On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM, Dr. Gerald N. Johnson
<geraldj@weather.net>wrote:
> Yet one of the problems with the Orion II is limited memory and
> processor capability, compounded for the Orion with less of each. Where
> the desired PC for a Flex radio has a gigabyte or two of ram with a CPU
> running with a 2.5 or 3+ GHz clock speed, with a dedicated processor for
> the video (think gaming computer) and a 32 or 64 bit memory interface,
> preferably 64 bit. It might be that one option for Orions could be an
> analog interface to the external PC with I and Q from the detectors for
> the sweep section or after all the filters at 14 kHz audio so the Flex
> radio (as well as other codes) could be applied in the station PC. Thus
> enabling far greater computer power than the embedded hardware. Its
> likely the limits of the embedded hardware that make things interact in
> new versions of the firmware and that make correcting and adding so very
> difficult. The fast PC could then control the Orion through the
> conventional serial interface.
>
> 73, Jerry, K0CQ
>
> OK, Jerry, you convinced me. Go for it!
Seriously, I wouldn't expect help from TT, but it could be done by a very
motivated ham. The thing is, someone with those skills would have lots
easier ways of getting a powerhouse SDR rig. Buying a Flex XXX is a lot
cheaper, if you value your time!
I would say the Orion (O1 especially) manages to do an awful lot of good
stuff with its limited resources. The DSP chips take most of the
computational load. The rest is user interface, command & control, etc.
What benefits would you possibly hope for by bolting on a super PC backend
(that you couldn't buy somewhere else)? It might be easier to design a
"proper" hardware front panel to put in front of a Flex 5000. :-)
All that said, I do wish the Orion hardware was a bit more open, giving the
user access to the IFs, I/Q, etc. for experimenters. Also, a much more
solid computer control port. And a better frequency standard, external
freq. locking, and on and on... But we go to war with the rigs we have.
73 Martin AA6E
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|