Please see my comments in line below:
<snip>
I want the ability to monitor (both audibly and
visually) 4 or more bands all at once, and to work
with them completely independently of each other.
<snip>
So, I?m now in the process of transitioning to an all
transverter based approach to my VHF/UHF/SHF weak
signal operations.
Mike wrote:
My question is, how do you now monitor all the bands
at once both visually & audibly? Unless you are
running each transverter into its own slave HF rig,
you can still only operate with one band at a time.
Correct, I do run each transverter into its own HF IF
rig. And in the case of 6M I?ve started using the N4PY
Pegasus/Jupiter control software in dual Pegasus mode.
So for that band I?m actually using 2 HF IF
transceivers. During the last few VHF contests this
has worked out very well, great for hunt and pounce
operating, see the signal spike appear and then just
click on it and be instantly there. I would like to
ultimately do the same for 2M. For the bands above 2M
it gets extremely difficult to justify (or even
rationalize) dual RX (or RX with sweep) kind of
configuration, 222 & 432 IF radios will share
transverters quite nicely with the higher bands. And
the other piece to my intended goal that I didn?t
spell out is that it will be all 100% software
control. I already routinely run 2 sessions of the
Pegasus control software at the same time on the same
computer (running dual monitors under Win2K is a big
help). With some different software that would combine
all of these spectrum sweep displays into a single UI
would be a huge boon to what I?m trying to do as well.
I am also waiting and watching in anticipation of what
the 516 will ultimately be. Will it have robust
computer control capabilities that equal or exceed the
Pegasus? If it has good useable computer control
capabilities will it be a decently solid RX in all of
the key performance areas? Will it support decently
fast spectrum sweep display implementations via
software? If it is capable in all of these areas it
becomes a good candidate for transverter IF use. And
at $600 apiece it will be considerably less expensive
than using the Pegasus as the IF building block.
Mike wrote:
I've never been able to justify the transverter
approach here, as opposed to another rig. When
comparing the price of, say, a 746 against the cost of
a transverter and a VHF amp to get me up to 100
watts... I'de have to say it seems to me that the 746
would be the way to go... and I'm not tying up my
normal HF rig to now do VHF work thru a transverter.
True, but the 746 or it?s Kenwood or Yaesu competitors
will not let you cover more than any one band at a
time with anything more than perhaps a sub RX. So if
you really want to cover those same 4 bands
simultaneously you need to buy 3 of each and still be
scrambling to find a way to get onto 222. And there
still would be no provisions for listening on one
frequency while simultaneously sweeping a 150KHz or so
chunk of spectrum. But you are quite right if your $
budget is fixed at $1500 ? 2000 range and you can
accept being only on one band at a time then the all
in one boxes will be hard to beat for overall value.
If on the other hand you want more operational
capability and are willing to spend 2 ? 3 times that
amount then those radios begin to make less and less
sense. And as another transverter user has also
pointed out, a quality transverter from Down East
Microwave, SSB Electronic, or the DB6NT ? Kuhne
Eectronic series will have very good dynamic range and
sensitivity. Performance levels that the all in one
boxes frequently struggle to achieve.
Mike:
See how I lost your reasoning?
Yes, I had neglected to spell out that the cost
realities of what I?m trying to do will not be
inexpensive. However if you are thinking in terms of
having dedicated radios for 50 ? 432 MHz anyhow the
economics start improving and you will get more
capability.
73,
Duane
N9DG
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
http://auctions.yahoo.com
|