USRP custom hardware suppliers?

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Hi,

are there any manufacturers besides Ettus that offer boards for the USRP
or offer custom boards? I would especially be interested in something
WBX-y with 5+ or even 25+W ERP.
Using an external amplifier does not exactly make sense on a 2.15GHz
bandwidth unless of course, somebody meanwhile is actually building
amplifiers which work over this bandwidth without producing distortions
and harmonics of significant strength.


(o_ Stefan Gofferje | SCLT, MCP, CCSA
//\ Reg’d Linux User #247167 | VCP #2263
V_/_ Heckler & Koch - the original point and click interface
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That’s a pretty aggressive goal, to hit 5W over the USRP BW. To get
reasonable linearity, you’re probably looking at something that draws
25W of DC power. An external Amp is probably off the shelf. For
example, Minicircuits has a TIA-1000 that does 4+ watts out from 100
to 1000 MHz for $2000. You’re probably going to need post PA filtering
to eliminate harmonics and spurious as well.

Dave

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On 05/07/2011 05:28 PM, David Bengtson wrote:

That’s a pretty aggressive goal, to hit 5W over the USRP BW. To get
reasonable linearity, you’re probably looking at something that draws
25W of DC power. An external Amp is probably off the shelf. For
example, Minicircuits has a TIA-1000 that does 4+ watts out from 100
to 1000 MHz for $2000. You’re probably going to need post PA filtering
to eliminate harmonics and spurious as well.

Yeah, Marcus pointed me to the Minicircuits site. Pretty impressive
stuff. Here in Europe, you mainly get the usualy band-limited amps off
the shelf, like HF, 2m, 70cm, etc.
I’m pretty new to the whole SDR-stuff and not totally familiar with
everything yet. I had the chance to look into a commercial SDR some time
ago which was making 5W from 30 to 512MHz and at least I couldn’t figure
out any amp module in there, so I assumed, the 5W came directly from the
SDR core - which Marcus told me is highly unlikely.
I’m still wondering about how to realize a system with a high bandwidth
(basically like the WBX but actually, we only need to go up to about
950MHz) without the need for several amps and/or filters while still
keeping the harmonics and spurious in check.
The main goal is ease of operation, i.e. the operator shouldn’t need to
think about switching cables/hitting RF switches depending on the RF
band.


(o_ Stefan Gofferje | SCLT, MCP, CCSA
//\ Reg’d Linux User #247167 | VCP #2263
V_/_ Heckler & Koch - the original point and click interface
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You’re going to need several stages of amplification to get to 5+
watts out. It can all be done on a single board, but making it work
requires a fair amount of experience. The other issue is the various
regulatory bodies are going to frown on something like that if you try
to sell it.

You can’t really avoid multiple filters to keep harmonics and spurious
in check. Lot’s of switched paths are the way to go.

Dave

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On 05/09/2011 04:54 AM, David Bengtson wrote:

The other issue is the various
regulatory bodies are going to frown on something like that if you try
to sell it.

Fortunately, in Finland we don’t have too many problems with that. Sale
and possession is not regulated. Only operation is.

You can’t really avoid multiple filters to keep harmonics and spurious
in check. Lot’s of switched paths are the way to go.

Again, let me emphasize that I’m rather new to the SDR topic. Does that
mean that commercial wide-bandwidth SDR-based radios like the PRC-148
have a a bunch of filters and different paths with are switched
electronically inside or do they just throw out a lot of harmonics and
spurious?


(o_ Stefan Gofferje | SCLT, MCP, CCSA
//\ Reg’d Linux User #247167 | VCP #2263
V_/_ Heckler & Koch - the original point and click interface
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So things like the PRC-148 aren’t really commercially available.
That’s a military handheld for sale to governments. I don’t think that
Military radios need to meet some of the same requirements as
commercially available radios. Not having taken a PRC-148 apart, I’m
not sure what the innards look like, but I bet there’s switched in
filters to address harmonics and spurious.

Seems to claim that transmitters need to be inspected before they can
be used. That’s probably where they will get you. SDR has moved faster
than most regulatory agencies have moved.

Dave

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On 05/09/2011 01:55 PM, David Bengtson wrote:

So things like the PRC-148 aren’t really commercially available.
That’s a military handheld for sale to governments.

AFAIK, there is a commercial version which lacks the military software
features like HAVEQUICK, SINGCARS, etc.

Etusivu | Traficom

Seems to claim that transmitters need to be inspected before they can
be used. That’s probably where they will get you. SDR has moved faster
than most regulatory agencies have moved.

See section 2. That document applies to transmitters for TV, radio,
fixed satellite earth and fixed radar stations as well as transmitters
which are used in R&D under an R&D license.
Means, if you apply for a broadcasting license and buy a TX, the whole
installation has to be inspected to make sure you don’t fry the chickens
on the neighbors’ farm :).


(o_ Stefan Gofferje | SCLT, MCP, CCSA
//\ Reg’d Linux User #247167 | VCP #2263
V_/_ Heckler & Koch - the original point and click interface
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