I haven't worked with sequencers before as all my LNAs and SDRs have been used for receive only. But now that I have a Airspy HF+ I want to get going with APRS on 145.825 and use this on HF as well. So receiving with the SDR, transmitting with a transceiver. I also want to experiment with LNAs, so another reason to use a sequencer. I did a lot of googling, learned some, but still not sure what I need to look out for when buying one. I prefer a kit or assembled product as a first try.
Below is a list of what I found on line. From a distance the VHF Design is cheap and has detailed information, so I am leaning towards purchasing that. Later, for a DIY project, I like the OZ1BXM design because it uses an Arduino for control, which brings some flexiblity.
Can you all please give me some input on what to look for in sequencers or comment on the choices below? Any other kits/assemblies I have missed and should be considered? Cheers,
Hans BX2ABT
Minikits from Austalia's EME166: AU$45 (=US$27.75)
https://www.minikits.com.au/Sequencer?search=Sequencer
This is the only one that indicates a frequency range: 28 to 500 MHz, so this will cover the 2m band, but not HF. Also RF input is 4 Watts maximum, which seems low, so how is this usable?
W6PQL's sequencer (US$20 for kit, US$37.50 assembled)
http://www.w6pql.com/relay_sequencer.htm
No info on frequency range or input power. Not much info on the website.
VHF Design (US$20 assembled)
https://vhfdesign.com/other/sequencer-pcb.html
Website has good information, diagrams and PCB layouts. Again no info on frequency range, etc.
Downeast Microwave (US$25~80)
https://www.downeastmicrowave.com/searchresults.asp?Search=sequencer&Sub...
3 and 4 step sequencers both in solid state and with relays based on a design by W5LUA. Which better: solid state or relays? Little indept info.
G3SEK - (DIY)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek/dx-book/sequencer/
Basically only a schematic, so need to build it from the ground up.
OZ1BXM (DIY)
http://oz1bxm.dk/seq/sequencer.html
Another DIY project based on the W6PLQ design. This uses an Arduino as MCU, so should be flexible. No kits and no PCB designs.
SM2CEW (DIY)
http://sm2cew.com/sequencer/sequencer.html
This one looks very simple to make with very few components. It was designed for HF, so will it work on VHF?