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HF Amplifier eBay auctions you should keep an eye on:
Eico HF 30 HF-30 Amplifier Photofact Repair Manual | US $5.00 End Date: Saturday Jul-31-2010 16:34:16 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $5.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
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Software defined radio is a radio system that uses software devices as opposed to the typical hardware devices. The implementation is done on computer systems and involves devices such as amplifiers, mixers, modulators, detectors, mixers and so on. Rapid developments in computing systems and digital electronics have made it possible to use software to achieve capabilities in radio systems that were previously only possible through hardware components.
By using ham radio transceivers, one is able to convert his/her personal computer into a software defined radio without the use of external transceivers and antennas. The ability of ham radio transceivers to combine digital communication aspects and conventional air transmission has made it possible to convert PCs into high performance radio systems.
A basic software defined radio as set up on a personal computer will have a sound card and an RF front-end device. Earlier versions of ham radio transceivers used analog to digital converters. Signal processing occurs through the PC processor instead of through normal radio hardware. This makes it possible for the radio to receive and transmit different waveforms and protocols depending on the software used. This is also the particular reason that software defined radios are widely used in cell phone services and the military, as they can capture different radio protocols and wave forms in real time.
Connecting ham radio transceivers to a PC is fun and exciting. Basic electrical and IT skills are sufficient to handle this job. All you need are a few components and the appropriate software. By following these steps, you should be able to connect your ham radio transceiver to your PC without a problem.
1. Connect your PCs sound input with the radio’s headphone output jack. You need to use an isolation transformer. Connecting the transformer cord will trigger a display message on the monitor asking for decoding of the digital software installed. Run the software.
2. To get a radio signal over the air, connect a 100-1 divider with a transformer and patch cords between the sound card output jack and the radio microphone input jack. This will trigger a connection between the computer and the radio.
3. As the radio begins working, adjust the sound card to your preferred output level. Start with the point where it responds, then move to maximum and finally to your preferred level. Tune the radio, now from your computer monitor, adjusting the sound card until the red line fades. Using the mixer control applications on the OS, make the adjustments you need to sound levels.
4. Set your radio manually to transmit and read incoming signals from your keyboard. Alternatively, turn on the system’s voice operated transmitter, VOX to automatically receive and send signals as you link with other digital stations.
The word ‘ham’ as used in software defined radios typically means amateur. By following the above-mentioned guidelines, anyone can have a software defined radio working in no time.
Michael Christie vk3app.com
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