[Elecraft] Softrock panadapter for K3

[Brian Alsop]

Guys,

I'm in the process of doing this.  I'm no expert.  There seems to be no 
single source tutorial anywhere.  One has to be willing to do a lot of 
GOOGLE searches to overcome problems you encounter along the way.

Several of the PVRC guys have these up an running.  It isn't as simple 
as it looks at first blush-- especially if you want frequency displayed 
on the panadapter.  I'm interested in a type of display that doesn't 
move displayed signals when you tune the K3.  That's not what you get 
ordinarily.

Many people experience "hum" problems with the $19 variety SDR.  Solving 
this involves a lot of experimentation.  SDR center frequency feed 
though is also a problem.  The Z10000 buffer amp helps keeps this out of 
the display.

Like the PVRC guys, I'm interested in having the "panadapter" export 
spots to a logging program.  Doing so involves a number of layers of 
both hardware and software.  This requires use of SKIMMER software 
hooked to the SOFTROCK IF radio.  SKIMMER simultaneously decodes the 
whole band of CW signals.  The result is a bandmap of data showing calls 
and frequencies.  These spots can be exported to a telnet site.

Other gotcha's:
1) SKIMMER is a big CPU hog.  Running it and several other programs at 
the same time really requires a multicore PC or a very fast single CPU 
machine.
2) SKIMMER needs K3 frequency info.  So you need to use some software to 
create port sharing so that frequency info is available to both your 
logging program and SKIMMER.
3) The buffer amp isolation of the SR center frequency signal is a 
requirement.
4) SKIMMER can export spots to TELNET.  However, you will most likely 
need a program which combines TELNET packet cluster spots from several 
sources into one "TELNET port" for your logging program.

Because of 1) several guys have gone to running SKIMMER on one machine 
and the rest of their software on another.  Getting the shared port info 
from the second computer to the first is another obstacle to overcome.

I'm sure there are more gotcha's in doing this.  I'm not far along to 
have stumbled upon this just yet.

73 de Brian/K3KO

Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Bill,
> 
> You will find all the documentation you need on the SoftRock40 Yahoo 
> group.  I don't like navigating Yahoo Groups much, but the info is in 
> the Files area, and you have to join the group to get access.
> 
> If you are seriously considering this alternative, I suggest you use a 
> Clifton Labs Z10000 buffer between the K3 and the Softroct to keep the 
> Softrock LO signal out of the K3 IF.  My implementation is awaiting for 
> the enclosure I have chosen to arrive from TenTec.
> 
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
> 
> NZ0T wrote:
>> Is there any documentation on how to go about building the Softrock
>> panadapter for the K3?  I haven't found anything via a search here or on the
>> internet.  Any help?  Seems like an inexpensive way to get panadapter
>> capability.
>>
>> 73 Bill NZ0T
>>   
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