Thanks to various contributors for letting us know about the OVI-40, a new open source DIY SDR ham radio transceiver project that is now available for ordering. The OVI-40 appears to be a German project that is based on the mcHF transceiver. It is a standalone SDR transceiver (no PC required) with a frequency range of DC - 75 MHz. Most discussion appears to be happening in German on their forums, so it is a little difficult to get English information about it.

The kit has recently been released for preorder. The transceiver is a kit involving SMD soldering, but can be ordered fully soldered for 202 Euros (~$240 US) + taxes. The LCD screen is an additional 24 - 27 Euros. The kit without soldering done costs 112 Euros (~$132 US) + taxes.

The advertised details and specs are listed below:

OVI40-SDR is a transceiver which covers VLF...75MHz. It is mainly a DIY project - but all PCBs will also be available as soldered, aligned / programmed PCBs for all those, who do not have the skill to build a complex SMD project by themself or do not want it. OVI40-SDR will also be available as "only RX" and can be expanded with TX stages later.

Developer team takes inspirations from all existing commercial and DIY projects to get a SDR which combines possibly the best of all of them. But OVI40-SDR is not only a TRX - it is a philosophy. A community based working together, regardless of different countries, languages, religions, political systems - all are working together to get a very nice transceiver for themselfes and for others who are coming to the project later - wants to show, what people can reach if they are working together and do not struggle against each other. HAM radio always has connected the world - using the possibilities of the internet adds much more power for community working.

• RX from VLF (~ a few KHz) ... 4m, possibly 2m Including
• TX 160m ... 4m: 50W, 2200m, 630m and 4m (2m if Implemented): 10 ... 20mW SMA Out
• continuosly tuned preselection
• PA works using double LDMOSFET, independent BIAS adjusted. BIAS is internally Measured via A / D and can be set in menu Directly in [mA].
• TX and RX mixer with very low capacity to minimize LO leakage
• true RX QSD mixer using instrumental amplifiers
• all internal Voltages (8V, 5V) are generated using well-shielded switching regulators. Additionally switching frequency is shifted via firmware so that never harmonics are present in the RX spectrum
• included hardware for measuring antenna (sweep) using logarithmic amplifier
• output of an independent selectable rf to SMA plug. I am experimenting to use this as a beacon WSPR Which can run parallel to radio
• usage as possible network analyzer