HFU HF Underground
Technical Topics => SDR - Software Defined Radio => Topic started by: nitroengine on December 21, 2023, 2028 UTC
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As announced on the KiwiSDR forum, the online store for the KiwiSDR 2 has been opened for pre-order.
https://kiwisdr.nz/
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/3051/kiwisdr-2-the-online-store-is-open-for-orders-please-visit-kiwisdr-nz
The six prototypes we received from our New Zealand manufacturer today work great. So it's time to open the store. Please visit kiwisdr.nz
KiwiSDR 2 assembled USD $395. Includes BeagleBone Green (software pre-installed), metal case, GPS active antenna (5m RG174), self-test cable.
KiwiSDR 2 board-only USD $295. Add to your existing BeagleBone Green/Black, AI, AI-64. Includes self-test cable.
Please note:
Shipment is likely early February 2024. Your order helps us to crowdfund the first production run. Thank you.
The first run is expected to sell out so purchases will be shipped in the order received.
We tried to limit the price increase as much as we could. $395 is 20% over the $330 price of two years ago. Many of our components doubled in cost (e.g. ADC).
Shipping costs are unfortunately terrible. (USD) $10 to NZ, $35 to AU, $40 to USA/Canada, $50 everywhere else. DHL tracked. It's not just us. For example SDRPlay charges (USD) $57 UK-to-NZ, $33 UK-to-USA.
VAT/duty applicable to your country will be collected by DHL.
Good news / bad news: We had to remove the balanced input transformer. Unable to eliminate the noise coupled into it. But everything else is there: digital attenuator, self-test, GDT, reverse polarity protection, better GPS chip. We added a shield can to the FPGA 1V SMPS for further noise reduction.
The good news is that we're working on a separate box incorporating an antenna switch with multiple balanced outputs, AM BCB LC filter traps (tunable) and some sort of switched SWBC attenuation (TBD). There may also be an active GPS splitter. And perhaps even support for a frontend daughter card like Glenn's 2 GHz frequency extender. We'll be asking for your help in defining this device.
We sincerely appreciate your support. It's been a difficult couple of years. But we're back!
(https://i95.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/kiwisd10.png)
(https://i95.servimg.com/u/f95/15/46/86/41/kiwisd10.jpg)
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It sounds like folks are having trouble placing an order at the moment, but the problem is being worked on.
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The merchant host issue should be resolved now.
I ordered an assembled kit earlier today. :)
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The merchant host issue should be resolved now.
Thanks for the update Rob. I had been trying to order a receiver but the "merchant" was not working. My KiwiSDR 2 has now been ordered.
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My KiwiSDR 2 has now been ordered.
:)
60% of the first production run reported as already sold earlier today.
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The fully assembled KiwiSDR 2 with case and GPS receiver is an interesting set,
but does not include the power supply.
You still have to find the low noise PSU. Is it still 3A at 5V ?
(not easy to find a true linear PSU giving 3A at 5V)
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Find yourself a nice Lambda LP-520 or Lambda LP-530 (or equivalent) on eBay or your favourite electronic surplus store. You will be able to run at least 3 x KiwiSDRs with an LP-530.
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There are users running switchers. YMMV. More details:
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/3009/quiet-switch-mode-power-supply-smps-for-kiwisdr
BTW, the "audiophile" market has created a demand for 5v linear power supplies. Check eBay or similar. They are often listed as "HiFi" models. YMMV, though, as designs and prices vary considerably.
I have been considering a surplus supply from the PLC industry. Like an Allen-Bradley compact model or similar. Still I suspect extra EMI/RFI filtering might be needed.
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For my Kiwi, I built my own linear power supply using an old Triad F-36A filament transformer, full wave bridge rectifier, and a 5 volt 3 amp LM1085 low dropout linear regulator. Along with the necessary filtering and decoupling caps. The power supply is plugged into a differential/common mode line filter.
A set of windings on the filament transformer are also used with a 12 volt linear regulator to supply power to my amplified loop.
The Kiwi is installed in a shed/shack in my backyard which I have the entire shack on a PowerVAR 3 stage toroidal power conditioner with a common mode pi-filter. The power conditioner is located back at my house, so it filters noise off the line before it has a chance to radiate from the feeder running to the shack and from the wiring within the shack.
