useful dsp tools for vhf and up operating

October 2007 W3SZ MUD 2007 PackRats

Useful DSP Tools forVHF and UpOperating


PackRats MUD20007 DVDcompiled by W3SZ

• D:\startlocal.htm


You need more than just DSP!


VHF and UP vs HF

• HF Contest “Problem”– Multiple closely packed bone-crushing signals

• dBm/Hz integrated over front-end passband– Noise– Changing propagation– New multipliers

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Extremely effective noise reduction/blanking– Band activity map– Extremely steep filters


VHF and UP vs HF

• Lower VHF Contest “Problem” is Similar to HF– Multiple closely packed bone-crushing signals

• dBm/Hz integrated over front-end passband

– Noise– Changing propagation– New multipliers

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Extremely effective noise reduction/blanking– Band activity map– Extremely steep filters


VHF and UP vs HF

• Lower VHF Contest “Problem” is Similar to HF– Multiple closely packed bone-crushing signals

• dBm/Hz integrated over front-end passband

– Noise– Changing propagation– New multipliers

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Extremely effective noise reduction/blanking– Use this slide to demonstrate Linrad Noiseblanking

– Next slide shows bandmap and filter


VHF and UP vs HF• Lower VHF Problem is Similar to

HF– Multiple closely packed bone-

crushing signals• dBm/Hz integrated over front-end

passband– Noise– Awareness of changing

propagation– Awareness of new multipliers

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Extremely effective noise

reduction/blanking– Band activity map– Extremely steep filters

• Use this slide to show examples [Audio/Visual] NB, Linrad Filter Curve, and Band Activity Map


Finding a spot on 6 meters


VHF and UP vs HF

• Upper VHF and Lower UHF Contest “Problem”222 and 432 MHz are ‘transition bands’

– Noise Not generally an issue– Changing propagation– New stations/multipliers– Minor frequency uncertainty

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Band activity map– Sensitive, realtime, 150-190 kHz bandscope


VHF and UP vs HF

• 903 MHz Contest “Problem”– Cellular and Paging System Noise– Moderate Frequency uncertainty

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Sensitive, realtime, 150-190 KHz bandscope

• Less effective on this band unless noise is removed

– Noise Reduction


VHF and UP vs HF

• 903 MHz Problem– Cellular and Paging System

Noise• Greatly reduce the effectiveness

of the Bandscope

– Moderate Frequency uncertainty

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Sensitive, realtime, 150-190

KHz bandscope• Less effective on this band as

noted above• Use this slide to show example Linrad Bandscope in

903 MHz


VHF and UP vs HF

• 1296 MHz and Up Contest “Problem”– “Needle in a haystack” problem

• Frequency uncertainty• Antenna heading uncertainty• Time coordination a necessity

– Noise is not an issue

• DSP/SDR help by providing– Sensitive, realtime, 150-190 KHz bandscope

• DSP/SDR totally changes the paradigm


VHF and UP vs HF

• 1296 MHz and Up Contest “Problem”– Show blank screen

• Play audio no signal• Role-play contact without DSP

– Show Linrad Bandscope with signal at extreme end• Play audio with no signal• “Click on Signal”• Play audio with signal• Role-play contact with DSP• Again mention 72 kHz off-frequency 24 GHz contact

– Would it have been made without Linrad??


Station Design

• All bands 50 MHz thru 24 GHz / Single Operator

• Goals:– Maximize Ease of Operation

• Automate Bandswitching using Software Control

– Achieve accurate, stable frequency control• GPS Lock 902 MHz and above

– Maximize Information Control: know what is happening on multiple bands at all times

• Linrad Bandscopes


Station Design [2]

• Logging Program [RoverLog] provides [via parallel port] Automatic Bandswitching of all functions:

• IF transceiver / transverter connections• T/R Sequencing / control of:

– Transverters– Power amplifiers– Receive preamplifiers

• One main IF rig is used for all bands• Separate ancillary rig is used for microwave

liaison using any of 144, 222, 432 MHz


Block Diagram


Information Control• Linrad bandscope constantly monitors 150-190 kHz wide portion of

primary band using RF Space’s SDR-IQ as “28 MHz front end”– Typing “Q” instantly moves the main radio [FT1000MP] to the frequency

of an interesting signal seen/heard on this bandscope

• Four “always on” auxiliary Linrad bandscopes constantly monitor 50-432 MHz– SDR-IQ/SDR-14 on Six and Two meters provide 150-190 kHz

wide bandscopes– Soft-Rock / Delta44’s on 222 and 432 MHz provide 96 kHz wide

bandscopes.– Typing ‘Q’ instantly moves the main radio [FT1000MP] to the

frequency of an interesting signal seen/heard on any one of the four auxiliary bandscopes

• The bandscopes are fed via splitters from the 28 MHz IF receive outputs of the transverters


Information Control

• Role-play multiple band run [SSB]– Show linrad screens,

‘walk thru’ RoverLog bandswitchingAlways have other station transmit first.

