Ultimus 5W HF Transceiver

Sales Update:  PCB will now come with all SMD parts installed along with USB circuit and DC jack.  Price increase reflects the extra parts and labor. List of Part in downloads

QSK switching option included with sale.



The Ultimus SDR is an HF 160M-10M 5W transceiver. The design of this radio uses mostly through holes parts with fine pitch IC’s preinstalled my Multus. The intent of this design, which is basically a Proficio using through hole parts, was to cater to those who desire to build a radio but are leery of installing SMD parts. In this design we tried to eliminate as many SMD parts as possible while keeping the performance as close to the Proficio as possible. We added a few features available as add on devices for the Proficio like and ATU circuit. The ATU circuit is for controlling an external device like an amplifier filter switching via mini DIN8 socket. ATU also controls switching between antennas. The MFC( Multi Function Controller ) has a tuning knob, 16x2 LCD display and function input buttons. The MFC will only work with the Fortis(RPi4 based) or Rego(Windows based) through an I2C connection. Included in the PCB set is a blank front panel if your not using the MFC.

The Ultimus works with our hosting software, MSCC, on the Fortis or windows desktop version.

The Ultimus is also compatible with most host SDR applications like HDSDR, PowerSDR variants and Quisk.

These are some of the features:

•96kHz digital I/Q interface. No additional sound card needed. Only one USB connection is needed.

•Two tone, 2 kHz spacing, third-order dynamic range: 99 dB.

•External Amplifier control via AMP port.

•External filter switching via mini DIN8 jack

•External antenna switching

•CW Key Jack.

•DG8SAQ/PE0FKO/SoftRock control interface.

•Open Source firmware.

•Firmware Field Updates via on board USB bootloader.

•Optional front display

•Optional tuning knob

•Optional Heat sink fan controller for long duty cycle transmitting

With these additional features:

• All band. The Ultimus covers all bands from 160M to 10M.

• Enhanced receive. A RF amplifier is now in the RF front end that provides about 19db of gain at 10M and tapers down to about 0db at 160M

• Receive Band Pass Filters for all band groupings (160M,80M,40M-60M,20M-30M,15M-17M,12M-10M)

• The same BPFs are used in conjunction with Low Pass Filters in the transmit path to provide a clean output.

• 5W Class A PA. Clean output of 5W on all bands (slightly less on 160M and 10M).

• Real CW. Supports zero latency CW. Software generated CW is not required.

Specifications:

Receive:

Continuous from 1.8MHz to 30MHz. (Lower sensitivity below 1.8MHz and between amateur bands)

Sensitivity: MDS: Average -123db. (-125db on 10M. -121db on 160M) ( MDS performance specifications for amateur bands only.)

Transmit:

Power Output: 5W, 4W minimum (transmit permitted on amateur bands only).

Spurious Emissions: Meets or exceeds FCC requirements (-43db from carrier).

Frequency Stability: 1PPM (when using MSCC).

This is for the PCB only which will have the PSoC, Codec, Si5351, Crystals and several Diodes preinstalled. The ATU circuit requires a programmed PIC which is included. Front and back panels to fit a Hammond enclosure(1402D) as pictured. Included is also the blank front panel if you don't use the MFC/Display.

The heat sink pictured works very well with key down at 5W for over 10 minutes it only gets warm to the touch and recovers fast. If you expect to operate very long duty cycles then a heat sink with fan can be found on ebay. Would then populate the fan controller circuit on the back panel to control the fan on/of and variable speed based on temperature.

There is a shared Shopping Cart at DigiKey for you to order the rest of the parts. Documentation can be found here: https://multussdr.groups.io/g/main/files/Ultimus

To review what is included:

1. Main PCB 4 layer board

2. 2 front panels and rear panel

3. Installed and Programmed PSoC

4. Installed PCM3060

5. Installed 24 and 25MHz crystals

6. MMG3 RF Pre-Amp

7. Installed Si5351

8. Installed several Diodes/TVS

9. Heat Sink

10. RD16HHF1

11. Programmed PIC16F688

12. Installed ULN2003

13. LT6231

These are hard to install SMD parts that are also difficult to find these days. The remaining SMD parts are SOIC type IC's that are fairly easy to install. The rest is through hole parts.


