SDR WR-G33DDC ‘EXCALIBUR Pro’ 9 kHz to 50 MHz – Excalibur Basics Video by DK8OK

The New WiNRADIO WR-G33DDC ‘EXALIBUR Pro’ direct-sampling SDR Receiver from 9 kHz to 49.995 MHz, includes a real-time 50 MHz-wide specrtrum analyzer and 4 MHz-wide instantaneous bandwidth available for recording, demodulation and further digital processing. – Low-noise preamplifier – Configurable preselection filters – Filter bandwidth adjustable down to 1 Hz.

As many as 119 different filter combinations can be constructed by the user (91 bandpass, 14 low-pass and 14 high-pass). The front-end employs 34 subminiature electromechanical relays! Three demodulators allow the simultaneous reception of three signal frequencies within the 4 MHz bandwidth. -
GROVE  US – Catalog of 06/01/2012 – manufacture: WiRa – Eton – Sangean – Kaito – Perseus – Icom
Prices:  WR-G33DDC EXC. Pro $1,649.95 / WR-G31DDC EXC.. $899.95 / Perseus bid.. $1,199.00

The WR-G33DDC Pro Is an advanced version of the WR-G31DDC receiver, offering many additional features and improvements.  - (!! Please See the WR-G33DDC  Basics Video  by DK8OK below)

The WR Software (Version 1.68)  provide an logical user interface.  - There are several spectrum analyzer configurations including the 50 MHz full span with 1.5 kHz resolution. – The DDC down-converted portion is highlighted and can be selected either via keyboard or by the mouse cursor and then displayed in another window, within which three independent receiver channels can exist. – For any channel, the receiver’s selectivity, IF shift, passband tuning, notch, and other functions can be adjusted, and the audio spectrum of the demodulated signal can be observed. – -
Link to: WR-G31DDC – Perseus – Gemini – AOR-2300 and DX-R88 HamFair 
Link to: WiNRADIO WR-G33 Excalibur Pro the Official Full Specifications

This great video explains its graphical user interface (GUI), and gives some hints on how to use them. Thanks Nils, DK8OK.

FT-450D HF/50MHz Tranceiver, Product Review, QST, 11/2011 by Mike, W5MPC

Yaesu FT-450D HF/50MHz Transceiver, Product review, QST, November 2011. Reviewed by Mike Corey, W5MPC. – Following in the line of the FT-100D, FT-817ND, FT-857D…. arrived it the FT-450D!

The FT-450D adds a standard internal ATU that cover the 6 to 160 meter bands (operation is very easy), and several ergonomic upgrades to the original FT-450. – New knob design, new standard hand mic., Button illumination and 500 and 300 Hz CW filters. (…please click the thumbnail to enlarge!) – See …..the link below !

QST Key summary 20m only: 500 Hz bw, Pre-off… 20 kHz spacing blocking gain compression 134 dB / IMD3 20 kHz 97 dB / IP3 +17 dBm. – FT-450D performance is about the same as the previous ’450! - See the November 2011 issue of QST magazine for the complete review and ARRL Lab test results (members only….login)

A big improvement to the front pannel is backlighting for the buttons, strong enough that buttons can be seen from several feet away ub a dark room, and a significant improvement over the CW filter in the previous FT-450 Transceiver.

Link to: ARRL – American Radio Relay League for Amateur Radio Home
Link to: Vertex Standard >Company Profile >Historical Highlights !!!

QST reviews IC-7410 on web 25.08.2011 – IC-9100 and IC-7410 Test reports by VA7OJ

An overview of the ICOM IC-7410 HF 50MHz Transceiver on the QST magazine by Rick, WW3DE  NCJ Managing Editor.  - QST reviews the  IC-7410 on October, 2011 -

Adam Farson, VA7OJ released  Ic-9100 and IC-7410 Test reports. Here are the links:

Link to: Download the IC-9100 Test Report in .PDF by Adam  !!(54 pag.)
Link to: Download the IC-7410 Test Report in .PDF  by Adam !!(41 pag.)

