Setting up the SDR-1000 is quite involved but not difficult. There are some basics that need to be followed, and here follows are some of the things that I have done for my particular station.
Firstly the PowerSDR software needs to be installed on a reasonable pc which is Internet connected. I started with a Pentium 4, 3.0GHz processor with 1GB RAM. This computer worked ok to start with, however as the SDR software has developed and other programs such as HRD have become better, I found that my computer was slowing. I am now using a Pentium Quad Core, 4GB RAM and a 1GB video card. Basically the better the computer the better the radio runs. The software can be downloaded from the Flex Radio web site, since the start I have been using the newest beta versions and have had no problems at all.
The secret to the SDR is that the audio & dsp processing is all done via the pc. Most standard pc audio cards are not a high enough spec to get the radio performing to its best potential. At time of writing Flex Radio were advocating the Edirol FA66 audio card which is a 6 in 6 out, 24 bit, 192KHz audio card. This card connects via a firewire port and also provides the opportunity to monitor the cards audio output in real time via headphones with nil latency. The 192KHz spec is also what you will expect to see on the radio's real time spectrum display, a smaller rate will mean a smaller visible bandwidth. As I am using the FA66, I can see pretty well most of 160m, 40m, 30m, 17m & 12m complete band activity. This is superb method for monitoring new stations that start to call as you don't have to be tuned on their frequency to know a new station has popped up. The FA66 provides a 24bit AD/DA conversion and a dynamic range at 2KHz of 109dB - thats a full 14dB better than the Ten-Tec Orion II, and 46dB better than the IC7000!
The FA-66 audio card and pin-outs for the CW key to com port. (db9 picture courtesy of MRX Software)
After some period of time I began to notice that I was getting audio feedback through my desktop speakers - including when I had my headphones on. When doing side by side comparisons with my Icom IC-7000, it became apparent that this condition did not exist with the Icom. Eventually I found that by disconnecting my Edirol FA66 soundcard and my computer earth cables - which went to my common earth-bus, solved the problem.
If you want to use the SDR hardware/software with cat control programs such as Ham Radio Deluxe and use data modes such as PSK you will also need to download a couple of programs – one being a free virtual com port program available from N8VBvcom, and also a virtual audio cable – I am using VAC4.09 which is a shareware program which has a small registration fee - but worth it.
The SDR-1000 radio is connected to my pc as per Flex Radio's recommendations. I have the parallel output going to the pc parallel output, line out and in connectors go direct to the audio card, my cw key goes direct to a com port on the pc, I used to have a fist mike connected to the front of the SDR. This caused problems with an echo on my transmit signal and I eventually hooked a mic directly to the Edirol sound card. A db15 connector from the back of the SDR provides a 'transmit to ground' to operate the Acom amp. It was very easy to make up my own db15 cable for the Acom amp, and a db9 cable for my paddle to go to the pc com port. I bought all the other audio cables from ebay which was a huge amount cheaper than the SDR radio dealer prices.
On the left is the rear of the SDR-1000, and on the right the rear of the FA-66
I had some initial questions regarding the SDR set-up and operating, which have been able to be answered by the Flex Radio forum web site and I also participated in the Flex Radio Team Speak reflector where I was able to ask 'experts' specific questions.