Re: [IRCA] Testing New SDR software

[Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>]

I was ( although I didn't say so ) excluding the SDR-IQ completely on account of that very big limitation. If you want to cover the full BCB, it isn't happening today for under a grand so far as I know.

Russ Edmunds
15 mi NNW of Philadelphia  
Grid FN20id
<wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15'; Grundig G8
AM:  Modified Sony ICF 2010's barefoot


--- On Sat, 1/8/11, Bruce Portzer <bportzer@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> From: Bruce Portzer <bportzer@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Testing New SDR software
> To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 2:45 AM
> Some popular SDRs can be had for
> under $1000.  The RFSpace SDR-IQ 
> retails for about $500 and Grove is offering the Winradio
> Excalibur for 
> $850.
> 
> I've owned an SDR-IQ for about 3.5 years and like it quite
> a bit.  The 
> main drawback is you can "only" record 196 kHz of spectrum
> at a time.
> 
> I also bought an Excalibur a couple of days ago.  My
> initial impressions 
> are very favorable - it's loaded with features and can
> record up to 2 
> MHz of spectrum (assuming you have a computer that's a lot
> more powerful 
> than the one I'm using).
> 
> On 1/7/2011 9:01 AM, Russ Edmunds wrote:
> > SDR's are lower in cost ? I suppose that might be true
> if you could find a high end receiver new, but the prices I
> see for any of the newer generation SDR's are quite high.
> Well north of $1000 would be beyond what I'd want to spend
> for a hobby receiver whether SDR or traditional, and I'm
> certain a lot of other DX'ers would view it similarly.
> >
> > As more and more manufacturers stop making standard
> receivers, perhaps the demand for SDR's will dictate some
> price moderation.
> >
> > Russ Edmunds
> > 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia
> > Grid FN20id
> > <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
> > FM: Yamaha T-80&  Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B
> @15'; Grundig G8
> > AM:  Modified Sony ICF 2010's barefoot
> >
> >
> > --- On Fri, 1/7/11, Mike Bates<mjbates@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Mike Bates<mjbates@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Subject: [IRCA] Testing New SDR software
> >> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >> Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 1:34 AM
> >> I have been trying out some new
> >> software on my QS1R SDR and have found the results
> to be
> >> quite good. I currently am running the receiver
> using
> >> several different software packages, including the
> SDRMAXII
> >> that comes with the QS1R. This evening I was using
> Winrad
> >> version 1.5 and had the occasion this evening to
> log on 1370
> >> WSPD in Toledo OH @ 9:55PM CST this evening, 1/6,
> 
> >> using a KIWA loop. Also heard CFRY on 920, on top
> in the
> >> null of semi local KDHL. Good but not exceptional
> catches.
> >>
> >> I have not seen a lot here regarding SDR's, with
> the
> >> possible exception of some using the Perseus. I
> think that
> >> they are the future, as more and more companies
> are dropping
> >> production of their higher end receivers. RL
> Drake, Japan
> >> Radio Company, Yaesu, and Kenwood are  prime
> examples.
> >> SDR's are lower in cost and provide the
> equivalent, or
> >> better performance of these older receivers. The
> added
> >> benefit is spectrum analysis, which works better
> than the
> >> scopes built into the stand alone ham rigs of
> recent years.
> >> You can see a split frequency station before you
> can hear
> >> it. Another benefit is spectrum recording and play
> back
> >> using the receiver software.
> >>
> >> There is now a version of the Soft Rock series,
> which is a
> >> kit that sells for around $60.00 and covers from
> 180KHz to
> >> 3MHz. The down side is that you need a computer
> and a high
> >> quality sound card to run this, but computers
> these days are
> >> also lower in price than in days gone by. There is
> also a
> >> pre built receiver the Lazy Dog LD-1B which sells
> for about
> >> $275.00. Of course there are the direct sample
> SDR's that
> >> are more expensive  such as the SDR IQ,
> Perseus,
> >> WinRadio Excalibur and the QS1R. These are still
> lower in
> >> cost than the Drake R8B was when it went out of
> production,
> >> and have top flight performance.
> >>
> >> I would be interested to know if there are others
> using
> >> SDR's and what they think of them for MWDX, as
> well as tips
> >> for use.
> >>
> >> Thanks  and
> >> 73,
> >>
> >> Mike Bates KA0KLQ
> >>
> >> Inver Grove Heights, MN
> 
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