Search found 83 matches

by N7CXI
Fri Nov 17, 2023 12:04 am
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: 7000DLE MK-II reasonable maximum heat sink temp?
Replies: 0
Views: 6063

7000DLE MK-II reasonable maximum heat sink temp?

What is a reasonable maximum heat sink temperature for a 7000DLE MK-II ? I ask because I just stripped down an Andromeda and added a 120MM fan where the LCD used to be. Since I have lots of empty front panel, I decided to glue a 10K thermistor to the PA heat sink and put a display for it out front. ...
by N7CXI
Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:15 pm
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: Abrupt reduction of noise floor on receive
Replies: 55
Views: 11812

Re: Abrupt reduction of noise floor on receive

I know it sounds weird but when I get up off my chair my receive drops. I am thinking static, although I was not touch anything. If it consistently and reliably does that then it certainly sounds like a static discharge of some sort. How is your station grounding and bonding? The station ground and...
by N7CXI
Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:03 am
Forum: Orion Mk II & III Firmware (all 7000, 8000 & Andromeda Variants)
Topic: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board
Replies: 8
Views: 8911

Re: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board

Rick, Sorry, I should have phrased it differently. AFAIK the receivers work fine, but the S-meters read -65 and -64 dBm respectively when a -70dBm signal is injected at 10 mHz. They behave normally, just have that extra s-unit of gain. As Scott mentioned I can calibrate that out in Thetis, it’s just...
by N7CXI
Wed Nov 08, 2023 6:41 am
Forum: Orion Mk II & III Firmware (all 7000, 8000 & Andromeda Variants)
Topic: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board
Replies: 8
Views: 8911

Re: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board

Scott, Rick - I updated the FW (just because, I'm not much of a QSK guy) and installed v2.1.26 of Thetis. All appears to be well - thanks for the assist! The only thing that remains is that the RX level is still off farther than I've ever seen one of these rigs go, but I haven't owned a Orion MK-III...
by N7CXI
Tue Nov 07, 2023 6:00 pm
Forum: Orion Mk II & III Firmware (all 7000, 8000 & Andromeda Variants)
Topic: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board
Replies: 8
Views: 8911

Re: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board

>You might want to install the Latest Thetis and maybe do a database reset.
>https://github.com/ramdor/Thetis/releases/tag/v2.10.3.3

Thanks! I'll do that tonight. I'll make sure the XML files are all gone before I install 2.10.3.3 .
And yes - I'll quit making references to G2. :-)

--jim
by N7CXI
Tue Nov 07, 2023 3:22 pm
Forum: Orion Mk II & III Firmware (all 7000, 8000 & Andromeda Variants)
Topic: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board
Replies: 8
Views: 8911

Re: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board

Thanks, gents.
I thought I had searched, but I was way off.

FWIW, if I select G2 the RX1 level is within 1 dB with default calibration. It appears I read something into it that wasn’t there.

—jim
by N7CXI
Tue Nov 07, 2023 7:04 am
Forum: Orion Mk II & III Firmware (all 7000, 8000 & Andromeda Variants)
Topic: How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board
Replies: 8
Views: 8911

How to tell what FPGA thus firmware goes on Orion MK-III board

Greetings, all. Long story short, I have what started life as an Andromeda, but turned out to not be usable due to thermal issues. I pulled the front panel off thinking I'd revert it to something like a 7000DLE-MKII. It works for the most part, but there are some things I'll detail later on in this ...
by N7CXI
Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:09 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

Well, at least the idea is sound. I'll have to change it for the "different" speaker mount pattern.
Whoever did the Thingiverse design took their time and made it pretty. Mine probably won't be as slippery.

73,
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Thu Jun 01, 2023 4:04 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

You can use an adapter 3d printed 50mm down to 40mm if you have the space. There are several on the following site. But can be adjusted. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2037140 I'm not sure I can get enough air from two 40mm fans without "fan scream", but it would be a cheap enough expe...
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 5:23 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

Correction:
Pull or push enough air through the side ventilation holes. The top doesn't have any beyond the apparent speaker punch outs.

73
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 4:55 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

Maybe they are punchouts for speakers. This video makes me think so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njayLIpMlHo Like maybe these speakers: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/243-FRWS5-4OHM That makes sense, thanks. Those look like better-than-average speakers, too. Perhaps a slip-on fan tray to ...
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 3:13 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

Eh… Too early.

I missed on the numbers, but no standard case fans are available that I can find.
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 3:11 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Re: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

45mm hole-to-hole is too far from 50mm to fit. There are many 60mm fan models available, but I couldn’t find any 55mm at all. (“Standard” fan designs in that size range have cases 10mm larger edge-to-edge than hole-to-hole) If there’s enough vertical clearance, I might be able to draw and print a pl...
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 6:41 am
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: ANDROMEDA shuts down when voltage drops to 12.4V
Replies: 10
Views: 3958

Re: ANDROMEDA shuts down when voltage drops to 12.4V

Late to the game here, but my Andromeda does the same thing at 100W output into 50 ohms.
I reset the PA calibration to 90W max on all bands, and since then it's been fine.

I should mention I don't run digital or CW with the Andromeda, just SSB.

73,
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 6:35 am
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?
Replies: 13
Views: 3855

Andromeda case - punchouts for what fan model?

