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| My old SDR twins |
Being an over-achiever, I've accomplished this feat several times. One of those radios was an Apache Labs Anan-10e.
No equivalent has been made since (by any manufacturer) and the 10e's are as scarce as hen's teeth on the used market. A bit similar was the Flex 1500.
Both of these radios are QRP SDR transceivers that require an attachment to a PC in order to operate. Both Flex and Apache Labs still make such radios (though not QRP) but they are spec'd and priced at more than what I want from such a radio.
Flex and Apache Labs differ in two distinct ways:
- Flex is "thin pipe"; Apache Labs is "thick pipe"
- Flex uses proprietary software; Apache Labs is open-source
Tom M7MCQ recently posted news of what may allow me to recapture the benefits of what it was like to have my old 10e.
Screenshots of the software used to run the upcoming OL-SDR are vaguely reminiscent of openHDSDR used with many Apache Labs rigs.
I'll be keeping a close eye on any news regarding the eventual availability of the OL-SDR and hope to be the first kid on my block to have one, as long as they aren't "crazy-money proud of it".
I know Flex is rumored to have a new rig ready to be announced in a few days in Dayton; hopefully, OL-SDR will too.
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Good morning John yes regrets come hard and fast once you are looking in the review mirror. For me it was my beloved Elecraft loaded K3.
ReplyDelete73,
Mike
VE9KK
Right, the K3 is another one. So was the KX2 but I remedied that. Radio-nostalgia can be expensive!
Delete73,
John
I am on SDR number three after selling a Multis Proficio and a Flex 5000. Current radio is a SunSDR2 DX. This one is sticking around.
DeleteAll three radios have one big thing in common, great receivers.
The other thing I like is computer control. On all three radios the software based control meshes well with me.
I am evolving into adding phone to my operating the features in a true SDR are very compelling.
Jim KF9VV
Jim, as I scout around it looks as if the OL-SDR may be vaporware. They had an announcement two years ago of an "upcoming" rig that never materialized. I was hoping Flex would announce an update to the old 1500 at Dayton but I guess a QRP SDR rig is not profitable.
DeleteI agree, there is something about a computer-controlled radio that I like as long as that is not my only rig. I do now have a QRP SDR rig on the way though...hopefully, it'll be here by the first of June.
73 for now,
John
"I do now have a QRP SDR rig on the way though"
ReplyDeleteDo tell. Might this be a QMX+?
Also, any thoughts on something like the Hermes Lite 2?
Correct on both counts. The HL2 is on its way and should be here in a few days; the QMX+ will be sent soon after Hans returns home from Dayton.
DeleteHuh, lucky guess(es). I just received a QMX mid-band kit last week. Still trying to get my ducks in a row before starting the build. I've successfully built two QDXs, so there's a small bit of hope that the QMX build will be successful.
DeleteI've been eyeing the HL2 for a while. I look forward to your review once you get it.