[1000mp] the battle of the front ends ...

[Barry N1EU]

>From: "Tom Rauch" <w8ji@akorn.net>

>To see what a receiver could do with off-the-shelf components, I
>recently breadboarded a front-end and IF system using a high-level
>diode mixer and a push-pull 1.5dB noise figure post-mixer amplifier.
>This crude, cheap, mixer and IF system built in a few evenings
>easily makes over 100dB IMDR at 2kHz spacing!

I can only imagine what a robust front end design you might come up with if 
you were really trying Tom  ;-)

I appreciate your posts very much and certainly share the lament of 
under-designed front-ends and the hordes of hams who seem to eat them up.  I 
suffer a lot on Topband from some big gun stations in this neck of the woods 
and I would give a lot to get another 20dB of dynamic range.

If you ever considered a design effort to replace the rf/if strip of a 
commercial rig or something along those lines, I'd be eager to contribute 
finances and time toward that effort.  Not much of a designer, but pretty 
good with an iron or scope probe.

In the meantime, I'm somewhat curious how well the new Ten-Tec Orion will 
measure up - analog main receiver with dsp sub-rx.  Wondering if they'll do 
a fresh & innovative analog design or just recycle the Omni VI design (owned 
one - okay/not impressive).

73,
Barry N1EU


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