This week, visit the Web to check out the progress and jump on the bandwagon of the do-it-yourself Software Defined Radio (SDR) project.

The hamsdr.com Web site is the place to go to if you have an interest in the do-it-yourself Software Defined Radio (SDR) project.

In June 2006, Surfin' reported on the efforts of a group of hams who are working on an open source, GNU-type hardware and software project intended as a "next generation" SDR.

Back then, the group had already developed a backplane for the project (dubbed "Atlas") that provides for the mounting and interconnection for all the other modules. (Atlas is available as a kit from TAPR). Eight months later, the group is on the cusp of providing two of those "other modules' to fill the Atlas backplane: Ozymandias (Ozy for short) and Janus.

Ozy is a USB 2 IO (input/output) board that provides local logic on the Atlas bus and connects back to a PC via a USB 2 connection. Janus is a sound card of high quality designed specifically for SDR applications.

Ozy and Janus are the building blocks of the HPSDR (High Performance Software Defined Radio) project. Other building blocks are in the works (visit the HPSDR Web site for more information).

Meanwhile, TAPR and HPSDR need to know if you are interested in these boards. So, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Instead visit the hamsdr.com Web site and let them know if you have an interest in purchasing the Janus and/or Ozy bare or assembled and tested boards for delivery in May. Note that this is not a commitment to purchase the boards; it is a survey so that TAPR and HPSDR can accurately determine how many boards to order. The survey ends on February 20, so go there now (I did).

Until next time, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, believes that SDR is the way to go to get SHDR (Stan Horzepa Defined Radio). To discuss cool stuff with Stan, especially if it's related to radio, send Stan e-mail or add comments to his blog. By the way, every installment of Surfin' is indexed here, so go look it up (whatever it may be).

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