Getting Started Build 9

[Pete Ferrand]

I'm excited that the build 9 Hermes Lite is shipping. I believe I've
read every page of the V2 wiki and github, and watched the videos, but
there appears to be a dearth of information on basic getting started
stuff. The getting started for the previous builds have to do with kit
assembly, not installation and operation. I have built several SDRs
and used PowerSDR with the Flex radios so I'm not entirely clueless.

I'm thinking a simple install to have QSOs on sideband and cw with a Windows PC.

Things I haven't seen described that I don't want to guess at:

There's a video that shows a copper heatsink alongside the finals. Is
this still a good idea and what is the size and shape and to what is
it attached?

How does the N2ADR board get attached? Jumpers to activate?

Does the ethernet socket connect directly to a PC or do I need a
crossover or hub? Or does it support auto MDI-X?

Are the two SMAs both outputs, one low and one high? Or are there
other outputs on the board?

What is the optional RX input and how do I use it?

CN4, the key input…says ground to key…both tip and ring? Is this the
way to key for audio modes?

Schematic says "no onboard TR relay". Still correct?

Do any jumpers need to be changed from factory?

Do I have to deal with gateware right away?

Where is the proper place to download the proper fork of PowerSDR?

How does PowerSDR find the HL2?

Anyway, I think there needs some discussion of getting started for
those who don't already have a Hermes rig. I'm there will be others
with other questions.

Thanks
Pete
WB2QLL
Mount Pleasant, WI

[Christopher KB3CS]

so many questions. all at once!  most are answered, actually, by careful reading of existing documents (not just words, but also the schematics, block diagram, and last but not least: the photos)

PowerSDR 3.4.9 mRX is a fine thing to use. Quisk and SparkSDR will help you setup and test, too.

sufficient heatsinking of the PA is provided by one stainless steel M3-0.50 12mm pan head screw and a nut with a nylon insert. items i got at Lowe's, so i expect most any hardware store with a small fasteners section will supply them. yes, you will need to mark and drill one 3.175mm (0.125 in) hole. if you want to be more 'fancy', countersink the hole and select a matching screw head. do not tighten too vigorously! finger tight to pull the PC board firmly against the case rail is enough.

i expect you will receive Firmware 68 already installed. no jumpers need be added nor changed. you will need to construct a 5.5mm x 2.1mm coaxial 12VDC power cable, center positive. (you might also need to set up a DHCP server)

  - 53 (base 14) -

On Friday, November 1, 2019 at 4:27:38 PM UTC-4, Pete Ferrand wrote:

I'm excited that the build 9 Hermes Lite is shipping. I believe I've
read every page of the V2 wiki and github, and watched the videos, but
there appears to be a dearth of information on basic getting started
stuff. The getting started for the previous builds have to do with kit
assembly, not installation and operation. I have built several SDRs
and used PowerSDR with the Flex radios so I'm not entirely clueless.

[...]

[Roger Critchlow]

The ethernet on the HL2 works fine with a straight through cable.  I've connected directly to a PC through a USB 3.0 ethernet adaptor and through a router with the same cable.  The ethernet interface on the PC may need to be configured as a link-local interface to bring up a direct connection, and the router connection will depend on the HL2 negotiating an IP address lease with DHCP.  These have worked for me without issues.  If issues come up for you, report them here to the list.

On the whole, you can judge what additional heat sinking the finals may require by watching the temperature, displayed by quisk, as you exercise the transmitter under different duty cycles.  I bought one of those hand held spot reading IR thermometers to explore how external case temperature tracks internal temperature, but haven't gotten to it.

The key/ptt connection on the HL2 is, as I understand it, somewhat a work in progress.  The states of the key/ptt lines are reported back to the connected PC, but I don't think that they do anything on the HL2 under the current gateware.  The MOX signal from the connected PC is what switches the HL2 into transmit and starts the TX samples from the connected PC into the HL2 up-conversion chain.  In time the HL2 gateware may be enabled to key CW itself and implement an iambic keyer, too.

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[Alan Hopper]

Hi Pete,

if you start with the idea that it should just work, you probably won't be disappointed (unlike English rugby fans).  For the networking side, the simplest solution is to connect the radio to your router/adsl modem. On windows, plugging directly to a laptop network port has always worked for me with no further effort.   There is an on board tr relay. The installed gateware and jumpers should be fine. I think this is the place to get PowerSDR https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-PowerSDR/releases .  The Hermes Lite wiki https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki can be edited by anyone so if you have the time it would be great if you could fill in any holes from your experience, too many of us are probably too involved to see the obvious gaps in the documentation.  Basically it should be a case of plug and play, if not do shout here.

73 Alan M0NNB

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Pete,

Here are a few more details. See my comments below.

