SDR Cube Transceiver


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Features + Specifications

SDR Cube Transceiver

The SDR Cube is a totally self-contained, embedded SDR transceiver for CW, SSB and AM using a Softrock for the RF front end and a pc board implementation of an HF modem. PC is not needed for using the SDR Cube, as all DSP processing is accomplished by an embedded DSP processor on the three internal pc boards. The Cube is designed to fit into an optional 4” x 4” x 4.5” pre-cut,black powder-coated aluminum enclosure containing all controls, a blue graphic display indicating transceiver settings and an exciting 8 kHz-wide band scope of spectrum signals, and the popular Softrock RXTX v6.3 board. The SDR Cube may also be used with any of the 11,000 other Softrocks in the field today! Sold as a kit or as a fully assembled & tested transceiver, both the product versions are in stock. We presented on the SDR Cube at TAPR's annual "Digital Communications Conference" in Portland, Oregon, and the DCC Proceedings containing our paper is available in our Documentation page. Product details are presented here on this website, and active email discussion occurs in the SDR-Cube Group in Yahoo Groups

FEATURES

Standalone software defined radio (SDR) transceiver ... no PC required, portable, compact, instant-on
Operating modes ... USB, LSB, AM, CW, CW-R (and PSK, RTTY digital modes with special interface to NUE-PSK modem)
Self-contained embedded DSP and I/Q-based RF front end ... uses internal Softrock RXTX 6.3
Receive ... General Coverage, 1 MHz to 30 MHz continuous
Built-in Rx amp & attenuator … improves incoming RF, optimizes Softrock front end
AGC ... adjusts Rx channel gain to an appropriate level for wide range of input signal levels
Transmit ... Choice of two user-replaceable band modules, covering 80m/40m and 30m/20m/17m
Transmit power … 700mW-to-1W, typical per band
Optionally connects to external RF front ends (e.g., Softrock Ensemble, SDR-1000, etc)
Low power requirements ... 90ma (Cube), plus 300 ma (Softrock)
Optimized CW mode … ideally-shaped waveform generation, ultrafast T-R switching
Quadrature sampling clock options ... DDS, Si570, or I²C to target Softrock
Built-in keyer ... 1-63 wpm, Iambic A, B, dot priority, or straight key
Special interface to NUE-PSK Modem ... digital interface provides best quality
Graphic LCD Display ... Clear indications of transceiver state, status and controls
Bandscope ... provides +/- 4 kHz spectrum visibility for Rx, signal monitor for Tx, with display sensitivity control
S-Meter … An accurate indication of incoming RF signal levels, able to be displayed in S-units or as dBm values.
Audio filtering control ... low corner 200Hz, high corners 700, 1500, 2400 or 3600Hz; with graphic on-screen indicator of filter setting
Audio output ... Headphones or amplified speaker, quasi-binaural audio output
Beeper ... User interface clicks, code practice oscillator, and more
Bandswitching signals … for control of external RF front ends and amplifiers; implemented as digital port or as analog signal on RF path (Yaesu standard)
Frequency agile ... Tuning rates of 10Hz, 100Hz, 10kHz, 100kHz and 1 MHz; dual VFOs with 40 memories each; RIT/XIT
Menus ... Two simple menus provide for calibration, set-up and transceiver settings
Transmit Lock control … Inhibits out-of-band transmissions (may be disabled by user)
Field-upgradeable firmware ... Integrated bootloader enable loading of new firmware

SPECIFICATIONS

Important Note: Parameters listed below with an asterisk (*) are typical and highly dependent on the characteristics of the specific RF front end used with the SDR Cube. The Softrock RXTX 6.3 provided standard with the CUBE-SR model has RF specs and/or characteristics published by other parties.

General

Frequency Coverage: Depends on specific RF front end electronics installed.

Softrock RXTX 6.3 front end provided in assembled Cubes

External RF front ends may be used for 100 kHz to 2.4 GHz.

Receive: Multi-Rx Module: 1-30 MHz, full general coverage

Transmit: TXPA Module 1: 3.5-7.4 MHz (ham bands only)

TXPA Module 2: 10-15 MHz (ham bands only)

Emission Modes: CW, USB/LSB, AM

Frequency Steps: 1 MHz, 100 kHz, 1kHz, 10 Hz

Antenna Impedance: 50 Ohms, Unbalanced

Operating Temp. Range: -10 to 40 degrees C

Frequency Temp Stability: 50 ppm (w/Si570 Grade A) or 100 ppm (w/DDS)

Frequency Accuracy: Can be calibrated in software

Supply Voltage: 13.8 VDC, Negative Ground

Operating: 9.0-18 VDC, Negative Ground

Current Consumption: Receive: 200 ma (nominal)

Transmit: 440 ma (nominal)

Case Size (W x H x D): 4” x 4” x 4.5”

Weight: 1.5 pounds

Transmitter

Circuit Type: Quadrature Sampling Exciter (QSE)

RF Power Output*: 700mw-1W, typical

Modulation Types: SSB, sin(x)/x-shaped high quality CW

Spurious Radiation*: -50 dB

Opp. Sideband Supp.*: -47 dB

SSB Freq Response: 400 Hz – 2600 Hz (-6 dB)

Mic Type: Electret, or dynamic with external amplifier

Receiver

Circuit Type: Quadrature Sampling Decoder (QSD)

Sensitivity*: MDS = -130 dBm

Image Rejection*: -30 dB

AF Output: 30 mW, (32 Ohms), ranging from 6 dB to -73 dB

AF Output Impedance: 32 Ohms or higher, headphones or amplified speakers

S-Meter: Accurate to 1 dBm, from -110 to -15dBm

Displayable in S-units or as absolute level (dBm)

Miscellaneous

Keyer: 1-50 wpm; PTT hold time is proportional to the keyer speed

NOTE: Specifications are subject to change without notice. Frequency ranges vary according to transceiver software version.