Well Simon, I prefer not to enter that debate. To be honest I much preferred my radio pre FT8 (especially 6m) but I also do not see the point of pushing a big stone uphill.

Conrad

Sorry,

On FT8 you don’t work people, just their computers. That’s not amateur radio.

Actually Simon, if you listen tonight on 144.174 (if you can stand it) I have worked 3 stations in IO70 in the last few days as well as EI. I will be on, no need to reply but it will be interesting to know if you hear me. Conditions are not good enough for SSB.

I will put 4m up in the next few weeks.

73

Conrad

Hi,

When we get some decent Tropo we should be able to work on 4m / 2m. Sadly all still quiet over here.

OK Simon.

I’m convinced.

My only comment would be that I do not use MDS as a metric as I always use an external preamp to set the system noise figure. Even on 6m where I sometimes do EME. While the NF requirements are quite low on 6m using an LNA allows the use of splitters for my transceiver and SDRs and also finding a sweet spot for any situation. It is easy to make a very high IIP3 LNA for VHF these days, just add enough gain to overcome cable/splitter losses and the receiver noise figure. During big Es openings I typically add 6-12dB attenuation, but this covers all eventualities. A step attenuator in the RX path is an essential accessory, does not matter if it is internal or external to the radio.

I must admit that I trust Elad and the photos of the innards of the FDM-S3 look very well implemented.

So I will buy one. 😊

I just remembered that I have a spare transverter for 2m so the downconverter may not be necessary, I will wait and see what Elad offer.

Regards

Conrad PA5Y

Also,

I would just add that the S3 is a class product.

My 10 pence:

1. I assume that you cannot overlap the VHF and HF ranges, you select one or the other?
   Correct
2. I see several VHF ranges in the manual, one of which is 108-147MHz under sampled at 98.304MHz, so for 2m I just need a good external band pass filter before the VHF input, correct? Of course I will need sufficient gain to make up for the relatively high noise figure, this is easy.
   I think so but there’s a big downconverter coming – suffering from unobtainable parts atm.
3. On HF how does it compare to the Perseus, especially with respect to dynamic range. I have always found the Perseus to be almost good enough, another 3dB would be enough
   It’s excellent. Can’t give you any figures, but FWIW I think the Airspy Discovery has better MDS than Perseus. Perseus is good but we do have better now.
4. How does the FDM-S3 compare to the FDM-DUO, I owned one and it was not as good as I expected based upon user feedback. However it would make a fine uwave transverter driver. I probably should have kept it.
   NO comment really – I use the DUO on HF and to drive 4m / 2m / 70cms Q5 Signal transverters, BDR at least 110 dB. For microwave there’s always the Pluto with preamp etc.
5. If I like it I may buy a second one,  to cover 50MHz and MUF duties simultaneously, it all boils down to dynamic range

--

--

--

--

Sorry,

On FT8 you don’t work people, just their computers. That’s not amateur radio.

Actually Simon, if you listen tonight on 144.174 (if you can stand it) I have worked 3 stations in IO70 in the last few days as well as EI. I will be on, no need to reply but it will be interesting to know if you hear me. Conditions are not good enough for SSB.

I will put 4m up in the next few weeks.

73

Conrad

Hi,

When we get some decent Tropo we should be able to work on 4m / 2m. Sadly all still quiet over here.

OK Simon.

I’m convinced.

My only comment would be that I do not use MDS as a metric as I always use an external preamp to set the system noise figure. Even on 6m where I sometimes do EME. While the NF requirements are quite low on 6m using an LNA allows the use of splitters for my transceiver and SDRs and also finding a sweet spot for any situation. It is easy to make a very high IIP3 LNA for VHF these days, just add enough gain to overcome cable/splitter losses and the receiver noise figure. During big Es openings I typically add 6-12dB attenuation, but this covers all eventualities. A step attenuator in the RX path is an essential accessory, does not matter if it is internal or external to the radio.

I must admit that I trust Elad and the photos of the innards of the FDM-S3 look very well implemented.

So I will buy one. 😊

I just remembered that I have a spare transverter for 2m so the downconverter may not be necessary, I will wait and see what Elad offer.

Regards

Conrad PA5Y

Also,

I would just add that the S3 is a class product.

