Re: [IRCA] SoftRock RX Ensemble kit for AMBC usage

["Steve Ratzlaff" <steveratz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nick is correct in that the SoftRock RX Ensemble II kit when built for the 
LF-MW option will cover the AMBC band. I have one of those kits, still 
unassembled, with the intention to someday try it on LF. Since it's a kit it 
has to be assembled, and it is all small surface mounts parts, and one needs 
to be comfortable working with SMT components to build the kit. I have no 
problem with that. My problem is many folks have trouble getting the 
software working. I am not good with software unless I have step by step 
procedures to follow. The SoftRock kits are primarily for folks comfortable 
with doing SMT construction plus comfortable with working with software to 
get it running with your particular computer. One list I'm on, it took 
literally several months for some folks to figure out how to get the 
software to work on their computers to run the Ensemble RX II kit. After 
seeing their problems I was much less interested in getting my kit built 
just to see if I could get the software to run.
The other problem one person does all the kitting and distributing of the 
SoftRock kits; it's a part time hobby endeavor for him. He periodically 
makes limited runs of various SoftRock versions, then posts the availability 
on his webpage and on the yahoo SoftRock list. Since there is a continual 
high demand for all versions of SoftRocks, one has to almost order the 
desired kit within minutes of when the message about availability is posted 
to get a chance of getting a kit. That means you have to be subscribed to 
the yahoo list and be able to check email multiple times during the day. I 
was fortunate to get an Ensemble II kit the very first time that I tried. 
Many folks are not so fortunate; some have been waiting for a year or more 
for the chance to obtain one! But the receiver kits aren't as heavily in 
demand as the transceiver kits; that's probably why I was able to get one 
the first time I tried.
But if you have experience working with SMT parts and are highly motivated 
to work with the software to get it going with your computer, then the 
SoftRock kits are definitely the least expensive way to experience a 
"Software Defined Radio".
I have to admit I'm not very motivated any longer even though I could 
assemble the kit.
73,
Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nick Hall-Patch" <nhp@xxxxxxxx>
To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" 
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2011 3:43 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Testing New SDR software


--
Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, BC


from http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/:

Ensemble All-Band RX II

In the second option, the Ensemble RX II provides coverage of LF frequencies
from approximately 160-10m, in four different optional "super bands" (each 
with
underlap and overlap within the parameters of the associated bandpass 
filter):

  1. Band 0: 1000m - Continuous coverage from 180 kHz to 480 kHz
  2. Band 1: 500m - Continuous coverage from 400 kHz to 800 kHz
  3. Band 2: 250m - Continuous coverage from 800 kHz to 1.6 MHz
  4. Band 3: 160m - Continuous coverage from 1.6 MHz to 3.0 MHz

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