[VHFcontesting] SunSDR2 HF/VHF Transceiver

[Gregory Zenger [N2GZ]]

I agree with Roger's comments below. Spot on.

In order to capture the 'best of both worlds' I have begun designing a set
of filters to multiplex the IFs of transverters into the same RX port on a
Flex-6000 series radio. Running IFs of  26MHz, 28Mhz, 30Mhz (for 144, 222
and 432MHz) and direct 50Mhz from preamp into one SCU via a 4 way
multiplexer (quadplexer?) will give the user the feeling of an
all-in-one-box radio. (monitor all SSB portions of the VHF and lower UHF
bands simultaneously) I plan to do the same thing for the 135-165MHz band on
the Flex-6700 series for viewing 902/3, 1296, and whatever combination of
uWave bands is necessary. I don't see the need to monitor all the uWave
bands simultaneously so the 2304, 3456, 5760, 10G, 24G etc. bands can be
switched in as needed (Flex claims 8 slices so 8 VHF+ bands simultaneously.
pretty good, eh?)

The feeling of all-in-1-box will be even more complete if the software can
apply transverter offsets to individual band segments. 

I am anxiously awaiting my flex-6700 so I can begin experimenting. 

If anyone out there preordered a 6000 series radio, or is thinking about it,
and wants to swap system engineering ideas for imbedding it in a multi band
VHF setup, feel free to email me off list.

Greg, N2GZ



-----Original Message-----
From: VHFcontesting [mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf
Of w3sz
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 2:02 PM
To: vhfcontesting at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] SunSDR2 HF/VHF Transceiver

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?
>

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