Running Thetis 2.10.1 with the TRX DUO transceiver

K8EZB
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:45 pm

Running Thetis 2.10.1 with the TRX DUO transceiver

Postby K8EZB » Wed Aug 30, 2023 4:10 pm

I recently acquired a TRX DUO xcvr from China via AliExpress. This radio is compatible with Thetis out of the box with the addition of appropriate firmware. Protocol 1 firmware is implemented in Linux Alpine, a lightweight version of Linux, and installs via a microSD card. While there is minimal documentation for this product available online, there is enough to get started, and experimentation is sufficient to learn the rest of what is necessary to operate the radio. Thetis sees the radio as a Hermes variant, with a maximum sample rate of 192Ks/s.

I am pleasantly surprised at how well this radio works, especially considering the delivered price of $270. The TRX is used in a station where the main radio is a Yaesu FTDX-101MP and provides a user interface which looks essentially like my ANAN 7000DLE Mk II, with simplifications refelcting the receive only use of the TRX. I am using this radio with a Thetis client (2.10.1) to provide an enhanced panadapter and point and click station control via the Thetis screen. The TRX is configured via the Thetis CAT facility with DXLab Launcher and Commander to provide a significant level of automation, but with some limitations. I am currently using the TRX as the station receiver so am also getting the benefit of Thetis features such as NR2, RX EQ and VSQL.

The TRX is a transceiver, however, the TX power output is very low, so substantial outboard amplification would be needed to make practical use of the TX capability.

A link and some images:


https://hackaday.com/2022/10/09/trx-duo-is-a-red-pitaya-clone-for-software-defined-radio/



trxduo.edit.083023.a.jpeg
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trxduothetis2.10.1.png
trxduothetis2.10.1.png (560.52 KiB) Viewed 1191 times


Rick
K8EZB
NC3Z
Posts: 466
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:57 pm
Location: Merritt, NC

Re: Running Thetis 2.10.1 with the TRX DUO transceiver

Postby NC3Z » Wed Aug 30, 2023 6:27 pm

You will find some postings I did late last year on how well this works. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4419&p=22535&hilit=trx#p22535
Gary NC3Z
W4WMT
Posts: 330
Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2017 10:12 pm

Re: Running Thetis 2.10.1 with the TRX DUO transceiver

Postby W4WMT » Wed Aug 30, 2023 9:30 pm

Is there a protocol-2 image for the TRX DUO / Red Pitaya yet?
Bryan
K8EZB
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2021 3:45 pm

Re: Running Thetis 2.10.1 with the TRX DUO transceiver

Postby K8EZB » Wed Aug 30, 2023 10:35 pm

Is there a protocol-2 image for the TRX DUO / Red Pitaya yet?


I am only a few days into using this radio. So far, I am unaware of Protocol 2 firmware being available. Perhaps others can provide a more definitive answer to your question.

Rick
K8EZB

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