LF: Re: [rsgb_lf_group] Radio computer

[Andy Talbot <andy.g4jnt@gmail.com>]

I recently bought a new Dell Inspiron 15000 laptop with Win 10 Home,  3GHz processor and 8G of memory. That lot was the default Dell offering buying direct from the company and I couldn't be bothered customising anything apart from opting for a rather overpriced copy of the lastest uSoft Office - just to have  the latest version on at least one PC!

Initially half-expecting all the various problems discussed on the Groups over the years, I was more than a bit surprised to find that every single bit of software put on worked perfectly, near enough straightaway.  Two or three had to be installed in compatibility mode - but the installation process advised this at the time. In fact, MS Visual Studio - which is deprecated in Win-7 and won't install at all in Win-10 actually works better in XP comptibility mode on the laptop than it does on the Win-7 PC. Even the old 16 bit stuff all works seamlessly in Dos-Box - especially after I learnt how to decrease the deliberate latency to speed it up.

So all initial fears about Win10 were unfounded.   I also use a separate desktop PC under Win-7  with large dual monitors for shack use with SDRs and soundcard and DSP, so haven't yet tried to run a separate external soundcard on this new laptop.   However, I have tried all the data mode software using the laptop's internal soundcard, with an interface via the combined 4-pole headset jack.   (Mic input via 100:1 attenuator and phones output) .   Every datamode package worked perfectly.    FTDI serial interfaces for COM ports all worked with the driver already and once each one of the (very many) FT232R interfaces had beee recognised, their COM port allocations remains fixed.

All in all, no problems and a very nice machine.   It does take a long time to set up when you fist get it - think I spent about 20 hours in all but there is an awful lot of software and data on it - nearly 30 years worth in all.   The most useful thing I've learn't  is to use a USB-SATA bridge to connect the hard disc from my old machine and copy all data files en-block.  I also always keep installation files on disc, but in practice it's usually better to go on line and download the latest version of these for a fressh install.

Andy  G4JNT

On 30 June 2017 at 19:21, 'Alan Melia' Alan.Melia@btinternet.com [rsgb_lf_group] <rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk> wrote:

 

Hi Mike I am not up-to-date with the lates whizzy PCs but one factor in your
current pc spec leaps out as a problem. 1GB of ram is nowhere near enough to
run multiple windows like you were doing. I doubt now whether it is worth
upgrading just the memory as the motherboard will probably not be able to
use more than 2GB. However if it will take more memory and assuming it is a
machine you are happy is RFI clean it might be worth just increasing the
memory. (the downside is you may not be able to use the exta modules in a
new PC) I believe the RFI problems at LF are less of a problem these days as
modern PSUs have switching frequencies above the bands.

It may be more appropriate to also see that your favourite programs and
soundcards will run with the installed software (invariably W10 these days,
which tries to hide all the facilities usually needed to set up radio s/w)
Also make sure that the software will run on a 64 bit machine
.....compatibility mode is useful but doesnt always work.
I have had problems with EM-0202 and Delta 44 sound cards going to Win7
where here are no drivers.

Alan
G3NYK

----- Original Message -----
From: "'Mike Dennison' mike.dennison@ntlworld.com [rsgb_lf_group]"
<rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>; <rsgb_lf_group@yahoogroups.co.uk>
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 6:46 PM
Subject: [rsgb_lf_group] Radio computer

>I am looking at upgrading the computer I dedicate to my radio work
> and I am looking for some advice. It is an old office Dell running at
> 2.66GHz with 1Gb RAM.
>
> There are two reasons:
>
> Firstly, I want to de-clutter my desk and use only one computer for
> radio and everything else (mostly web browsing, email and office
> work). But I don't want to slow down the radio signal processing
> whilst I look at BBC News, for instance.
>
> Secondly, my existing computer already seems rather slow. I often run
> HDSDR, WSJT-X and Opera together, and it works more smoothly if I
> turn off the waterfall displays on these. It struggled when I ran
> OPDS. I would like to try EbNaut but I don't think it is man enough.
> It would be good to run SpecLab more or less permanently, too. The
> computer clock seems to drift when I use too many programs (heat
> problem?) so I need to use NTP software with frequent polling to keep
> the time accurate. By chance the computer has a dual video card and I
> found it useful to run two screens, but again it seemed to slow
> things down too much so I stopped.
>
> My question is: What do you think are the things to prioritise for
> your own radio computers? Processor speed - is dual processor
> essential? RAM - how much is essential? Are there reasons to have
> lots of HD space?
>
> I see advertisements for "ultra-fast gaming computers" - would these
> give any benefits?
>
> Is there a complication if I want to use two screens?
>
> Is there something important that I have missed?
>
> I want to get the best value for money but I am confused by the
> specifications.
>
> Mike, G3XDV
> ==========
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
> Posted by: "Mike Dennison" <mike.dennison@ntlworld.com>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo Groups Links
>
>
>

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Posted by: "Alan Melia" <alan.melia@btinternet.com>

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