apache-labs.com

I don't know how you do the "xxxx wrote" but.... WU2O wrote "The photos also show some sort of microcontroller based front panel that runs the amp protective circuits. The original announcement above said there would not be one of these. The previous implementation was nothing but a PITA and I have hacked code that disables the VSWR protection. I could not run remotely without it. Some additional detail on how the new display and controller works would be most welcome, particularly where remote operations are concerned."

If you go to my github repository that was linked in Abhi's announcement a couple of days ago, you will find some documentation for the microcontroller and front panel display. I was asked to write it for the new Ganymede project. I don't know what was in the original 8000, how it worked or what the issues were. This is entirely new. As with most of my open source projects the documentation evolves from early concepts of what it might be to how to build and install software - you need to read it as a developing story.

There is an Arduino microcontroller that makes measurements of supply voltage, current, forward and reverse power. It also has a rapid "overrange" detector where an out-of-limits parameter for any of these will trip the amplifier. This removes PTT, bias supply and supply voltage from the amplifier transistor. There is a front panel "reset" button on the LCD screen to clear a "trip" condition once the readings are in spec. Functionality to do that reset has also been built into Thetis which can potentially also cancel the PTT at its end, but I don't think we've integrated that as fully as it could be yet.

There is a touch screen LCD display giving indications of operational parameters and VSWR gauges, for those that want them.

If you are referring to the R4850G2 it only works 176-300V apparently.

https://www.beyondlogic.org/pdf/Huawei_ ... _Sheet.pdf

laurencebarker wrote:I don't know how you do the "xxxx wrote" but....

You use the "quote" button in the upper right corner of the post you want to reply to. It will start a new post with the appropriate copy and quote tags. This is a standard feature of nearly every forum on the internet, although the location of the quote button might vary a bit.

There is an Arduino microcontroller that makes measurements of supply voltage, current, forward and reverse power. It also has a rapid "overrange" detector where an out-of-limits parameter for any of these will trip the amplifier. This removes PTT, bias supply and supply voltage from the amplifier transistor. There is a front panel "reset" button on the LCD screen to clear a "trip" condition once the readings are in spec. Functionality to do that reset has also been built into Thetis which can potentially also cancel the PTT at its end, but I don't think we've integrated that as fully as it could be yet.

Thanks for replying to the topic, Laurence. I can't stress enough how having the ability to reset this from Thetis will be critically important for anyone who operates remotely, whether that's two floors away from the equipment, or two continents away.

administrator wrote:Please see link for details:

https://apache-labs.com/al-products/104 ... eiver.html

73,
Abhi

It's a welcome initiative.
My 2 cents - it adds just 4 db's to the ANAN-8000DLE and is overkill for BLF-188XR rated for 1500W but it will run cooler though.

A suggestion - The future model should have a new scheme to utilize the full capabilities of BLF-188XR/189XR. It would add a killing punch with 800W to 1000W with a water-cooled heat spreader /heatsinking. It would create a new record for a transceiver to have a kilowatt power output. I understand Abhi's limitation is the size of the case. Water cooling is a way to go to overcome it. Here is an example of how to make water-cooled heat spreaders to save space and efficient heatsinking.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp_hhWXyHmk

I am using this dummy load but without water cooling. For the Power supply, he may use a 53V 60 amp supply from Huawei (R4850G2), or the power supply may be optional stuff. Its communication grade and cost only $75-100. Every Mercury IIIS uses it. I have bought one too for my amplifier. It saves time, space, effort, and money. Its weight is less than 2Kgs.

In that case, SSB/CW power output will be kilowatt + and digital 600

It may create new demand with a punchline "Buy a Superb SDR radio & get a Solid state kilowatt amplifier free[

73
Bhanu
VU2MB

For those that would rather not use Huawei products another option would be the Eltek Flatpack power supplies similar to what is used by RF Kit.

A 1200 watt Lmos device can be purchased for $200. Apache is making a 500 watt radio available for $3750. The 500 watt amp I purchased new for $1900 is now selling for $2700. My first thought is hams are willing to spend $6500 on a legal limit amp and half that on a 500 watt amp. And that’s good for the manufacture. It gives them a nice profit margin and enables them to develop new products. It also shows the value that Apache is passing on to their customers.

Dan KM6CQ

Very interesting, I'm debating on getting in on the list but I would have to sell my 7000DLE first. But I have my toe in the water on this.

My opinion is, FWIW, that 7000 DLE's sell quick right now.

Thinking of getting on the list, too. Wondering what protocols and firmware will ship with the radio? I'm currently using v2.0.0.6 with my 7000DLE.

Thanks,
Bob NN5D

I find this announcement puzzling and maybe a little disturbing. I have the 14-bit Hermes board on order and paid for as well a substantial deposit for the Andromeda and no update on delivery for a long while.

Perhaps a focus on delivery of promised products would be a nice gesture instead of mythical new products - however inventive and useful they may be. What use is a newly announced product if it does not result in actual hardware shipped?

73 de va7qi, ....Erik.

Abhi, Will the new 8000 be okay with 53.5 VDC in as some of the switchers put out?

Thanks
W2FMU

Ernie wrote:Abhi, Will the new 8000 be okay with 53.5 VDC in as some of the switchers put out?

Thanks
W2FMU

Most have a pot to set the voltage.

kc2rgw wrote:

Ernie wrote:Abhi, Will the new 8000 be okay with 53.5 VDC in as some of the switchers put out?

Thanks
W2FMU

Most have a pot to set the voltage.

