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Author Topic: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR  (Read 1156 times)

N6YWU

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Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« on: December 29, 2020, 12:45:31 PM »

If you like operating QRP, but from your computer instead of from the radio’s front panel, the Hermes Lite 2 QRP transceiver seems to be back in stock at Makerfabs. 

The HL2 is a small, lightweight, 5 Watt, network connected, direct sampling SDR for under $300.  No front panel controls.  Connects to your network or directly to your computer with an ethernet cable.  Similar to a FlexRadio, the HL2 is capable of receiving multiple spectrum slices across multiple HF bands simultaneously.

The Hermes Lite 2 is currently being sold as a “kit”, but one that requires drilling only one hole, and takes less than a half hour to assemble using finished and pre-tested circuit boards.

There is a wide variety of software available on Windows, Linux, Raspberry Pi and Mac systems that supports the HL2, including SparkSDR, Quisk, linHPSDR, and several others.

I have two HL2’s that I’m using for CW, FT8, WSPR, and SDR software experimentation.

Disclaimer: I have added some limited support for the Hermes Lite 2 to one of my paid iOS/iPhone SDR apps, available from Apple’s App store.  Using my iPhone (or a Raspberry Pi) as the radio front panel allows me to use my HL2 for lightweight portable SOTA/POTA ops, without having to carry a PC or laptop.

73, Ron N6YWU
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N2DTS

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2020, 08:08:01 AM »

Can it run the same software the Anan radios use?
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2020, 11:59:26 AM »

Can it run the same software the Anan radios use?

Do the Anan radios support some flavor or derivative of openHPSDR Metis Protocol 1?
If so, it might be possible. But you'd have to check with the developers or users of that specific software package to see if the software (filter settings, keyer settings, etc.) has been adapted to your specific radio hardware product of interest.
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2021, 08:29:38 AM »

Can it run the same software the Anan radios use?

Here's a list of software the Hermes Lite 2 can use:
https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite2/wiki/Software
Plus there seems to be a beta version of Thetis that supports Protocol 1.

So there seems to be some overlap with this list for the Apache Labs Anan:
http://www.w1aex.com/anan/anan.html

I write my own SDR software, and I haven't tried it on an Anan; so I don't know if it might work, work only partially, or not at all.
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N2DTS

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2021, 05:48:29 AM »

I ordered one.
What is the Thetis?
Last I had an Anan it ran what looked like the old Powersdr which I really like.

I have a Flex 6400m at the moment but am not fond of the new software.
I have been waiting for a low cost ethernet interface radio to get rid of all the usb latency.
I cant say the 6400M has low latency in the standalone mode...250 to 350 ms?
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2021, 09:47:44 AM »

According to this Wiki:
 https://github.com/softerhardware/Hermes-Lite/wiki/Software
PowerSDR can be configured to work with the Hermes Lite 2.
 http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=PowerSDR

Thetis appears to be another openHPSDR application:
 https://saure.org/cq-nrw/2020/10/09/thetis-2-8-7-released-thetis-spricht-nun-auch-protocol-1/

Depending on how you key the HL2, latency can be very low, perhaps limited by your computer OS and network routing latency.  The default buffer on the HL2 itself is 10 mS, and the network packet rate for keying has better than 3 mS resolution. Network Ping round trip times can be under 1 mS.  So, a lot lower latency than using USB.
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N2DTS

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2021, 07:17:56 PM »

Anything USB always had about 500 ms latency on every computer I ever used.
Firewire and ethernet were MUCH better.

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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2021, 03:16:25 PM »

My Hermes Lite 2 in the recommended case weighs 440 grams.  If one is already planning on carrying a mobile phone, the additional weight of the HL2 seems similar to other SDR type rigs popular for SOTA, but heavier than some of the ultra-light pure analog QRP transceivers.
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2021, 01:36:36 PM »

The last production run of 200 Hermes Lite 2 units appears to have sold out, and it currently looks like the worldwide component shortage may delay resumption of production.
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N1IG

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2021, 04:41:18 AM »

THEY ARE BACK IN STOCK!

I bought one in February, and have had more fun with this QRP SDR than with any other radio I have ever used.  Coupled with a F-Loop, I have been able to hear and be heard by stations as far away as Australia and Japan, from the East Coast of the US.  There are some amazing software platforms available for it, in Win10, MacOS, and Linux varieties. 

This radio is truly a 'sleeper' and much more radio than people think it is. 

You should get one before they are all sold out again.

Anthony - N1IG
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AE5X

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2021, 08:26:47 AM »

THEY ARE BACK IN STOCK!

Just ordered one  :D
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2021, 09:58:48 AM »

Yes.  Hermes Lite 2's are currently back in stock at Makerfabs.  Shipping looks like 3 or 4 weeks out.

One option to waiting, if you want to get started setting up your Hermes Lite 2 SDR software sooner, and have a Raspberry Pi 4, is to order a SDR Radioberry board from Amazon, next day delivery available to some places.  The Raspberry Pi driver for the Radioberry "hat" allows using identical remote and/or networked SDR software with both a Hermes Lite 2 and a Pi+Radioberry.  So I'm using the Radioberry board on a separate antenna from my HL2 to experiment with antenna diversity, and skimming FT8 on one band with transmitting on another with the HL2.  The Radioberry board has pretty much identical Rx capability to an HL2 (but the Radioberry board only has a low level QRPp 10 dBm Tx output, so I've only used its Tx for test signal generation). 

Having one of each is lots of fun.
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N6YWU

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2022, 09:04:27 AM »

Makerfabs is currently (on 8/14/2022) showing Hermes Lite 2 kits as back in stock, with the shipment date estimated to be 8/20.
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VK2ATW

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Re: Hermes Lite 2 QRP SDR
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2022, 05:39:06 PM »

Can it run the same software the Anan radios use?

Do the Anan radios support some flavor or derivative of openHPSDR Metis Protocol 1?
If so, it might be possible. But you'd have to check with the developers or users of that specific software package to see if the software (filter settings, keyer settings, etc.) has been adapted to your specific radio hardware product of interest.

Yes there is a HL2 version of Thetis available. Other great software is SDR Console.
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