My 10 pence:

1. I assume that you cannot overlap the VHF and HF ranges, you select one or the other?
   Correct
2. I see several VHF ranges in the manual, one of which is 108-147MHz under sampled at 98.304MHz, so for 2m I just need a good external band pass filter before the VHF input, correct? Of course I will need sufficient gain to make up for the relatively high noise figure, this is easy.
   I think so but there’s a big downconverter coming – suffering from unobtainable parts atm.
3. On HF how does it compare to the Perseus, especially with respect to dynamic range. I have always found the Perseus to be almost good enough, another 3dB would be enough
   It’s excellent. Can’t give you any figures, but FWIW I think the Airspy Discovery has better MDS than Perseus. Perseus is good but we do have better now.
4. How does the FDM-S3 compare to the FDM-DUO, I owned one and it was not as good as I expected based upon user feedback. However it would make a fine uwave transverter driver. I probably should have kept it.
   NO comment really – I use the DUO on HF and to drive 4m / 2m / 70cms Q5 Signal transverters, BDR at least 110 dB. For microwave there’s always the Pluto with preamp etc.
5. If I like it I may buy a second one,  to cover 50MHz and MUF duties simultaneously, it all boils down to dynamic range

--

--

--

Hi,

When we get some decent Tropo we should be able to work on 4m / 2m. Sadly all still quiet over here.

OK Simon.

I’m convinced.

My only comment would be that I do not use MDS as a metric as I always use an external preamp to set the system noise figure. Even on 6m where I sometimes do EME. While the NF requirements are quite low on 6m using an LNA allows the use of splitters for my transceiver and SDRs and also finding a sweet spot for any situation. It is easy to make a very high IIP3 LNA for VHF these days, just add enough gain to overcome cable/splitter losses and the receiver noise figure. During big Es openings I typically add 6-12dB attenuation, but this covers all eventualities. A step attenuator in the RX path is an essential accessory, does not matter if it is internal or external to the radio.

I must admit that I trust Elad and the photos of the innards of the FDM-S3 look very well implemented.

So I will buy one. 😊

I just remembered that I have a spare transverter for 2m so the downconverter may not be necessary, I will wait and see what Elad offer.

Regards

Conrad PA5Y

Also,

I would just add that the S3 is a class product.

My 10 pence:

1. I assume that you cannot overlap the VHF and HF ranges, you select one or the other?
   Correct
2. I see several VHF ranges in the manual, one of which is 108-147MHz under sampled at 98.304MHz, so for 2m I just need a good external band pass filter before the VHF input, correct? Of course I will need sufficient gain to make up for the relatively high noise figure, this is easy.
   I think so but there’s a big downconverter coming – suffering from unobtainable parts atm.
3. On HF how does it compare to the Perseus, especially with respect to dynamic range. I have always found the Perseus to be almost good enough, another 3dB would be enough
   It’s excellent. Can’t give you any figures, but FWIW I think the Airspy Discovery has better MDS than Perseus. Perseus is good but we do have better now.
4. How does the FDM-S3 compare to the FDM-DUO, I owned one and it was not as good as I expected based upon user feedback. However it would make a fine uwave transverter driver. I probably should have kept it.
   NO comment really – I use the DUO on HF and to drive 4m / 2m / 70cms Q5 Signal transverters, BDR at least 110 dB. For microwave there’s always the Pluto with preamp etc.
5. If I like it I may buy a second one,  to cover 50MHz and MUF duties simultaneously, it all boils down to dynamic range

--

--

Also,

I would just add that the S3 is a class product.

My 10 pence:

1. I assume that you cannot overlap the VHF and HF ranges, you select one or the other?
   Correct
2. I see several VHF ranges in the manual, one of which is 108-147MHz under sampled at 98.304MHz, so for 2m I just need a good external band pass filter before the VHF input, correct? Of course I will need sufficient gain to make up for the relatively high noise figure, this is easy.
   I think so but there’s a big downconverter coming – suffering from unobtainable parts atm.
3. On HF how does it compare to the Perseus, especially with respect to dynamic range. I have always found the Perseus to be almost good enough, another 3dB would be enough
   It’s excellent. Can’t give you any figures, but FWIW I think the Airspy Discovery has better MDS than Perseus. Perseus is good but we do have better now.
4. How does the FDM-S3 compare to the FDM-DUO, I owned one and it was not as good as I expected based upon user feedback. However it would make a fine uwave transverter driver. I probably should have kept it.
   NO comment really – I use the DUO on HF and to drive 4m / 2m / 70cms Q5 Signal transverters, BDR at least 110 dB. For microwave there’s always the Pluto with preamp etc.
5. If I like it I may buy a second one,  to cover 50MHz and MUF duties simultaneously, it all boils down to dynamic range

Erik,

Not at the moment but maybe later. The WinRadio EXCELSIOR Ultra arrives tomorrow.

https://www.winradio.com/home/g69ddce.htm

Sadly only on loan for a couple of weeks ☹ .

Simon Brown, G4ELI

https://www.sdr-radio.com