Flex Radio -
http://www.flex-radio.com/
Thanks and 73's,
Dudley
WA5QPZ
jhurry@austin.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "David McClafferty" <ve1adh@yahoo.ca>
To: <johnclif@ix.netcom.com>; <tentec@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 8:58 AM
Subject: RE: [TenTec] Waiting for Transceiver Nirvana
> Where?
>
> --- John Clifford <johnclif@ix.netcom.com> wrote: >
> You can buy a 1w HF SDR now for $499.95. I'm
> > thinking of picking one up
> > just to play with it.
> >
> > - jgc
> >
> > John Clifford KD7KGX
> >
> > Heathkit HW-9 WARC/HFT-9/HM-9
> > Elecraft K2 #1678
> > /KSB2/KIO2/KBT2/KAT2/KNB2/KAF2/KPA100
> > Ten-Tec Omni VI/Opt1
> > Alinco DR-605TQ
> > Icom T90A
> >
> > email: kd7kgx@arrl.net
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
> > > [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of
> > Dave Bernstein
> > > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 4:28 PM
> > > To: tentec@contesting.com
> > > Subject: RE: [TenTec] Waiting for Transceiver
> > Nirvana
> > >
> > >
> > > Instead of assuming a dedicated microprocessor
> > embedded within the
> > > radio, consider an architecture in which the
> > software runs on your PC,
> > > which is connected to purchased (or home-brewed)
> > external hardware via a
> > > Firewire (IEEE-1394) connection. The external
> > hardware is the minimum we
> > > need to convert between RF and digitized data (I
> > and Q): bandpass
> > > filters, RX and TX RF amplifiers, an A/D, a D/A, a
> > synthesizer, and
> > > mixers.
> > >
> > > With the exception of a QRO TX RF amplifier, the
> > only "expensive" parts
> > > of this system -- the firewire interface, the A/D,
> > the D/A, and the
> > > synthesizer -- can be inexpensively implemented
> > with high-volume parts
> > > from the consumer PC, digital imaging, and/or
> > telecom worlds. You'll
> > > already own the PC.
> > >
> > > Much of the differentiation between competitive
> > products will thus be
> > > software that runs on your PC. Hams will of course
> > be free to develop
> > > such software themselves, either from scratch, or
> > on frameworks that
> > > provide basic capabilities with support for
> > customization and
> > > experimentation.
> > >
> > > My prediction: within 3 years, you'll be able to
> > purchase a QRP
> > > transceiver in the above configuration for under
> > $200.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Dave, AA6YQ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com
> > > [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf
> > Of John Rippey
> > > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 08:18
> > > To: tentec@contesting.com
> > > Subject: [TenTec] Waiting for Transceiver Nirvana
> > >
> > >
> > > While waiting for zero hour of the CQ WW CW
> > contest, these thoughts
> > > occur
> > > on the recent postings re software-driven base
> > station rigs.
> > >
> > > 1. They are (with the odd exception of the
> > IC-746PRO) damnably
> > > expensive.
> > > If it's not the chips that make them so, then it
> > is the humungous
> > > engineering effort needed to make them work well.
> > >
> > > 2. If Moore's law still prevails, then any chip
> > chosen for a
> > > software-driven radio will be replaced in 18
> > months by one that is half
> > > as
> > > costly and that has twice the computing power.
> > Ergo, much more so than
> > > with
> > > the analog rigs we know and love, rapid
> > obsolescence of the latest and
> > > greatest software-driven rig is a given.
> > >
> > > 3. Because the ham market is downscale with
> > regard to pricing, we do
> > > not
> > > see the performance in ham market software-driven
> > transceivers that is
> > > available up-market. Compromises in ham gear
> > necessarily are made: in
> > > selection of chips, and in their engineering, to
> > meet the ham market
> > > price
> > > point (ICOM obviously will be testing the upper
> > limits of the ham market
> > >
> > > with its IC-7800). There are all kinds of
> > compromises in the ICOM PROs,
> > > and
> > > so also in the ORION, hence the discussions on
> > this and other
> > > reflectors.
> > >
> > > 4. Therefore, while we may like to think we are
> > seeing in the latest
> > > rigs
> > > the absolute latest and greatest--we aren't, and
> > we won't. After all,
> > > we're
> > > radio amateurs.
> > >
> > > 5. The bad news is that as advances in this genre
> > gradually trickle
> > > down
> > > to hams, the resulting rigs will be expensive (by
> > ham standards), their
> > > performance will be markedly better than their
> > predecessors, and we'll
> > > repeatedly have to dig into our pocketbooks to pay
> > for that performance
> > > if
> > > we just cannot live without the next new thing.
> > >
> > > In short, chasing after transceiver nirvana is
> > going to be an expensive
> > > fling. I may opt out.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > John, W3ULS
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > TenTec@contesting.com
> > >
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
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> >
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