[Premium-Rx] Receiver Selection

[Kevin]

Hello to the list:

I am working on a potential project where our organization will be providing HF 
communication to a number of remote users. The primary mode will be data 
(PACTOR and CLOVER with limited SITOR)  and a limited amount of voice traffic. 
We are also looking at a limited amount of digital voice and narrow bandwidth 
imaging but this is more for the future.

The concern I have is in several areas:

1. Frequency stability within +/- 10 hz (or better)
2. Receive filter capabilities - need to support PACTOR III, CLOVER 2000, 188-114B, etc
3. Power can be 220 VAC or 24 DC
4. Receiver overload protection
5. Full remote control using RS-232/422 interface

We are considering the use of high quality antennas with broad bandwidth and 
low noise (considering the 8 element HERMES loop system). The receive site will 
be a remote location - hopefully miles/km from power lines and roads with a 
microwave backhaul to a nearby cellsite to be then linked using our fiber 
network to our main control facility. We expect that the receive site will need 
to support 8 RF channels (max).

I am looking at three different high performance receivers. The 
Rockwell-Collins RT-2200, Harris R-590A, and the Cubic 2000 series. I have also 
looked at the use of the ICOM receivers (R-8500) but I question its stability 
(per its web site information). I would welcome suggestions for other vendors 
to consider.

While price does come into play, it is not a critical decision factor. We are 
more concerned that the financial investment we put into this project will 
provide a very high quality system to the end users. As the path lenght will be 
long (>4,000 km), we are concerned that the quality we design into the system 
will play a key role in its success.

Thanks for your help. I am sorry I can not give more information but we are 
still in the internal proposal stage and do not wish to give out too much 
information at this time. If we get funding, I will provide more 
information.

Cheers.

Kevin