[NLRS] question of transverters vs radios

[Dave Aho - N9TTX]

Mike,

    Here is a one-sided bit of info.  I do not have
any of the IF rig/transverters in  my shack.  but I do
have the 736R with the 1296 and 222 module installed. 
I think the RX could be improved as well as the 1296
noise I have, but for the last three years that I have
used it, I have been very happy with it.  It does hear
very well, and will put 30W+ into the air straight out
of the radio.  there are no extra lines and sequencers
to run...just plug in an antenna and off you go.  4
bands, portable in one box with AC/DC capability...if
you have the keyer in yours (I don't in mine...arghhh)
it is a nice portable higher wattage rig with a lot of
features with no menus to get bogged down in.  plus if
I didn't mention it, no extra cables, wires, power
leads etc.. to worry about as with a transverter (and
20 more watts to boot).  If cost is an issue as well
as simplicity, I would go with the 736R module for the
222 band.  If you want technical/electronic analysis,
I am not the one to look at, as I could care less
about the nitpicky pros and cons on a dB or this one
will do a smidge better here that that one...the setup
I have works and works well for me.  If you want real
world experience with such a setup, I have worked a
good amount of grids and hard to hear stations with a
less than half optimal setup with this setup.  It is
getting a 440W heater strapped to the back for 222,
but as a barefoot self contained rig, you are hard to
go wrong with it in my book.  Hope this biased view
helps.

          Dave...N9TTX



--- Mike <Mike at kb0ozn.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
>    Hi  all,  I'm  looking  for  some discussion
> about the merits of using
>    radios I already have vs going with an sdr1000
> and transverters.
>    Here's  my  situation.   I  have a 706mkIIG with
> no special filters or
>    features, a FT736R with just 144 and 440 and no
> special features and a
>    1.2GHz  transverter  by  MM.   Basically  I  have
> 6, 2,  and .7 meters
>    covered with ssb and 23 cm if I ever get it
> hooked up.  I was thinking
>    of buying a 222 MHz module for my 736r at a cost
> of $375 from ebay.  A
>    similar  transverter  from  DEM  would  be ~$400
> but require alot more
>    effort to interface it.
>    I  also  have  it in my mind that sometime soon
> I'd like to try an SDR
>    1000  out  but that would require several
> transverters and cost just a
>    bit.
>    The easy thing to do is just get the 222 module
> plunk it in and presto
>    I have another band, albeit with no antenna up at
> the moment.
>    The  best  long term solution from a specs
> perspective seems to be the
>    sdr1000   route   since   it  is  technically 
> very  capable  and  the
>    transverters   generally   have   a   better  nf 
> and  perhaps  better
>    sensitivity.   The  biggest  problem here is that
> I'd probably only be
>    able to afford to buy the sdr 1000 and one band
> for the moment.
>    What thoughts might ya'al have out there?
>    Thanks much
>    Mike
>    KBØozn
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> 


I modulate, therefore I am!
               ...73, and all that jazz,


                 Dave...N9TTX


Always remember:  "It could be worse.....it could be raining."
                             Marty Feldman from "Young Frankenstein"



Come to the Central States VHF Society 40th
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