Look in downloads for BOM, parts list and links to order parts

Sales Update:  PCB will now come with all SMD parts installed along with USB circuit and DC jack. 

This is a full kit with and the parts, enclosure and end panels to build the Ultimus.

2 options: Axial inductors for BPF or without axial inductors for BPF and wind your own toroids

QSK switching option is included


The Ultimus SDR is an HF 160M-10M 5W transceiver. The design of this radio uses mostly through holes parts with fine pitch IC’s preinstalled my Multus. The intent of this design, which is basically a Proficio using through hole parts, was to cater to those who desire to build a radio but are leery of installing SMD parts. In this design we tried to eliminate as many SMD parts as possible while keeping the performance as close to the Proficio as possible. We added a few features available as add on devices for the Proficio like and ATU circuit. The ATU circuit is for controlling an external device like an amplifier filter switching via mini DIN8 socket. ATU also controls switching between antennas. The MFC( Multi Function Controller ) has a tuning knob, 16x2 LCD display and function input buttons. The MFC will only work with the Fortis(RPi4 based) or Rego(Windows based) through an I2C connection. Included in the PCB set is a blank front panel if your not using the MFC.

The Ultimus works with our hosting software, MSCC, on the Fortis or windows desktop version.

The Ultimus is also compatible with most host SDR applications like HDSDR, PowerSDR variants and Quisk.

These are some of the features:

•96kHz digital I/Q interface. No additional sound card needed. Only one USB connection is needed.

•Two tone, 2 kHz spacing, third-order dynamic range: 99 dB.

•External Amplifier control via AMP port.

•External filter switching via mini DIN8 jack

•External antenna switching

•CW Key Jack.

•DG8SAQ/PE0FKO/SoftRock control interface.

•Open Source firmware.

•Firmware Field Updates via on board USB bootloader.

•Optional front display

•Optional tuning knob

•Optional Heat sink fan controller for long duty cycle transmitting

With these additional features:

• All band. The Ultimus covers all bands from 160M to 10M.

• Enhanced receive. A RF amplifier is now in the RF front end that provides about 19db of gain at 10M and tapers down to about 0db at 160M

• Receive Band Pass Filters for all band groupings (160M,80M,40M-60M,20M-30M,15M-17M,12M-10M)

• The same BPFs are used in conjunction with Low Pass Filters in the transmit path to provide a clean output.

• 5W Class A PA. Clean output of 5W on all bands (slightly less on 160M and 10M).

• Real CW. Supports zero latency CW. Software generated CW is not required.

Specifications:

Receive:

Continuous from 1.8MHz to 30MHz. (Lower sensitivity below 1.8MHz and between amateur bands)

Sensitivity: MDS: Average -123db. (-125db on 10M. -121db on 160M) ( MDS performance specifications for amateur bands only.)

Transmit:

Power Output: 5W, 4W minimum (transmit permitted on amateur bands only).

Spurious Emissions: Meets or exceeds FCC requirements (-43db from carrier).

Frequency Stability: 1PPM (when using MSCC).

This is for the PCB only which will have the PSoC, Codec, Si5351, Crystals and several Diodes preinstalled. The ATU circuit requires a programmed PIC which is included. Front and back panels to fit a Hammond enclosure(1402D) as pictured. Included is also the blank front panel if you don't use the MFC/Display.

The heat sink pictured works very well with key down at 5W for over 10 minutes it only gets warm to the touch and recovers fast. If you expect to operate very long duty cycles then a heat sink with fan can be found on ebay. Would then populate the fan controller circuit on the back panel to control the fan on/of and variable speed based on temperature.