Has anyone produced a lower cost alternative to the AOR ARD9800? We have a
small interest group here in Indianapolis but the $500 investment is too
steep to allow us to get started. I have found references to some kit,
prototype and/or sound card alternatives but I have not been able to locate
any actual devices. suggestions for alternative solutions (protocols) would
also be welcomed. We want to be able to implement the solution with both FM
and SSB equipment.

Mike - K9JRI

No.

Basically you need an OFDM modem (TAPR DSP would probably work) and
you would have to write the software for whatever DSP or FPGA you
choose. Project 1: Develop a 36 tone OFDM modem.

Then you need a vocoder. The AOR operates at 2400 bps, and the AMBE
vocoder sounds great. If you could make anything that did 2400 bps, up
to about 3600 bps in a soundcard vocoder, then you have a winner. Project
2: Develop a 2400 bps vocoder that sounds great.


"Mike Blake" wrote

Has anyone produced a lower cost alternative to the AOR ARD9800? We have a
small interest group here in Indianapolis but the $500 investment is too
steep to allow us to get started. I have found references to some kit,
prototype and/or sound card alternatives but I have not been able to locate
any actual devices. suggestions for alternative solutions (protocols) would
also be welcomed. We want to be able to implement the solution with both FM
and SSB equipment.

Mike - K9JRI

No.

Basically you need an OFDM modem (TAPR DSP would probably work) and
you would have to write the software for whatever DSP or FPGA you
choose. Project 1: Develop a 36 tone OFDM modem.

Then you need a vocoder. The AOR operates at 2400 bps, and the AMBE
vocoder sounds great. If you could make anything that did 2400 bps, up
to about 3600 bps in a soundcard vocoder, then you have a winner. Project
2: Develop a 2400 bps vocoder that sounds great.


"Mike Blake" wrote

Has anyone produced a lower cost alternative to the AOR ARD9800? We have a
small interest group here in Indianapolis but the $500 investment is too
steep to allow us to get started. I have found references to some kit,
prototype and/or sound card alternatives but I have not been able to locate
any actual devices. suggestions for alternative solutions (protocols) would
also be welcomed. We want to be able to implement the solution with both FM
and SSB equipment.

Mike - K9JRI