[last updated: 2023-08-29]
ham radio home page
SDR study tutorials
GQRX
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http://sm5bsz.com/
https://miloserdov.org/?p=4370
https://blog.stackattack.net/2018/09/20/getting-started-with-the-hackrf/
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- Introduction:
- SDR's (Software Defined Radios) are devices that connect to a computer, usually through a USB port. The computer is loaded with software to operate the SDR.
- An SDR is a radio receiver (sometimes transmitter as well) that is controlled by the computer software and sends its output to the computer.
- There are dozens if not hundreds of SDR's available. They vary in price from a low of about $20 to several thousand dollars. Some transmit and receive, some receive only. Lots of other feature options account for the wide price range, most notably what frequencies they can access, and filtering/noise-rejection circuitry.
- Many commercial ham transceivers are now built with SDR technology.
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- Projects/Tutorials:
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- Software
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- Hardware:
SDR Models (a few of the hundreds available):
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- Using SDR's as ham equipment:
- Broadly, there are 3 ways to go:
- 1: Get an SDR, and hack it together with whatever software and circuits you can build.
This is probably the longest and most educational route, but in the end not likely to give you a transceiver with enough convenient functionality to make you happy
I am proceeding on this path with the DVB-T+DAB+FM dongle that I bought.
- 2: Buy a transceiver that is designed and built with SDR electronics.
This is likely to be the most expensive route, though likely will give you the best end product.
- 3: Buy a SDR-based transceiver kit. This is also bound to be a long route, though again very educational, and potentially (if you believe testimonials on the web) give you the most bang for your buck.
There are several kits on the market:
- (link to:) SDR Cube ~$300 for HF only, as near as I could figure.
- (link to:) Genesis radio
G59 transceiver kit (10mw so needs an amp), HF (160-6m) ~$400
Enclosure is $85 extra ...
- (link to:) SoftRock TxTx Ensemble Transceiver
1w transceiver $89 for (just) one of 5 band groups: 160m, 80/40m, 40/30/20m, 30/20/17m, or 15/12/10m
Some other models are also available, but like Genesis, does not seem to have enclosures...
- (link to:) RS-HFIQ kit $240, 5w, 80-10m
Add a (link to:) HardRock 50w PA for $300
- (link to:) QRP Labs
- (link to:) uBITX 10w, 3-30MHz (80-10m), $129 kit
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- Other things to investigate:
- power something from the SDR's "bias tee"
- Sawbird NOAA ?
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- Other resources:
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eof