Web SDR - HF Propagation

Observing the HF bands during contests can reveal some very interesting statistics about overall propagation spectrum usage, and especially during the start and end of contests.

At higher FFT resolutions, one can inspect the quality of signals such as this digital transmission on 20m.  This snapshot was taken running my experimental web sdr
View live SDR here : http://safaridx.com/web-sdr/ReleaseNotes.html

Digital mode on 20m (using 8k FFT) using websdr

When observing digital signals, where transmitter energy is evenly distributed across the 2.8KHz transmitter bandwidth, the effects of rapid path fading, as a result of ionospheric conditions between the transmitter and receiver stations, become very visible.

This received digital signal to the right clearly shows the effects of fading - which would have had less impact on SSB voice transmission (left) , but because the even energy distribution, clearly shows the differential signal strength, for frequencies across the 2.8KHz pass-band.   

By comparison, the SSB signal shows very little signs of fading.  This could be a result of the different origin of the SSB signal (and of course the fact the the energy distribution of SSB makes it less obvious for casual observation)

Rapid fading visible in the 2.8KHz digital signal.  (Using websdr) 

WWW-SDR - Intro Video

I've always thought that SDR had good promise for visuals and demonstrating the fun side of Amateur Radio today.  I put together a quick intro video, using content from my www-sdr client, running in a www browser with a link to the live wwwSDR. (requires Browser + Java add-on)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG2Uo_sL-Rs

Please leave your comments on quality of audio, UI ease of use, or any other thoughts.

73, happy hf watching - as the solar cycle picks up.
Fun Side of SDR.

WWW-SDR

Improved network bandwidth usage by using loss-less compression for both data and audio streams.
Audio streaming compression using AAC is in progress.  Audio streaming ~ avg 48kbs.

Improved some of the colormaps - although not a priority at this time.  Server-side performance improvements are ongoing, especially the DSP section. (BPF, Demod)

Feel free to connect to the live server.  Any comments/feedback are always appreciated.

How to replace the Icom IC-725 LCD lights

I used this method for replacing LCD backlight bulbs on the Icom IC-725.  The LCD backlighting is provided by 3 x miniature 12V bulbs (not LEDs).  Each lamp is help in place in a hole behind the display.
The limited access behind the front panel is the main constraint in replacing the bulbs.

Ensure to follow the standard safety precautions - ie. the radio is disconnected, and remove any connected devices, Mic, CW Key, data connectors, etc.

NOTE:  This procedure does NOT require the removal of the front-plastic panel.  

1. Follow the instructions found in the user manual for removing the top/bottom covers.
2. Remove 2 x the screws on top which holds the front-panel connected to the heat sink.
3. Remove the 2 x Left and 2 x Right side screws holding the front panel in place.
4. With the 6 x screw removed, the front panel should be free to be tilted down (away from the heatsink) See pic below.  Be careful not to tilt too far.  The connecting wires between front panel and the bottom (circuit board side of the radio) is short, and only allows for a little play.

Left View

Left/Top View - showing the access gap, after rotating the front panel down.

1. The top side of the front panel can be rotated away from the heatsink, allowing about 1 inch space between the heatsink and front panel assembly.  This is the gap through which you will access replace the lamps.

Top view

 There are 3 x 12V mini lamps (backlights to the LCD panel) which can be access via the gap between the heatsink, and the front panel when it's in the rotated state.

The image below indicates the locations of each of the 3 x lamps.

Relative Lamp Locations when viewing from the heat-sink side.

 
Left lamp (meter backlight) is clearly visible here:
This lamp is easy to reach, and replace. See below.

Meter Backlight (Leads visible, with light bulb inserted into socket and yellow sleeve)

Middle Lamp (LCD left backlight)

The middle lamp is the trickiest to replace, due to the placement behind the mounting bracket, which leaves very little space for a soldering iron, and tweezers to grab the lamp leads and maneuver the new one into place.  To complicate matters, the soldered connected wires, are sort of in the way.  Be careful not to sever these connections while working on this lamp.

Middle Lamp (trickiest to get to, since it's behind the mounting bracket)

Right Lamp (LCD right backlight)
This lamp is also easy to reach and replace.  It is also clear of the mounting plate.

Right Lamp (LCD right side backlight)

The process for replacing the bulbs, simply involves unsoldering, and replacing with equiv 12V lamps.  You can re-use the yellow sleeve.  (This is what gives the backlight the yellow tint).  You can experiment with other colors, for a different effect.  I chose to re-use the sleeves, for the original effect.

Front panel view
This view shows the relative locations of each of the lamps, and their back-light effect on the meter and LCD panel when the radio is powered on.

Front panel view - indicating relative lamp location.

Good luck on replacing the bulbs to give your IC725 a new look again.
Please send comments if you think this was helpful.

73 and happy maintenance.

WWW-SDR - Multi-tuner

To demonstrate the ability to run multiple tuners at once, I configured the server to run 3 x tuners concurrently. The www view demonstrates this view, with multiple spectrum modes as well.  Each receiver can be controlled independently of the others - but combined in a single www view.

 

Ability to view multiple receivers via a single browser.

2011 - SDR with CQWW DX CW

After many performance experiments (server vs. browser) the SDR processing still lives on the server.
I have uploaded about 7 mins of 96KHz sample data from the 2011 CQ WW DX CW contest.

Feel free to try it out here 

Please leave comments and feedback.  This is a work-in-progress project, and has served as a vehicle for DSP technique experimentation, while having fun with weak signal modes.

WWW-SDR : Multi-decode view.

The WWW-SDR now supports sdr rx functionality with tune/demod/filter.
This view above demonstrates the ability to run multiple independent radios in a single www browser.
In this example, both www-radios are connected to the same SDR server but running different waterfall modes

The multi-threaded server architecture supports multiple radios, each serving multiple www-clients.
Server-side capacity is mostly limited by network I/O & CPU.

Read more about the features and release notes here.

HF-SSTV

Around 0630Z, 20m was open to Japan. Here you can see the clear trace from SSTV tx from JA2GZZ
on 14.233MHz.

SDR functionality is now almost complete. From the browser you can Tune, Filter & Demodulate
audio.

The SDR radio is now usable, via anywhere on the www.

73, Deon

Internet SDR - audio streaming

Project notes here:

Added audio streaming to the www client.  Also more UI features such as display pan/zoom
and controls for pause/muteof the data feeds - which will optimize the network bandwidth usage.

I'm now working on adding full SDR receive capability to the www client.
This will allow multi-vfo tuning of the radio from the client.

Feel free to connect as often as you like. The radio is mostly tuned to the high bands during daytime, and
40m at night time Pacific time.

Online SDR - Its alive.

The Online SDR project has been coming along nicely.

The results of a few late nights work appears to be working good so far.
The multi-digital decoding engine is also working fb.Now that the digital decoder is working, then next step is to implement a fully internet enabled SDR.

If you want to follow along, project notes can be found here: ReleaseNotes.

Here is a snapshot of the Online SDR (Single radio mode)

The SDR server and UI supports multi-radio capability.

Independent radios can be visible in a single view view.