73,

Steve

kf7o

On Friday, November 1, 2019 at 1:27:38 PM UTC-7, Pete Ferrand wrote:

I'm excited that the build 9 Hermes Lite is shipping. I believe I've
read every page of the V2 wiki and github, and watched the videos, but
there appears to be a dearth of information on basic getting started
stuff. The getting started for the previous builds have to do with kit
assembly, not installation and operation. I have built several SDRs
and used PowerSDR with the Flex radios so I'm not entirely clueless.

I'm thinking a simple install to have QSOs on sideband and cw with a Windows PC.

Things I haven't seen described that I don't want to guess at:

There's a video that shows a copper heatsink alongside the finals. Is
this still a good idea and what is the size and shape and to what is
it attached?

No. The copper heatsink doesn't do much. It is important to have downward pressure with a screw as Chris described. The edges of the PCB should press down on the slot. For best thermal transfer, you may need to sand any finish off of the slot and use some thermal paste.

 

How does the N2ADR board get attached? Jumpers to activate?

There is a coupling jumper included with Makerfab orders. 

Does the ethernet socket connect directly to a PC or do I need a
crossover or hub? Or does it support auto MDI-X?

it shouldn't matter. Auto MDI-X should work.

 

Are the two SMAs both outputs, one low and one high? Or are there
other outputs on the board?

The 2 back SMA connectors are low power and high power output. See the schematic and YouTube videos for more details. 

What is the optional RX input and how do I use it?

The optional RX input is only on the HL2 board and not fed through N2ADR.  

CN4, the key input…says ground to key…both tip and ring? Is this the
way to key for audio modes?

Tip is CW, good for straight key or external keyer up to about 13 WPM. 

Ring is PTT.

 

Schematic says "no onboard TR relay". Still correct?

There is an onboard TR relay. Are you looking at the latest build9 schematics? Build9 should be in the lower right corner. 

Do any jumpers need to be changed from factory?

No. 

Do I have to deal with gateware right away?

No. 

Where is the proper place to download the proper fork of PowerSDR?

How does PowerSDR find the HL2?

It uses the standard openhpsdr protocol 1 discovery. 

Anyway, I think there needs some discussion of getting started for
those who don't already have a Hermes rig. I'm there will be others
with other questions.

There is the wiki and YouTube videos linked on the wiki. Any help with documentation is appreciated. A beginner's guide would be nice, but should probably be written by someone with recent beginner's experience.

[si...@sdr-radio.com]

Steve,

 

Interesting that there’s an optional RX input – I always use a RX antenna as my dipoles pick up the crud from the house. It would be nice sometime to be able to utilise the RX input somehow. I don’t see anything in the protocol, so I’m guessing it’s there for use in the future if needed?

 

Simon Brown, G4ELI

https://www.sdr-radio.com

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Simon,

There is no switching or software control of the optional RX input. If you look at the HL2 schematic on the "RF Frontend" page, you can see that it is just a parallel input from the TR switch. The main purpose is for more controlled feedback of TX signal to the RX during TX for Pure Signal. You could also use it as an always connected RX input to a different antenna. You can solder coax directly to RF3 on the HL2 and then run the connector to the back panel. There are also a uFL footprint RF4 and RF5 for a removable connection.  See https://www.adafruit.com/product/1661. These provides direct connection to the ADC pre and post LPF. You can run a cable to one of these and remove B81 to disconnect the RX from the TR switch. You either have to disconnect the RX from the TR switch, keep the TR switch always in TX, or remove the TR switch if you want full duplex with the optional RX inputs.

73,

Steve

kf7o

[Pete Ferrand]

Thanks all for the info here, very helpful. My boards still haven't arrived, any day now I hope.

Pete

[Chris Moore]

Hi Steve - could you help me understand your comment below?

I plan to add an RF3 connector for Pure Signal feedback and I'm slowly digesting the HL2 schematic.  It looks like RF3 and the RF4 & 5 uFL pads are always in the RX chain regardless of the position of the K2 TR relay (as would be needed for PS) so I don't quite follow the comment around full duplex with the optional RX inputs?  I'm sure I'm missing something obvious..

Cheers - Chris

On Monday, November 4, 2019 at 12:01:09 AM UTC-6, Steve Haynal wrote:

You can run a cable to one of these and remove B81 to disconnect the RX from the TR switch. You either have to disconnect the RX from the TR switch, keep the TR switch always in TX, or remove the TR switch if you want full duplex with the optional RX inputs.

[Steve Haynal]

Hi Chris,

It should be possible to use RF3, RF4 or RF5 for PureSignal feedback on the HL2. In the standard configuration, I am thinking about impedance degradation as these would be in parallel with the normal RX from the TR relay during RX. Maybe adding a resistor in series right at RF3 when you connect the feedback coax could keep this side load impedance high and wouldn't matter as you must already attenuate the feedback signal.

I was suggesting the full duplex option if this side load becomes an issue and you want and can work with full duplex. No one has tested or done analysis of the effects of an always present RX side load on the HL2 for PureSignal.

73,

Steve

kf7o