Many thanks Adam for doing all those tests – and for writing them up so thoroughly – and for publishing your reports! really appreciate your hard work – IØgej RadioCronache

Molte grazie Adam per aver fatto tutti i test sui Transceiver IC-9100 e IC-7410 della Icom – per ever scritto i risultati e le valutazioni in modo molto approfondito e professionale – ed anche per la loro pubblicazione! apprezzo molto il  grande lavoro – IØgej RadioCronache

 !! See the QST 14MHz Key Summary data and the Video QST Reviews by ARRLHQ (TNX to Lab Engineer Bob Allison, WB1GCM) below

Guarda  QST i dati a 14MHz da  Key Summary  e il testo più ampio in italiano riportato più sotto e segue su full story (below)…

The ARRL has posted their review (October QST) of the IC-7410 on their website. – The basic numbers for the IC-7600 and IC-7410 are not significantly different; they are all up-conversion rigs with relatively wide roofing filters. – Receiver employs a double conversion superheterodyne system which has an image rejection mixer I/Q for the 2nd mixer stage. – The IC-7410 employs a higher speed DSP Unit: ADSP21369 with internal Clock 333MHz, 2000MFLOPS and the AD/DA converter AK4620B.

See the October 2011 issue of QST magazine for the complete review and ARRL Lab test results – [Note] Area Members Only – to log-in; -
Link to: ARRL – American Radio Relay League for Amateur Radio Home-page

Video QST Review: ICOM IC-7410 – It is nice watching this video in 1080p full screen mode.

Da: “Key Summary” – (Intercept values ..determined using -97 dBm reference)
Qui vengono riportati solo i numeri a 14 MHz, Pre OFF – RTX  TS-590S / IC-7410

• …………………………………..Kenwood TS-590S……………..Icom IC-7410
• ……………………………………QST May 2011…….…………..QST October 2011
• ……………………………….. with a down conversion ………. with a up conversion
• ………………………….……(500Hz,  roofing filter)..…(500Hz DSP bw, 3kHz roofing)
• Band: 14 MHz – Pre Off
• Spacing 20 kHz blocking gain compression….141 dB…………………….144 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz blocking gain compression….121 dB…………………….111 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range….…106 dB…………………….106 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range….….97 dB………………………88 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order intercept……………+26 dBm………………….+29 dBm
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order intercept……………+22 dBm………………….+  5 dBm

QST 07  2010 DR3 of the FTdx-9000 pep Yaesu flagship rig is 85 dB 2kHz spacing
QST 03 2007   DR3 of the IC-7800 Icom inc.  flagship rig is 86 dB  2kHz spacing

Sul sito web della ARRL QST è stato pubblicato il Test review dell’IC-7410 HF 50MHz Icom dal 25.08.2011 in formato PDF (solo per soci con log-in) –  Poi l’articolo si troverà nella Rivista QST del prossimo  mese di Ottobre 2011.

Pertanto la recensione completa del Transceiver ICOM IC-7410, a cura di Rick, WW3DE NCJ Managing Editor, sarà sulla rivista QST del mese di ottobre prossimo. I dati di base rilevati in laboratorio per l’IC-7600 e ora per l’IC-7410 non mostrano differenze significative tra i due apparati, sennò come struttura complessiva, DW, Display TFT a Colori, Analisi di spettro, decodifica RX e TX per RTTY e PSK31 . – Come si vedrà dal sommario qui sopra i numeri con 20kHz sono simili al TS-590S  settato, quest’ultimo, in up-conversion e Roofing da 500Hz contro i 3kHz dell’Icom!! con una certa differenza, invece, a 2kHz.  - A proposito di valori di DR3 (IMD3), che non sarebbe la primaria misura da valutare,  guardate la DR3 dei due flagship Yesu e Icom. ….continua…>

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QST reviews the TS-590S on May, 2011 – Top class performance at a middle price

QST Magazine reviews the TS-590S on May, 2011 by N0AX, H. Ward Silver . The review radio originally shipped with firmware Ver 1.00 (S/N B0900113 September, 2010) but was upgraded to firmware Ver. 1.02 for final testing on the ARRL Laboratory.

