Hermes Lite as a base station

[Garry Perfect]

Hi all, I am interested in setting up an SDR transceiver as a base station to run FT8 and SSB with an external amplifier and tuner. Has anyone got a working station that equals or surpasses the qualities of the traditional transceiver suppliers. I would like to hear from any VK based users of these units.

Thanking you Garry VK4YJ.

[vk4...@gmail.com]

I'm not so far from you Garry. The HL2 suits me just fine. Cost effective. I still run 5 watt QRP mainly FT8 and CW on 30m and 10m but intend to add a HB amplifier sometime soon.

It can do everything that the big names do. You just have to get the bits and put it together.

Happy to discuss further if you want.

73 Brian VK4BAP.

[Garry Perfect]

Hi Brian, I am looking to replace/update my Icom IC7300 and the SDR transceiver looks good to me. I like to build / assemble gear so if all the small components are installed, that is great. I have looked at the maker fabs site and will order the hermes lite 2, low pass filter and enclosure. Do you recommend anything else.

Thank you for the reply Garry VK4YJ.

[Chris Moore]

Garry - if it helps I had an Icom 7610 and picked up an HL2 as something to ‘play with’ based on a recommendation from K5WH.  Within a month or two I sold the Icom.  I use the HL2 primarily with Thetis and a 100W amp and it’s fantastic.. I’m certainly no expert, but to me the received audio (with the NR2 algorithm in the software), Pure Signal on transmit and active community support makes it hard to beat.

Chris

VK3ICM

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 30, 2020, at 2:39 PM, vk4...@gmail.com <vk4...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Garry Perfect]

Hi Chris, that helps me make up my mind about this transceiver. what is the 100 watt amp you are using.

Thanks for the reply Garry VK4YJ.

[Chris Moore]

Garry - I’m using an Elecraft KXPA100.

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 30, 2020, at 8:01 PM, Garry Perfect <gazza...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Pete Juliano]

Hi Gary,

I have my HL2 connected to a Communications Concepts AN762 linear amp and in turn when conditions warrant my heathkit SB200. Typical Pout is 100 watts with the CCI and 600+ with the SB200. A wired mouse presented some problems with RF pickup and a wireless mouse works best. I built an interface box from the HL2 to any linear amp. I also have a RF Brick from a defunct Atlas Radio 210X and that too will do 100 watts. I manually switch in the LPF's for the different bands. It can very much be a main station radio. BUT if you are thinking of that option get a 57 inch screen (minimum). 

73's

Pete N6QW

[John Williams]

The fun of a Hermes-Lite is you can buy components or you can build them.

Currently I am assembling a 300W linear amplifier from a repurposed MRI amplifier board. On a pine board, then into an enclosure. I have built a LPF, a T/R relay board and a band control board. I am currently finishing the band control. It will be fed with a pair of I2C converters from the community projects page. I am using the low power output to drive it. I have also fashioned a extra relay that allows me to use the main antenna or a aux RX only antenna (currently a Loop on Ground).

As the board is now working I have been able to drive a Drake amplifier to full output. I also plan to use this to drive a plate modulated AM transmitter that I have also been building. I will use the key input to generate CW for the transmitter and when not keyed, it will receive in AM mode.

The HL2 is quite versatile. 

John - W9JSW

On Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 9:44:13 AM UTC+10 gazza...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi all, I am interested in setting up an SDR transceiver as a base station to run FT8 and SSB with an external amplifier and tuner. Has anyone got a working station that equals or surpasses the qualities of the traditional transceiver suppliers. I would like to hear from any VK based users of these units.

Thanking you Garry VK4YJ.

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[Matthew]

Hi John,

Nice to see a collection of boards like that on a bench! I have an LRS-200-48 supply waiting to be tested (I'm still using a bench supply with my HL2-MRF101 100 W PA). Have you notice any extra noise with this? Someone on the group a while back suggested these Meanwell supplies might add more RF noise compared with the EPP200-48 (it was easier for me to source the LRS-200-48 so I thought it was a gamble worth taking).

73 Matthew M5EVT.

[John Williams]

This is just a test supply and yes it has noise. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[gre...@sbcglobal.net]

That's a handsome pine board John! I'm sure Pete approves.

I recently completed a PiHPSDR controller V2 and I'm having a lot of fun with it.

