[hpsdr] Direction Finder using Dual-Mercury Diversity Operation

[Joe Martin K5SO]

Hi Abhi,

Yes, of course.  As a matter of fact I am currently writing (about 90%  
complete at this time) a version of PowerSDR that uses dual Mercury  
boards that allows the user powerful and versatile phasing/beam  
forming capabilities with the resulting antenna sensitivity pattern  
being displayed directly onto the "steering" display.  This permits  
the user to "see" what he is doing to the resultant antenna pattern in  
real time as the phasing parameters of the IQ stream are changed.

I don't think any additional hardware is required beyond what we  
already have in the HPSDR board/filter sets.  I have explored what  
beam forming characteristics should be possible with the phasing  
techniques that are available to us in

http://www.k5so.com/Notes_for_PSDR_v1.19.3.5.steering1.pdf

and have decided, at least for now, that a dual Mercury configuration  
is all that is needed for most directional applications and so I will  
shortly be replacing the present triple Mercury program with an  
enhanced dual Mercury program specifically for beam steering and  
antenna sensitivity pattern display.

For direction finding purposes it may be that the higher angular  
resolution associated with three receivers/antennas would be  
beneficial but doing that comes with increased complexity in software  
and hardware (hardware, in the sense that triple Mercury boards with  
filters are required and three antennas).

What additional hardware are you thinking about needing for direction  
finding?  Any help you or anyone else can provide in developing this  
capability would certainly be welcome.

73,  Joe K5SO

On Sep 21, 2011, at 10:23 PM, Abhi Arunoday wrote:

> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
> Hi,
>
> Can some form of direction Finder be developed using the diversity  
> feature of dual mercury boards?
>
> This would be a wonderful addition and I would love to assist with  
> any hardware development required for this,
>
> Abhi


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