N0AX also writes: The TS-590 is a very interesting superhetero-dyne that operates as either a double-down conversion (RX1), used on the 160, 80, 40, 20 and 15 meter bands for SSB, CW and FSK only; Triple up-conversion (RX2) chain on other bands, including 10 and 6 meters is used for wider IF BW such as for AM and FM, in addition to the SSB, CW and FSK.

Source: QST reviews, we show only the figures at 14 MHz, Pre OFF ( K3 /  TS-590S)

• …………………………………………..Elecraft K3………………..Kenwood TS-590S
• ………………………………………...QST Jan 2009……………………..QST May 2011
• ………………………………………..In both operate with a double down conversion
• ……………………………………(400 Hz, 8-pole roofing)………(500 Hz, roofing filter)
• Band: 14 MHz – Pre Off
• Spacing 20 kHz blocking gain compression….142 dB…………………….141 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz blocking gain compression….140 dB…………………….121 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range……106 dB…………………….106 dB
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order dynamic range……103 dB………………………97 dB
• Spacing 20 kHz 3rd-order intercept…………..+29 dBm………………….+26 dBm
• Spacing    2 kHz 3rd-order intercept…………..+28 dBm………………….+22 dBm

I found the adjustable AGC action to be quite clean — no clicks, thumps or pops. It’s possible for a very close signal to be inside the roofing filter but outside a narrower DSP filter, causing the audio level to fall dramatically, but the signal has to be really close.
When either NR system is turned up to its most aggressive setting audible artifacts are created (NR2 artifacts sound like the band is “boiling”) but both are far better than the noise they have replaced.

The only problem I encountered was a significant power overshoot on the leading edge of a first dot or dash before recovering to the intended level. That caused the ACOM Series amplifier to trip offline unless we reduced drive, dropping amp output to 800-1000 W. – The problem was eliminated by a Ver. 1.02 firmware upgrade  from Kenwood and verified by testing with the same amplifier at W1AW at the legal limit. –
Link to: Web-page Firmware Ver.1.02  01/20/ 2011 and Download full RadCom Review!
Link to: Web-page TS-590S News On air test Video! Download User Manual & more info

QST fa il test al TS-590S su Maggio 2011 – Top performance ad un prezzo medio basso

QST Magazine n. 5/2011,  esamina il nuovo Kenwood con N0AX, H. Ward Silver; Un transceiver di classe top a prezzo medio basso scrivono. – Il TS-590S esaminato è arrivato alla ARRL in imballo originale con il Firmware 1st Ver. 1.00 (S/N B0900113 di Settembre, 2010), poi  per il test finale è stato aggiornato con la nuova Ver. 1.02 nello stesso Laboratorio della ARRL.

Power overshoot? Nell’impiego del TS-590S con amplificatori, in particolare con la serie ACOM, sono stati riscontrati problemi di picchi di potenza di millisecondi all’atto dell’inizio trasmissione, questo problema risulta risolto da Kenwood con il nuovo Firmware Ver. 1.02 del 20.01.2011 che al punto 5) riporta la questione tra le varie migliorie apportate con l’aggiornamento ..Vedere il link più sopra che porta alla pagina web con info sul Firmware 1.02 e al Test completo del TS-590S di RadCom di Gennaio 2011 della RSGB
Le caratteristiche del TS-590S  si trovano  anche in Italiano su Kenwood Electronics Italia
Link to: Kenwood Electronics Italia – Comunicazioni TS-590S

EAGLE 599 Ten-Tec, Manual, External SDR Panadapter, Last Upd Ver. 1.771

TEN-TEC Eagle Transceiver Firmware  Ver. 1.771 update  - The rear panel on the Eagle has a Standard B type [USB] connector. This connector is used for connecting to a PC to perform updates of the firmware, or for logging or control via various available computer programs. Refer to the User Manual, section “Interfacing to a computer and firmware updates” for more information.
(> use the TenTec standard usbser.sys driver)

Eagle Last Firmware V1.771 update 2011-01-18
Improve FM Transmit - Correct User Memory Write - Spread out Speech Processor Range - Initializing QSK Delay Value Through Power Reset - Corrected AGC Remembered Per Mode Through Power Reset

Mod.599 Eagle.  Ten-Tec Radio Modification For An External Receiver/SDR Panadaptor Or External Rf Noise Cancellers – TenTec Update to 27.10.2010 – See features and Link utility…below

This modification creates a “receive only” antenna port for use with an external receiver. It can also be configured to insert one of the available RF noise cancelling devices between the antenna and the receiver input of the Model 599 Eagle radio. - Two optional installations are presented.

