I'm not normally one to throw cold water on creative ideas, but I will put myself in the position of the potential manufacturer. What any manufacturer would need to even contemplate this project is good answers to a few basic questions:
1. Can I come up with a design to these specifications that I can sell in the realistic price range of the typical amateur operator? 2. Is there a large enough market out there that I can make a profit on this exercise? My guess is the manufacturers wouldn't touch this one with 3.048-meter pole without at least one functioning high altitude satellite on orbit. I realize these are frustrating times, but I think you'll need to come up with more than just a wish list. Perhaps a group could get together and prototype portions to make a plausible case that this can be built economically. Can it be done? Probably... But those who really want it will probably need to invest a lot of sweat equity to prove it. 73, Ken N2WWD -----Original Message----- >From: "Mark L. Hammond" <[email protected]> >Sent: Mar 1, 2010 1:55 PM >To: MM <[email protected]> >Cc: [email protected] >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Wish List, The Ideal VHF/UHF Sat Rig > >How about IF tap (10.7MHz) and high speed packet ready (up to say, 76k >or faster)? > >(Maybe I missed it, but I don't think I saw those 2 features...) > >73, > >Mark N8MH > >On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 1:44 PM, MM <[email protected]> wrote: >> My Ideal Competition Grade VHF/UHF Radio Wish list. >> >> It seems we are long over do for a Competition grade high performance >> VHF/UHF transceiver, which can also be used for Satellite operations. >> There are several competition grade HF transceivers on the market, however >> there are no high end competition grade VHF/UHF/Satellite systems on the >> marker. >> >> Most of the rigs I have seen which support VHF/UHF are either HF rigs that >> have had VHF/UHF slapped on, or low end VHF/UHF rigs, with HF slapped on. >> >> If we want the Amateur Radio manufactures to build us a "GREAT" >> VHF/UHF/Satellite system, then we need to tell them what we need. >> >> Here are some suggestions. Constructive comments welcome. >> >> This radio does not exist. >> If the manufactures are interested in providing a new state of the art >> VHF/UHF radio to the Amateur Radio community, here is one opinion of what >> should be in next Competition Grade VHF/UHF Transceiver and what should not >> be in the radio. >> >> I am going to give this fictional radio a name HR-956-Pro. >> >> >> What do we need: >> >> • We need a competition grade VHF/UHF transceiver that will support >> Terrestrial-DX, Satellite and EME operations (Voice, CW and Digital-JT65). >> • The HR-956-Pro, needs to be able to interface with modern computers >> (HTML Browser, USB and or CAT-5). >> • The HR-956-Pro, needs to able to interface with modern Externally >> mounted Pre-amplifier (both power feeds and transmitter sequencing). >> • The HR-956-Pro, need to be able to interface with modern Solid State >> Amplifiers and Tube based amplifiers. The RF output per band needs to be >> standardized with the Amplifier manufactures to prevent transceiver and >> amplifier failures due to sequencing problems and RF mismatching. >> • TX/RX Sequencer built-in, to control external Preamps, Amplifies and >> other accessories (programmable). >> >> Receiver: >> Of course we need a "Great" receiver, not another mediocre receiver. >> Each receiver for each band needs to be a "Great" performer. >> >> No Birdies: >> On a HF rig, a few Birdies do not usually cause serious issues, since the HF >> users are often listening to signals "Above" the noise floor. On a >> Satellite Radio, we are often listening to signals 10-30 dB, "Below" the >> Noise floor. Internally generated birdies are a serious problem for weak >> signal VHF/UHF operations. >> >> Filters: >> Each mode will need its own selection of DSP filters. The filters would >> also affect one of the Line-level outputs to the external PC. There are >> times when want to send Filtered or unfiltered audio to your external PC for >> Digital signal processing. One of the line-level outputs should be taped >> before the HR-956-Pro Filters, the other line-level output should be taped >> after the HR-956-Pro filters. The TX and RX filters should be independently >> selectable. >> The Filters need to be tested to verify they will support Satellite Mode-J >> (TX on 2-meters while listening on 435-438) >> >> Example: >> FM-5k, Filters 15k, 10k and 8k filters. >> AM Filters 10k, 6k, 3k, etc. >> SSB Filters 4.0k, 3.0k, 2.5k, 2.0k, etc. >> >> Other Modes: >> CW, FM-2.5k, Data >> >> Audio Quality: >> Life is too short for QRP or Poor Audio. >> It's not the number of contacts that’s important, it’s the quality of the >> contact. >> On the audio side, the HR-956-Pro needs to be able to support a wider range >> of audio through most of the stages. Of course the radio needs to meet FCC >> and other requirements, however we can still design the radio to deliver a >> wider bandwidth of good sounding audio. >> Let's shoot for 100-4000 Hz, on both TX and RX audio circuits. This will >> also mean, that a better stock microphone design will be required. >> >> >> VHF / UHF Bands built-in, with competition grade TX/RX: >> 6-meters 50-54 >> 2-meters 144-148 >> 70-cm 420 - 450 >> 23-cm 1280 - 1300 >> (All frequencies localized for each country) >> >> Transmitter outputs: >> A high power transceiver is less desirable than a low power transceiver. >> >> Let me explain: >> For serious Terrestrial DX and EME you need to run more than 100 watts. A >> VHF/UHF transceiver designed for high power ( 100 watt range) transmitting, >> would not be compatible with third-party amplifiers or pre-amplifiers. >> >> Most VHF/UHF amps are designed for 