There is one US made radio on the market today that will meet >>>ALL<<< the desires & requirements discussed in this thread -- and it is made by an AMSAT member (K5SDR)! It was on view at last fall's AMSAT Symposium. I say "ALL" contingent on the release of one module RSN (Real! Soon! Now!).
I'm talking about the software-defined Flex 5000 (see http://www.flex-radio.com/). When the new V/U module is released (by Dayton), the F5K can be used at the 100W level on 160-6M, and 60W on V=2M & U=70cm. It will operate Full-Duplex in any combination of V/U (+10 meters). Greg, K5GJ described the new V/U module fully at the AMSAT Symposium. Flex has offered significant door prizes (like half of a base 5K) at all the recent AMSAT & TAPR meetings (I won a prize that I converted to a V/U upgrade for my personal F5K; I eagerly expect it in the next month or so). For some more info, this is clipped from the Flex advertising describing the new V/U module: > The FLEX-5000 V/U module is a fully integrated all-mode, all-band > (144-148/430-450 MHz) full-duplex VHF/UHF module that adds both 2m and > 70 cm capabilities to the already outstanding FLEX-5000 family of > software defined radios. All of the FLEX-5000 V/U module's > oscillators are locked to the 500 MHz master oscillator in the > FLEX-5000, which in turn is locked to the internal 0.5ppm reference or > it may be connected to an external 10 MHz reference for even greater > frequency stability. If want additional HF capability, you can add a second receiver and/or automatic antenna tuner. You can tie the entire radio to a GPS or Rubidium frequency reference for accuracy/stability at levels better than a part per billion. For any of the microwave bands (23 cm and up), either the V or U channel can serve as the IF for a transverter. For the wider bandwidth modes discussed for the "HR-956-Pro", the F5K is capable of supporting anything up to a few hundred kHz. For these SDRs, new software support shows up daily, contributed (free) by a significant cadre of amateurs. If a modem for some different mode, is needed, IOS (It's Only Software! ). And the price for a fully decked out is less than half of that forecast for the "fictional HR-956-Pro" (even including a suitable PC). SUPPORT THE US MANUFACTURERS! THEY ARE A RARE BREED! 73, Tom _______________________________________________ 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
