[Elecraft] Xverters

[Giulio IW3HVB]

2008/6/6 cptpatmcd <cptpatmcd at gmail.com>:
>
> Tom,
>
> My background is physics, not rf theory. But you're saying that the xv144
> gives you better performance than a rig that was designed for that?  I guess
> thats not too hard to believe, but still counterintuitive from my
> standpoint.  Do you think I would get acceptable results from adding a texas
> microwave (or any brand) on top of the xv144 for 1.2 (or is it 1.4) ghz
> operation? My main interest in this area are the amsats but I've only
> managed a few sketchy qso's with a handheld before. Using transverters is
> uncharted waters for me.  The only reason I'm considering one now is that 1.
> elecraft makes them and 2. a lot of folks seem to use them... so they cant
> be that bad right? I'm just skeptical of the added noise you introduce into
> the system with using them.  Again though, I have no practical experience.
> --

There are several good reasons on this one.... to go for an xv...
1st: The dynamic range. You will not find any on the market radio born
for 144 MHz with a dynamic range comparable to an HF plus xverter
setup (almost every serious contesting station in europe goes for this
choice). The main reason is that the designers don't think 144 MHz can
be as crowded as HF, but there are many stations in the spread in
europe that report 700-800 qsos per 24h contest.
2nd: You can benefit from the many optional filters and dsp stuff that
are normally confined only in hf rtxs.
3rd: On weak signal the setup is as good as the best 144 rigs, if not better.
4th: The design and production in the majority of the commercial IC
from the usual suspects is often directed to save money in the
production process, regardless of the final performance.
5th: You don't really add noise, take a look at the NF figure of the
xverter, and try to compare it with some of the "good" rigs on 144
MHz.

73 de Giulio IW3HVB

P.S.
I currently use an IC-275 on 144 MHz (on FM...)  But for serious
operation the XV144 and the K2 added a lot of fun and made my life
much easier in contest.