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Re: 8 pole vs 5 pole..I knew this would happen

Posted by Jack Smith-6 on May 03, 2007; 8:03pm
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/8-pole-vs-5-pole-I-knew-this-would-happen-tp446796p446819.html

It's an interesting question when the term "roofing filter" entered
amateur radio circles.

My Drake R7 has the classic up-conversion design with a 48 MHz IF with a
crystal filter immediately following the first mixer, but it is not
described as a "roofing" filter. Here's how Drake describes its function
in  the 1979 Service Manual:

    ...This stage [the first mixer] followed by a four-pole monolithic
    48.05 MHz crystal filter. The purpose of this filter is to attenuate
    signals removed more than +/- 4 KHz from 48.05 MHz, thus protecting
    the remaining stages of the receiver from strong interfering
    signals. In this manner, optimum receiver dynamic range is preserved
    while providing excellent sensitivity.

Just checked Racal's RA6790/GM manual (1985), which employs a 40.455 MHz
first IF / 20 KHz bandwidth crystal filter and I don't see the word
"roofing filter" used. Rather, it's called simply "bandpass filter" in
both the block diagram and accompanying text.



Jack K8ZOA


Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy wrote:

> Just cannot resist saying this Jack, the term "roofing filter" has
> certainly been around for a long time - close to 50 years I believe,
> possibly longer. I think that I first ran across the term being used
> to identify the first IF filter in an Independent Sideband Receiver
> which the company for whom I worked manufactured for HF Point-to-Point
> applications in the very late 1950's, along with companion high power
> ISB transmitters.
>
> Perhaps some other term might be less confusing and prevent any misuse
> of the term , but don't let us change from "roofing filter" now!!
>
> 73,
> Geoff
> GM4ESD
>
> Jack Smith wrote:
>
>
>> The term "roofing filter" has been around a long time, at least 20
>> years.
>>
>> Usually used in the context of up-converting  receivers, where the
>> first IF is 40.455 MHz, or 45.000 MHz or even higher. The term means
>> the first selective filter in the receiver. If the first IF is > 30
>> MHz, the roofing filter is generally wider than one normally needs
>> for SSB or even AM, and the receiver's ultimate selectivity is
>> provided in a later IF stage.
>>
>> As to why it is called a "roofing" filter, I imagine it derives from
>> the fact that it puts a "roof" over the receiver's selectivity.
>
>
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