John

KC9OJV

[Wayne Maxwell]

I purchased my HL2 a few weeks ago and have been using it as my primary rig. I had no issues running FT-8 at 5W but decided to add some power to the TX path. I had an surplus Motorola Micom 2TS (commercial HF rig built like a tank from the late 90's). I had purchased two of them on eBay a few years ago and have one up and running on a homebrew control head (they were the RF chassis only, no control heads and going for dirt cheap prices at the time). I found the PA will run full power with some programming and Python magic, it did require a 30db attenuator from the HL2 low power port to the amp input (-6dBm for full output). I key the PA with the PTT out from the HL 2 and control the bandpass filters using a Python program that sends the selection data to the PA/radio control board, this will be automatically done once I tie this to Thetis but I have to click on a band button on the screen for now. RX comes out of the antenna switch to the HL2. This amp will run all day at 100 watts out, full output on my test equipment was around 145 watts but I typically run about 30w digital, with the 30db att max output is around 100w. With this configuration the system keys with no relay clicks as the antenna and band selection in the Micom are diode switch controlled, the only noise is when the HL2 switches bands. The Amp still has SWR, temp and power monitoring and will cut back if needed.

With this setup I have a full SDR with 100 watts output. I was challenging myself to see what I could do with this radio with what I had on hand. I initially purchased one of the 45w eBay amp boards but didn't do anything with it when I got the Micom mod idea stuck in my head a few days ago.

The Micom AMP and Filter assembly with the case top and metal shield removed (very clean spectrum output):

This wasn't plug and play but an example of building off of a great radio and customizing it as you go.

73

Wayne

W1WNS

[Garry Perfect]

Thanks to all for your replies and very interesting to see what is possible. You guys are well above my pay level. I think at this stage I will order the hermes lite and then a hardrock 50. I think I will be able to assemble these units and then grapple with the computer side.

again thanks for all the replies and I will keep reading about your progress, Garry VK4YJ.

[Ian A]

I think I originally heard about the HL2 from Pete's N6QWs blog or maybe the podcast, then after some weeks of procrastination I eventually put in a Makefab order and haven't regretted it for a moment.

I also originally planned on doing something with one of the ebay 180w amps but after scratching around under benches in the shack realized I had a perfectly good 100w PA and  filters in a an old FT301 that had spent too much time in the moist salty tropics, all it required was an additional TR relay as the PA input expects ~5w 50ohm (ish). Its still manual band switching at this stage but that and a tap-off for pure signal are another project.

The only downside so far is gaining far too much practical experience with, and a moderate loathing of pulseaudio under linux;-)

73

Ian VK2AMA

.

[max alagna]

Hi all, i’m just approaching the HL2 world, i ordered mine last night, and i’m trying to get as much as info i can through all the means. My idea is to make a base station as well and from what i red so far, i didn’t get if i can hook a commercial PA to the rf output of the hl2 straightforward or i need some work around.

The PA i’d like to pair is a solid state RM HLA300plus,  manual/rf sensing band switching which can output 150~170w with 5w input. It has also ptt inlet or rf sensing ptt switch.

Best wishes for the new year to all.

Max IU4JNR

[Sid Boyce]

Hi Max,
Here is my setup with separate items.
HL2 --> RMItaly KL505 --> eb104.ru 80m - 6m LPF manually switched.

I wished I had got the HLA300 plus as it has the LPF's built in.

I normally use a PiHPSDR v2 and sometimes quisk on PC's or ARM or Intel
SBC's.
73 ... Sid.


On 31/12/2020 10:33, max alagna wrote:
> Hi all, i’m just approaching the HL2 world, i ordered mine last
> night, and i’m trying to get as much as info i can through all the

> means. My idea is to make a base station as well and from what i red

> so far, i didn’t get if i can hook a commercial PA to the rf output

> of the hl2 straightforward or i need some work around.

