Bi-directional Amplifier Design

Well it's been a while since I ripped on the ARRL. And since they are doing such a great job, you knew it wouldn't be long before you'd see something so non-professional (amateur) from me again.

from kb9mwr@q...
to w9gig@a...
cc n4qx@a..., n7hpr@t...
date Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 9:52 PM
subject bi-directional amplifier design help

Hello,

I'd like to help encourage the development/documentation of a bi-directional amplifier for high-speed multi-media applications.

I was prompted when I read the ARRL Homebrew Challenge I said to myself, why encourage something that has already been done.

Since there are more non-part 15 overlapping channels on 3 GHz, 5 GHz and 900 MHz bands I would encourage it to be for either of those bands.

I haven't been able to make much head way in this myself due to a lack of access to the necessary development equipment.

In some of the open source development efforts that I have been part of, a bounty is often posted as a reward for something like this.

I'd like to take the same approach to this, as I am offering $40 to anyone who can document such a design in QEX or the like. I'd also like to suggest that anyone else interested in the development also consider a contribution to the bounty (aka up-the-ante).

The total bounty-pledges of course will help who ever steps forward in their design and development costs.

To clarify, I am not requesting production or kits, just someone who wants the challenge and has the know-how to create a working prototype and will openly document their design in QEX or some other publication.

Would it be possible to get a blurb in QEX magazine to spread the idea out to the more technical crowd?

Thanks,
Steve, KB9MWR

Yeah, you guessed it, zero replies to my request.

And now some commentary on the HR 607 bill that has provisions to auction off a portion of the 70cm band.

I did my part and wrote to my representatives. While it would be a shame to lose this band, the lower half of the band is Very inactive. Around here the only part used for the most-part is 440-450 MHz.

The current band-plan that caves out the lower portion of the band for ATV and isn't bringing any real traffic/ use either.

Seems a shame that we can't setup a decent wireless (emergency) network, other than this pathetic Winlink business. Heck if we can't do it, sounds like that is exactly what the proposed Department of Homeland Security First Responder network is.

Time to move forward, else I have little desire to continue to write letters to try and defend spectrum that will just sit idle as it has been. Use it or lose it..... maybe the ARRL, TAPR and other "leaders" will one day realize they need to step forward and suggest some new ideas for the hobby to help not only "protect" the spectrum, but put it to actual use.

What I am reading is "When All Else Fails" ... we will build our own wireless network. Possibly a wake up call for ham radio?

Letter to my local club

To: The President of the Green Bay Mike and Key Club.

Hello, my name is Steve, call-sign: KB9MWR. I’ve been active with the hobby since 1996 at age 16. I have been a member of the Mike & Key Club off and on.

I’d like to share some thoughts and observations and make some suggestions in the summary.

Fourteen years ago the mailed newsletters and repeaters where vital communication links for ham to share news and ideas amongst themselves. Now we are connected in a variety of different ways and the hobby is less relevant to many.

The newsletters now are electronic and cost the club nothing to reproduce and distribute. In my opinion they can no longer be viewed as a membership benefit. They should be viewed as a promotional tool, posted and shared publicly to encourage /show club involvement and in the hobby in general.

The emphasis on maintaining multiple club repeaters seems silly. The usage isn’t nearly what it used to be.

Hams keep in touch a variety of different ways now. Keeping things on the air for the sake of it, isn’t spectrally efficient. It’s a detrimental mentality that will surely keep future ham developments from obtaining spectrum.

In my opinion the role of the amateur service as changed quite a bit. It was technologically on top and interested many when I entered the hobby.

Autopatch, packet and the like, all before cellphones and the internet and other social networking avenues.

This no longer seems to be the case. However, I feel it still serves a purpose to those who like to experiment and “learn how things work.” The true technicians and amateurs in my eyes.

Ponder how can the club reach out to those types of people. They seem most likely to help the hobby move forward in my opinion.

The banquet is just around the corner. I’d like to see the ham of the year nomination process refined a bit.

I think nominations should be on merits, and not the buddy system. I think a statement of reasons accompanying the nomination would help bring some value back to the award.

With a new year just around the corner, I’d like to see some defined goals for the year ahead as well as a explanation of the benefits of membership.

Lastly, I’d like to suggest the board conduct a member interest survey and solicit suggestions for future club direction and if warranted make updates to the clubs Purpose and Scope in the By-laws.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and ponder how we as a club can be more beneficial to our fellow amateurs.

Steve, KB9MWR

Einstein said "Insanity is doing things the same way but expecting a different result."

My guess is none of this will happen, but at least I can say I tried.

