I picked up a Ensemble at a hamfest with no documentation or knowledge of bands it was built for. I loaded a driver and HFSDR . I can get it to receive cw. I noticed that dashfive.com has recently been taken down. It was there day before yesterday. Where is a good place for operating instructions? I also have the Flex software. 73s John N4HNO

-- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Hi Guy, Sorry, I just realized that I failed to answer your email. Seems to happen more often than I like. YES, I've always loved homebrewing radio stuff. First got my interest in 1953 (I'm 80 now) when a neighbor gave me an old defunct console radio that he was going to toss out. I was 10 years old and knew nothing about radio. But I dragged it home and played with it. Burnt my fingers on hot tubes and it threw me across the room a few times when I touched things I shouldn't. Don't know what I did, probably a loose wire or tube in a dirty tube socket but I got that beast playing. WOW, BBC London, Quito Ecuador and so forth. Those stations were a LOOOOONNNNNG way off. I was hooked! I've built many many different radios, bought many 'junkers' and fixed them and sold/swapped them. Probably hundreds if the truth be known. Don't do as much now-a-days, fingers being stiff and sometimes painful due to RA (arthritis). But I'm not going to let me get it down :) Anyway Guy (had an Uncle on mom's side named Guy). Keep on doing what you enjoy most and keep us posted about all those Softrocks. <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Well, I'm doing it again! In years past I've built a number of Softrock receivers, primarily the Ensemble LF versions and inevitably sold, traded or gave them away. The last time a friend was kind enough to give me one he'd built years ago and wasn't using (he once loaned it to me). Well, awhile back I gave that one to a local ham friend who was very interested in listening to some longwave ham activity and found his hf rig was a very poor performer down in the basement. Now, before I go any further, let me say that my longtime primary DX interest are NDBs (longwave nav beacons), and I DON'T really need a Softrock receiver as my primary go-to LF receiver is a very nice and capable Perseus (the older version, the new Perseus 22 is WAY out of my price range). No, this is more of an exercise and experiment as I have VERY BAD RA (arthritis) in my hands, joint soreness and stiffness. I sort of want to prove to myself "I can still do it", and I'm certain I can, just need to take my time at it!!! In other words, I refuse to give in to it. So, I ordered TWO of the Softrock II receiver kits. All they have left are the HF version but Ben was kind enough to include extra wire for the coils and capacitors for the BPFs and the divider chips needed for the LF LO. Thank you Ben. I just got on Amazon and found I could order 10 packs of the different Toroid Cores needed for the LF version. My intent is to build one HF version and one LF version, but who knows. I might build two of the LF versions. I'll "play it by ear" (or hands ;-) Now I DO have a question. I downloaded and printed the build instructions for bot the HF and LF version and it mentioned something about different board builds. Shown is the board layouts for the 6/20/2013 dated board, my boards are dated 12/28/2020. Is that just a later "Manufacturing Run" of the board, or are there differences? Thank all. I'll keep the list informed as the build progresses (probably be a long slow process). -- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750, AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Perseus, Softrock II LF ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

CFGSR cannot recognize the SI570 in any of my Softrocks. I've tried many different downloads for the DG8SAQ-I2C device driver. Does any one know of an viable driver in Windows 11? More simply, has anyone had success with a Softrock in Windows 11? Chuck w8mqw

Hello Group, I have 2 SoftRock 6.2 for sell. one is on 160M and the other is 40/80. both are in boxes and ready to hook up. asking 50 bucks each you ship. Contact me via email. Good on QRZ. 73's Mike WA3O

I have FOR SALE a Softrock Lite II, (built to use with Kenwood TS-940s IF) which is now surplus to my needs. Complete and in good working order. I'd like $20 plus shipping to CONUS/CANADA. I also have FOR SALE an excellent sound card: ASUS Xonar U7, complete with USB cable and CD-ROM installation software. I'd like $30 plus shipping to CONUS/CANADA. Email address is good on QRZ.com 73, Robert VE7ZN

I'll post some pics of this rig..let me know if you are interested There is a small linear that goes with it. Tony Parks Rules !! There are pics in the Photos section. it has the MFJ morse decoder, Nano Keyer, plus an audio amplifier. all controls are switched via LED lighted pushbuttons on the front panel. USB access and DSP reset button on the rear. Hit me up -- De N2AIE qrz address ok vince

