* Crossposted in SCANRADIO
* Crossposted in SHORTWAVE
* Crossposted in RADIO_HOBBY-ALL
* Crossposted in NET202_RADIO
* Crossposted in TECH
(c) 1996 Bill Cheek   4 of 12
ELECTRICS & ELECTRONICS
Ironic, but I can't tell you much about the electronics of WinRadio just yet. 
Maybe by next issue.  I know that WinRadio uses triple conversion with IF 
AGC, bandpass filters and a doubly-balanced mixer to round out a pretty 
darned nice receiver.  My observations thus far don't disclose any glaring 
performance deficiencies, either.
Rosetta Laboratories says that service manuals are not available for two 
reasons: (1) service is never done in the field (units are replaced if and 
when there is a problem), and (2) the design of WinRadio is proprietary, and 
there is a concern that foreign manufacturers may plagiarize the design if 
schematics and normal service data were available.
HACKABILITY ???
For reasons that I don't wish to disclose at this time, I think WinRadio may 
prove to be very "hackable" in terms of adding some of the more esoteric 
features we have come to love and demand.  I am confident that key access 
points can be found; points such as AGC, FM discriminator outputs; AM 
detector output, and maybe....just maybe the address/program lines of the 
CPU.  Maybe more....maybe lots more.  For now, we have to deal with WinRadio 
as it stands on its existing merits.  Let's go!
PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS
WinRadio, under Windows, (3.1 or 95), multitasks very well! That means after 
starting a session, you can minimize or "window" the operating screen 
(running program), and go on about other work. WinRadio goes on with its 
business, requiring little or no attention. There are three user selectable 
screen sizes, large, medium, and small, to fit just about any preferred 
"window"!  Here is the initial setup and control panel:
I won't bother to explain the obvious, but a few comments are in order. On 
the above screen, you see a setting for "Frequency Display Offset". This is 
cool! Suppose you use a down-converter to receive bands not within WinRadio's 
capability, like satellite or, heaven forbid, cellular. This setting permits 
calibration of the main display to show the actual frequency being received; 
not the receiver frequency.  A very nice flourish!
The next two settings have to do with the main power switch status when 
WinRadio is fired up or shut down.  These setting are a nice touch since the 
power "switch" actually disengages power to WinRadio.  Not just for looks!  
The rest of that screen is self-explanatory.
Next we have a panel from which to control the display of time and date. 
Nothing unusual, just good design!
Now let's look at some real meat `n taters.  The next dialog box allows you 
to set up and configure the Auto-Stepping function.  You can configure the 
step size for many ranges of frequencies, including the default mode to set 
the receiver.
CONTINUED TO WINRADIO REVIEW 5/12
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