Enable Pre-Amp in Firmware

[jeffersonbenson]

But i’d start by looking into the preamp issue (preamp not enabled, perhaps by not bing initialized in software) as this thing is deaf as a brick right now (sensitivity around -70dBm if I remember correctly, indicating 50 dB “missing”)

[DM2NT]

I think Michael hasn't worked on this project for a long time. I also have a PSDR here. But like all the others, it's just a paperweight.

[MichaelRColton]

It's true, I've become busy with other projects and the PSDR hasn't gotten much of my time recently. Jeff is correct, the preamp/low-pass filter circuit isn't working. I had it working on development hardware, but my efforts to get it to operate properly on the production board didn't reach completion. That would certainly be a great place to focus attention for anyone that is interested in assisting with development.

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On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 3:23 AM DM2NT ***@***.***> wrote: I think Michael hasn't worked on this project for a long time. I also have a PSDR here. But like all the others, it's just a paperweight. — You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB4VXQSEGXSMECZW4CHCFJ3UPSFLFANCNFSM4XGKRASA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[DM2NT]

Is it very complicated to activate the preamp? Unfortunately I don't have a Windows computer to run the development environment.

[MichaelRColton]

Well in theory it shouldn't be too hard. Though it's certainly not as easy as turning on power to it. There are RF switches that need to be configured, and the pre-amp/low-pass filter IC has a lot of configuration registers and things that have to be set correctly. The frustrating part is that I had built one up on a dev board I made, ran some test code on it and verified it was doing what I wanted (in this case, I was more focused on the low-pass filtering part, but it did demonstrate the chip was working.) but when I tried to do it on the production PSDR, I had trouble getting it to work. I'm not sure what the problem is. And right now I just don't have the bandwidth to work on it. Most of my code is not in the main branch on github, btw, make sure you look at them to see where the most recent activity is. It might be worth putting on external pre-amp on the PSDR to see if it performs better with that there. Where I live the bands are so noisy (S9+ most of the time) that the PSDRs sensitivity is actually fine, any signal that can get through that shows up on the PSDR. I didn't realize at the time that the sensitivity was a problem. I am, by no means, an expert in RF/Radio design. If anyone makes modifications that improve performance, I would love to know about them. There is another project, called uSDR (there are some variations on it) that pulls off pretty good performance with simpler circuitry than the PSDR, and includes a very efficient amplifier design, something the PSDR almost completely lacks. When I have some time, I'm interested in taking what is (in my opinion) superior on the PSDR (the screen, processing power, waterfall, ergonomics, case design, etc.) and merging in what I can from the uSDR (simpler design, better sensitivity, better output power and output filtering) into a next generation PSDR that could actually meet the design goals I had for the original. But that may be a ways down the line....

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-Michael

On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 11:45 AM DM2NT ***@***.***> wrote: Is it very complicated to activate the preamp? Unfortunately I don't have a Windows computer to run the development environment. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB4VXQU6E7CUSKHJIO5FUG3UPUAF7ANCNFSM4XGKRASA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[DM2NT]

Hi Michael,

I also know the uSDX. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer a good display interface. I don't want to do without the waterfall display. Andreas DF8OE has already implemented the HMC1023 in his UHSDR. Here is the link to the Github: https://github.com/df8oe/UHSDR/tree/active-devel/mchf-eclipse/hardware

Maybe you can already use a part here.
However, I still don't have a Windows computer ...

[petermccracken]

... I think a Malahit is what you want, either the original or there is one of the china clones which is as good as the original. There's a very active group of FB. Also google teensy convolution sdr if you really want to get into it.

[petermccracken]

Also have a look at the mcHF group on FB, if you look through the posts there's a Russian guy who is selling modified kits for the mcHF with a 4" display, looks very good. There are heaps of possibilities and projects out there.

[MichaelRColton]

DM2NT, Yes, I agree the uSDX interface is lacking (and in my opinion, the ergonomics, case design, and the microcontroller is very underpowered, thought they've managed to do an impressive amount with it) the idea I'm playing with is merging the PSDR and the uSDX, but it will be a while, or may never happen at all. Also, you don't need a Windows computer to work on the PSDR, I just don't have instructions for other environments. Any guide on doing STM32 development for your platform will likely work. Peter, the Malahit looks pretty cool, but looks like it has rather different goals from what I hope the PSDR eventually becomes. I am aware of the mcHF, it's a nice project for sure. Interestingly, KA7OEI, the guy that overhauled the mcHF, hugely improved its software (and maybe hardware too?) lives not far from me and I've talked to him about the PSDR. He said he's willing to take a look at it, but we haven't really made it happen yet.

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-Michael

On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 9:21 AM petermccracken ***@***.***> wrote: Also have a look at the mcHF group on FB, if you look through the posts there's a Russian guy who is selling modified kits for the mcHF with a 4" display, looks very good. There are heaps of possibilities and projects out there. — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB4VXQW3CJJC2OHQCVVDIZLUQDJO5ANCNFSM4XGKRASA> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[sanamon]

Unfortunately I don't have a Windows computer to run the development environment.

You dont need windows to do this. If You have a Linux machine, see https://github.com/MichaelRColton/PSDR/wiki/Linux-build-instructions

Cheers,
Jonas

[DM2NT]

Hello Michael.

How many PSDRs have you actually sent out?
Would it be worth working on the software again after all these years?
I still think the form factor is a unique selling point of the PSDR to this day.
Unfortunately, some components are no longer available here in Europe. But I would be absolutely thrilled if we could get the preamble, filter, and TX/RX working with SSB. I don't need any more features.

[MichaelRColton]

Hi! How many were sent out? I guess it depends on how you count them (some people ordered kits without components, did they ever build them?) but it's about 100 units (surprisingly, there were a few people that never sent their address, despite repeated requests, and two that shipped out and were returned by the shipping company) Would it be worth working on the software? I'm not sure, I would love for it to be closer to reaching its potential. On the other hand, I'd like to update the design with things I've learned since then to make it better. But that will take time I don't currently have. It's one of those projects that I should just set aside an hour a week and chip away at it until it gets done. I can't promise anything right now. But if anyone else wants to contribute I would love that and will support it. As for parts, if there are particular parts you are missing, let me know, I do still have a lot of that.

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-Michael

On Tue, Oct 28, 2025 at 2:07 AM DM2NT ***@***.***> wrote: *DM2NT* left a comment (MichaelRColton/PSDR#16) <#16 (comment)> Hello Michael. How many PSDRs have you actually sent out? Would it be worth working on the software again after all these years? I still think the form factor is a unique selling point of the PSDR to this day. Unfortunately, some components are no longer available here in Europe. But I would be absolutely thrilled if we could get the preamble, filter, and TX/RX working with SSB. I don't need any more features. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#16 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB4VXQXCFQE7OB4JVEW7AZT3Z4P4NAVCNFSM6AAAAACKNCOOH2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTINJVGA4DONZUGI> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[DM2NT]

Hi Michael.

I sent you an email about the components. I'm not sure if the email address is still active, though. Unfortunately, the MASWSS0129 parts are no longer available here. If you happen to have any...