Even more information on the AOR AR7030 here.
(AOR UK Photo)

These additional comments from me and others on the AOR AR7030 receiver. Latest entries will be at the top of the page.

See the: AOR AR7030 HF Tabletop Receiver page for much more important information.

Dave N9EWO

"Dream" (version 1.6.1cvs) screen shot while receiving an actual signal in these tests with a AOR AR7030.
(photo : N9EWO)

Just as the title states, this allows a person that owns an AOR AR7030 and a fast Microsoft Windows based computer to have a “taste” of DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) without doing much in the process. Keep in mind that this will not give for a very smooth 100% error free signal doing it this way. Expect some (if not many) dropouts.

To do it right for DRM reception a particular model receiver has to be modified with wider bandwidth filtering, plus adding a 12 kHz IF down converter circuit, which is then connected to the computers sound card audio “line” input where the DRM decoding software is installed. In my case here I'm using the free Dream software.

With this “down and dirty” method, no modifications are done to the receiver in any way.

 As the case is with DRM signals, the received signal MUST be super strong and with absolutely no interference, otherwise you will hear nothing.

The computer that has the Dream software installed better be fairly speedy, I would say at least at 1.5 Ghz or faster (this is a guess), Intel Pentium 4. I used Windows XP home as the operating system.

I used the Dream version 1.6.1cvs for these tests. The files are just unzipped into a directory that you make on the hard drive. No install of the program is done. You just add the "qt-mt230nc.dll" if needed (downloaded separately) into that same directory that you just unzipped. That's it, run the program from that directory.

Adjustments in the Dream program I made:
(Not saying I have all of the answers here, so experiment, but here is a start)

(Top bar selection) View  > Evaluation Dialog

Channel Estimation: Frequency Interpolation: Set to Linear (Wiener can work too with the AR7030)
Channel Estimation: Time Interpolation: Set to Linear (Wiener can work too with the AR7030)
Misc. Settings: MLC: Number of Interations: Set to 1 (the more you set this the more CPU horsepower is used)
Interferer Rejection: Bandpass Filter ON
(I switched off the Reverberation)

(Top bar selection) Settings > Sound card Selection
Be sure your “Sound In” and “Sound Out” are set correct for your computer.

Settings on the AOR AR7030 that I made:

Example: 9800 kHz DRM Sackville RCI 2130 UTC

Off tune the receiver 5 kHz down: So in this case, 9795 kHz
Mode: USB
PBS Control: + 1.5 kHz
AGC: Fast
Bandwidth: 9.5 kHz
Audio Level(s) (set in config menu): 77 %

The receivers “Audio Line” output is connected to the "line in" on the computer sound card.

The "Record" sound card adjustments should be made using the "Line In". If the sound card has a "wave out mix" adjustment on the “Playback” mixer panel, be sure that is selected off and use the  "Line in" in the Record panel only for level adjustment.

Yes, it is very picky where the adjustment is set. Again ANY interference of course kills the signal totally.Make sure the audio level is kept constant. No red bars in the Dream’s audio level meter. The idea is to have those 3 little cubes (lights) right under this level meter to be green (version 1.6.1cvs).

I tried and used the JRC NRD-545 as well but here in my tests it was even choppier, but for those who want to try it anyway here are the settings.

JRC NRD-545 Settings I made (use same Dream program settings above):

(Be sure the Filter Slope # 32 User Set Up as: LOOSE)

Example: 9800 kHz DRM Sackville RCI 2130 UTC

Off tune the receiver 5 kHz down: So in this case, 9795 kHz
Mode: USB
PBS Control: + 2.30 kHz (fully clockwise)
AGC: Fast
Bandwidth: 9.99 kHz
Tone Control: Fully Clockwise

Anyone who gives this a try is totally on your own and I will be unable to give any technical support. I cannot tell you if this will work with other receivers that can provide a W-I-D-E bandwidth in SSB modes (at least 9 kHz) and with Pass Band Shift ?? AlI I can say is to give it a try ?

Reminders again that this may not work the best so treat this as an experiment and you should have fun with it. I do not have all of the answers here.

But again have fun and good luck.

Dave N9EWO

© 2008 N9EWO

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