[NLRS] SoftRock 10m RxTx update

[Bill Davis Jr]

  Hello all

  The beta 10m RxTX Softrock has been built and tested. I currently had in running in conjunction with a DEM 28-144 25w xverter and it is being used with the IF switching unit I have been using with my 144mhz SDR rec IF. This allows easy test and evaluation on 902 and 10ghz.

  Gary W0GHZ also built one of the beta units. He has not to my knowledge tested the TX side.  The construction was no different than previous Softrock RxTx units except the 10m unit uses a small daughter board for its 4x Osc. The crystal that we have allows operation using the 96kc soundcard of 28.089+/- 48kc ... so the 144.100 IF frequency is covered nicely.

  On receive, the no signal noise can be ran as high as S4, so plenty of gain. The TX side looked good providing 1w out at 28Mhz. I am using a 6db pad between the Softrock and the DEM transverter, I have the TX "gain" backed down as well as the software gain on the SDR software. I am running about 1 watt to the transverters for evaluation. It is early, but I am very happy with the initial observations. Locally it looks and sounds good on both CW and SSB.

  At this point, nothing new on the Si570 programmable oscillator to allow better frequency agility, other than that still looks viable.  I have posted a couple of photos of the 10m RxTx on my SDR website...   http://www.geocities.com/en37ham/10mRxTx.html

  Gary was heard on 10Ghz tonight and he heard my Softrock based 10Ghz sig as well at about 10db over the noise both ways. 

73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed