{"id":2267,"date":"2012-07-04T12:24:14","date_gmt":"2012-07-04T16:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/?page_id=2267"},"modified":"2016-10-19T17:23:53","modified_gmt":"2016-10-19T21:23:53","slug":"w4kaz-skimmer-station-general-description","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/?page_id=2267","title":{"rendered":"W4KAZ Softrock Based CW Skimmer Station – 01) General Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original from 2012\/5, updated 2013\/05\/13, 2015\/04\/02, 2015\/05\/03 kaz<\/em><\/p>\n

see the current W4KAZ Skimmer spots via the RBN<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Re: The ongoing Quest of having a local station pushing CW spots into the Reverse Beacon Network.<\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n

CW Skimmer combined with the Reverse Beacon Network<\/a> is a really slick combination for monitoring real world propagation, band activity, contest spotting, and general curiosity.\u00c2\u00a0 Great stuff. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0AC0C published his project information<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0(then click “CW-Skimmer Array” in left sidebar) \u00c2\u00a0for building a CW skimmer based on SoftRocks.\u00c2\u00a0 His skimmer station is essentially a scaled down version of the bleeding edge skimmer station previously built at K3LR based on the Persues SDR<\/a>. In the end he determined that the QS1R(new at that time) was probably a more cost effective and easier approach.\u00c2\u00a0 I agree<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 The QS1R is probably the optimum solution currently available. \u00c2\u00a0(ed, w4kaz – even more true today 2015\/04\/02)<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the optimal solution(QS1R + fast Quad Core i7 computer+ OS + yada-yada-yada) is also expensive enough to be beyond the available ca$h $upply out here in the cheap seats.\u00c2\u00a0 For example, PJ2T has an itemized list of expenses<\/a> for the PJ2T skimmer build circa 2009\/2010(Note: does not include man-hours<\/em>). \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The available “radio toy budget” in the KazShack was the amount of cash that had been budgeted for the then\u00c2\u00a0canceled 2012 IOTA Core Banks expedition – about $150.<\/p>\n

Only$3.7k short of the PJ2t build budget – Yikes! \u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0 OK….\u00c2\u00a0 Alternatives?\u00c2\u00a0 Anything different in 2012\u00c2\u00a0over 2009?<\/p>\n

What a difference a few short years made.\u00c2\u00a0 At this point(2012) the AC0C method(circa 2009) has become a lot less expensive in term$ of initial ca$h outlay$ due to the gift of Moore’$ Law -\u00c2\u00a0 i.e., dual core computers are now being retired for fast quad core boxes, and the CPU part of the investment is now relatively minor.\u00c2\u00a0 People are throwing them away.<\/p>\n

AC0C’s notes make points regarding the amount of time investment required for the project. Time expenses are also relevant.\u00c2\u00a0 But in my case, the time spent on the project is an educational\/fun investment.\u00c2\u00a0 Part of the goal is the “doing” – at least as much as the physical end product.\u00c2\u00a0 So that is not included in the personal calculation as an “expense”.\u00c2\u00a0 Here the time investment is part of the desired result.<\/p>\n

The tipping point \u00c2\u00a0to actually start the project came when I diverted from landfill\/recycle a pair of dual core CPU’s,[Dell’s – for free], being retired for upgrades by a friend.\u00c2\u00a0 Zero invested there[well some beer drinking WAS involved – oh! the horror….the horror….].<\/p>\n

Another unexpected holiday gift of a Softrock v6.2 simultaneously tweaked the interest.\u00c2\u00a0 A recent AE5X tip about NorCalQRP offering SoftRock Lite kits as a fundraiser<\/a> broke the camels back.\u00c2\u00a0 A bit of sniping on the Dell auction site brought in another fire-sale priced CPU to complete the set of three. \u00c2\u00a0[Softrock kits are now generally available from Tony Parks, KB9YIG, via Five Dash Inc<\/a>, 5\/2013]<\/p>\n

The W4KAZ skimmer station was originally\u00c2\u00a0built on the idea of running two softrocks on each computer, with three computers required for skimming all six contest bands[160\/80\/40\/20\/15\/10].\u00c2\u00a0 That allows using the on-board sound card and a single add-in sound card.\u00c2\u00a0 It also provides a bit of built in redundancy.\u00c2\u00a0 A single computer failure does not necessarily completely incapacitate the station. \u00c2\u00a0The downside of that is running three computers, drawing ~200watts of juice apiece. Mitigating the downside, the current expectation is that one pair of skimmers will run 24\/7\/365, with the others only active over selected weekends and\/or contests. Updated, 20150503 –<\/span> The skimmer station is now reduced to two computers. \u00c2\u00a0One box running winXP and a 40m skimmer. \u00c2\u00a0The second is a Core 2 Quad running Win8.a, and is supporting the other five contest bands.<\/p>\n

Oh yeah….the Softrocks require some tweaking to get them onto 15m\/10m.<\/p>\n

Softrocks also require soundcards for the SDR signal processing.\u00c2\u00a0 The Asus Xonar line was initially chosen as the add-in sound card of choice for its low price, small form factor<\/span><\/em>, and good “on-paper” specifications. \u00c2\u00a0 The form factor limitation was due to the nature of the acquired CPU’s.<\/p>\n

After firing up the first xonar(Xonar DG) with the MP3 collection, it became the obvious first choice.\u00c2\u00a0 In my ears it is easily the best sound card price\/hi-fi-performance value available.\u00c2\u00a0 It has much better fidelity than any SoundBlaster I have had over the years, and this is from the bottom of the line ASUS sound card.\u00c2\u00a0 It really rocks in NumberOneSon’s Sennheiser headsets. [Damn things sound great, and only$22USD – before the $10 rebate!\u00c2\u00a0 Highly recommended for music.] \u00c2\u00a0[ed, w4kaz, 20150402 – There are a few more choices available now, and some have been tested<\/a>. \u00c2\u00a0But the Xonar DG is adequate if the limitations are acceptable.]<\/em><\/p>\n

With the initial computer costs limited, building a rudimentary skimmer station became viable in 2012.\u00c2\u00a0 The largest single out-of-pocket expense turns out to have been the VE3NEA CW skimmer<\/a> license itself.\u00c2\u00a0 It is worth every penny, as Alex has written a simply brilliant piece of software there.\u00c2\u00a0 The folks working on other pieces who have built the Reverse Beacon Network<\/a> have also done\u00c2\u00a0 a wonderful job of making a treasure trove of propagation data available. \u00c2\u00a0[ed, w4kaz, CPU and OS expenses are also significant if they need to be acquired new]<\/em><\/p>\n

Initially the expectation was to build the station piecemeal, one skimmer at a time. \u00c2\u00a0The availability and timing brought most of the hardware required to the doorstep in a relatively short time. \u00c2\u00a0The major delays are related to finding time and energy to assemble all of the pieces\/parts.<\/p>\n

160m thru 15m became active in 2012 and are supported with a mix of current and original SoftRock kit offerings. \u00c2\u00a0Better 15m and 10m solutions are possible if a suitable oscillator can be found.[ed, w4kaz 20150402 – si570 programmable oscillator!] \u00c2\u00a0Several oscillator solutions are plausible, but those issues and those\u00c2\u00a0 bands will be the last problems to be resolved. \u00c2\u00a0Possibly a retroactive overhaul of the 20m kit as well.<\/p>\n

Other Skimmer stations:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. K3LR<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. AC0C<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. KH6LC<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. PJ2T<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. W3OA<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. AA4VV<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. W4AX<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. WA7LNW<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. WZ7I<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. OL5Q<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. K8ND general skimmer info links<\/a><\/li>\n
  12. ZL2HAM<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Have one to add to the list?\u00c2\u00a0 Put it in a comment or send using the ‘Contact W4KAZ’<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/form>\n

    *<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Original from 2012\/5, updated 2013\/05\/13, 2015\/04\/02, 2015\/05\/03 kaz<\/p>\n

    see the current W4KAZ Skimmer spots via the RBN<\/p>\n

    Re: The ongoing Quest of having a local station pushing CW spots into the Reverse Beacon Network. <\/p>\n

    CW Skimmer combined with the Reverse Beacon Network is a really slick combination for monitoring real world propagation, band activity, contest spotting, and general curiosity.\u00c2 Great stuff. \u00c2 \u00c2 AC0C published his project information\u00c2 (then click “CW-Skimmer Array” in left sidebar) \u00c2 for building a CW skimmer based on SoftRocks.\u00c2 His skimmer station is essentially a scaled down version of the bleeding edge skimmer station previously built at K3LR based on the Persues SDR. In the end he determined that the QS1R(new at that time) was probably a more cost effective and easier approach.\u00c2 I agree.\u00c2 The QS1R is probably the optimum solution currently available. \u00c2 (ed, w4kaz – even more true today 2015\/04\/02)<\/p>\n

    Unfortunately, the optimal solution(QS1R + fast Quad Core i7 computer+ OS + yada-yada-yada) is also expensive enough to be beyond the available ca$h $upply out here in the cheap seats.\u00c2 For example, PJ2T has an itemized list of expenses for the PJ2T skimmer build circa 2009\/2010(Note: does not include man-hours). \u00c2 \u00c2 The available “radio toy budget” in the KazShack was the amount of cash that had been budgeted for the then\u00c2 canceled 2012 IOTA Core Banks expedition – about $150.<\/p>\n

    Only$3.7k short of the PJ2t build budget – Yikes! \u00c2 \u00c2 OK….\u00c2 Alternatives?\u00c2 Anything different in 2012\u00c2 over 2009?<\/p>\n

    […]<\/p>\n

    Continue reading W4KAZ Softrock Based CW Skimmer Station – 01) General Approach<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":2211,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2267"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2267"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2774,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2267\/revisions\/2774"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}