2GHz is the minimum, this may need all other applications disabled. Lower performance ones may work but a fast one will not usually need "tuning". I suggest a desktop, these are far more versatile. Connections. 12 volt power and USB if used. For receiving a STEREO line input to a soundcard and speakers or headphones from the output of the soundcard. A GOOD antenna, not just a piece of wire. Transmit:- Leave this until you are happy with receiving. In many cases a second soundcard will be required. See bottom of page for some Softrock connections. Soundcard. Most will work. PCI, USB and some modern on-board systems are quite good. It is not necessary to get a high performance card to begin. Settings can be very confusing. and USB Softrocks. First the USB driver must be installed. Then check it with Further instructions and links on this page, relevant for all USB Softrocks. USB Problems http://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/attiny_usb Software An easy to setup receive program is SDR# SDR Sharp this is my recommendation, see my page linked below. ....basic-faults At the bottom of http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble_rx_ii/07_opamp.htm is a summary. http://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/soundcard_sdr_software All soundcard SDR software I know. This page shows SDR Sharp and Rocky http://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/sdr-with-soundcard-basic-faults and gives some hints about soundcard setup problems. Most of the instructions for using Rocky are on it's download site. To add more frequencies to Rocky's drop-down selection http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/RX_V8_3/Sw1Settings.htm relevant to USB as well. This page http://sites.google.com/site/g4zfqradio/calibrating-the-softrock-si570-usb-controller gives basic installation details for Winrad HD. This will give receive capability with all versions of Windows. Use one or the other of these programs until you have everything working satisfactorily. Here is a link to a discussion opened by a beginner, just about everything is covered http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/message/49895 Links to other SDR software on my main page, link below. Connections. Basic connections here for a Lite http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/sr_lite_ii/07_extconn.htm Basic connections for an Ensemble, this is the VHF one but HF is the same. http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble_rx_ii_vhf/08_extconn.htm Connections for a RXTX here http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble/11_extconn.htm G4ZFQ August 2011 alan4alan at googlemail com More of my pages related to SDR Main reference page:- All aspects of the Softrock SDR a big page with lots of links but you should find answers to most questions. http://homepages.wightcable.net/~g4zfq/Si570.htm use Ctrl-F on your keyboard to bring up a search box to find keywords. |