I built this kit many years ago and put it in and enclosure and everything - might have even bench tested it. Then life happened and now I'm trying to figure out which RXTXv6.2 I have. I looked through all of the file areas and nothing matches up. The kit I built has a daughter board with a 28.2076 and 28.060 crystals. I can't find any reference to the 28.2076 anywhere. Any help would be appreciated. 73

I put one of these together back in 2011 or so, it has worked flawlessly, but when we moved it was packed away for years, when I got it out, it would not work. That was two years ago. Tony helped me get it going again. I occasionally use it and afew days ago I hooked it up again . . . nothing. The USB cable CFGSR is recognizable by unit, because with the USB cable disconnected it points out it is not seeing the circuit it controls on Ensemble. With all cables connected, USB, I & Q, 12 volts DC & Antenna - it does not see any signals in the waveform nor to I hear anything but slight noise. I checked the 5 Volt supplies on board, and all is OK, voltages seem to be OK in the few area I checked. It seems the BPF is not working correct, but that is just a guest. The only bands that show are 80 & 40 meters on Rocky. I can't change them via software, etc. I am using the software versions that have always worked . . . 3.8 for Rocky and 2.6 for CFGSR. Al

Hi All; I am trying to get in contact with the softrock web owner at https://www.wb5rvz.org/ I would like to exchange an email asking a question. His QRZ address is not working. Thanks! 72 Guy N1GMM -- guy (at) eastroad (dot) org -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. . \|%|/// | ~ ~ | ^( @ @ )^ ---------o000o--_/-o000o--------- N1GMM Have a good day!

Doing some shop clean up and found a box of unbuilt SR kits. I'll never get to these and it's past time to get them to someone that will build them. These go a a bundle, no time to deal with individual shipments, PayPal preferred, Priority mail to US addresses included, $120 for the lot. 3 - SR for IF, 10.7Mhz 1 - v5 20m (14.060 xtal) 1 - v5 40m 1 - v6 40m 1 - v6 80/40m 1 - v6.2 RXTX 80/40 I'm in digest mode, reply direct please otherwise I may not see your post until much later. Thanks Ron K0IDT

Hi All, This is a continuing saga of my getting a Softrock LF operating properly (again). It has been a number of years since I last used one, and the one Tony sent me seems to work quite well (with a few quirks). But one thing I could NOT do was get a 192KCs bandwidth in the NDB band where I listen. About 96k was the best I could get. I had bought a new Creative Soundcard to install in my Tower computer as the soundcard it had seemed a bit "hissy". This is the soundcard I bought, as it said it was 192k. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R1GWX8W?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1 After I finally got into the Win 11 setup for the card , try as I might, I couldn't do any better than 96k, and that is all that HDSDR would let me do. Finally, in desperation, I plugged the Softrock into the soundcard that came with the 'puter, a Realtek that is apparently part of the motherboard. Well, imagine my surprise when I went into HDSDR and it let me set the card up for 192K, and I can see that bandwidth in the display. Seems to work quite well, except that I do get a "clip" indicator. I've NOT figured out a way to lower the gain of the card that works, (Win11 is TERRIBLE about letting you change things). But at least it IS working, but I noticed that I seem to have three very strong bands of IMD or "noise" (not listened to it yet) in the waterfall. Something that isn't "real" as I don't hear them on the Yaesu receivers using the same antenna/ multicoupler, etc. But otherwise the receiver seems to work well, in three nights recording (while it was still only 96k) I logged quite a few NDB's, including several Alaskan ones that I always welcome here. . . -- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Airspy Discovery HF+, SDRplay RSPdx, Softrock LF Scanner: Uniden SDS200 ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Hi all, Tony was very kind and sent me his Softrock LF receiver. It seems to be working very well, except for ONE thing. Here is a breakdown of what I've seen on the overnight recordings I made using HDSDR (my program of choice). It's been a few years since I've last used a Softrock, so I might be missing something. 1. On the night of 9 October I made recordings for the full night with an LO frequency of 220KHz. Everything went well, except for a strong spur on the LO frequency. I seem to remember that can be due to not using isolation transformers between the receiver and computer sound card. Like I said, it's been awhile, and that wasn't a great concern at the moment. I logged a number of beacons and all were on the proper frequencies. 2. On the night of 10 October I again did an overnight recording, this time using an LO frequency of 250KHz. Again, everything went well, everything on frequency and I logged a number of beacons (their number is rapidly diminishing). 3. Last night I made an overnight recording using an LO frequency of 380KHz so I could cover the upper range of the NDB band. This time everything is messed up frequency wise. The frequency of all NDB's read exactly 10KHz high, this from well known and stable ones like MOG on 404KHz. NOTE: I DID try using both installs of HDSDR (V2.76 & V2.80) to make sure that wasn't the problem, but both read the same. As I no longer have any NDBs within daytime range I can't check things out until night falls. -- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Airspy Discovery HF+, SDRplay RSPdx, Softrock LF Scanner: Uniden SDS200 ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

