Receivers - Wideband, Narrowband HF, VHF, UHF
A radio receiver is a device for converting radio waves into a useable form. CommsAudit manufacture receiver-digitisers (or tuner-digitisers) where the receiver is tuned to a particular section of spectrum to be digitised and then processed (including demodulation) in software. This type of radio receiver is often called a software defined receiver (SDR) or software defined radio.
For HF narrow-band applications, the CommsAudit CA7708 '8-Pack' HF Receiver has proven class-leading performance. This results from exceptional dynamic range in its analogue stages, combined with carefully implemented digital RF signal processing. The receiver can form the basis for multi-channel HF narrow-band receiver system realisation.
Continuous development of the CA7708 receiver has led to a wideband capability, offering full 2 – 30MHz coverage, with full-bandwidth digitized data egress via gigabit ethernet over optical fibre.
This path leads, intriguingly, to the Hybrid (wide / narrowband) HF Receiver. This receiver variant offers the following capabilities:
- A configurable HF receiver to operate in wideband mode, possibly for surveillance / search purposes
- The ability to switch to one or more receiver channels to narrowband to focus on signals of interest.
Up to 9 narrowband channels can be housed in the 2U receiver chassis.
The meticulous design and development ethos demonstrated in the HF Receiver has been applied to the creation of a V/UHF Band Receiver, where the demands on both analogue and digital techniques are even more exacting. The performance of this UK-produced receiver will match the world's best-in-class, for coverage up to 6GHz. A 40MHz bandwidth will be standard, achieved without the use of distortion-prone SAW filtering.