[GCARC] SDR receiver

[Jon Pearce]

Bob - I'd like to say that "you get what you pay for" but that's not necessarily the case for the SDR receivers. Even the less expensive ones like the RTL-SDR and the Nooelec perform quite well - so well that I'd encourage everyone to get one and give it a try. Using free software (SDR Console, SDR Sharp, SDR Angel, etc.) you can listen to frequencies from low VHF (and sometimes lower) up to about 2 ghz with most of them assuming you have a decent antenna (a discone works well, being broadbanded on those freqs). You can also decode APRS, AIS (ship positions), ADS-B (aircraft positions) and many other protocols with external programs or with SDR Angel that includes all of those decoders and more. The book liked below is a great starting point for playing around with SDR radios.

The more costly SDRs like the SDR Play family have extended frequency coverage, broader bandwidth (10 mhz instead of 2 mhz), hardware filters, multiple switchable inputs and other features so they may be useful in a "production" ham environment, especially for satellite operation where we're transmitting on one band and receiving on another. At the clubhouse satellite station we use a SDR Play.

For us hams there are also SDRs that will transmit, such as the HackRF and the Pluto SDR, the latter of which is designed for ham use. Those allow experimentation with modes such as digital voice and communicating over short distances since these devices are very QRP. 

If you'd like some help with your Nooelec bring it to the clubhouse some Saturday and we can work with it, or I can set up a Zoom call and work it thru some evening. And if there's sufficient interest in an SDR intro session we could schedule a Tech Saturday or Zoom Technet on that topic. If anyone is interested in that please let me know.

73 and Happy New Year

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1514716690/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1. 

Jon Pearce, WB2MNF

-----Original Message-----
From: gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Bob Brown
Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2023 4:54 PM
To: GCARC <gcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [GCARC] SDR receiver

There are such a big difference in the price of SDR USB receivers.  What are your experiences with these gizmos?  I picked up a Nooelec smart dongle and have yet to get it to work.
Thoughts, comments welcome.
73,
Bob Brown
KD2YUG
Happy New Year to you and yours!
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