--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Nice website you have, Phil!
There aren't too many of us homebrewers left. :-)

73 Mike
W0BTU
https://web.archive.org/web/20190827040547/http://w0btu.com/


--
73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

Thank you very much.

Just checked your site, very nice.  I see Collins Gray, Heathkit green and I think Drake there.  Not sure what the newer black xceiver is. What is the rack setup, a converted BCB transmitter for 160?  Looks like a very nice location too, with room for beverages etc.  Me, I'm in a mobile home with almost NO yard space, so not a lot of antenna room.

 Actually, I haven't done much homebrewing for quite some time due to severe arthritis in my hands (especially the right one). The picture on my web site of my operating position is way out of date, most of the gear has been changed out (wifey bought me the FTDX101MP (May 2020) and FTDX3000 (May 2019) for our anniversaries.  She knew her time was very short and wanted me to have radios to remember her by, like I could ever forget her! Yes, I did tell her those radios were too expensive and tried to dissuade her from buying them, but she wouldn't listen to me ;-) She was great at saving money and wanted to use some of her "stash". . .

Anyway, I DID just order two Softrock receiver kits to give me something to do this summer.  With my hands I'll have to be careful, but think I can do it (I miss building stuff).  I wanted an LF and an HF version for a project, but it appears that all they have now are the HF receivers.  I do have a Divide/16 board so I should be able to figure something out.  Biggest problem will be figuring out and getting the proper toroid cores for the filters.

<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

My my;
What a joy to have someone post a "test". I was just on the phone with an old parts supplier friend (you might know him.."dans small....". I was lamenting that there were not more builders out there but he said that there are! (mostly of the older bunch) but many are still building. This makes me happy.
I enjoyed looking at both your sites and loved seeing what you are doing or have done!

I currently have a box full of softrock units some built some not but I am hoping to build these into usable rigs for me. I just bought a bunch of older softrock units in boxes and the such with a ton of extra sound devices to use for a song and a dance. I do have a perseus too for listening too. Phil lists all the nice things he has. He has a wonderful site to behold. And then there is Mike living in the sticks (like me) but with far far fewer trees. Mikes site is also something to behold.

And to boot this is on the softrock40 site, which has be dear to my heart for many years... and now that I have the time I can do something after going into disability at 66. After dreaming of doing something like Phil and Mike...I am 68 now.. with lots and lots of time and some equipment... now where did I put that energy.. strokes do some horrible things.

Thanks for the "test" I really appreciate that.
72/73
Guy N1GMM


--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!

Guy:

I have worked out the kinks for the Quisk program to run the Softrocks via
a Raspberry pi 3 or 4. Quisk is much better than (the detested) HPSDR and
others. It's like a standard SDR radio interface.

I'll be glad to dup a micro SD card for you.

Chuck w8mqw

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 5:18 PM Guy Mengel N1GMM via groups.io <guy=
eastroad.org@groups.io> wrote:

My my;
What a joy to have someone post a "test". I was just on the phone with an
old parts supplier friend (you might know him.."dans small....". I was
lamenting that there were not more builders out there but he said that
there are! (mostly of the older bunch) but many are still building. This
makes me happy.
I enjoyed looking at both your sites and loved seeing what you are doing
or have done!

I currently have a box full of softrock units some built some not but I am
hoping to build these into usable rigs for me. I just bought a bunch of
older softrock units in boxes and the such with a ton of extra sound
devices to use for a song and a dance. I do have a perseus too for
listening too. Phil lists all the nice things he has. He has a wonderful
site to behold. And then there is Mike living in the sticks (like me) but
with far far fewer trees. Mikes site is also something to behold.

And to boot this is on the softrock40 site, which has be dear to my heart
for many years... and now that I have the time I can do something after
going into disability at 66. After dreaming of doing something like Phil
and Mike...I am 68 now.. with lots and lots of time and some equipment...
now where did I put that energy.. strokes do some horrible things.

Thanks for the "test" I really appreciate that.
72/73
Guy N1GMM


--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!

Hi Chuck.
I will take you up on the card as I am more familiar with Linux than windows.
I will replace your sd card with one like it immediately. I have a couple of pi’s about.
Thanks! My qrz address is good.
Yours is too?

Thanks so very much.
72/73.

Ps. Quite the setup and place you have!
--
guy (at) eastroad (dot) org

-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. .
\|%|///
| ~ ~ |
^( @ @ )^
---------o000o--_/-o000o---------
N1GMM

Have a good day!

Chuck,
By chance have you used a "HifiBerry" ADC with the SoftRock?
I was just about to order one from PiShop.us. I understand that it is a 192kHz 24 bit I2S ADC which attaches via the Pi GPIO connector, apparently fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS.
Mike

Yes, I installed one. It's a good unit.

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 2:40 PM wirtz.mjw via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

Chuck,
By chance have you used a "HifiBerry" ADC with the SoftRock?
I was just about to order one from PiShop.us. I understand that it is a
192kHz 24 bit I2S ADC which attaches via the Pi GPIO connector, apparently
fully supported by Raspberry Pi OS.
Mike

Thanks, I just placed an order for a HiFiBerry. I had been running Quisk on Linux with an inbuilt laptop "sound card" and am looking forward to playing with a Raspberry Pi to upgrade the ADC capability. Quisk on Linux just seems to work better for me (vs. either HDSDR or Quisk on windows).

