[TenTec] OT: IP3 and Receiver Performance

[Jim Allen]

Be glad you didn't pay $1400 for an Apple IIP with 16k of memory, no mass
storage or printer, no software other than BASIC and Little Brick Out, or
monitor, back when you could buy a brand new Volvo for $4000!!!

73 Jim Allen W6OGC

On Sun, Sep 11, 2016 at 10:47 AM, Greg S via TenTec <tentec at contesting.com>
wrote:

> ​........​
>
>
> I am finding it hard to know when/where to jump into the SDR transceiver
> fray..... Prices are being forced down, and technology is changing FAST on
> some of the open source code. I bought an SDRplay, and have had a TON of
> fun with it, so I am seriously considering the next level.  It still hurts
> to think about my 40" LCD, 60Hz, 720P  Samsung "dumb"  TV that I paid over
> $1700 for in 2007, but our old TV died, and we jumped in where we thought
> appropriate. (It still works perfectly, but draws 3 times the energy of our
> 60" TV that cost 25% of that $1700!!)
>  I wouldn't want to be in Mr. Dishop's shoes in this market, but do hope
> he comes up with a "winner" the first time around!!!  Long Live TenTec!
>
> 73, Greg, KC8HXO
>
>
> SNIPPED  SNIPPED   SNIPPED
> IMO there is no longer any easy way to rank them based on one or two
> specifications alone.
>
> Too many factors affect SDR receiver performance.
>
>
>
> I am in favor of removing all SDR radios from the list and placing them in
> a
> separate list, but I have no idea how we should do this.
>
> My best guess would be to use NPR testing such as Adam Farson is
> conducting.
>
> See: http://www.ab4oj.com/test/docs/npr_test.pdf
>
>
>
> Adam has two lists, one for traditional heterodyning radios and another for
> SDR radios.
>
> But this is not perfect either.
>
> As you see, the 7300 tops the list and as we all know, it has overload
> problems due primarily to improper gain distribution throughout its front
> end stages.  Adam, Rob, and every test review I have read point out its
> overload problem.
>
>
>
> Note that the two ANANs are ranked above the 6700, even though they do not
> have dedicated BPF's for each ham band.
>
> I'm not sure how Adam is ranking the SDR radios.  It is not only NPR
> figures.
>
>
>
> At this point we are way outside (above) my pay grade.  I have no idea
> other
> than to put these radios in the hands of contesters and let them report on
> their experience.
>
>
>
> In summary, we have come a long ways since first reporting on IP3 in the
> 1970s.
>
> We cannot compare SDR radios to heterodyning radios based on their IP3 or
> DR3 results.
>
> At this point in time, I am not aware of any agreed method of testing and
> reporting performance levels of SDR radios.
>
> There are ongoing discussions between Rob, Adam, Bob Allison (ARRL) and Ken
> (ex Ten-Tec president) on how to do this.
>
>
>
> ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, this new technology has brought us great improvements
> in
> performance and as we will soon see, at an affordable price.
>
> The 7300 was just the beginning.
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Rick, DJ0IP
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>