Click on signal

Type ‘Q’

Say “K1DS W3SZ FN20 QSL QSY”

Hit Function Key to move to next band


Information Control

• Role-play multiple band run [SSB]– Show linrad screens,

‘walk thru’ RoverLog bandswitchingIf signal is weak and you are on CW

Type ‘Q’ to center signal, then peak antenna heading

Say on liaison frequency “I’ve got you; start exchange”

Complete exchange, send “QSL QSY”

Hit function key to go to next band.


SDR

• Software– Linrad; receive only; “Linrad transceiver”– Winrad; receive only; dll available– PowerSDR; both transmit and receive

• Hardware– WSE receiver from SM5BSZ– SDR-14 and SDR-IQ from RF Space– Flex-5000 and SDR-1000 from Flex-Radio– [SoftRock from KB8YIG]


Software Product Matrix Part I

Product Bandscope width

Operating System

Transmit & Receive

Xpol Receive

Hardware Noise Reduction

Open Source

Linrad No Limit Linux / Windows

Rx Only Yes WSE

SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes Yes

Winrad 192 kHz Windows Rx Only No WSE

SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes No

PowerSDR 192 kHz Windows Both Tx/Rx No SDR-1000

Flex-5000

SoftRock

Any I/Q rx

Yes Yes


Software Product Matrix Part II

Product Effectiveness Versatility Learning Curve Special Hardware Required to Calibrate?

Can Run Multiple Instances?

Linrad Smart/Dumb Noise-blanker combination is unsurpassed.

Filters are very effective

Extremely adaptable; several pages of parameters which can be adjusted

Steep, due to versatility.

To begin, just accept defaults.

Documentation voluminous but sometimes opaque

Yes Yes

Winrad Good Good Simple to learn No Yes

PowerSDR Very Good Very Good Easy learning curve given its versatility, very well documented

No Should be possible with new versions


Linrad Screen

•




Operating System

Transmit & Receive

Xpol Receive


Open Source


Rx Only Yes WSE

SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes Yes


SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes No


Flex-5000

SoftRock

Any I/Q rx

Yes Yes











Yes Yes





Winrad Screen

•




Operating System

Transmit & Receive

Xpol Receive


Open Source


Rx Only Yes WSE

SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes Yes


SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes No


Flex-5000

SoftRock

Any I/Q rx

Yes Yes











Yes Yes





PowerSDR Screen

•




Operating System

Transmit & Receive

Xpol Receive


Open Source


Rx Only Yes WSE

SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes Yes


SDR-14

SDR-IQ

Any

Yes No


Flex-5000

SoftRock

Any I/Q rx

Yes Yes











Yes Yes





Hardware Product Matrix

Product Bandscope Width

Software Xmit Rcv Xpol Rcv

Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price

WSE SM5BSZ 96 kHz Linrad

Any

Rx only Yes Ham bands 160-20 M, 2 M

2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200

Flex-5000 192 kHz PowerSDR Both Tx and Rx

No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799

SDR-1000 192 kHz PowerSDR Both Tx and Rx

No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100

192 kHz PowerSDR Both Tx and Rx

No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad

Rx only No 50 kHz-30 MHz

[50 kHz-230 MHz direct]

NA $1100

SDR-IQ 190 kHz SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad

Rx only No 500 Hz-30 MHz NA

+15 with

Dither

$500

SoftRock Soundcard-limited PowerSDR / Any Varies Possible 160-30 M 30M +18 $30-36


WSE Hardware

•


WSE Hardware





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



Flex-5000

•





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



SDR-1000

•





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



KDG-SR100

•





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



SDR 14





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

WInrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



SDR-IQ

•





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

Winrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



SoftRock

•





Frequency Range

IP3 [dBm] Price


Any


2M >+27

HF: +32

$2200


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+33 $2799


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+26 NA

SDR-1000 clone

KDG-SR100


No 1.8-60 MHz

12kHz-60 MHz Rx

+9 $860

SDR-14 150 kHz

[30 MHz]

SpectraVue

Linrad

WInrad



NA $1100


Linrad

Winrad


+15 with

Dither

$500



More Software and HardwareSee DVD for more info

• Software– Rocky– DttSP– SpectraVue– GnuRadio– Ciao Radio

• Hardware– HPSDR

• Ozymandias/Janus

– Perseus– DSP-10– USRP– SDR-X by Woodbox– Ciao Radio– The Time Machine

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