What we like to do here is to report on experiences with LINUX, the installation of the operating system and the adaptation to the LINRAD hardware. LINRAD uses 2 cards, a sound card and a video card for the processing of the audio signal. Some of the problems come with the use of these cards. Users of LINRAD might use different distributions and versions of LINUX, different PC's with RAM and CPU's. If one follows all work that has been done under Linux and by the community of LINUX users in many different fields, it will be clear that LINUX has many advantages, but it might require extra reading and effort for some of us.

We like to report here on experiences. In order to do this we need input from users and potential users. That is YOU.

The presentation of the data is experimental at this point and as we move along it might change.

Linrad Data are listed here:

These DATA were submitted on: Tuesday, January, 14, 2003 at 23:56:14
 
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Name::  Kohjin 

Call::  JR1EDE

E-mail::  jr1ede@jcom.home.ne.jp

CPU::  Pentium III

CPU Speed::  500MHz

RAM::  384 MB

SOUND CARD::  M Audio Delta 44 

SOUND DRIVER::  OSS 3.9.7g 

ADDITIONAL CARD1::  SoundBlaster PCI128 

VIDEO CARD::  NVIDIA GeForce2 MX400

LINUX DISTRIBUTION::  RedHat 8.0

KERNEL VERSION::  2.4.19-NANO

GCC VERSION::  3.2

SVGALIB VERSION::  1.4.3

Q&A:  Linrad version: lir00-51

RX2500

LO: PTS-040 for experiment at the present time though probably LNXPLO designed by KD6OZH
or better phase noise. I'm in serious for phase noise.

Mixing schemes: currently studying, probably 144 image reject mixer down to 28MHz or even down to
2.5MHz and also 10.45/10.38GHz image reject mixer designed by WA7CJO directly down to 28MHz.

Filtering: some filter in front of 1st mixer not yet desided.

HF/VHF/Microwave receive experience: HF only so far but planning to use this on future 144MHz
XPOL EME system and 10GHz EME.

---

Video card Matrox Milllennium G400 has a console switching problem, not recommended.
Sound card SB16 Vibra 16X doesn't support fullduplex, it doesn't run for both input and output
which means it can be used as an output only.

my WISH LIST:
(1) manual for parameter setup, prefer PDF better than HTML format.
(2) other than svgalib implementation like GTK, QT or else

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These DATA were submitted on: Wednesday, January, 15, 2003 at 16:58:30
 
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Name:  Roger

Call:  W3SZ

E-mail:  nospam

URL:  http://www.qsl.net/w3sz/

CPU::  Pentium 4

CPU Speed::  1.4 GHz

RAM::  770 MB RAMBUS

SOUND CARD::  M-Audio Delta44

SOUND DRIVER::  OSS/Linux 3.9.7e build 2.4.19

ADDITIONAL CARD1::  PCI64 (Ensoniq Audio PCI97)

VIDEO CARD::  32 MB DDR ATI Radeon 4X AGP

VIDEO DRIVER::  RAGE 128

LINUX DISTRIBUTION::  Red Hat 7.2

LINUX VERSION::  Red Hat 7.2

KERNEL VERSION::  2.4.7-10

GCC VERSION::  2.96 20000731

SVGALIB VERSION::  1.4.3

TEXT::


You can see my Linux experiences starting at:
W3SZ DSP Start Page
W3SZ DSP Primer, Linrad Section
Somewhat older W3SZ Linrad Page
W3SZ's Experiences with Linrad during the 2001 ARRL International EME                                                    
W3SZ Experience using Linrad in the 2002 ARRL Frequency Measuring Test
W3SZ FAQ Page for Linrad

I have used Linrad for over 2 years, on:
144 MHz EME
Microwave Weak Signal work
HF
VLF
with JT44 on 144 MHz EME (just to show it could be done).

with a variety of hardware including:

various homebrew front ends:
W3SZ FAQ describing one homebrew frontend for Linrad
Schematic of an early  W3SZ homebrew frontend for Linrad

Homebrew front end followed by Antennspecialsten RX2500:
Website for Commercial (Antennspecialsten) Linrad Receiver RX2500

The Time Machine:
The Commercial (Expanded Spectrum Systems) Time Machine Page
W3SZ Page Discussing The Time Machine

I have had Linrad running on several different computers and several different versions of Red
Hat Linux, starting with RHL versions 6.x

More details are in DUBUS Issue 4 2002 article by W3SZ.

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        NAME:               
        CALL:               
        E-Mail: (Optional)  
        URL: (Optional)     
   

        CPU Type:           
        CPU Speed:          
        RAM in MB:          
        SOUND CARD:         
        SOUND DRIVER:       
        ADDITIONAL CARD1:   
        ADDITIONAL CARD2:   
        VIDEO CARD:         
        VIDEO DRIVER:       
        LINUX DISTRIBUTION: 
        LINUX VERSION:      
        KERNEL VERSION:      ( uname -a ) or (..>>....>>system info )
        GCC VERSION:         ( gcc - v )
        SVGALIB VERSION:     ( svgalib-x.x.x )