30-500 MHz Dual Channel DDS Synth. Receiver Downconverter, Cool RF Box! REDUCED

Description

This is a very interesting receiver downconverter, made for a classified program called "BEESTING", model RFT-2395. It was made by Aiken Advanced Systems, also known as ACL (AstroComm Labs), NORLIN & Aiken. It uses a high frequency Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) made by Sciteq (700-1200 MHz), model VDS-1703-366, to allow the receiver to cover 30-500 MHz. The receiver uses triple conversion to go from a ~670 MHz UHF high first IF down to a baseband output of 0-4 MHz (2 MHz center) where the output signal was directly digitized in ancillary equipment!  A saw filter is used at the 160 MHz 2nd IF for very sharp skirts. It uses two channels to allow simultaneous downconversion on the same frequency (early I/Q method?, Dual polarization?).  It is commanded by an RS-485 computer interface and I have the instructions to control it which I got from the manufacturer, the RS-485 controller has switch setting for 2.4,4.8,9.6 &19.2 kilobaud interface rates. This box is full of nice hardware. The RF comes in over an SMA female and IIRC it goes thru a 0-31 dB step attenuator, to help manage dynamic range issues. The tuner frequency  step is set to be programmable in 1.7 MHz chunks, although the synthesizer will step in 5 KHz steps, the original application did not require fine step, as they wanted to tune quickly through the RF spectrum to snag signals. There is a monitor jack and a 10 MHz reference input as well, both on the rear apron.  I figure this would make an excellent tunable IF for microwave downconversion as it covers 30, 60, 70, 140, 160, 250, 321 and 400 MHz which are all common IFs for microwave stuff, as well as covering all of the ham bands from 50 Mhz to 432 MHz.  I am keeping a couple to use as radio astronomy front ends for VHF & low UHF bands.  The dual channel aspect is cool for getting both polarizations (maximum flux) from a source. Uses are limited only by your imagination.  Quality equipment, well made, you can tinker with it, fix it up for a particular or general use, modify it or scrap it out for the cool parts in it. Two are shown bolted together, you are buying 1 half rack 2 U unit, not both, I will make sure you get a nice looking one (with cover!). Runs off std 110VAC, IEC connector, power cord furnished. This thing is really something, pretty cool!  Quality way ahead of USB dongles
AND YOU CAN GET AT THE SIGNALS IN THE SIGNAL CHAIN, hard to do in a chip
....  Anyway, you will have fun with this if you like RF/microwave stuff!  I have listed this as US only as very heavy, so international customers should contact me for shipping and I will try to get accurate shipping costs by Fed Ex. I guarantee you will not see these anywhere else as I purchased the entire system a while back and there was only one system made, 14 channels, with several VXI bus computer chassis running it.