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Re: Comparison: K3 and SDR 5000A

Posted by Richard Smith-23 on Oct 09, 2007; 4:33pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/Comparison-K3-and-SDR-5000A-tp454268p454273.html

Thanks for the info on this program, John.  I'll download it and give it a
try.

My first reaction without trying the program (always dangerous) is that
needing HRD sitting between the PowerSDR GUI and the K3, and controlling the
K3 via serial commands, will leave users with the feeling that software
control just isn't responsive enough for real world uses.  To me, even a
slight delay in response, or waiting for the rig to catch up with the GUI
user, is annoying enough for me to reach for the knobs.  It certainly won't
cut it for competitive contesting.  The PowerSDR when used with the
SDR-1000, and I assume the SDR-5000A as well, has an instantaneous "feel" to
the software.  It feels very natural to tune, and no adjustment is necessary
by the user to learn how to use it effectively.  It is a generation beyond
what you propose in software control.  My beef with serial
command-controlled hardware radios has always been the tuning "lag" I
experience as I sweep the software controls up and down the band and the
radio tries to keep up.  That is not the case with the PowerSDR running the
SDR-1000 or 5000A.  Maybe the K3, the interface, the software and the PC
will all be responsive enough to emulate the excellent "feel" of the
PowerSDR running an SDR-5000A, but I'm skeptical it will.  Right now, this
solution seems like a band-aid to me.

Also, is booting a computer really an issue?  I use mine these days for so
many things, it is always on or in standby.  I can play radio at anytime by
simply clicking the PowerSDR icon.

It will be interesting to see how things evolve.

73,

Rich W1EZ

----- Original Message -----
From: "John A. McCabe" <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 7:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Comparison: K3 and SDR 5000A


> Hi All
>
> "Since Power SDR has a Kenwood CAT interface, I would bet it would
> relatively easy to couple PowerSDR with a SoftRock40, a relatively
> inexpensive soundcard and a few lines of custom software to both provide a
> "bandscope" and fully control the K3"
>
>
> There already is a modified version of PowerSDR that is similar to what
> you are describing. It is a version that works with Ham Radio Deluxe and a
> Softrock to allow point and click bandscope tuning in PowerSDR of any
> radio that has an IF out (which includes the K3) and supported  by  Ham
> Radio Deluxe.  I have tried it and it does work (Not on a K3 however,
> still waiting on mine like the rest of us). To me this is the best of both
> worlds, a High performance K3 controlled by computer and/or Knobs.
> Sometimes I just don't want to have to boot my computer up to use my
> radio, and at other times the features of bandscope point and click tuning
> would be nice.
>
> The software is at the following location: http://www.wu2x.com/sdr.html
>
> 73, John KD8K
>
>
>
>
>
>>
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