[VHFcontesting] SunSDR2 HF/VHF Transceiver

[w3sz]

Hi Les,

Thanks for posting this!  Very interesting!

Having said that, its been my experience with "old fashioned" radios 
that transverter/HF radio combinations have outperformed the 
all-in-1-box radios, and have also offered more flexibility, and the 
ability to keep current as new features and performance improvements 
occur with the HF radios, while keeping the same transverter [or vice 
versa].  Of course, swapping out the conventional HF radio for an SDR in 
this combination extends this "flexibility" to the next level ;)

I have found that using SDRs with transverters has given me an excellent 
station from 6 M through 24 GHz, and I don't expect that using 
all-in-1-boxes would give the same level of performance [or 
flexibility].  I am not suggesting at all that others duplicate my setup 
here, but merely suggest my experience as one example of a station using 
transverter/SDR combinations for all bands from 50 MHz through 24 GHz 
that performs extremely well.  Even on 6 meters I use a transverter with 
the Flex5000, rather than using the Flex5000 directly on 6, to achieve a 
better receive front end.
http://www.nitehawk.com/w3sz/osxhpsdrserver.htm describes my setup, but 
gives much more detail than is germane, so feel free to ignore said URL 
if desired ;)

I suspect that a similar situation will be found with all-in-1-box VHF 
SDRs vs transverter/SDR combinations as is found with the conventional 
all-in-1-box radios vs transverter/ conventional HF radio combinations, 
namely that the transverter/SDR combinations, when properly chosen, 
outperform the all-in-1-box radios.

All-in-1 is convenient, but if one wants maximum performance and 
flexibility, then separates will continue to be the way to go, I think.

Kind of like audiophile components ;)



I think the Flex integrated transverters didn't fly not because of 
anything Flex did wrong, but because many folks recognized the 
importance of the points I made above regarding flexibility,  and 
decided not to go that route, but to use the Flex5000 as a very 
excellent IF rig for separate transverters.  I am not Flex, but I'd be 
surprised if they would go the route of a ham radio VHF SDR, as I don't 
think it would be a good investment of time / money on their part, given 
the likely market.  Of course, if they developed such a unit for a 
non-ham-radio market which would provide them with a good ROI, and if 
they could then market that radio to us without the need for costly 
modifications, then it might make business sense for them.

Just my two cents...I will be very interested to hear the actual 
experiences of others as the all-in-1-box radios start come into general 
use by weak signal types.

Thanks for posting the link, Les!  It does lead to some interesting 
thoughts ;)

73 and a great Spring weekend to all,

Roger Rehr
W3SZ

On 4/5/2013 12:41 PM, Les Rayburn wrote:
> It looks like a serious, software defined radio transceiver will be 
> available shortly that includes 6 Meters and 2 Meters.
> Output power on 6 Meter is listed at 22 Watts, and 12 Watts on 2 
> Meters. Enough to drive most amps.
>
> http://www.cqdx.ru/ham/new-equipment/sunsdr2-hfvhf-transceiver/
>
> Hopefully, we'll see more SDR's coming out that address the needs of 
> the weak signal VHF community I keep waiting for an SDR transceiver 
> that will cover 6 Meters through at least 1296. If these were 
> available at an affordable price, you might really see some activity 
> on bands like 222 and 902.
>
> Flex-Radio, are you listening?
>