The Beagle will shut down if the voltage dips below about 4.75 volts for even a fraction of a second, so you want your power supply to be able to provide a stable voltage output during moments of peak current draw (especially during start up). The cable you use to connect your Kiwi to your power supply should be of sufficient gauge as to reduce voltage drop. Depending on length, 22 to 18 AWG is typical.
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There are about 20 units remaining for purchase. They can be configured as full systems or board-only as needed.
In addition we are holding some in reserve for contingencies: Manufacturing attrition, customer support spares, delivery loss, etc. Although we're hoping for little of this.
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First round of KiwisDR2s are all gone. Got mine right away! :D
Hopefully they ship from NZ in February as promised.
-Nate
N8BTR
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The first round of pre-ordered KiwiSDR 2 units have started shipping.
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/3098/kiwisdr-2-shipping-status
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So, I am #103 on the shipping list ... I guess I should get ready and set things up.
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Order #60 here. I still need to test the linear power supply that I ordered awhile back, plus figure out what I am going to do about an antenna.
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I'm still thinking of installing a Cross Country Wireless HF Active Loop Antenna v4 but think it might be out of stock. Their eBay listing has had zero stock for the past little while.
It is not speced to go bellow 500 kHz which means degraded signals for beacons, 100 kHz eLORAN and WWVB at 60 kHz.
https://www.crosscountrywireless.net/active_loop_antenna.htm (https://www.crosscountrywireless.net/active_loop_antenna.htm)
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Note this change for the KiwiSDR2:
.Every KiwiSDR 2 has the proxy service enabled by default. So you can connect using the serial number, e.g. 21xxx.kiwisdr.com The serial number is found on the printed sheet inside the shipping box. Also written on the bottom of the metal case. On the admin page, connect tab, you may disable this and use whatever connection method you like (e.g. by domain name, IP address, DUC domain etc). You can also change the proxy name from the serial number to a name you choose (assuming it's not already taken)
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http://kiwisdr.com/quickstart/index.html#id-new-k2-owners
If you dont want your KiwiSDR2 accessible from the internet, you will need to disable this.
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FYI....
When you receive your KiwiSDR 2 DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, do any sort of Debian upgrade from the delivered Debian 11.8. Otherwise you may brick your Kiwi server (Debian should continue to run).
The Beagle guys have been at it again and have changed the way the SPI interface works. I need to understand the change and compensate for it in a later Kiwi release.
Thank you.
Source: https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/17778/#Comment_17778
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Note this change for the KiwiSDR2:
.Every KiwiSDR 2 has the proxy service enabled by default. So you can connect using the serial number, e.g. 21xxx.kiwisdr.com
If you dont want your KiwiSDR2 accessible from the internet, you will need to disable this.
Sure, but they would need to know/try every serial number....and easy enough to add a PW for users outside your network.
Got my KiwiSDR2 the other day, thrilled to have my own!
-Nate
N8BTR
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Got my KiwiSDR2 the other day, thrilled to have my own.
Just received notification today that mine has shipped.
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Received mine, but admittedly, it is still in the box. I might get around to initial testing over the weekend.
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The Kiwi arrived this morning (Friday 01 Mar 2024). At first glance, the unit is nicely constructed and relatively smaller than anticipated. It measures no more than 5" x 3". Something new to play with over the weekend.
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Orders being accepted now for the second production run.
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/comment/17961/#Comment_17961
https://kiwisdr.nz/collections/all
The devs are ordering parts for a third production run, too.
BTW, mine is working fine. :) Just not public, and it probably will not be until I get it off an USB switching power supply and decide on an antenna.
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The third batch of KiwiSDRs are now available.
https://kiwisdr.nz/
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.and the third run is now sold out. Glad to see the demand is still there. Hope he does a 4th run.
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There could still be supply available through retailers, as per jks....
"We have shipped hundreds now to ML&S (UK) hamradio.co.uk and WiMo (DE) wimo.com. So consider ordering from them. Check if they will ship to your region and the cost.
Source: https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/3051/kiwisdr-2-kiwisdr-nz-sold-out-please-order-via-hamradio-co-uk-and-wimo-com/p2
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European seller WiMo has a new stock of KiwiSDR 2, at 497 (including VAT).
edit >>> The GPS antenna is included.
