Selecting an HF Transceiver Dec 16, 2015 Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR Contributing Editor, QST.
-
Upload
steven-benson -
Category
Documents
-
view
221 -
download
0
Transcript of Selecting an HF Transceiver Dec 16, 2015 Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR Contributing Editor, QST.
Selecting an HF Transceiver
Dec 16, 2015
Joel R. Hallas, W1ZRContributing Editor, QST
What HF Transceiver to Buy?
What do you want it for?•Casual operating•Fixed/mobile/portable•Phone/CW/Digital•Contesting•DXing•Traffic nets•IF strip for V/UHF
•There’s no “one best transceiver”
What HF Transceiver to Buy?
How Much do You Want to Spend?•Used gear $150 - $5000•Entry Level $500 - $1000•Portable-mobile $500 - $1500•Mid-range $1000 - $3000 •Upper mid-range $4000 - $7000•Top of the Line $10,000 and up
Before Transceivers – Separate Transmitters and Receivers
1950s Station – Johnson Viking II Transmitter w/VFONational HRO-60 Receiver, Hallicrafters TO Keyer
Early Vacuum-Tube HF Transceiver—Collins KWM-2A
Features of KWM-2Transmit frequency follows receiver
Coverage of 14 200 kHz wide bands 3-30 MHz
Frequency read-out to 1 kHz
SSB or CW operation
Collins SSB mechanical filter
100 W PEP output
Fixed or portable operation
Moderate receiver performance
Price in 1962: $1150
Current “Entry-Level” HF transceiver — Yaesu FT-450D
Features of KWM-2 Features of FT-450DTransmit frequency follows receiver Same, but also has RIT/XIT, Dual VFO
Coverage of 14 200 kHz bands 3-30 MHz Receiver coverage 30 kHz – 56 MHz
Frequency read-out to 1 kHz Frequency read-out to .01 kHz (10 Hz)
Transmit, all amateur bands, 160 – 6 meters
SSB or CW operation SSB, CW or AM operation
Collins mechanical filter DSP operating bandwidth selection
100 W PEP output 100 W PEP output
Manual Pi-network tuning No-tune final amplifier
Internal antenna tuner
Fixed or portable operation Fixed or portable operation
Moderate receiver performance Moderate receiver performance
Frequency memories, PC control
DSP noise and interference rejection
Built-in electronic keyer
Price in 1962: $1150 Built in speaker
Features of KWM-2 Features of FT-450DTransmit frequency follows receiver Same, but also has RIT/XIT, Dual VFO
Coverage of 14 200 kHz bands 3-30 MHz Continuous Receiver coverage
30 kHz – 56 MHz
Frequency read-out to 1 kHz Frequency read-out to .01 kHz (10 Hz)
Transmit all amateur bands, 160 – 6 meters
SSB or CW operation SSB, CW or AM operation
Collins mechanical filter DSP operating bandwidth selection
100 W PEP output 100 W PEP output
Manual Pi-network tuning No-tune final amplifier
Fixed or portable operation Built-in antenna tuner
Fixed or portable operation
Moderate receiver performance Moderate receiver performance
Frequency memories, PC control
DSP noise and interference rejection
Price in 1962: $ 1150 Built-in electronic keyer
Built in speaker
In 2015 dollars: $ 9087 Price in 2015: $650
What Features are Important?Whatever you like!
Casual operator, Traffic handler – Ergonomics, display, audio, interference and noise rejection.
Contester or DXer –Above plus top receiver performance, computer control, lots of flexibility, panadapter, dual receivers.
Display –Color video or monochrome text – your choice!
Internal antenna tuner –Convenient if you’re space limitedMost have less tuning range than external units – same $Not as useful if you use a linear amplifier.
What About Interference and Noise Reduction
Interference80s – Separate filters for each BW, 1-5
Passband tuning, analog IF notch filter 90s – Above plus audio DSP
Passband tuning, AF DSP notch filter Current – IF DSP – no other filters needed
Passband tuning, IF notch filter Narrow roofing filters
Noise80s – Noise limiter
90s – Noise blanker
Current – DSP Noise blanker, noise reduction and multiple notch filters
What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver
Sensitivity – Not an issue
Selectivity – Not an issue
Dynamic range – The current hot-button!The difference between the strongest and the weakest signal you can hear
What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver
Flavors of Dynamic range:
Blocking dynamic rangeAt some level, a signal on another frequencywill reduce the level of the signal you want.The further away the other frequency the
easier to filter: 100, 20, 5, 2 kHz.
Intermodulation dynamic rangeTwo signals, both outside the passband you wantcombine to create a signal inside your passband.
Reciprocal mixing dynamic rangeOff-frequency LO noise mixes off-frequency signals into receiver passband.
What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver
Sensitivity – Typically -130 to -140 dBmSelectivity – The more choices the betterDynamic range – The current hot-button!
The difference between the strongest and the weakest signal you can hear
Blocking dynamic range 20 kHz separation 100 to 140 dB 5/2 kHz separation 80 to 140 dB
Intermodulation dynamic range20 kHz separation 80 to 110 dB 5/2 kHz separation 60 to 110 dB
Reciprocal mixing dynamic range 20 kHz separation 60 to 140 dB 5/2 kHz separation 60 to 140 dB
What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver
Example -- Intermodulation dynamic range2 kHz separation 60 to 110 dB
You are listening to a prime DX station, S-5 on 14, 020 kHz you are receiving through your 500 Hz filter – in the clear!