I have had an Ensemble II HF and also an Ensemble iI VHF (2M) for many years. I haven't run them in over ten years. When I did run them, I used a Mac Mini computer with Parallels and ran Windows 7 with HDSDR . Both units ran very well on this set up. Now I have a new Mac Mini M1 with Parallels and Windows 11 ARM on it. I have a couple of other software packages running on it with no problems. But, HDSDR won't install and run. Looking around with Google, I see lots of folks making similar complaints. Do any of you on this list run HDSDR on Windows 11 ARM? If so, I need your help to get my setup running. Thanks, Dave, K4TO

Hi All, Awhile back I posted a message saying that I was looking to purchase a Softrock LF receiver, were they still available and where? This is a rather long message, as I'm going into obtaining, the arrival and installation of my 'new-old' receiver. OK, here goes. 1. Thanks to the folks on this list I discovered where I could order the set, and proceeded to do so, even though with the severe rheumatoid (sp?) arthritis in my hands I knew it would be very difficult to handle the small parts. Some days I can hardly close my fingers to make a fist. That's something that didn't bother me years ago when I built my previous sets. 2. THEN, I received an email from Tony Casorso offering to give me his Softrock LF that he apparently hadn't used in years. Thank you Tony! For me this was a big case of Deja-Vue (nobody ever gave me an 'A' for spelling) as Tony had loaned me that very same receiver many, many years ago and it got me started on the trip down the SDR trail. With it I learned how to do overnight recordings of the NDB beacon band. 3. But to make it ready to install a Softrock I really needed to do some upgrades to my computer. It is a high performance "tower computer" with Win11 on it. In addition to my radio hobbies, I collect old time radio shows, old TV, old Movies, old comic books etc. Mostly public domain, I share about 112.7TB of files on various sharing hubs. So, I have a total of 15 hard drives running 24/7, they vary in size from 10-18TB each. 13 of the drives are "internal" drives that are mounted in two drive storage bays (5 bay & 8 bay). With other peripherals installed all my USB ports were in use, and I had a couple external USB hubs installed too. Problem is, if I was downloading or uploading files, with all those drives are churning away, it caused frequent data collisions and other problems. So, I decided to install a new PCIe card in the 'puter along with a new Sound-blaster Audigy FX PCIe card just for the Softrock. The next paragraphs explain the problems I had with both of those cards , it may help somebody in the future troubleshoot card installation problems. NOTE: I'd installed similar cards in previous 'puters with NO problems. 4. Installed the FrescoLogic"USB3.0 Super Speed PCI Express Host Card" (7 USB ports). Reading the (tiny) instruction sheet I installed the drivers for it from the provided CD (THANKS!) Rebooted the 'puter and tested the ports, nothing, DEAD ports! In checking the devices in the list of installed devices there was a yellow ! indicating that device wasn't working (I knew that). After a couple of hours working on installing, rebooting and so forth I finally went to their web site and looked for their help section. Found it, the FIRST problem covered was "card not working" after install (or words to that effect). The gist of the story was that the install CD is ONLY to be used on machines running Win8 and earlier. Win 10 (it didn't mention 11) is to NOT use the CD, but during installation have windows look for the best driver which is part of Windows (again I have Win11). After uninstalling it and then reinstalling and letting Windows do it's thing the card works perfectly! Gee, thanks, all it would have cost would have been the price of a small piece of paper a few inches square with "DO NOT USE CD ON Win10 and LATER"! 5. Installation of the Sound-Blaster PCIe card. Should be fairly straight forward, I've done it before. So after installing the card everything looked good, the 'puter saw the card as a valid sound card. Plugged the Softrock into the Line In port and fired up HDSDR (V.2.76) which I prefer. I kept getting an error to the effect that the Soundcard didn't recognize that particular file format. After going around in circles for awhile I decided to try HDSDR V.2.80. Imagine my pleasant surprise when the Softrock took right off and I was getting the expected waterfall and everything seems OK now. Just for grins I retried HDSDR (V.2.76) and it too worked just fine. So I'm really NOT sure what the problem was at the start, but all is good at "The Beaconeer's Lair" (w

