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From: | H. R. Myler (@ MacLULU) |
Subject: | Re: FW: [Discuss-gnuradio] MicroTune Tuners |
Date: | Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:07:56 -0500 |
At 1:49 PM -0700 4/17/03, address@hidden wrote:
> Patent-schmatent -- there are a LOT of high-powered IC manufacturers whoare hitting this silicon-tuner market very quickly, and whatever patents> Microtune owns won't keep them from being the only player.
Well...I did preface the patent tidbit with FWIW, evidently not much to you. I just thought it was neat to read the patent # off the module and then pull it up online.
> What did you get for $55?
Two of the modules, and yes, I really don't expect any support at all. We plan to just use the posted interface for it.
> I wouldn't expect to get much, if any, apps support from these guys -- anapps engineer will have us pegged as a hobbyist (ie, no volume) in about 30 seconds flat if they're asking the right questions. Unless there's someone there who's personally interested in this GNU SDR, you won't get very far. On another note, but also hardware-related, I've been trying to put some thought into a good general purpose TX for this, and in a recent internal presentation the following Maxim modulator was discussed: http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3430/ln/en In an nut-shell: I/Q modulator, 35MHz BW per channel, RF out from 700MHz to 2300MHz (yes, just out of reach of 2.4GHz ISM)... and ...(drumroll...) a 28-bit frac-N synthesizer for the internal VCO -- complete PLL, just add loop filter. this is sub-1Hz tuning resolution for just about any reasonable reference... this is key, folks, because the synth is always built around the frequency plan of the radio -- in SDR, we don't know what the channel raster, tuning range, settling requirements will be -- a high-res frac-N is the only way to accomplish this.> Brian
We (gnuradio, SDR, etc.) definitely need more varied HW options. As to hobbyists, I have to confess that my tech got the tuners out of MicroTune as samples. I am guessing that the fifty-five bucks was for FedEx from Singapore. Hobbyists ought to look to old cable tuners and scavenge if they can't convince MicroTune to cough up a module or two.
--Harley
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