Re: FW: [Discuss-gnuradio] MicroTune Tuners

[H. R. Myler (@ MacLULU)]

At 1:49 PM -0700 4/17/03, address@hidden wrote:
>  > Patent-schmatent -- there are a LOT of high-powered IC manufacturers who
> >  are 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 -- an
> >  apps 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