On Tue, Aug 3, 2010 at 7:30 PM, Peter Scheller <nh...@msn.com> wrote:
> Brian, > > On my current satellite radio (IC-910) there is no need to run separate > power > cables to the antenna mounted pre amps. They are switched in and out by > software. > But the software has to do something to communicate with the preamps and possibly power amps up there. Also, if you place a tower mounted power amp up there you aren't going to be able to power it effectively through the coax. > Separate power cables to the pre amps, and manual switching are, at least > to me, > NOT ACCEPTABLE. Particular on a (very good) $7000.00+ radio. Would you like > to > put a model "T" type engine hand crank on a corvette? > Well, I certainly wouldn't consider this manual switching. You hit the PTT on your mic and a lot of very nice, automatic sequencing happens. That is uses separate wires may seem archaic to you but to me it spells a LOT of flexibility to accomplish any sort of power and sequencing I might have in mind. It also allows me to integrate products from different vendors to achieve maximum performance and flexibility. Perhaps I am wrong but it sounds like what you are using with your IC-9100 is a closed, proprietary system from Icom. Now I am not knocking Icom but I would bet that their control system does not allow you to easily integrate products from other vendors. I am also willing to bet that the Icom preamps are not the best available. I am sure they are good, but probably not the best. I tend to be oriented to performance and am willing to do some integration in order to achieve it. You seem to be oriented toward convenience and are willing to accept some performance compromises to achieve that. I fully understand. Life is about choices. The satellite systems I am most familiar with are VSATs pushing data through various geostationary satellites. I expect to have to run separate power and control to things like dish-mounted 200W C-band and Ku-band transmitting converters and LNBs. It is just the nature of the beast and it has perhaps set my expectations differently from yours. But I understand where you are coming from. It is nice to run the coax up the tower, attach the preamp, and have everything be automatic from the get-go. I don't think you are going to get that from Flex as Flex doesn't make matching mast-mounted preamps. I saw that Tim suggested that you run power up the coax using a bias-injection 'T' which should work for powering and switching the preamps. It probably wouldn't take much, just a relay, to control that from the Flex to switch off the power to the preamp and put the preamp into bypass before TX PTT is asserted in the radio. It would be very close to what you have working with the Icom preamps but it would require a bit of work on your part. You just have to decide whether or not it is worth it. Me? I like the Flex radios. They have the best receivers I have used. Period. To me it would be worth an hour or two with a soldering iron and some hand-tools. I think their built-in sequencer is quite nice and quite advanced. Usually you have to buy an outboard box to get that. To me that *is* the "Corvette" approach. And besides, even a brand new Corvette needs new springs, shocks, wheels, tires, anti-sway bars, bushings (I prefer Delrin myself), seat, and roll-bar before it is *REALLY* ready to drive. It is all a matter of perspective. ;-) (I drive a tricked-out Miata on the track myself but the 'vette is a close second for best-raw-material-for-a-track-car. And I am coveting an LS-6 powerplant for my Miata.) YMMV. -- Brian Lloyd, WB6RQN/J79BPL 3191 Western Dr. Cameron Park, CA 95682 br...@lloyd.com +1.767.617.1365 (Dominica) +1.931.492.6776 (USA) (+1.931.4.WB6RQN) _______________________________________________ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flex-radio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com/
