[Elecraft] Built-in features and side-effects

[Don Wilhelm]

Kevin,

You are absolutely correct - computers have become quite inexpensive.  I 
used to put together my computer systems from the motherboard on up, but 
now it is less expensive just to buy a new machine.  I know TigerDirect 
has off-lease computers running in the 2 to 3 GHz range for less than 
$200 and a new computer can be had for $500 at many places.
Get yourself a good computer plus a capable soundcard and there will be 
a LOT less 'playing' with it - load the applications and go.
I believe many of the 'problems' and related forum comments encountered 
stems from attempting to use whatever old computer is laying around for 
compute intensive operations.  In other words, trying to use that trusty 
old 233 MHz computer with 64 Meg of RAM and a 10 GB hard drive running 
Windows 95 will just not hack it with the applications needed for SDR 
processing.   Attempting to do something similar is a sure recipe for 
frustration.

73,
Don W3FPR

Kevin wrote:
> So, how is adding a keyboard, I assume mouse port for point and click 
> tuning, and a video output for the much bigger, better, and inevitable 
> 20" LCD display to an Elecraft "box" different than running the LP-PAN 
> with a computer?
>
> The computer is going to win the performance, flexibility and 
> usability question every time.
>
> If I was going to do a pan adapter for the K3 I'd run down to Costco, 
> Sam Club, hell, even Best Buy and pick up a $500 PC, bump the memory 
> up to 2G, might spend another $100 on improved video system, $100 
> bucks for the E-MU 0202 sound card, $175 for the LP-Pan and for less 
> than $1K I've got a pan adapter which will run circles around anything 
> Elecraft can put in one box.
>
>
> Craig D. Smith wrote:
>> Yes, you are correct - It can all be done with an external computer.  
>> But
>> with how much hassle?  I've been following the first user experiences 
>> with
>> the LP-Pan panadaptor that uses this approach.  I have great respect for
>> Larry's designs and am convinced that the performance of the 
>> panadaptor is
>> superb - I may even own one someday.  However the email reflector 
>> contains
>> mostly item after item discussing sound card compatability, cabling
>> connections, operating systems, third party SDR software configurations,
>> etc. etc. etc.
>>        I LIKE playing with radios!   I DON'T like playing with 
>> computers !!!
>>
>> The above sentiment is a personal one.  I'm sure there are many 
>> others that
>> enjoy fussing with computers.  I'm just not one of them.
>>
>>               73
>>                         ... Craig  AC0DS
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <> <> Okay, perhaps you can't have touch screen just yet, though the 
>> next
>> version
>> <> of Windows is rumored to have this. But in any case, could you 
>> click as
>> <> accurately on a signal with your finger as you could with a mouse?
>> <> <> -----
>> <> Julian, G4ILO  K3 s/n: 222 K2 s/n: 392
>> <> G4ILO's Shack: www.g4ilo.com
>> <> Zerobeat Ham Forums: www.zerobeat.net/smf
>> <> --
>> <> View this message in context:
>> http://www.nabble.com/-K3--Built-in-features-and-
>> <> side-effects-tp17762047p17765647.html
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