The SoftRock RXTX Ensemble Transceiver Kit provides a 1 wattSDR transceiver that can be built for one of the following four bandgroups:
- 160m, 80m/40m,
- 30m/20m/17m or
- 15m/12m/10m.
Components are included for all four options and can be assembled at the builders choice. The kit combines the functionality of
- the prior SoftRock v6.3 RXTX+Xtall Transceiver Kit,
- the USB I2C Interface Kit and
- the PA FilterKit
on a single circuit board with connectors along one edge for easy access.
Documentation etc via http://groups.yahoo.com/group/softrock40/
http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ and http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble/
Hi vk2rh de vk8th. Was just wondering if you built the ensemble and what your experience had been with it? I haven’t done a lot of kit building but the SDR’s intrigue me and I’m thinking I just have to build this one
Keen to hear your thoughts.
Regards,
Trevor
VK8TH
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for your note. No I haven’t managed to build the Ensemble yet.
That’s the main (and best) problem about ham radio – there’s always too much to do.
But I’m keen to try my hand at it. I’m very new to SMT components and of a vintage familiar with octal valve bases! With eyesight to match. So this kit should be as soft an introduction to the art with its mix of SMT and traditional through hole parts.
The Ensemble probably represents the best value in SDR available today – especially if you include the ‘value’ of the email support group.
I have also managed to get an ensamble kit during the very brief time they were available on the website but I have not had anytime to put it together yet.
We are off overseas for some time and so putting it together will have to wait a bit longer. Have been practising the soldering SMT by putting together some digital dial kits for older folks in the local radio club.
Cheers, Phil VK5SRP
Hi Phil, Thanks for the comment. I’m red with embarrassment about the number of as yet unbuilt kits I’ve accumulated. But I am starting at last on a couple right now, so at least I can say I’ve started on the backlog. Part of the anxiety is absolutely to do with summoning up the courage to deal with those barely visible SMD components like those included in the RXTX Ensemble. I’m almost of the same vintage as all those fantastic mantel sets in the photos on your website, and started out with the soldering iron heating on the gas ring, but I’m determined to master these tiny things while my eyes and the magnifying glass can see them! Have a great trip!
Cheers
Stephen VK2RH
I managed to order an Ensemble a few weeks ago during the few hours that they were available before they sold out and I’m now in the process of building it. I previously built two Softrock Lite receivers, one for 40M and the other for use as a pandapter to use with my K2. For both, I found that soldering the surface mount caps and ICs went well after reviewing a lot of material on that subject – but you do need a good pair of tweezers, a soldering iron with a very fine point, very thin solder, a good light and a large magnifying glass. Also, a jeweler’s magnifyer helps a lot to make sure that the soldering is Ok without solder bridges.
That said, there are a two parts in the Ensemble that are much smaller than anything in the Softrock Lite kits – one is a 3.3V voltage regulator that is about 1/10″ square with 5 leads to solder and the other is the SI570 programmable oscillator, which is just slightly larger with 8 solder connections. Fortunately, these come quite early in the build process so you get the hard stuff out of the way early, and since you build some and test some, you can make sure these are working before moving on. However, you should get some experience with soldering the “larger” surface mount components before attempting these.
That’s really valuable and timely advice Bob. I’m looking forward to going to my local radio club (Waverley Amateur Radio Society) here in Sydney tonight where there’s going to be a special session precisely on soldering surface mount components. Tony Parks is one of my ham radio heroes. As I write there are still some Ensemble RX kits available at https://www.kb9yig.com/ but I don’t imagine they’ll last long.
I just finished putting mine together and am onto the fun of getting the software and soundcard to talk to it.
A small group of folks from the West Seattle Club build these as a group project. We got them put together over the course of about 4 evenings.
After getting the two smallest parts done the rest seemed easy. This was a very fun and challenging kit to build.
I built the Softrock RxTx. It is the best receiver I think I’ve ever owned. I don’t have it transmitting yet. I can’t exactly figure it out. I will though one of these days soon.
Harley
I have built my Ensemble RxTx as a 40m, 30m, 20m transceiver. I do not have the transmitter working yet because I don’t know what software supports it and where to connect the mike and speaker. I think I have a good idea but I’m not sure.
The kit went together very straightforward. I had a little difficulty winding a couple of the transformers. The wire’s heavy and the holes are small, but it can be done. Although I am 63 years old, I am very experienced in surface mount, I do it every day at work. The surface mount components here were not difficult at all. Use a good magnifier, a very fine tip iron and enough flux to make it stick. His kit is very good.
This thing really performs. I think it’s the best receiver I have ever used. I have it working now on WSPR and if I ever get my antenna fixed, I am sure I’ll hear the world loud and clear.
I can’t wait till I get the transmitter done and checked out so that I can move on to the amp. Look out world, N5BFB will be on the air from home.
If anyone wants to further chat on it, send me a message at haburton@yahoo.com or join the Softrock forum on Yahoo.
Happy building,
N5BFB
Harley
73′s
Hi,
I have just ordered the latest Ensemble RXTX.
I do not like much PC controlled stuff, so I will be modifying it to operate both SDR and standalone ! I intend to use analogue phase shift networks similar to the R2pro ,for both tx and rx. I have already had success with the Lite, using these networks.
Paul
9H1FQ