Jim, Adding VHF+ frequencies to a HF/6m radio has nearly always been some kind of transverter. Afterall most modern receivers (transceivers) are based on the superhetrodyne design, which mixes down to a low enough IF for proper filtering/detection of the signal. A transceiver is just a single stage of mixing up/down (usually).
Then "all of a sudden" we are making direct-conversions radios, again, only they also do conversion to digital and we call them SDR's (because filtering, noise reduction, and demodulation is done better in the digital world). I would say the KX3 "IS" that all the way to 54-MHz? (since I have to guess - not seeing a block diagram). A the present state of the art operating higher in frequency requires conversion (mixing) down the base SDR frequency (aka 50-54). It won't be long until direct conversion SDR will operate to 1296 (does anyone remember 8-MHz cpu clocks?). Whether the conversion (transverter) is done inside one case or an add-on it still is a transverter. So all it really takes is the willingness to make one for whatever band, be it 144, 222, 432, or ...??? In fact it is really a business decision. Is there a market? Is there competition? What is the return on investment (ROI)? The 220 (and now 222-MHz) band has always been a "orphan band" because it is not a world-wide amateur radio allocation. That means the market is smaller (ergo ROI is smaller). It sort of like that decision we as hams make whether to spend money on equipment for a band with little activity! What it the ROI for buying such? How much fun per buck? Well, I will say if we based all of our ham decisions totally on ROI, we would not have opened up the "upper highs above 200m" a century ago. Someone has to be first, and hope that others will be interested in following. I am just finishing my 222-28 transverter which will connect to the two 11-element 220 yagi's I put up in Nov. 2008. This to talk to possibly a half-dozen stations 70-miles away (closest 222 activity). That amounts to about $60 per initial QSO (just on the transverter cost). The total ham pop in Alaska is 3800 and over half only do HF. Probably there are several times that in LA, alone! I would guess Elecraft is forward looking enough that you may (eventually) get your wish for adding 222 to the KX3. Look how quick they responded to desire for 144. (BTW don't even ask me what my ROI is for the $8,000 dish I put up for 1296-eme; better one is the one contact on 10-GHz in AK). In fact eme is the "justification" for my spending very much on such esoteric bands; I have the whole world to work. PS: My understanding is that the power level of the KX3 is adjustable down quite low making transverter interface possible. It still might require adding attenuation on transmit. ----------------------- What the heck, since everyone is making wishes. Has there been any consideration of an all-mode 222-MHz option? That would really make Elecraft stand out in the field even more. Yes, I know that they offer an external transverter. I might consider that if there is a low-level output to drive it with the KX3. I have a K2 but not the 60m/transverter interface. Oddly, from my research, there is precious little 222 MHz activity in the greater Los Angeles/Orange County area except during contests, and quite a bit of that is FM simplex. Thus, it's an expensive option, considering the need for an antenna as well. 73 de Jim - AD6CW 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-QRT, 1296-?, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [email protected] ====================================== ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