The PSU 4A/5V is a low cost option (19.90 ), a switching PSU, but made to medical standards :
EN60601-1 (2xMOPP level)
The medical norms are specially strong about the risks of overvoltage to the patient or to the operator,
but they also include non-medical norms about clean current output. So that a good way to avoid both the junk PSU's and the overpriced hardware for audio hi-fi fools.
The GPS/Galileo/Glonass referenced oscillator is an expensive option.
edit : at my first visit to the WiMo site, I was quickly guided to that GPS accessory (more than 200 ),
but I can't find it again....
edit : maybe I saw the DxPatrol GPSDO (seen today at 149)
Anyway, the standard GPS antenna for the KiwiSDR 2 is not displayed, at least not easily found on the site.
edit : the GPS antenna is not even mentioned on the ML&S site
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There are decent deals out there on eBay and similar for quality power supplies if patient. I picked up a new, though out-of-box Acopian 5v 32a linear highly-regulated supply with the overvoltage protection option. 0.005% load and line regulation with 0.25mV RMS ripple. Reputable dealer with a warrantied guarantee. MSRP as spec'd is $750+. I paid under $150 shipped.
32a is kind of ridiculous for just a single Kiwi, but the decent mid-range eBay and similar 5v audiophile supplies tend to be like $125 to $200 anyway, and most of those have little to no meaningful published specs.
Here is a new open-box 5v 22a sibling to my mentioned Acopian supply. Overvoltage option included, plus same regulation and ripple specs as above. $111.75 shipped at the moment. Same vendor where I purchased mine, too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325755116796
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Any moderator could modify the title?
Just deleting 'for pre-order' please
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Looks like someone got a decent deal on the Acopian 5v 22a supply. :)
Anyway one can drop a search for "Acopian A5H" models if interested in other offerings. The A series are the high-performance models with ±0.005% regulation. An added V prefix means the overvoltage protection option is included.
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Any moderator could modify the title?
Just deleting 'for pre-order' please
I just edited it.
As for a power supply, take a look at this: https://forum.kiwisdr.com/index.php?p=/discussion/3009/quiet-switch-mode-power-supply-smps-for-kiwisdr/p1
It's a SMPS but appears to be fairly clean. I built my own linear power supply using an old filament transformer, so I cannot speak from my own personal use of one, but I know someone who is running two KiwiSDR 2's and is using those Apple power supplies on both of them. They are the two Kiwis located in Mandeville, LA (he takes them offline during storms, so check back later if they are not online).
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Also the PSU situation below HF frequencies can depend upon atmospheric and local noise levels. From the same Kiwi forum thread, here is a graphic of potential interest:
https://forum.kiwisdr.com/uploads/551/TZU5V3FBWOIL.png
One might never even notice much, if any discernible RFI from an Apple USB-C charger or similar moderately decent switcher if the PSU noise falls well below the radio's received RF noise level. The Apple USB-C likely suffices for many, especially at MW and above frequencies.
PSU noise on lower frequencies can become an serious issue with many power supplies. The Apple USB-C as measured gets rather noisy below 300KHz, and I suspect that was measured with a rather clean AC source given the person testing it. Expect likely (much) worse RFI with less filtered switching models; plus admittedly a regulated linear supply is a no guarantee down there as well. It can be a huge YMMV situation.
Previously I had my Kiwi on a Samsung USB-C charger, and IIRC, even an Anker USB-C charger for awhile during initial testing. They worked for the purpose, though IIRC, lower MW and further down did have some noise annoyances.
Many of the linear regulated power supplies used in the PLC industry tend to be decent to excellent performance and can be found often for pennies on the original MRSP dollars. Brands like Acopian, Allen Bradley, TDK/Lambda, etc.
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Acopian VA5H3200 5vDC 32A regulated linear power supply. APC Line-R AVR on the AC side. A couple of ferrites on the KiwiSDR power cable. An USB cable with integrated ferrites to a cheap USB hub for powering various accessories, which at the moment is connected via an USB cable with integrated ferrites feeding a TP-Link TL-WR802N for bridging the Kiwi to WiFi. 75-ohm CATV terminator on the main antenna port. GPS antenna connected. Waterfall down to -150dB.
(https://i.ibb.co/jDvwGvs/kiwisdr2-psu-waterfall.png)
(Click to enlarge) (https://ibb.co/jDvwGvs)
Pretty much flat from LW to 30MHz. If looking very close the noise profile *slightly* increases under 20KHz, but "whatever" IMO.