[hpsdr] In the Spirit of experimenters

[Terry Fox]

terryllong at gmail.com wrote:
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Someone noted that HPSdr seemed to be very expensive esp when made and assembled by manufacturing firms - I'd have to concur that the price of going the HPSdr route is probably out of my reach in the foreseeable future.  Although I'd like to help support the efforts of the group, it's not likely I can, due to the cost of entry.
>
> Can't help thinking that a group effort to design these boards and put together kits of parts with PCB's would be also serve the experimental nature of what this group professes.  How does this group determine what will be offered as a finished board and what will be offered as a kit via TAPR?  Is TAPR a non-profit or profit organization?
>
> Are the schematics, PCB layout files, etc made available to the HAM community under the unique TAPR licenses?  I haven't seen them if they are?
>
> 73
> Terry
> N8AB
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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>   
Hey there!  From one Terry to another:
I'm not involved in TAPR, and not a religious defender of that 
organization, just a member.  I agree that the cost is a little high, 
but I believe that's because of the "HP" in openHPSDR.  These are 
High-Performance boards, rivaling commercial products in their quality 
and leading-edge design.  There are other SDR hardware designs that cost 
less, but also provide lower-quality performance.  I believe Phil 
Covington's QS-1R is the only other commercial SDR receiver product in 
the amateur radio price-range that uses a 16-bit A/D and samples over 
100MHz, for example.

Some of the boards are provided in a bare-boards fashion, and some are 
not.  I believe Mercury is available as a bare board from TAPR, and 
others as well, either from TAPR or other sources (such as NT 
Electronics via ebay).

The schematics, board layouts, firmware/FPGA code, manuals, seem to all 
be available via a couple of online sources, whether you have purchased 
a board or not.  Look at the openhpsdr website and/or wiki to find the 
documents.  I've never received a document via mail (with board 
deliveries) or email.  I've been able to find all diagrams, manuals, etc 
on the various web sites.

I've been fortunate to follow along as each board became available, and 
buy them as budgets allow.  If I had to buy them all at once, that might 
have been a problem.  Being retired has reduced my ham radio funds, and 
it's harder to justify splurging.  But, I recognize the VALUE of these 
boards, even if the costs are higher.  I'm conflicted about the purchase 
of the Alex filter boards right now, for example, as I can wind filter 
toroids with the best of them.  But, having a complete boardset might be 
important down the road.  So, I may have to buy one when they come out, 
and wait a couple months for the other....

I'm good enough with an iron and SMD construction that I only 
occasionally burn my fingers now, but these boards (and especially the 
parts on them) are close to the edge of my ability in the shack.  I've 
spent some time learning how to build boards with QFN and other 
fine-pitch parts, using paste, stencils, and skillets or toaster ovens 
instead of my trusty Weller.  The larger FPGA parts use Ball-Grid-Array 
(BGA), which is beyond my capability (or confidence).

There are many other SDR designs that are a little worse in performance, 
but still require significant skill level to build, or as costly to 
purchase as an openHPSDR boardset.  Do a google search on SDR, digital 
up-converters, and digital down-converters, to find some other 
projects.  AMRAD has a low-cost DDC that I've been rather involved in, 
but with a 12-bit A/D, it's more of a nice SDR learning tool than a 
full-fledged, high-performance SDR.  It works OK, but is a little worse 
than my SDR-IQ receiver - as it should be.

If you can, I suggest that you try to save up, and plan your HPSDR 
purchases as you can.  Of course, your decision is also dependent on 
your individual goals.  The upcoming Hermes project may be a better 
solution cost-wise, as it has fewer parts (less FPGAs, connectors, 
boards, etc), so it should be a little cheaper long-term.  The down-side 
to it is that it's an all-or-nothing purchase; ex: no receive-only, etc.

Anyway, good luck, and I hope that you can jump in.  This is fun, and 
the leading edge of a the next generation of amateur radio equipment.  
Not only is the hardware "High-Performance", but the software/firmware 
for all this is great as well, thanks to the many geniuses behind the 
curtain.  I've been impressed since day one.  And, it's always improving!!!
73's
Terry, WB4JFI


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