new computer advice suggestions for using with a K3

[David Cutter]

Didn't Wayne have a smart phone solution a couple of months ago?  Sorry,
can't remember the detail.

David
G3UNA

> Pignology has a wifi interface that makes an iPad feasible as a
> logging/controlling computer.  There's a version of Rumlog for iPad, as
> well as Pignology's Hamlog.  Android tablets reportedly work as well.
>
> Peter W0LLN
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 12, 2013 at 8:27 AM, Bill Frantz <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Please allow me to hijack this thread to ask about low power draw
>> computers for use with the K3.
>>
>> Last field day I set up our club's digital station with a K3/10,
>> SignaLink
>> USB, and a MacBook Pro. The combination worked very well, but the MacBook
>> Pro, connected through the Apple power adapter and a Radio Shack inverter
>> drew 3 to 4 times as much power as all the rest of the system. I used the
>> Elecraft USB <--> RS232 cable for rig control.
>>
>> So I am looking for a computer that runs on 12 volts and draws a minimum
>> amount of current. It should be low noise and all those other good things
>> as well. My OS preferences are in order: MacOS -- because I know it,
>> flavors of Linux -- so I won't have to configure a Windows system and
>> deal
>> with Microsoft's license verification, and finally Windows.
>>
>> On the MacBook Pro I was running cocoaModem and RUMped. I expect on other
>> OSes I will run fldigi and a contest logger to be names later.
>>
>> Does anyone have any suggestions?
>>
>> Cheers - Bill, AE6JV
>>

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[Rick WA6NHC]

I'm using an Atom for one of my IRLP nodes (7962, CentOS 6.4) and file server.  It is mini-itx (small), doesn't use much power (~10 watts) and lowers power (slows, not off) when the need is low.   It has a SSD so there are no moving parts, including no fan (I keep it in the air path of the radio fan just because I can).  Although the docs say it is limited to 4 GB it runs great on 8 GB.  I minimize access to the SSD for improved longevity.

It is not screaming fast at 1.66 GHz, but could be adequate for your needs.

However, you will find that most of your computer energy draw is from the display (Atom is CPU only).  That can be significant.

Turning the brightness down (easier at night) can save a lot.

A small "I-3/5/7" CPU based laptop (because they conserve energy better) is likely the simplest complete package to purchase.   They can be found cheaper than the Atom system I built (I needed a real parallel port).  Perhaps use Linux (or Hackintosh to set up your OS since you already use a Mac).  Failing that, Win7 is preferred over Win8, which is still developing (bleah!).  Win7 is a mature and stable product.

73,
Rick wa6nhc

Tiny iPhone 5 keypad, typos are inevitable

On Aug 12, 2013, at 9:48 AM, "Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I love the Via C7 "Eden" processor, but unless you have one around to test, I wouldn't buy one for this application without doing a lot of testing.
>
> Why?  Floating Point performance is lousy, and I think that'll show with fldigi and other digital mode software.
>
> Look to the Intel Atom CPUs for good floating point and a low-power processor.
>
> I use the C7 in routers and servers that don't do anything beyond integer math.  They're incredibly good.
>
> On 8/12/2013 7:00 AM, Richard Neese wrote:
>> http://www.ewayco.com/ <http://www.ewayco.com/51-embedded-systems-100-PC-mini-ITX-low-cost/11-tk-800mhz-low-cost-pc-embedded-system.html>
>>
>> R.Neese KB3VGW
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[Lynn W. Taylor, WB6UUT]

Clock speed is almost completely meaningless, even comparing processors
from the same manufacturer.

A good example is the Pentium 3 and Pentium 4.  The P3 ran at half the
clock speed (or less), but it took significantly fewer clocks to do an
operation.

The difference was so significant that the next generation Intel mobile
processors were more closely related to the P3 than the P4 -- because
power is consumed on on the clock transition and not during the
steady-state in between.

It only matters when you're talking about the same processor at
different speeds.

On 8/12/2013 10:33 AM, Rick Bates wrote:
> It is not screaming fast at 1.66 GHz, but could be adequate for your needs.

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