25 or 50 watts maximum input. >> >> The manufactures of Transceivers and Amplifies need to agree upon a set of >> standard power level so the third-party amplifier manufactures can design >> properly matched Amplifiers and pre-amplifiers. This will also help reduce >> the number of transceiver and amplifier failures caused by mismatched RF >> settings. >> >> Suggested standards for VHF/UHF bases stations: >> 6 Meters 50 watts >> 2 Meters 25 watts >> 70 cm 25 watts >> 900 mc 10 watts >> 1.2 gig 10 watts >> >> The duty cycle of the competition grade system, will also need to be greater >> than a 70% duty cycle. >> A typical EME link running JT65 requires a 50% for 10-30 minutes at a time. >> The transistors and cooling system needs to be designed accordingly to meet >> the competition grade requirements. >> >> >> HR-956-Pro Must have list: >> >> Spectrum display screen: >> I can't imagine building a new competition grade system without this >> feature. >> It would be nice to see the band pass, before and after the filter >> stages. >> >> Full computer remote control: >> Memory read/Read and save. All memory channels options must be exportable >> to a CSV or similar file, including TX and RX frequencies, settings, >> including Repeater or split frequency settings. >> All protocols must be Public protocols, no propriety software or licenses. >> >> >> Doppler Control (Manual): >> >> LEO SSB satellites are some of the hardest satellites two work because of >> the amount of Doppler frequency change per second. Satellite Mode-B is very >> hard (70 cm Uplink and 2-meter Downlink). While you are talking through a >> SSB Mod-B satellite, you need to be simultaneously adjusting your >> transmitter with every other word, in order to keep your downlink signal >> centered inside the transponder. >> >> The Yasue FT-736R Satellite control knob, seems to work very well with dual >> VFO's and provides you the ability to quickly change either TX or RX to >> compensate for Doppler (among other features). The Knob style is much >> easier to use than "Buttons". I found the Doppler VFO correction on some >> newer radios to be very frustrating. >> The new HR-956-Pro must have the Yasue FT-736R control Knob and it must be >> functional for both VFO's and Memory Channels. >> >> >> DSP Noise tools: >> The usual stuff. >> >> >> FM Center Tuning Meter: >> Many of the new satellites are LEO's (Low Earth Orbit), and many of these >> satellites are running FM-5k. The reason for FM is because the Doppler >> causes the 70cm band to drift over 20, kHz during a 10-20 minute pass. The >> LEO SSB satellites using Mode J or Mode B are difficult to use because of >> the large Doppler change. The FM mode, helps reduce the impact caused by >> the higher Doppler. >> >> The FM Center Tuning Meter feature is a "must have" for a Satellite radio. >> When the FM satellite comes in range, just look at the FM meter and tune the >> receiver until the needle is centered and you now know the exact downlink >> for that Satellite. If the needle is left, turn the RX knob slowly Right, >> If the needle is Right, turn the RX knob slowly left, very simple. >> The Yaesu FT-736R has a FM Center Tuning Meter and it makes working FM >> satellites much easier. The IC-910 has a blinking light to tell you your FM >> satellite receiver frequency has drifted. Unfortunately, the blinking light >> is useless in telling you if your frequency is high or low. >> >> >> HR-956-Pro, Nice to have list: >> >> General coverage receiver (50 - 1000 megacycles): >> The addition of a general coverage receiver would help with the sales of the >> HR-956-Pro. However, it is very important that the general coverage >> receiver, NOT degrade the performance of the satellite receivers. We are >> not trying to build a super police scanner. One possible suggestion would-be >> to make the general coverage receiver a separate circuit board, which would >> be connected to a separate antenna port and thus would not degraded from the >> performance of the satellite receivers. >> >> VHF / UHF Optional bands or Transverter: >> The Amateur radio community is constantly experimenting with new bands. It >> would be nice to have a Transverter module or expansion module for future >> bands. In the USA these bands are becoming popular, 220mc, 900 mc, etc >> >> (All frequencies localized for each country) >> >> >> Size is important: >> To hold the hardware, band scope, filters and make the buttons easily >> accessible, a box about the size of the IC-756 product seems to be the right >> size. >> >> What should not be in the HR-956-Pro. >> >> No HF: >> No access to frequencies below 50 megacycles. >> The addition of HF to a satellite radio would only degrade the performance >> of the weak signal satellite receivers. >> HF would also add to the cost of the transceiver and reduce its sales >> potential. >> A competition grade VHF/UHF transceiver has no use for HF. >> HF would result in the radio being just another mediocre transceiver. >> >> No obsolete Serial ports: >> No RS-232 or TTL. >> These devices are so last century. >> >> DSTAR: >> The DSTAR mode is fun, I use it often and I have even been pushing ARISS to >> install it on the International Space Station. As much as I like this mode, >> it is not a requirement for a competition grade satellite system. I would >> much rather have the money put into making the VHF/UHF receivers the best >> possible. >> >> >> How much are we willing to pay for the HR-956-Pro: >> >> That depends on the performance, suggest price $2000 - $3000 USD >> >> Closing: >> >> If anyone knows of such a radio I would be interested to know who makes it. >> >> >> Sincerely >> >> WF1F Miles >> www.marexmg.org >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > > > >-- >Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
