Novator Solutions has refreshed its HUGIN 2000 family of networked multichannel receivers to address communications intelligence (COMINT) and other narrowband monitoring applications even more thoroughly. The high-dynamic-range, networked receiver provides one or two tuners with 50-MHz, 80-MHz, or 200-MHz instantaneous bandwidth per input and up to 2048 individually configurable digital downconverters (DDCs). The receivers cover a frequency range of 2 MHz to 3.6, 14, or 26.5 GHz with demodulation of AM, FM, SSB, and CW signals.
Key to the receivers’ overhaul was a reworking of the core firmware, which provides up to 1024 narrowband DDCs per receiver. In collaboration with its partner, RFEL, a Rheinmetall Defence UK company, Novator redesigned the entire internal signal path to handle 32-bit IQ-data, resulting in higher dynamic range. On top of that, the channel filters are narrower and sharper (500 Hz for CW; 3 kHz for SSB), the automatic gain control (AGC) has been updated, and the receivers’ squelch now offers a hysteresis function. The upgraded signal quality improves both the channel selectivity and the dynamic performance, enabling operators to detect previously hidden and weak signals.
Other improvements to the HUGIN 2000 receivers increase both their flexibility and usability. Most notable among them is frequency offset setting, enabling the use of external up/downconverters to effectively increase the frequency range. Additional features are aimed at improving system up-time. For example, the recovery time after an unexpected overvoltage has enhanced significantly and automatic restart options are now configurable.