[hpsdr] PowerSDR + Ozy/Janus + Softrock TX/RX

[Joe - AB1DO]

Hi Don,

On the noise floor, have you calibrated the S-meter in PowerSDR using a 
signal source of known strength (e.g. Elekraft XG-1)? The calibration 
results are stored in PowerSDR.mdb, the database file you will find in the 
same folder as PowerSDR. When you "deinstalled" the original version, you 
also deleted that database file. Just a thought...

On the PTT out: as far as the parallel port and the SDR-1000 is concerned, 
it depends. If the RFE-board  is not installed, pin 8 goes to ground to 
activate PTT. When the RFE-board is installed, it all gets a little more 
complex as PowerSDR then multiplexes all the signals over the parallel port.

However, if you select SoftRock, PowerSDR may well not send/receive any data 
over the parallel port. Here's another thought, though. Connect the keyer to 
the D-sub 9 on Ozy as described in the manual and while activating PTT (key 
down) (or alternatively, clicking on MOX in PowerSDR) carefully check what 
happens to the other pins. If one of them goes to ground, you should be able 
to use it.

Hope it helps,
73 de Joe - AB1DO

Don Kay wrote:


>
> Thanks Joe, you solved one of them! More inline....
>
> Joe - AB1DO wrote:
>
>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>
>> Hi Don,
>>
>> Here goes an attempt to help you along [comments in line]. Off the bat I 
>> will say that I am not very familiar with the SoftRock, totally 
>> unfamiliar with the TxRx version and very familiar with PowerSDR as used 
>> with the SDR-1000.
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>> 73 de Joe - AB1DO
>>
>> Don Kay wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hello hpsdr!
>>>
>>>I am using  Ozy & Janus  with my 80/40 meter Softrock TXRX 6.1 and I have
>>>been having a blast, but I have accumulated a few questions on the
>>>operation of
>>>PowerSDR. Coming from the softrock persuasion I may need some hand 
>>>holding
>>>from you SDR-1000 owners who are more familiar with  this software.
>>>
>>>First, the noise floor seems a little optimistic. The overall
>>>sensitivity is as good
>>>or better than when using my main sound card (a "Mia" budget pro-audio 
>>>card
>>>from Echo Audio) but the noise shows up at -175 db. I'm getting signals
>>>at 55 db
>>>above the noise which don't even budge the S-meter.  Is this expected
>>>with the
>>>current release?
>>
>>
>> [AB1DO] It is my understanding that the noise floor is not so much a 
>> function of PowerSDR as it is of the sound card. At Dayton Bob N4HY 
>> mentioned that he has experienced a 40dB noise floor improvement with 
>> Janus over the Delta-44, i.e.within a few dB of the quantum limit! The 
>> caveat: currently the SDR-1000 delivers so much gain (it was originally 
>> designed for consumer sound cards), that Janus needs an attenuator in 
>> line to handle the signal. On arrival from TAPR, the corresponding jumper 
>> is set such that this attenuator is in-line. This amp/attenuator chain 
>> destroys to a degree the noise performance. By removing the amplifier and 
>> attenuator the improvement is around said 40dB. Not being familiar with 
>> the SoftRock, you may be experiencing some of this. Janus is indeed truly 
>> spectacular.
>
> I agree that Janus is terrific, but I think something else is going on.
> When I first ran PowerSDR from the SVN it looked more normal. I forget
> what the noise floor was at that time but it was around -100 db and the
> strong signals were showing S9+ on the meter. At the time I had a
> previously installed version of PowerSDR from the flex site on the
> machine as well. The current problem seems to have appeared when I
> deinstalled the original version.
>
>>
>>
>>>Second, how do I run digital modes? I have tried experimenting with VAC 
>>>and
>>>both Hamscope and  Multipsk but all I've succeeded in doing is locking up 
>>>my
>>>computer so badly I have to power cycle it. I imagine this is a knobs
>>>problem but
>>>I have looked through the production PowerSDR manual and it doesn't
>>>cover the
>>>subject very well. Is there some documentation specific to digital modes
>>>somewhere?
>>>
>>
>>
>> [AB1DO] IMHO digital mode operation is described in detail in the manual 
>> on pages 144-165. If you go to the Knowledge Base on the Flex-Radio 
>> website and search for digital modes, psk, rtty, vac or some such you 
>> will be able to find more info on operating digital modes with the 
>> SDR-1000. Try first setting up one of the digital programs described in 
>> either the manual or one of the articles. If that works, then try 
>> Hamscope or Multipsk. Also, if you can be a little more specific about 
>> exactly what goes wrong, that might help.
>
> Doh!
> Thank you for the page numbers. Somehow I missed seeing the chapter on
> digital modes in my late night perusal of the document. You are correct
> that it is well documented and I've already figured out what I did
> wrong :-)
>
>>
>>
>>>Third, the softrock needs a PTT input from the computer as well as the 
>>>I/Q
>>>in order to transmit. Normally the "Rocky" software  for the softrocks 
>>>will
>>>assert a PTT *output* to the softrock whenever the keyer is activated. I
>>>don't
>>>see any mention of a PTT output from Janus/Ozy mentioned in the manual, 
>>>just
>>>inputs. Is a PTT output available?
>>
>>
>> [AB1DO] Don't know if the Ozy has a PTT output, nor if the FPGA firmware 
>> will invoke one at this stage. However, you might try using your keyer as 
>> described in pages 138-139 of the manual and see if this helps (also see 
>> pages 92-94).
>
> By this I assume you mean hooking it up to a COM port instead of to Ozy?
> Ok. I'll try this tonight. As for the PTT output, there sure must be
> something that tells the SDR-1000 to go into transmit mode. Perhaps its
> a signal (or command) on the parallel interface? I'll see if I can find
> some info on that interface.
>
> Thanks for your help.
> -don
>
>>
>>
>>>I hope you are all enjoying these boards as much as I am. Thanks in
>>>advance for
>>>any advice.
>>>
>>>73 - Don (ki6fom)


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