There are two strong stations, one at 14,022, another at 14,024.(2 × 14,022) – 14,024 = 14,020
In a perfect receiver you wouldn’t know they are there!In a real receiver, 3OIMD generates a signal on top of the DX!
With a 60 dB 3OIMDDR, the resultant signal will be the same as the DX if they are at S-9 + 6 dB
With a 110 dB 3OIMDDR, it takes S-9 + 56 dB
What Is in the Entry-level Category?
All 100 W HF Radios
Model Street Price DSP 60 Meters V/UHF Ant TunerAlinco DX-SR8T $500 No Yes No NoAlinco DX-SR9T $790 No † Yes No NoIcom IC-718* $655 AF No No NoIcom IC-7100** $994 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm NoIcom IC-7200* $890 IF Yes 6 Meters NoKenwood TS-480SAT $900 AF Yes 6 Meters YesYaesu FT-450D* $650 IF Yes 6 Meters YesYaesu FT-857D*** $750 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm NoYaesu FT-897D* *** $860 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No
†Provides I/Q output for DSP with external PC and sound card.*Single unit radio, others have separable control head.**50 W output on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm.***50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm.
“Portable/Mobile” CategorySimilar to entry level, price overlap, compact, more
featuresRemote front panel mounting (except *)
Downside – tiny controls, menus
Model Price Power 60 M VHF UHF Ant TunerAlinco DX-SR8T $500 100 W No 6 M No NoAlinco DX-SR9T $790 100 W No 6 M No NoICOM IC-7100** $994 100 W yes yes yes noICOM IC-7200* $1070 100 W yes 6 M yes noKenwood TS-480SAT $930 100 W yes 6 M no yesKenwood TS-480HX $1050 200 W yes 6 M no noYaesu FT-857D*** $750 100 W yes yes yes noYaesu FT-897D* *** $860 100 W yes yes yes no*Single unit radio, others have separable control head.**50 W output on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm.***50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm.
So Whadda You Get for the Extra $ to Move into the Middle?
In general;A bigger box with more controls and fewer menusMore control flexibility – more choices,
more filters (or slots), more AGC settingslarger displays showing more information
Some have better receiver performanceSome have internal antenna tunersMany add 6 meter coverage – some 2 meters or higher.
At the upper end:Usually some kind of dual-receive capabilitySome provide 200 W output
“Middle Class” Category
Model Street DSP 60 V/UHF Ant IMD DRPrice Meters Tuner (2 kHz)
Elecraft K3S/100F* $2900 IF Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dBIcom IC-7300 TBD SDR Yes 6 Meters Yes TBDIcom IC-7410 $1650 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 88 dBKenwood TS-2000** $1600 IF No 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 57 dBKenwood TS-2000X** $1900 IF No 6, 2 m; 70, 23 cm Yes 57 dBKenwood TS-590SG $1760 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 93/106 dBTEN-TEC Eagle $1499 IF Yes 6 Meters $249 98 dBYaesu FT-991 $1760 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 82 dBYaesu FTDX1200 $1550 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 83 dB
*Base assembled 100 W unit. IMD measured with optional 400 Hz roofing filter. Internal 10 W, 2 meter transverter available.**Includes a second receiver for simultaneous AM or FM reception only.
And Whadda You Get for the Really Big Bux?
In general;A much bigger box with more controls and fewer menusEven more control flexibility – more choices,
more bandwidth choices, more AGC settingslarger displays showing more informationgood spectrum display
Serious dual-receive capability with stereo output
“Upper Middle Class” CategoryAll are 100 W transceivers. All have IF DSP and 60 meter coverage.
Model Street 2nd V/UHF Ant IMD DRPrice Rcvr Tuner (2 kHz)
Elecraft K3S/100F $3580* Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dBFlexRadio FLEX-6300 $2499** Yes 6 Meters $299 92Icom IC-7600 $3370 DW*** 6 Meters Yes 88 dBIcom IC-9100 $3930 No 6, 2, 70 cm† Yes 87 dBYaesu FTDX3000 $2400 no 6 Meters Yes 104 dB
*Assembled with dual receiver with 2700 Hz roofing filter in each receiver. IMD measured with optional 400 Hz roofing filter.**Requires a PC for operation. ***Dual watch — combines reception of two signals in same band into same audio channel.†23 cm available as an option.
“Top of the Line” CategoryModel Price 60 M Power V/UHF Tuner IMD(2k)Elecraft K3/100F* $5169* Yes 100 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dBFlexRadio FLEX-6500** $4299 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 TBDFlexRadio FLEX-6700** $7499 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 102Hilberling PT-8000A $18,000 Yes 200 W† 6, 4, 2 m Yes 100 dBIcom IC-7700 (single rcvr) $6900 No 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dBIcom IC-7851 $12,999 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes TBDKenwood TS-990S $8000 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 101 dBYaesu FTDX5000MP $5900 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dBYaesu FTDX9000D $8800 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dBYaesu FTDX9000MP $9295 Yes 400 W 6 Meters Yes 85 dB*Assembled, loaded; price can vary greatly with internal and external options. See Elecraft website for a full list of options and prices.**Requires a PC for operation. Not yet tested in ARRL Lab.†100 W on VHF.