This a SoftRock-40, a Software Defined Radio receiver.  This one is designed for 40 and 80-meters.

The SR-40 is available for different bands as a kit for $14.00 USD.

I'll be the first to admit that I do not have the manual dexterity to put together the SMT stuff so I opted to buy my board assembled.

This one was ordered from and built by Tony Parks, KB9YIG, one of the designers, for a total cost of $27.00 USD.

Below are pictures of how the SR-40 looked when it arrived and after it was mounted into an aluminum project box.  The kit does not include the box nor the antenna and power connectors.

The kits were originally distributed by The American QRP Club, but their web site is out of date and they no longer offer the kits.

Tony Parks, KB9YIG, is currently putting together another production run of 1000 SoftRock-40 Version 6.0 kits (July 2006).

The best source of information for the SoftRock-40 and kits is the SoftRock-40 Yahoo Group.

The PowerSDR Software for the SR-40 can be downloaded from Flex-Radio and the Rocky Software can be downloaded from DX Atlas.

Both programs are free downloads.

(Click on an image for a larger view.)

Here is the top side of the SR-40 board.  (The cigarettes are for size comparison).

A close-up of the top side of the board.  In my opinion, Tony has done a first class job on the construction and well worth the $14.00 to do it.

Here is the bottom side of the SR-40 board with the SMT components.

A close-up of the bottom side of the board.  Again, everything looks great..

Here is the SR-40 mounted in an aluminum box.  A SO-239 was used for the antenna connection.

Here is the other side of the aluminum box.  Binding posts were used for the power connections to make experimentation easier.

Here is a view SR-40 mounted inside the aluminum box.  Hard to see is a diode added across the power binding posts for reverse polarity protection (a crowbar).

Another view of the interior of the SR-40 box.

Here is a screen shot of the PowerSDR Software, (free from the Flex-Radio web site), in the panadapter display.

Here is a screen shot of the Rocky Software, (free from the DX-Atlas web site) in the spectrum display. We were listening to the signal just below 7060 KHz. There are other signals (peaks) higher up in this shot.

Here we are listening to a signal on 7041 KHz.  We were just using a simple wire antenna.  The band wasn't in good shape the day these screen shots were made.  We were using a Icom IC-718 for comparison.

Here is a screen shot of the Rocky software in waterfall display mode.  The Morse code elements are clearly visible.  Some of the fainter signals we could see but not hear.  The tuning indicator along the right hand edge indicates that the stronger signal in the image is just above 7056 KHz.

Another screen shot of a couple of signals.  Tuning indicator show sig just below 7052 KHz.  The display scrolls from right to left and the Morse characters are easily read.

Here a station could be seen tuning up while we were listening to a station on 7067 KHz.  Notice how the line gets brighter as the station comes to resonance and the power output increases.

A screen shot were you can see the propagation. Notice how the characters fade and then brighten again.

Though easily seen in this screen shot, this signal was almost inaudible.  The power of DSP.

I found it easier to use the software while in this waterfall display mode.  It was similar to the PSK31 displays I have used, selecting signals by just clicking on them.  Then I learned that by pressing Ctrl-Right it would immediately take me (tune) to the next signal higher up in the band and pressing Ctrl-Left would take me down the band.  Very cool.

After reading the documentation to the Rocky software I found it even easier to use <smile>.  I am really enjoying this little SDR radio.