[Hpsdr] Call for Comments - ALEX

[Chris Albertson]

One more ideas...

If this is going to be hand built with hand made toroids it would be
good if there were some kind of self diagnostic designed into the
system.
Well, it turns out if you have a working mercury/penelope system and
a computer you could write software to perform an end to end
test of the filters.  Use the DAC to generate a sweep through RF
from 50 Mhz to DC while mercury samples the result.  You switch
a filter and run another sweep.  A user would need to configure
BNC jumper cables to enable the test.  Or a few extra switches would
allow for a hands off self test.

There are many cases where I'm sure a user will want to transmit and
receive at the same time.  Mostly for test and measurement. It might be
worth adding a switch or to to allow this

I'm surprised there is no A to D converter in the forward and reflected
power level signals.  You have SPI going in.  Would be easy to send
these back also over SPI.  a 10-bit serial ADC would be more than
good enough for this.  Sending the signals back as analog allows for
noise to find it's way into the long wire.

How about some LEDs?  Those little surface mount LEDS don't take
up any space and the guy who writes the software to drive this
will like to be able to see that the relays are moving.  End users will
be able to do a visual check to verify correct operation.  Years from
now
when one of these breaks A user can state in has email if the LEDS
blink or not.  


Chris Albertson
  Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
  Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
  KG6OMK/AG


       
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