> The PA i’d like to pair is a solid state RM HLA300plus,  manual/rf

> sensing band switching which can output 150~170w with 5w input. It has
> also ptt inlet or rf sensing ptt switch.
> Best wishes for the new year to all.
> Max IU4JNR
>

> Il giorno giovedì 31 dicembre 2020 alle 09:06:37 UTC+1

> dab...@gmail.com ha scritto:
>
> I think I originally heard about the HL2 from Pete's N6QWs blog or
> maybe the podcast, then after some weeks of procrastination I
> eventually put in a Makefab order and haven't regretted it for a
> moment.
> I also originally planned on doing something with one of the ebay
> 180w amps but after scratching around under benches in the shack

> realized I had a perfectly good 100w PA and filters in a an old

> Power Amp2.jpg
>
> This wasn't plug and play but an example of building off of a
> great radio and customizing it as you go.
>
> 73
>
> Wayne
> W1WNS
>
> On Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 3:08:21 PM UTC-5
> gre...@sbcglobal.net wrote:
>
> That's a handsome pine board John! I'm sure Pete approves.
> I recently completed a PiHPSDR controller V2 and I'm
> having a lot of fun with it.
>
> John
> KC9OJV
>
>
> On Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 1:01:10 PM UTC-6 John
> Williams wrote:
>

> This is just a test supply and yes it has noise.Â

>> As the board is now working I have been able to
>> drive a Drake amplifier to full output. I also
>> plan to use this to drive a plate modulated AM
>> transmitter that I have also been building. I
>> will use the key input to generate CW for the
>> transmitter and when not keyed, it will receive
>> in AM mode.
>>

>> The HL2 is quite versatile.Â

>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/b780c55f-6d22-4cca-8c38-ec22f1db6d63n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.

>>>>
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>>
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[max alagna]

Sid,

Thank you very much for your reply. I assume that you connected those PA straightforward and so i don’t have to plan for other than HL2 and pa. 

Hla300+ is a solid amp with several protections and bandfilters which fit perfectly a qrp rig; with 5w input it can provide 150w easily. 

Wish you a great 2021

Max Iu4jnr 

[Sid Boyce]

Hi Max,
That's how I have them connected HL2 (5W) direct to KL505.
73 ... Sid.

On 31/12/2020 22:39, max alagna wrote:
> Sid,
> Thank you very much for your reply. I assume that you connected those

> PA straightforward and so i don’t have to plan for other than HL2

> and pa.
> Hla300+ is a solid amp with several protections and bandfilters which
> fit perfectly a qrp rig; with 5w input it can provide 150w easily.
> Wish you a great 2021
> Max Iu4jnr
>

> Il giorno giovedì 31 dicembre 2020 alle 22:23:15 UTC+1

> boyc...@gmail.com ha scritto:
>
> Hi Max,
> Here is my setup with separate items.

> HL2 --> RMItaly KL505 --> eb104.ru <http://eb104.ru> 80m - 6m LPF

> manually switched.
>
> I wished I had got the HLA300 plus as it has the LPF's built in.
>
> I normally use a PiHPSDR v2 and sometimes quisk on PC's or ARM or
> Intel
> SBC's.
> 73 ... Sid.
>
>
> On 31/12/2020 10:33, max alagna wrote:

> > Hi all, i’m just approaching the HL2 world, i ordered
> mine last
> > night, and i’m trying to get as much as info i can

> through all the
> > means. My idea is to make a base station as well and from what i
> red

> > so far, i didn’t get if i can hook a commercial PA to the

> rf output
> > of the hl2 straightforward or i need some work around.

> > The PA i’d like to pair is a solid state RM HLA300plus,
>  manual/rf

> > sensing band switching which can output 150~170w with 5w input.
> It has
> > also ptt inlet or rf sensing ptt switch.
> > Best wishes for the new year to all.
> > Max IU4JNR
> >

> > Il giorno giovedì 31 dicembre 2020 alle 09:06:37 UTC+1

> > dab...@gmail.com ha scritto:
> >
> > I think I originally heard about the HL2 from Pete's N6QWs blog or
> > maybe the podcast, then after some weeks of procrastination I
> > eventually put in a Makefab order and haven't regretted it for a
> > moment.
> > I also originally planned on doing something with one of the ebay
> > 180w amps but after scratching around under benches in the shack

> > realized I had a perfectly good 100w PA and filters in a an old

> > This is just a test supply and yes it has noise.Â

> >> The HL2 is quite versatile.Â

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/b780c55f-6d22-4cca-8c38-ec22f1db6d63n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer

> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hermes-lite/b780c55f-6d22-4cca-8c38-ec22f1db6d63n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>>.
>
> >>>>
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>
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> --
> Sid Boyce ... Hamradio License G3VBV, Licensed Private Pilot
> Emeritus IBM/Amdahl Mainframes and Sun/Fujitsu Servers Tech Support
> Senior Staff Specialist, Cricket Coach
> Microsoft Windows Free Zone - Linux used for all Computing Tasks
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