HSMM: 420-430 MHz

It has been a while since I wrote on the idea of HSMM on the 70cm, 420-450 MHz band.

There have been some recent threats to the band with the proposed HR 607 bill.

So my logic to protecting the spectrum available to us, is to try and make better use of what we have, instead of letting it sit idle.

So following that logic, most of the lower part of the 70 centimeter ham band has been fairly idle. This is known as the Amateur TV sub-band (420-430 MHz).

ATV - 421.250 Video - 425.750 Audio
ATV - 427.250 Video - 431.750 Audio
ATV - 434.000 Video - 438.500 Audio
ATV - 439.250 Video - 443.750 Audio

So far there seems to be a fair number of hams interested in 802.11 based networks. But one of the big hurdles is understanding and overcoming the line of site, and other wide-band microwave propagation issues.

I've pointed out that 3 GHz is a great band since you won't be sharing the space with all kinds of other Part 15 unlicensed devices that inevitably lead to a higher noise floors and headaches.

The concept of HSMM on the 70 cm band intrigues me and others greatly because of the non-line-of-site possibilities.

A normal 802.11 channel is 20 MHz wide, but I wrote before that this can be reduced to 5 MHz.

XAGYL Communications, is a Canadian Distributor of Ultra High-Speed, Long Range Wireless equipment. In 2009 they partnered with Doodle Labs, a privately held manufacturing company with headquarters in Singapore to design and manufacture a new line of long range Wireless Data Transceiver devices.

It appears they may be the first to consider offering a true non-line-of-site solution, capable of operation in the 70cm band that could easily fit into unused ATV channels between 420-430 MHz.

In a recent communication Daniel Lajeunesse at Xagyl in October 2011, I inquired on the status of their advertised XAGYL XC450M2. He said this is their next project in the pipeline - expect 2 to 3 months.

http://www.xagyl.com/store/product.php?productid=16450&cat=251&page=1

I've held off blogging about this exciting new development for some time, but with some limited communications with both Xagyl and Doodle Labs it appears they are at least curious about what kind of amateur market there is. Or at the very least are okay with some inquiries.

However, Doodle Lab's business model is to work with OEMs. Doodle Labs is not set up to address small quantity purchases. They are also concerned that they may get buried with the support questions. Doodle Labs has approached a few resellers to see if they can do this. But they want to see the demand first before they carry the product. So this is like a chicken and an egg situation.


I recently received an email from Jay Parikh with Doodle Labs mentioning he stumbled into this blog and was impressed by it.

He also wrote to bring my attention to a new product introduced by his company that would likely be of interest to the ham community.

"It is a Atheros AR5414 based radio module for the 380-520 MHz frequency range."

Jay, mentions that they have already received a number of inquires from hams on it.

With a 1989.5 MHz frequency offset, a proposed channel plan from Doodle Labs is below.

For 5 MHz BW, Center Freq. = 422.5, 427.5, 432.5 , 437.5, 442.5, 447.5 (For US and AU)
432.5 , 437.5, 442.5, 447.5 (For Canada)
432.5 , 437.5 (For Europe)

For 10 MHz BW, Center Freq. = 427.5, 432.5 , 437.5, 442.5 (For US and AU)
437.5, 442.5 (For Canada)
None (For Europe)

For 20 MHz BW, Center Freq. = 432.5 , 437.5 (For US and AU)
None (For Canada)
None (For Europe)

{Update 3/20/11}
After a bunch of discussion, Doodle Labs mentioned they planned on releasing a model that specifically covers the ham spectrum. (see below)

He also notes that they used to have a relationship with XAGYL but for past couple of years it has stopped. So he is not sure what they are advertising. The modules look like theirs but Jay doubts they can supply any of them yet (since Doodle Labs has not sold to them yet).

So at this point, they are still trying on getting a distributor lined up, and will be in touch with me and others who have contacted them as soon as that is done in approximately two months.

He notes the delay is actually on their side. There are some minor changes that need to be made to the design and their design team is completely swamped at the moment with a few different customer projects.

{Update 6/13/11}
Pre-Production stage. Expected availability is the end of October 2011.

10/11:
http://doodlelabs.com/products-and-services/amateur-bands/420-450-mhz-band-dl435.html

Now if we can just find a OEM interested in selling this.

I have left word with Ramsey Electronics suggesting they look into and consider selling this.

Ramsey has sold amateur radio gear some as kits, and other things fully assembled. From VHF/UHF and HF transceivers, VHF/UHF power amplifiers, and ATV kits. All of which was manufactured by someone else, but bears the Ramsey name. So they seem like a good candidate.

If anyone else has any seller suggestions, please spread the word, and/or drop me a message.