The Huawei r4850g2 supply does not have a pot. It must be adjusted via the CAN bus which is a bit tricky. It puts out 53.5 VDC. I have 2 of them.
w2fmu

This is the power supply I think I would go with 48v @32A. Plenty of headroom and runs a frequency that plays nice with radio.
https://www.meanwell-web.com/en-gb/ac-dc-single-output-enclosed-power-supply-output-rsp--1500--48

Be careful the BLF188XR is sensitive to High or low voltage!

KC2QMA wrote:This is the power supply I think I would go with 48v @32A. Plenty of headroom and runs a frequency that plays nice with radio.
https://www.meanwell-web.com/en-gb/ac-dc-single-output-enclosed-power-supply-output-rsp--1500--48

Be careful the BLF188XR is sensitive to High or low voltage!

Is the Meanwell RF quiet like the Huawei is? This is an unknown AFAIK. The Huawei is RF silent.
Per the Ampleon datasheet, the BLF188XR is good to 135 VDC. Where are you getting your info?

"VDS drain-source voltage - 135 V"

Must have been thinking of a different final, WOW 135vdc. I wonder what the radio will handle without blowing up?
The meanwell says its for "RF Applications" ?

Anyway back to my original question:
Will Apache-Labs offer a 1 year extended warranty for the 8000dle mkii like they have for the 7000dle mkII for new Pre-Orders?

Awesome new radio. Very attractive. I wonder what the delivery time might be. I ordered the Andromeda back on May 22 I'm still waiting for it. But I would order this new 8000 as well. I imagine it might take a year to get it. It looks like cool radio to own.

Dr. WiL -NM4W

Based on the date & time of my order that should make me #42/43 of 50 in the December shipment group. Let’s hope they can meet the deadline?
Wonder why no answer on the basic question of "Will Apache-Labs offer a 1 year extended warranty for the 8000dle mkii like they have for the 7000dle mkII for new Pre-Orders?"

KC2QMA wrote:Wonder why no answer on the basic question of "Will Apache-Labs offer a 1 year extended warranty for the 8000dle mkii like they have for the 7000dle mkII for new Pre-Orders?"

You'll probably get better results asking the manufacturer directly. This is a community forum, the question you're asking can only be answered by the manufacturer. This forum is not a direct line to the manufacturer.

Mark

K1LSB wrote:

KC2QMA wrote:Wonder why no answer on the basic question of "Will Apache-Labs offer a 1 year extended warranty for the 8000dle mkii like they have for the 7000dle mkII for new Pre-Orders?"

You'll probably get better results asking the manufacturer directly. This is a community forum, the question you're asking can only be answered by the manufacturer. This forum is not a direct line to the manufacturer.

Mark

OK I did not realize that, I’m kinda new here:). What is the best contact in the USA for Apache-Labs?

Unless you are buying from HRO or looking for repair (contact W5WC) there is no US contact for sales. You have to go direct to the Australian email address and/or phone number as shown on the Apache website.

If they are not answering emails or phone calls there's no other recourse AFIAK.

I decided to cancel my 8000DLE MK II order as I was not getting any response from Apache labs to my basic questions VIA email or phone. Also I thought I would wait to see if a new software package for these radios would become available as PowerSDR/Thetis is well over 10 years old now. For now I will just stick with my Expert Electronics MB1.
I look forward to seeing what people have to say about the transceiver once some have shipped and have been in the field.

Latest Thetis is about 5 months old.
https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-Thetis

w9mdb wrote:Latest Thetis is about 5 months old.
https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-Thetis

Yes but it’s still using base code from PowerSDR from years ago witch then became Open HPSDR witch then became Thetis.
https://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=PowerSDR

And what's the problem with that? Nobody is going to rewrite it....not sure why anyone would want to.

The base code is not the same. They used DSP core written by AB2KT and N4HY for many years in PowerSDR. They now use the DSP core written by NR0V.

KC2QMA wrote:

w9mdb wrote:Latest Thetis is about 5 months old.
https://github.com/TAPR/OpenHPSDR-Thetis

Yes but it’s still using base code from PowerSDR from years ago witch then became Open HPSDR witch then became Thetis.
https://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=PowerSDR

1) Lol, that page hasn't been updated in 11 years!

https://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?ti ... on=history

2) The page you linked to says nothing specific about OpenHPSDR other than that it had its origins in PowerSDR. It says nothing about the current state of OpenHPSDR or the subsequent development of Thetis.

3) The only thing PowerSDR and Thetis have in common anymore is a similar look-and-feel. Thetis is loaded with features and enhancements that PowerSDR never had and never will.

4) You're not going to find a more advanced Windows based SDR software package than Thetis anywhere (certainly not for civilian use). If you think otherwise, best of luck in your pursuits!

5) Look around on this forum, you'll find abundant evidence of Richie fixing numerous bugs and adding heaps of enhancements to Thetis that the user base has requested, and he's always done that for free! Good luck finding that level of support anywhere else, at any price, for any other hardware.

Mark

Getting a little off-topic here but, yeah, the only thing carried over from the original PowerSDR at this point is the UI and database code, and even that has undergone substantial improvement (most notable examples: DirectX for spectral display and automatic database upgrades). So the look and feel remains dated and very un-modern, but essentially all of the DSP content has undergone two or, in some cases, three revisions or more. I would wax poetic for pages on this, but won't

DirectX is a good improvement in Thetis; it eats less CPU power. The latest PowerSDRs and Thetis are quite similar though. There are folks running Hermes/PowerSDR with great success and see no need to switch to Thetis. Indeed, it may look un-modern, but it is practical and logical. I use it in "Collapse" mode most of the time with logging programs or digimode programs on the same screen. It was a superb experience to use it in CQ WW RTTY with Writelog.