Mike

Mike:

You may require audio isolators like the 3.5mm in/out in the photo.
Improves performance.

Chuck w8mqw

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 5:41 PM wirtz.mjw via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

Thanks, I just placed an order for a HiFiBerry. I had been running Quisk
on Linux with an inbuilt laptop "sound card" and am looking forward to
playing with a Raspberry Pi to upgrade the ADC capability. Quisk on Linux
just seems to work better for me (vs. either HDSDR or Quisk on windows).

Mike

Chuck,
Really appreciate the tip, but I must be a bit thick these days -- can't find the photo you mention.
I do have some 600 ohm to 600 ohm EL-14 transformers, is that the idea? Like in the QRP Labs QSD receiver module?
Mike W

Mike:

I'm not sure what Z these isolation transformers are. What is standard?
Line 10k?

Here's what my AI said:

Audio transformers are designed to provide specific impedance ratios for
different audio equipment, such as microphones, amplifiers, loudspeakers,
and recording equipment. The input impedances of signal level devices, like
mixing console outputs, loud-speaker processors, and equalizers, are
typically around 10K ohms or more.

Chuck w8mqw

On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 9:12 AM Mike W via groups.io <wirtz.mjw=
gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

Chuck,
Really appreciate the tip, but I must be a bit thick these days -- can't
find the photo you mention.
I do have some 600 ohm to 600 ohm EL-14 transformers, is that the idea?
Like in the QRP Labs QSD receiver module?
Mike W

Hello Phil,

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024, 3:30 PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

Just checked your site, very nice. I see Collins Gray,

32S-3, 75S-3, and 312B-4. All modified.


Heathkit green


SB-200. Once modified for 160m.


and I think Drake there.


R-4C with all the *Ham Radio* magazine contest modifications.


Not sure what the newer black xceiver is.


Icom IC-765 is the main rig. Many modifications.


What

is the rack setup, a converted BCB transmitter for 160?

It's a legal limit linear amplifier using two 833-C tubes in parallel. Pegs
the 2000 watt scale into a dummy load on 160 and 80. ;-) There's a page
there that explains that.

My QRZ page goes into more detail. My email address is there; if you want
to continue this, we should probably use email. V-)

73, Mike
W0BTU
https://web.archive.org/web/20190827040547/http://w0btu.com/


Looks like a

very nice location too, with room for beverages etc. Me, I'm in a
mobile home with almost NO yard space, so not a lot of antenna room.

Actually, I haven't done much homebrewing for quite some time due to
severe arthritis in my hands (especially the right one). The picture on
my web site of my operating position is way out of date, most of the
gear has been changed out (wifey bought me the FTDX101MP (May 2020) and
FTDX3000 (May 2019) for our anniversaries. She knew her time was very
short and wanted me to have radios to remember her by, like I could ever
forget her! Yes, I did tell her those radios were too expensive and
tried to dissuade her from buying them, but she wouldn't listen to me
;-) She was great at saving money and wanted to use some of her "stash".
. .

Anyway, I DID just order two Softrock receiver kits to give me something
to do this summer. With my hands I'll have to be careful, but think I
can do it (I miss building stuff). I wanted an LF and an HF version for
a project, but it appears that all they have now are the HF receivers.
I do have a Divide/16 board so I should be able to figure something
out. Biggest problem will be figuring out and getting the proper toroid
cores for the filters.

<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/
...

--
73, Mike
www.w0btu.com

If I can jump in on your thread - I have two softrock receivers (HF and LF)
built by Tony. They are both in metal cases. I am not using them and
doubt I will ever do so. I have hesitated putting them on the list because
someone would grab them and not ever use them. That is not what I want
done with them. Is there anyone here who would actually use them?

Larry

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 2:08 PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

I would use them. I’ve been undertaking a lot of reading about SDRs, found
out about the SoftRock and was sorry to have missed out on the early days
of inexpensive kits.

Mark KI4HQK

On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 7:34 PM mail@... via groups.io <mail=
lokey.info@groups.io> wrote:

If I can jump in on your thread - I have two softrock receivers (HF and LF)
built by Tony. They are both in metal cases. I am not using them and
doubt I will ever do so. I have hesitated putting them on the list because
someone would grab them and not ever use them. That is not what I want
done with them. Is there anyone here who would actually use them?

Larry

On Fri, Jun 21, 2024 at 2:08 PM Philip Atchley via groups.io <ko6bb=
yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

--
<>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><>
Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons)
Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

EQUIPMENT:
YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020)
YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019).
Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020)
Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021)
SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF
ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher.
HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's.
HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp.
Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter
Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter.
ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF.
Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element).
Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M
Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF.
Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL
Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner
QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Mark

I see that you are in Marshall County. I am in Jefferson County. Will you
be at the Cullman Hamfest next week? I could bring them to you then.

Larry N4LKY

I've got a couple of Hams interested already. Thanks for the responses.