[amsat-bb] Re: Wish List, The Ideal VHF/UHF Sat Rig

[Tom Clark, K3IO]

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