[hpsdr] Pandora's Box Concept Update!

Wed Mar 7 19:19:52 PST 2007

for a power supply (13.8v) have a look at the sec 1223 at up to 23amps.  the 
new ones are quiet so far and two of them would supply the 100 watt amp and 
all the rest of the 12v stuff with one of the 120w pico powersupplies for 
atlas .  they look like they would sit under or over or in about the same 
size package.  running packet , a laptop and yeasu 920 on some and so far 
they stay cool and have a fan that is temp controled in the underside.
tom  w0kgw at citlink.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Hall" <kd5byb at bellsouth.net>
To: <hpsdr at hpsdr.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 8:39 PM
Subject: [hpsdr] Pandora's Box Concept Update!

> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Good evening all,
>
> I just wanted to send a little update to the Pandora's Box concept.
>
> Why do I call it a concept?  Because it's not been formally proposed as
> a new HPSDR project, so I'm calling it a concept until the time that a
> formal proposal is put forth.
>
> So what's up with the concept?  Well, as y'all have read in the various
> Pandora's Box threads, if there are "n" HPSDR users, there is at least
> 3*n ways of wanting to use the HPSDR.  Which is great and to me, a real
> strength of HPSDR: you *can* have it your way!
>
> Some folks want a smaller, portable enclosure.
> Some folks want something that can be incorporated into a larger
> enclosure. (IE: rackmount)
> Some folks want cables in the front, some in the rear.
> Et cetera.
>
> So Pandora's Box is evolving from a "one solution fits all" concept to
> what Eric AA4SW so eloquently noted as the "Pand-oragami-Lego-mania"
> concept.  Or, better said, Pandora's Box really won't be a box unless
> you configure it that way.
>
> Right now, I'm envisioning a small, off-the-shelf case like a Ten-Tec
> BK-959.  It will have a custom, purpose-designed panel with the slots
> cut to match the spacing of Atlas.  With a panel and the BK-959, the
> user will have a custom, fairly small, quality enclosure.
>
> However, the purpose-designed panel will also be available separately,
> so that if you want to use the roughly 9" by 5" panel in a larger
> enclosure, all you need to do is cut a rough opening in the larger
> enclosure and mount the purpose-designed panel to your larger enclosure.
>
> I'm also working into the concept a sub-chassis that will mate to the
> purpose-designed panel that will attach to Atlas, making an open-chassis
> that could be mated with the purpose-designed panel to a larger, user
> supplied enclosure.  If the user desired, this could be the starting
> point of a user-built walled box.
>
> The purpose-designed panel could also be cut by the user to a smaller
> size, if desired.
>
> For our friends in Europe, my goal is to make things as easy as I can.
> It is possible that Ten-Tec has European distribution channels; I aim to
> determine that shortly.  At any rate, the panel and the BK-959 will make
> for rather compact packages when disassembled.  The front panel, by
> itself, could be very inexpensive to ship in nothing more than a
> bubble-wrapped envelope.  One of the front panel houses,
> www.frontpanelexpress.com, has a European presence and may be able to
> distribute directly from Germany.
>
> I'm still getting my hands around a few key things and will be bugging
> the community over the next week or so on the following:
>
> 1)  I want to have a solid model in the proposal, both of Atlas, the
> various sized cards envisioned, the enclosure, and the purpose-designed
> panel.  All I need for this is time with SolidWorks.  My prototype
> BK-959 arrived today.  (I love being just hours away from Ten-Tec.)
>
> 2)  Cooling / Heat dissipation.  With the 100 watt PA probably going to
> be housed in its own enclosure, it's my belief that heat dissipation of
> a fully-loaded HPSDR will be sub-100 watts.  Simple convection cooling
> (not fan-forced) may be sufficient.  I'd like more info on current /
> future power consumption / heat dissipation to understand what sort of
> cooling holes / forced air cooling might be needed.
>
> 3)  Power supply.  One big downside or upside (depending on your HPSDR
> desire) of a case the size of the BK-959 is that it won't have much room
> for a power supply.  Certainly, a standard ATX supply won't fit.  If
> Pandora is sized so that an ATX supply isn't an option, will that cause
> the community a lot of grief?  It seems that a 12 volt powered ITX
> (www.mini-box.com) supply is being pursued here with earnest by many.
> Is a 12 volt supply common enough around HPSDR hamshacks that using a 12
> VDC powered ITX isn't a big deal?
>
> 4)  Future expandability.  One nice thing about the BK-959 is that its
> an off-the-shelf Ten-Tec product.  The 100 watt PA could go in another
> Ten-Tec case that will closely match the BK-959 in style.  Probably they
> could be made to stack, either vertically or horizontally.  Does the
> design of Pandora need to be such that room is allowed for future box to
> box pass-thru's?
>
> (Ben's opinion:  I sure want one of those Alex boards and if it needs
> its own box, I'd want to leave room that the Pandora with
> Atlas/Janus/Ozy/Mercury/Gibraltar/Alex control card/future cards could
> easily mate with another box.  So yes, leave room.)
>
> More will be forthcoming!
>
> thanks and 73,
> ben
> -- 
> Thanks and 73,
> Ben, KD5BYB
>
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