RE: [amsat-bb] Icom user survey (interpretation)

[Tony Langdon <tlangdon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Power 
> 4 times icom asked about 200 watts.  It seems they may be leaning
> towards
> making their hf boxes 200 watt class.

Power's nice if you can afford to run it.  As I use battery power for my
rigs, 200W isn't that attractive to me, especially if the rig has an
internal power supply anyway. :)

> DSP
> 3 questions about DSP.  Since DSP is the big feature of the dedicated
> we can expect to see more DSP power going into all future radios.
> Its is also usually more cost effective than other methods.

DSP is generally a good idea anyway, though a good IF implementation is
best.

> More missing questions.
> What about 900 mc?

Depends where in the world one is...  (another diode matrix to select I
guess :) ).

> General coverage VHF/UHF RX?

Yes, almost a must these days, even if it's only available on a sub band,
for performance reasons (to keep the main band more tolerant of overload).

> ATV? (which is allowed on 400, 900 and 1200 mc)

Interesting idea, one that would be interesting.  Perhaps have ATV an
optional drop in module, as not everyone will want it.  Would have to
support both AM and FM, with a variety of sound subcarrier frequencies,
depending on what part of the world one is in.

> Satellite Modes:
> the ITU satellite bands include HF bands,
> including 80, 20, 15, 12 and 10 meters.  The new HF/UHF 
> radios will need
> to support satellite cross band operations.

A must (we are on the AMSAT list afterall! :)).

> Data Rates:
> The digital modes was briefly questioned.  Future radios will need
> to support high data rates.  Europeans are actively using 38.4 kbit.
> 
> Compressed Digital Amateur Radio TV will use 64k - 128k bits for audio
> and video.

Well, given that ATV will require a wide bandwidth, it should be possible to
make the radio data ready up to 1 Mbps or more, with an external data input
facility, or perhaps even an external IF facility (so the rig can become a
transverter for a home brew system, which would allow home brewers to
concentrate on their advances, not getting the RF to air).

> My dedicated satellite Rig Wish List:
> 
> RX: 50-1300, AM, FM-5, FM-15, FM-25, SSB, ATV (pal, ntsc, FM and VSB)
> TX: 6,2,220,400,900,1200 (and european bands), AM, FM-5, FM-15,
> FM-25,SSB, ATV (pal, ntsc, FM and VSB)
> Satellite modes and Digital data 1,200 - 128,000 bits
> Power:
> 6m	100w
> 2m, 220, 440	50w
> above 440 min 10w

I'd go for Rx 50-2500, but step sizes needed here are 5, 10, 12.5, 15, 25
kHz.  CW/AM/FM/SSB/ATV
Tx 6, 2, 70, 23  (minimum - no doubt these would be diode programmed for
each region), 13cm would be nice as well, even if Rx only for P3D
operations.  Modes as above.
External IF facility for integration of homebrew projects (e.g. high speed
data modems, spread spectrum, new modes, etc).
Satellite split, AFSK, PSK and FSK fitted as standard for
terrestrial/satellite data (1200 - 128000 bps).

Power, I can't argue with what's given. 

> ATV, min 1 hour duty cycle at high power

If one is going to offer ATV, it should come with the appropriate duty cycle
rating.
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