[DSP-10] EZKit-Lite

Thu, 14 Feb 2002 16:14:48 -0800

Hello Ed and All,

Ed Hare's suggestion of noise surveys are very interesting. New noise
sources are appearing every day. The spectral data allows one to analyze the
nature of a noise source, or sources.  These baseline studies are extremely
valuable. See
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/08/09/1/?nc=1

A couple of notes to help people thinking along those lines:

1-The RF box, with its EZKIT DSP, is a "machine" in that it receives
commands and does as told. The commands are received over the serial link at
9600 baud. This means that you can control it with any computer with a
serial port. The commands and resulting data do not need to come from
UHFA.EXE. For instance, a good learning exercise would be to write an FM
scanning radio in QBASIC. Fancier control programs can do more, such as the
regular DSP-10 program. This might be useful for anyone wanting to serve a
special purpose, such as noise surveys.

2-If one wants to process spectral data to extract coherent signals, special
signatures, or broad-band noise, the "Record" feature of the regular DSP-10
can be used. This is a dump to disk of all the data used to construct the
lower half of the waterfall. It also records most control settings, so that
gain, bandwidth and levels are known. Data is time/date stamped. This is
toggled ON/OFF by ALT-F or ALT-f. Be aware that the files get big quickly,
especially if the SpecAve setting is low. A program to process this data
needs to be written for each individual application. This is an off-line
program working on a file. Any favorite language would work. If you are
working in C, I can supply a start (but working example) of a program.

Obviously, there are lots more applications possible. Two Pacific Northwest
stations are exploring the troposphere at 10 GHz, right now. Four of us are
also exploring the 2-meter propagation to KJ6KO/B in CM88 (350 to 600 mile
paths). Start playing around and see what you might discover. The long term
spectrogram tells a lot.

Keep the other ideas coming!

73, Bob

>Ed Hare, W1RFI wrote:

At 09:13 AM 2/14/02 -0500, you wrote:
>Steve Bible writes:
>
>> Changing subjects a little - has anyone noticed how such a 
>> contriversal topic has created such a flurry of emails?  How about a 
>> flurry of emails on technical topics like circuits, software, or anything
>for the DSP-10?
>
>I think it would be neat to know what things people have done with their
>DSP-10s, or what they intend to be doing.
>
>The ARRL Lab has two of them, still being built.  We intend to look into the
>feasibility of their use for the ARIA noise study (with a transverter).  On
>a personal note, I want to borrow one of them and transvert it to HF to see
>how the work Bob Larkin et al have done on QRP moonbounce translates to HF.
>I have done 10 milliwatt QSOs coast-to-coast, so it would be WAY cool to see
>if 40 dB could be squeezed  out of the integration techniques and do a 1
>microwatt W1-W6 QSO! 
>
>It's the QRPer in me!
>
>What might also help is if any new apps that are developed by hamdom are all
>on one site for download.  
>
>73, 
>Ed Hare, W1RFI
>ARRL Lab
>225 Main St
>Newington, CT 06111
>Tel: 860-594-0318
>Internet: [email protected]
>Web: http://www.arrl.org/tis
>
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steven Bible [mailto:[email protected]]
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 10:18 PM
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: RE: [DSP-10] EZKit-Lite
>> 
>> 
>> No, I did mean $149.00.  I split the difference in cost.  
>> $149.00 was also
>> the price of the Motorola DSP56002EVM that was very popular with DSP
>> experimenters.  Another EVM that has past.
>> 
>> Lesson learned here is that evaluation kits have a limited lifetime.
>> Companies are always improving their designs, trying to make 
>> them better and
>> cheaper.  Hanging on to old technology is not cost effective. 
>>  If you see an
>> experiment with and EVM, don't waver thinking you will buy it 
>> later.  Later
>> sometimes means it is gone, never to return.  Next thing you 
>> know you see it
>> on eBay at twice, sometimes three times the price!
>> 
>> The same lesson goes for surplus gear.  Case in point the Drake MMDS
>> converter popular with satellite enthusiasts.  Once gone, 
>> everyone wanted
>> one.
>> 
>> The price is relative.  At one time something cost $XX.XX.  
>> There is no
>> price that can buy it once it is gone.
>> 
>> Changing subjects a little - has anyone noticed how such a 
>> contriversal
>> topic has created such a flurry of emails?  How about a 
>> flurry of emails on
>> technical topics like circuits, software, or anything for the DSP-10?
>> 
>> - Steve, N7HPR
>>   ([email protected])
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: [email protected]
>> > [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of [email protected]
>> > Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 7:47 AM
>> > To: [email protected]
>> > Subject: RE: [DSP-10] EZKit-Lite
>> >
>> >
>> > On 13 Feb 2002 at 7:18, Steven Bible wrote:
>> >
>> > > Keep in mind that the EZ-KIT at $149.00 (give or take) is 
>> a bargin at
>> > > any price!
>> >
>> > Did you mean to say $249 (which is the current price from ADI)???
>> >
>> > 73,
>> > Don AE5K
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > DSP-10 mailing list
>> > [email protected]
>> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/dsp-10
>> 
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