[TenTec] Orion -- Thinking Inside the Box

[Duane Grotophorst]

Bob K4TAX:
For what it's worth, I would like to see a rig that is
mildly computer controlled. I don't want a computer
than has a rig attached. 

Why constrict the computer control capabilities?
There’s really nothing to gained or saved cost-wise by
making the radio anything less than 100% computer
control capable. I believe that the Jupiter has made
that case quite well. Imagine a radio that you could
swap control heads, one with lots of controls for in
the shack use, and another with bare essentials for
mobile use. Imagine using those exact same two control
heads on either a modest radio like the
Pegasus/Jupiter or the Orion. Or use any of those same
radios with no knobs at all, you could choose whatever
configuration for whatever you want to do on any given
day. With software defined AND controlled radios you
can have it all.


Bob K4TAX:
That translates to a "performance" radio not a "bells
& whistles" radio. Yes, operating system upgrade would
be nice but that won't address the technological
changes that will take place in hardware over the next
5 or so years.

Realistically there will be relatively few new changes
to the analog RF/AF technology in terms of what else
can be done in order to have high dynamic range,
intercept etc. The techniques and methods using solid
sate components were well researched, built and
documented way back in the late 70’s. On the other
hand there is much more that can be done once the
signal has been extremely accurately digitized.

Yes there will be big changes in the DSP processing
power / capability, and it will continue to grow at
rate that closely follows the now famous “Moores law”
that applies to integrated circuit technology in
general. There can be millions of lines of new
software code written that will make new capabilities,
not just features available, things that simply
weren’t possible before. The promise of software
defined radios and its complimentary companion
“software control” is to do new things that weren’t
being done before, not to just make another radio that
looks, works, or feels the same as what we’ve using
for years.


Bob K4TAX:
At this point, looks like some 5 or 6 clearly
different rigs or "boxes" are needed. One won't do it
all. 
Rig A---- Contesting rig 
Rig B---- Rag chewing rig 
Rig C---- Digital mode rig 
Rig D---- CW enhanced rig 
Rig E---- Weak signal rig 
Rig F ---- Software upgradeable rig for the operator
that can't figure out what they want to do. 

One surely could, clearly the only answer is “Rig F”,
because it will allow all options A-E to be done with
the exact same RF/AF/analog hardware. It is the one
radio that can do it all. Imagine being able to give
your radio completely different personalities
depending on what you want to do? For example if you
want work that single yagi, 150W 2M signal off the
moon using your own 150W single yagi station. You
could simply run a “mode” in the DSP that will let you
extract the signal information over a set period of
time, a signal you can’t hear. By the way this exact
thing has been already been done by some folks working
with the DSP-10 radio project. The DSP-10 uses a DSP
and ADC that is very similar to what’s in the
Pegasus/Jupiter. There could be a series of different
filters with different shape factors, some real sharp,
other “softer”. How about filter shapes that you
simply “draw” on your computer and then save to the
radio, you could easily create custom filters to suit
your tastes? How about a filtering system that
mathematically subtracts QRM from the signal you are
listening to. It could work by also demodulating
signals above and below you and then applying some
ballistics analysis to the QRM’s waveform that extends
into your desired filter passband and then remove it
before you even get a chance to hear it. Perhaps it
could also apply similar ballistics to the signal you
want hear and fill in the holes would have been
created by the QRM.

So yes, I am convinced that Rig F is the only choice.

Duane
N9DG



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