[hpsdr] Call for Project Leaders

[Philip Covington]

On 2/22/07, Ben Hall <kd5byb at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Good evening all,
>
> I just subscribed to HPSDR this evening after sending off my order to
> TAPR for an Ozy and Janus set.  I've been poking around the archives,
> and noted Lyle's (KK7P) call for project leaders.
>
> While I vastly enjoy ham radio/electronics, my formal training is in
> Mechanical Engineering, so I'm probably not much help on the Norton or a
> 1 GB Ethernet Ozy.  (Maybe as an expert "idiot" test subject, as I can
> break just about anything!)
>
> But, being an ME, I probably can help with the enclosure project.  I've
> got some heat transfer background and have some shielding/EMI/RFI
> shielding experience from when I used to design/build/test space station
> hardware.  I have access to some neat-o solid-modeling software that
> seems to have the capability to do sheet metal, but I'll admit, I've
> never done sheet metal work with it.  I've got some thoughts on mounting
> the Atlas backplane sort of like the backplane as you'd see in an
> industrial VXI/PXI data collection chassis.  (sort of like seen here:
> <http://www.vxitech.com/ProductDescription.aspx?PID=162>)  Modularity
> and expandability would be key.  A 100 watt PA is probably the biggest
> challenge, but not unsurmountable.
>
> But, I'm not sure I can fill the shoes of a Project Leader.  Or, is it
> not as difficult as I think it is?
>
> I guess what I'm meaning to ask is what sort of time commitment does
> being a project leader involve?  Is it a "one man band" or is it an
> iterative, community effort?  I can't see a good design coming from just
> my thoughts, as my HPSDR experience certainly will be different than
> someone else's.  To me, that seems key to the whole HPSDR concept.
>
> Enough babble for one night.
>
> thanks much and 73,
> ben, KD5BYB

Hi Ben,

You become a HPSDR member by subscribing to the mailing list (you are
here so you are a member).  If there is a project that you want to
take on you basically describe what you have in mind and declare
yourself the project leader.  By declaring yourself a project leader
you are pretty much solely responsible for see the project through.
"Project Leader" does not mean "Project Manager" around here unless
you are talking about managing yourself :-).    Speaking in a
practical sense, an idea for a project does not cut it unless you have
the commitment, time, and resources to see it through to fruition.
Consider it a "one man band" with a little help from your friends ;-).

This is not to say that you won't get a lot of help from the other
developers or the list if you ask.  There is a separate developers
list that you will want to get added to if you become a developer.

One of the issues for those who have shown interest in contributing is
access to tools - whether software or hardware.  For example, I did
ATLAS and OZY in Mentor Graphics PADS for expediency after first
attempting to do the board in Kicad.  Lyle did JANUS in ORCAD.  Access
to these types of tools are the sticking point for a lot of would-be
developers.  I keep telling myself that for simple boards, I will use
Kicad or gEDA but never have enough time when it comes down to it to
fool with re-creating all the library parts that already exist in
PADs.  I definitely would not have attempted OZY without an
auto-router because I just don't have enough time to spend hours
manually routing complex boards.  It takes enough time just going back
and cleaning up what the auto-router has done!

It sounds like you have a great background to take on the enclosure
problem.  You would be very welcome if you decide to take the project
on.

73 Phil N8VB

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