[TenTec] Waiting for Transceiver Nirvana

[David McClafferty]

Where? 

 --- John Clifford <johnclif at 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 at arrl.net
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of
> Dave Bernstein
> > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 4:28 PM
> > To: tentec at 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 at contesting.com
> > [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
> Of John Rippey
> > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2003 08:18
> > To: tentec at 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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> >
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> >
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> >
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