1) INTERFACE WITH RCA PHONO CONNECTORS ADDED TO REAR PANEL
The first involves mounting two new RCA phono jacks on the Eagle rear panel for connection to the receiver or noise canceler.
2) NO CONNECTOR INTERFACE
The second is a “no hole” approach which brings the two RF cables out the side of the radio through the ventilation holes on either the left or right side, near the rear of the radio

Lik to: Ten-Tec Download 599 Eagle radio Modification  PDF 3.93MB

Ten-Tec EAGLE the HF 50MHz 100W Transceiver.  The new Ten-Tec Model 599 in Stock! - The analog portion of the radio is double conversion with IF frequencies of 9.0015 MHz and 22.5 kHz. – A third conversion to zero-frequency IF is accomplished in the DSP processor.

Ten-Tec, Specifications: The new Ten-Tec Model 599 just announced! – Unlike any other radio in this price class the Eagle offers more receiver horsepower with new DSP based architecture, selectable Roofing filters, noise reduction (noise canceling circuitry), Ten-Tec’s Sensitune automatic antenna tuner, and of course Ten-Tec’s QSK keying, and more. (–Click the image to enlarg!)

Ten-Tec, Specifications – For the Amateur Bands only —

These data are impressive for this class of radio!! ..Maybe get another competitor, US made! (Aegle..vs> TS-590..vs> K3 ..vs>Aegle..vs>K3 !?)

Producer prices (TenTec): Mod. 599 No Tuner $1795.00 / Mod. 599AT Yes Tuner $1995.00 (up: 09.27.2010)

TS-590S G3SJX reviews the Kenwood HF/50MHz transceiver RadCom 01/2011

FTdx-5000 Review from RadCom June 10 by G3SJX – Here only some data and a summary

FTdx-5000 measured performance → Source: RSGB RadCom  June, 2010 by G3SJX – Table 1*
[*Note]: here, only some of the many performances misured – View the RadCom Magazine to read the full review by Peter Hart) – !! IP3, IMD3, and Blocking figures were outstanding with the appropriate Roofing filters selected. !! The only area for concern is the receiver spurious signal rejection….

Sensitivity SSB 10dBs-n:n 7MHz band: IPO-1 →0.7uV (-110dBm) PREAMP-1 →0.18uV (-122dBm) PREAMP-2 →0.09uV (-127dBm)
Intermodulation (Spacing 15kHz) 2400Hz bandwidth 6kH Roofing USB 7MHz band: IPO-1 →IP3 +37.5dBm IMD 105dB PREAMP-1 →IP3 +26dBm IMD 105dB PREAMP-2 →IP3 +18dBm IMD 103dB
Close-in Intermodulation on 7MHz Band 500Hz bandwidth CW IPO-1:
Spacing →2kHz (15kHz Roofing) IP3 -8.5dBm IMD 77dB – (6kHz Roofing) IP3 -4dBm IMD 80dB – (3kHz Roofing) IP3 +33dBm IMD 106dB – (600Hz Roofing) IP3 +37dBm IMD 109dB
Spacing →10kHz (15kHz Roofing) IP3 +38dBm IMD 108dB – (6kHz Roofing) IP3 +39dBm IMD 109dB – (3kHz Roofing) IP3 +38dBm IMD 109dB – (600Hz Roofing) IP3 +38dBm IMD 109dB

The 9MHz IF rejection on most bands was greater than 100dB, but on 10MHz it was only 54dB, and on 7MHz it was 74dB. VRF front-end tuning improved these figures by 20dB. The first mixer image was only down by 55dB to 70dB but VRF improved this to better than 75dB.
Spurs on the synthesiser resulted in a number of unwanted receiver responses, notably at approx +/- 425kHz from the received frequency at only 65dB down on the VFO-A rx and at +/- 40kHz down by 85dB. VRF improves these figures but only marginaly on the higher bands.
Third order intercept (IP3), dynamic range (IMD3) and blocking figures were outstanding with the appropriate Roofing filters selected (See the Table-1*). The VFO-B receiver dynamic range is nont quite as good as the VFO-A receiver but is still very respectable.