My Andromeda runs hot. Too hot. I haven't opened the bottom (brick) side yet, but the top side has an undirected fan and the little fan on the Intel NUC. The top of the case has two fan punchouts with grilles, but the hole spacing is a bit strange, ~45mm. Does anyone know what fan model will fit tha...
by N7CXI
Wed May 31, 2023 6:23 am
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: Andromeda 2nd Monitor
Replies: 7
Views: 3249

Re: Andromeda 2nd Monitor

Hi Jim, I tried another adapter, too, but it did not work. Only when I updated the computer firmware and driver did it work (with the original adapter). Note that you have to go into the setup for the adapter, which should be a Windows application. Also, in Windows Settings, check that you have a s...
by N7CXI
Sat May 27, 2023 10:59 am
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: Andromeda 2nd Monitor
Replies: 7
Views: 3249

Re: Andromeda 2nd Monitor

I recently bought a used Andromeda, and the USB-C to HDMI part of the USB-C dongle isn't working. Network and other ports on the dongle work fine. I patched the Andromeda Windows 11 installation, updated the BIOS, video driver, Thunderbolt driver etc to the latest versions. The PC and radio run fine...
by N7CXI
Sun Apr 02, 2023 7:56 pm
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: Saturn: A New Apache Labs SDR Transceiver (ANAN-G2)
Replies: 82
Views: 20410

Re: Saturn: A New Apache Labs SDR Transceiver (ANAN-G2)

…got very hot and started to become a problem of their own and Apache went to switchers. Which is a good segue into a discussion of thermal design and, well, I'm just going to stop typing now ;) If this was a commodity item I would agree. It’s a 4000 USD specialty device. It’s not like it’s impossi...
by N7CXI
Fri Mar 31, 2023 3:48 am
Forum: Apache-specific Hardware Discussions
Topic: Saturn: A New Apache Labs SDR Transceiver (ANAN-G2)
Replies: 82
Views: 20410

Re: Saturn: A New Apache Labs SDR Transceiver (ANAN-G2)

I don't have much to add regarding the FPGA, that seems to have been cussed and discussed adequately. I do have one observation and three questions, though: Observation: I "get" that an enormous amount of prior art has been leveraged by making this design Protocol 2 compatible. Since that'...
by N7CXI
Wed Feb 08, 2023 6:38 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern
Replies: 18
Views: 6102

Re: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern

Seems it could be a good time to review whether an add-on bias compensation circuit for the brick should be considered. I have the ginormous silver-case 7000 with no internal PC, so the space constraints are different than with the blue and black cases. Unfortunately, I have far more projects compet...
by N7CXI
Sun Nov 13, 2022 5:59 am
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern
Replies: 18
Views: 6102

Re: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern

At the price point proposed, the hardware costs little more in 500W form than it does in 100W form. For many, getting to 500W for only an additional $800 might be worth a few design shortcomings. An excellent point. Based on that alone, the new hardware will present gains to many, (but based on my ...
by N7CXI
Fri Nov 11, 2022 11:34 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern
Replies: 18
Views: 6102

Re: 7000 DLE MK3 - Overheating/Fan Concern

Continuing a stale thread… Has anyone gone to the effort of working up a bias compensation mod for the 7000 DLE MKII PA ? When using a high-gain LDMOS amp, the difference between cold and warm drive settings can can cause a variation of over twenty percent in the amp output. That’s too much. The 700...
by N7CXI
Mon Aug 15, 2022 5:25 am
Forum: Thetis
Topic: Changing Windows 10 Network Throttling Index for Better Performance
Replies: 32
Views: 45354

Re: Changing Windows 10 Network Throttling Index for Better Performance

This is an old thread, but I thought I'd mention that my squeaky-new Windows 11 installation had this key set to 0xFFFFFFFF by default.

73,
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Fri Mar 04, 2022 4:47 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

… and it appears that we all spend too much money on Amazon.

I have a similar microscope, but have been on the prowl for one that also has a prism and a 4k camera. That I can afford.
by N7CXI
Wed Mar 02, 2022 4:25 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

Hi Paul, No, no special narrow nozzle. :-) My "secret" is to cut a stencil from Kapton tape that exposes the component I want desoldered. The tape keeps the hot air off the surrounding components. It isn't perfect, but it works. You can get the tape on a 2" x 108' roll on Amazon for $...
by N7CXI
Wed Jan 26, 2022 6:04 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

... and to answer the specific question you asked:

Yes, there was a harmonic (well above the noise floor at the OM's QTH) that would end up around 1992 kHz after the rig warmed for a while. That's now moved up in proportion with the rest and above the 160M upper band edge.

73,
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Tue Jan 25, 2022 10:04 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

Nice! Moved it right out of the band. How did the other bands fair? Did you have a spur on 160 to deal with as well? Everything's fine from 160M up to 10M, where the harmonics finally creep into the band. The amplitude is so low at the 49th harmonic (28.42 mHz) that it really doesn't mean anything ...
by N7CXI
Tue Jan 25, 2022 4:28 am
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

So here we are - it worked. I replaced R145 on the Orion MkII board with a 140K 0.1% resistor and all is well. I'm not sure what kind of solder Apache Labs or their CM used on the PCA, but I had to crank the hot air tool up to 400C before it would melt. Opening that radio was indeed just as much fun...
by N7CXI
Wed Jan 19, 2022 7:29 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

Hmm. Didn't think of that, obviously. :-)

Thanks, Scott. Looks like a walk in the park!

I'll report back with results when I have them. I need to get a resistor here, (don't have a 140K precision on hand) and coordinate with the OM that owns the rig.

73,
Jim N7CXI
by N7CXI
Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:50 pm
Forum: Everything Else: Antennas, Relays, Switches, Power, Grounding, Cooling, etc.
Topic: Unstable, wide, nasty spur
Replies: 56
Views: 41362

Re: Unstable, wide, nasty spur

Tony (Apache Labs AU) was kind enough to send me schematics, but no component locator diagram/drawing. I was able to determine that I want R145, but not where it is, I was hoping to able to tell in advance if the component density was low enough where the resistor is on the board to be able to repla...

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