Hi, Sorry, I've been out of touch with this group for a long time. But I have a question. Is the Softrock LF (Longwave) receiver still available and if so where do I go to order it, and how much. Built a couple or so in years past. . . -- <>< 73 From "The Beaconeer's Lair" ><> Specializing in DXing NDBs (Longwave Beacons) Phil, KO6BB, http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/ (\__/) (=’.'=) (”)_(”) EQUIPMENT: YAESU: FTDX-101MP Xceiver, Dual SDR Receivers (~2020) YAESU: FTDX-3000 Xceiver, DSP IF, 300Hz Roofing filter (~2019). Portables: Eton Elite 750 (2), AKA Grundig Satelite 750 (2020) Sangean ATS-909X2 (2021), Tecsun PL-990 (2021) SDRs: Airspy Discover HF+, SDRplay RSPdx Scanner: Uniden SDS200 ACC: MFJ-993B Auto Antenna Matcher. HOMEBREW 4 Port Antenna Multicoupler, Feeds 4 RX's. HOMEBREW Tunable LF-MF Pre-Amp. Ratzlaff 440Hz, 6.5Hz BW Audio Filter Autec Research QF1 Audio Filter. ANTENNAS: 88 foot Long Ladder-line fed dipole, ~35 feet AGL for MW/HF. Top Loaded Tee (Dipole fed as single element). Butternut HF-6V 6 Band Vertical, ~12 Feet AGL for 75-10M Ratzlaff Active whip, 5 Foot Long, ~22 Feet AGL For LF/MW/HF. Wellbrook ALA1530LN Loop For LF/MW/HF at ~17 Feet AGL Discone at ~35 Feet AGL For Scanner QTH: Merced, California, 37, 18, 37N 120, 30, 6W CM97rh

Hi everyone, I recently pulled out the old RXTX and connected it up. RX is fine, but it would seem my TX is not. Any suggestions for troubleshooting? I figure I could put a dummy load on it and work backwards from the antenna output. Cheers,Phil N3YHF

Hi folks, It has been ages and ages since I posted due to recovering from second stroke 10/2021. I am much much better! I have a LOT of existing softrock stufff.. some built some not.. but I have plans to use what I have! This picture from an album I created from a now retired installation by NR5NN https://www.qrz.com/db/NR5NN https://photos.app.goo.gl/UwdBFqXdkQgU1VdDA Wow.. Anyway I have gotten further inspiration from an article by W6IBC about a Multi-Band HF Phasing Receiver Using Softrock Ensemble II and Arduino Uno.. and the audio processor in EMRFD from NN7B.. See July/August issue of QEX 8/2022 from W6IBC (must be ARRL member). So why not use what I have on hand and start conversations here. I have always loved phasing receivers and xceivers.. I did not really want to have a computer attached to use the RXTX using Rocky or Quisk.. there are cables everywhere! I also love CW and wanted to get this working as well as I possibly can.. I know this has been discussed a lot here before. Some here have set many CW records using this little rig and a nice antenna. So.. I am starting. I will try to create a folder and not re-invent the wheel.. should be fun! (I like the idea of building your own! I don't have to.. I have an FTdx10 to play with.. although at only 5 watts.. ;-). But.. building and using are two vastly differnent things! Best to all! Guy N1GMM (trying to get my old original call back KA1MWV.. strokes will teach you quickly what is important and love what you have) guy (at) eastroad (dot) org -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.. . \|%|/// | ~ ~ | ^( @ @ )^ ---------o000o--_/-o000o--------- N1GMM Have a good day!