[DSP-10] DSP-10 Progress

[Jimmy Oldaker W7CQ]

To: ALL DSP-10 users or interested people!

These questions were raised by Ron - VK6KDD and I got to thinking everyone 
should see what is going on behind the scenes in DSP-10 development!  This 
is an edited version of e-mail conversations with VK6KDD on some very good 
questions he had about DSP-10 development and its current status.

>All I am after is reasonable SSB audio quality on RX and TX and basic
>functions of the radio. (VK6KDD)

Ron:
We have finished the SSB audio and FM audio modifications to allow custom 
audio bandpass filters on tx and receive.  You can take a "crummy" mike and 
tailored the audio with bandpass filters to match your voice requirements 
and make it sound like a $150 Heil mike.  I think you will be very happy 
with the audio quality improvements!  Check out the KD7TS web 
site  (   http://members.ispwest.com/kd7ts/ver3/Man2.html   ) for an online 
manual on how to set these up.
I downloaded his web manual to my computer and this allows me to get it at 
any time without being on line.   (W7CQ)

>Is Bob (W7PUA)  currently working on the software?  (VK6KDD)

Software is being modified on almost a daily basis by Bob with  W7LHL, 
KD7TS, W7SLB, W7SZ, K7NQ,  KC7WW, Myself  and Bob as Beta testers.  I bet 
not 5 days go by without a new idea being proposed and implemented.  Not 
earth shaking changes but things to make it better or easier to 
operate.  Not every idea works exactly as planned and some modifications 
cause undesired side effects but and as we work through them Bob puts out 
updates.  There is a plan in the works and being considered by KC7WW on 
putting the whole thing on a Linux platform, though he is very busy at this 
present times with other matters.  Automatic clock updating of the DSP-10 
clock, using GPS data,  for highly accurate timing needed in several high 
accuracy modes (PUA43 for one) is in the planning stages on now.

This last week W7LHL and KD7TS have been doing work on using the DSP-10 
audio section, independent of the DSP-10, as a stand alone device to use 
with any other radio (HF or VHF and beyond) as an audio processor with all 
the modes available from the DSP-10 but not the frequency accuracy the 
DSP-10 allows.  Results are very GOOD!   They just breakout the DAC lines 
from the EZLite and or DSPx  and go to their favorite other rig.  (It makes 
good audio spectrum analyzer if nothing else.) and the software covers the 
mode choices.

KC7WW has done this to his ICOM 706 on 6 meters and uses the DSP audio 
spectrum analyzer and can see signals in the waterfall long before he 
actually hears a signal indicating band openings.

W7LHL and KD7TS have been doing the same on 1296 with their TS2000's very 
good results using many DSP-10 modes.

A plan is in the works to have the DSP-10 scan 100KHz of the band for 
signals and relieve the operator of this requirement when mountain 
topping.  ( this will have to be on DSPx versions since the EZLite does not 
have enough computing power left for this plan.)

Speaking of this, the new development of the EZLite versions will stop ( 
due to computation restrictions) and all new development will shift to the 
DSPx versions with much more room to expand.  The EZLite is a good device 
but we have ideas in our thoughts, that the EZLite  just doesn't have room 
to handle.  Time moves on!
  (W7CQ)


>I hear very little on these news groups about the progress of the
>DSP-X. So that is why I conclude the project is dead ...  (VK6KDD)


We all meet every morning on 3.818 MHz at 8:30 am PST for discussion of 
what is and is not working and ideas of direction.
         I think we need to make a correction in this area.  I feel your 
are RIGHT, in that there is not enough output on the news group.  In our 
daily discussions we have overlooked the idea that NOT EVERYONE else knows 
what we are doing.
         I guess we need to let everyone know what we are doing!!!!!!  This 
will be a start!  We know what is going on but others don't!  We will make 
changes in this area to let all know of progress even if it is progress 
that hasn't been finalized.   (W7CQ)

>This might be a little provocative ... but it leads to a healthy 
>discussion.  (VK6KDD)

Nothing wrong with discussion.  This gives us Ideas on which way to go!  I 
will be discussing your thoughts on 75 meters in the morning.   Please 
write we at any time or post to the reflector your thoughts.

Bob (W7PUA) monitors the reflector and always is there to answer 
questions.  Mike KD7TS is always around for technical problems and is quick 
to offer help when problems arise.

This is for everyone.

The above e-mail was posted to help others know what has been going on and 
we will try and be more observant to the whole group of DSP-10 owners and 
builders!  This is a very exciting area of ham radio development and 
pushing the envelope.

Jump in and help if you can or like me, learn new things every day.

My thanks to Ron VK6KDD for waking me up to what was and was not going on.

Jimmy  W7CQ