[hpsdr] Hermes Failure, Can anyone help ???

Mon Jan 6 08:30:44 PST 2014

Hi Bob,
before you have the unit repaired, look at the SETUP menu and at the 
bottom you can RESET the DATABASE. Your .xml database may have become 
corrupted and that could be the problem.

Also, you have several other programs to test with:
KISS, cuSDR32/64, QtRadio,  do they exhibit the same problem?

[and please don't blame Apache for it's warranty position. TAPR sold you 
the board with this warning on their webpage:
https://www.tapr.org/kits_hermes.html
"Hermes IS SOLD ON AN AS-IS BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND" ]

Here is a list of software I posted to the Apache Group a few weeks ago:
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [apache-labs] Software that is available for Apache
Transceivers
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2013 21:35:02 -0600
From: Ken N9VV <n9vv at wowway.com>
Reply-To: apache-labs at yahoogroups.com
To: Apache Labs Yahoo Group <apache-labs at yahoogroups.com>

This is just a reminder that there are at least 13 software programs in
various states of development that are available *NOW* for the
OenHPSDR.org and Apache Transceivers:

[1] OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR Transceiver program with all the amazing
mathematical and algorithmic additions/modifications by Warren NR0V and
programming skill by Doug W5WC:
http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/images/b/b4/POWERSDR_USER_NOTES.pdf
SVN: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/W5WC/

[2] K.I.S.S. Transceiver program originally programmed by VK6APH and
now
maintained by members of the OpenHPSDR.org
SVN:
<URL: 
http://svn.tapr.org/repos_hpsdr_kiss/trunk/StableRelease/KK_Unified/Latest/Unified/bin/Release
 >

[3] ghpsdr3 Transceiver program for OpenHPSDR.org and Apache
Transceivers by John Melton:
SVN: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/N6LYT/ghpsdr3/

[4] QtRadio program Client/Server. Server runs on Windows, MAC, and
Linux. Client runs on Windows, Linux, and Android. Maintained by
volunteer programmers. Found at the gphsdr3-alex location:
http://napan.ca/ghpsdr3/index.php/Main_Page This code runs exclusively
over the Internet and is presented by volunteer servers that are listed
on this webpage: http://qtradio.napan.ca/qtradio/qtradio.pl

[5] Heteroydyne by NH6Z Transceiver program for the MAC. Maintained
by: "Jeremy McDermond (NH6Z)" <mcdermj at xenotropic.com>

[6] cuSDR32/64 C++/Qt Transceiver program currently under Transceiver
development by Hermann DL3HVH in Germany and OpenSource from Phil
Covington N8VB and Cathy Moss original code:
SVN: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/DL3HVH
(note: the wideband 15kHz through 60mHz continuously updated live
"slice").

[7] "HPSDR Radio"Transceiver client/server software for the Android
currently in *Beta test* and under heavy development by John Melton
G0ORX: http://g0orx.blogspot.com/ John provides YouTube movies of this
amazing new program for the Android Tablet or "Smartphone" over your
shack LAN. Abhi Arunoday, Director of Apache Labs, presents a YouTube
Video of his demonstration using a special Apache (unidentified)
prototype here: http://www.screencast.com/t/zx38CSQYMf

[8] GnuRadioCompanion Transceiver maintained by N5EG
SVN: http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/N5EG/

[9] Hermes VNA developed by Phil Harman VK6PH
http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=VNA

[10] HDSDR developed by Mario DG0JBJ - WinradHD <winradhd at hdsdr.de>
available here: http://www.hdsdr.de/ with a special .dll for
OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR.

[11] CallSignSoftware program has been adapted for Apache Transceiver
use: http://www.callsignsoftware.com/

[12] Expected early 2014 is the brand new Version 2 of the
client/server
SDR-Console by Simon HB9DRV: http://sdr-radio.com/ and
http://v2.sdr-radio.com/ see list of supported platforms.

[13] Brand new Coherent Diversity Beam Steering and Radio Direction
finding using multiple Mercury boards or special Apache Transceiver
equipment under continuous development for Radio Astronomy by Joe K5SO
at: http://k5so.com/HPSDR_downloads.html

Of course there are the Utilities developed and maintained by Dave KV0S
for Firmware upgrade of Apache Transceivers over the Ethernet LAN.
<URL: 
http://svn.tapr.org/repos_sdr_hpsdr/trunk/KV0S/hpsdr-programmers/Release/HPSDRBootloader.msi
 >

See various screen movie demo's of these and other software here:
http://www.screencast.com/users/N9VV/folders/N9VV%20Video

There are many OpenHPSDR contributors who are working on various
aspects of all these programs. Warren NR0V and Phil VK6PH are carefully 
and methodologically creating an entirely new 
"Pre-Distortion/Linearization" algorithm using the Hermes and Angelia 
platforms new firmware and software. This is *IN BEATA TEST* right now, 
and will be released publicly in just a few weeks (early 2014). This 
will be original algorithms and code created by Warren NR0V and Phil 
VK6PH specifically for the Hermes and Angelia Transceivers. You will be 
amazed at the decrease in Tx IMD when you see this code in operation 
early next year.

All these programs are OpenSource or Licensed in a special manner to
make them available to other Developers around the World who wish to
make a lasting contribution to Software Defined Radio's.

Thank you for reading this lengthy email,
GL 73 de Ken N9VV
--------------------------------------------------------------

On 1/6/2014 8:48 AM, Bob Segrest wrote:
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> My Hermes board appears to have failed and I am trying to find someone who
> might be able to repair it.
>
> My board was one of the TAPR build and has operated flawlessly for the past
> 15 months or so.  I also pre-ordered and purchased a ANAN-10
> amplifier/enclosure and the board has been operated as a complete unit
> during this period.
>
> This past Friday I tried to make a JT9 contact and PowerSDR indicated zero
> watts output.  I cycled the power on the rig with no change in symptom.
> Listening to the PowerSDR audio I hear a lower frequency popping sound.  If
> I vary the receive frequency the tone of the popping sounds seems to vary a
> little.  When I plugged a headset into the port on the front of the Hermes
> board all I hear is a low frequency rumble.  I took the time to separate the
> Hermes board from the ANAN enclosure and amplifier with no change in
> symptom.
>
> The digital interface to the Hermes board does seem to be operating
> correctly.  It is discoverable by the firmware update utility (in fact I was
> able to reload the firmware without any difficulty) and PowerSDR seems to
> talk to it without reporting any issues.  I have also tried using different
> versions of PowerSDR on different computers.
>
> While I am well aware that Apache-Labs has no warranty obligations for the
> Hermes board, I sent them an email clearly identifying that my board was one
> of the TAPR build and was politely told " that as the board was not provided
> by us so we'll not be able to assist you with the same. However, we advise
> you to kindly contact the original manufacturer of the board."  I can
> understand their position, but given the legacy of this design and the
> nature of the community it was developed in, I found their response very
> disappointing.  I wasn't expecting free warranty.  But I wasn't expecting a
> polite single finger salute either.
>
> Has anyone else experienced a Hermes board failure?
>
> Can anyone suggest a resource that might be able to fix my board?
>
> I truly love this rig and am really feeling a void in its absence.
>
> Bob Segrest
> KO2F
>
>
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