Link to: The RSGB webpage – RadCom Magazine

La rejezione IF a 9MHz per la maggior parte delle bande risulta superiore a 100dB, ma sulla banda dei 10MHz scende a soli 54dB, e sulla banda dei 7MHz risulta 74dB.- L’uso del VRF tuning del front-end migliora queste figure di circa 20dB. L’immagine del primo mixer risulta attenuata solo da 55 dB a 70 dB, ma con il VRF si ha un miglioramento al valore di 75dB. Le spurie del sintetizzatore produce una serie di risposte indesiderate al di sotto di soli 65dB  rispetto all frequenza  ricevuta,  in particolare a circa +/- 425kHz dal centro della frequenza  sul VFO-A (main rx), ed ancora a +/- 40kHz sono al di sotto di 85dB. L’inserimento del circuito VRF migliora queste cifre, però solo marginalmente sulle bande più alte di frequenza.
L’intercept point di terzo ordine (IP3), la gamma dinamica  IMD3 e la dinamica di blocco hanno valori che variano in base alla banda passante  del Roofing filter selezionato (Vedere Tabella-1*). Il ricevitore del VFO-B (sub rx) ha a sua volta una dinamica non altrettanto buona come il  ricevitore VFO-A (main rx), ma comunque è  molto rispettabile. – !! Emerge dall’articolo di Peter  Hart una questione che lo preoccupa:  la effettiva capacità di rejezione di segnali spuri del  ricevitore A.
[Note]: RSGB Members Only can now download the June, 2010 RadCom Review  in PDF format.

FTdx-5000 the answer.. RX-1 Double Quad Double Balanced 1st Mixer- Sharp Crystal Roofing

Yaesy FTdx-5000 The sharp 6/8-pole crystal roofing filter (300 Hz 600 Hz 3 kHz)
The 9 MHz 1st IF Main Receiver: Eight, 3SK294 Dual Gate MOS FETs are employed for the 1st mixer in 2 x 4 configuration to establish the Double Quad Double Balanced Mixer for the FTdx-5000 RX-A  only – See the Board layout and Schematic diagram on the Image depiction by ©www.radiocronache.com (clik to enlarge) – !! Download the Sales Brochures – by Yaesu Inc. – Link below.

The newly designed 9 MHz 1st IF Mixer using MOS FETs have low losses by themselves so than is required at the RF amp, for the Main RF Front End (RX-1 VFO A) – A 15 BPF (8 x Amateur Radio band + 7 x General Coverange Receiver) are  inserted between the VRF UNIT -1 and the IPO/RF amp stage, automatically selected. –

Link to: Download New Sales Brochures (9.51 MB .Pdf)

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The HRDDS (High Resolution Direct Digital Synthesizer) utilizes a direct locking technique a 400 MHz reference signal, resulting in a lock time that approches zero. (Best C/N ratio and BDR)

RF Preselector or not? tiny SCR Heros Tech. Icom DIGISEL Yaesu VRF Harris RF-551A

RF Preselector: New tiny SCR Preselector 1.8MHz to 30MHz Tunable Band Pass Filter Assembled and kit versions. – tiny SCR Preselector (SCR) Software Controlled Radio via USB or I2C Bus (16 bits standard I2C serial bus interface) Made by Heros Technology Ltd in the United Kingdom.
It can be looped between RX OUT and RX IN of the HF Trancseiver, or SDR Receiver.  – A large toroid core T-200-7 is used, the large core offers a non-loaded Q (efficiency) value. A five bands tuneable Band-Pass Filter bank make up the core of the tiny SCR Preselector, and five telecom grade relays for band switching are connected to its corresponding section of the coil through the Band Selector control on the program software

See the Links and  following image – Preselector or not? Icom Digisel, Yaesu VRF ….

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