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SDR usb dongle

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  • 10-02-2012 10:48am
    #1
    telecinesk
    Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    maby Watty has some experience with SDr radio kit. I just bought one of these "funcubedongle" usb adapters.http://www.funcubedongle.com/
    Am probably going to try wxsat and some other digital transmissions here, as there is more or less no analogue signals on either VHF or UHF.
    Anyone else have one of these or SDR experience? I saw one other unit for almost 2 grand with plugin modules for tx/rx and so on,but I think thats for another day when I win lotto.


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    #2
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    The Softrock board + suitable soundcard is amazing. I was thinking of getting a funcubedongle some time.


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    #3
    PauloMN
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional North East Moderators Posts: 10,869 Mod ✭✭✭✭PauloMN


    Let us know how it goes, interested to know how effective they are. Also do they come with software to web host it i.e. have it running at home and be able to access it from a browser anywhere? That would be so handy on a number of fronts.


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    #4
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,064 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    The eHam reviews are interesting. There are only 7 reviews but they range from 0/5 to 5/5 which I don't think I have seen for any normal receiver.

    http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10056


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    #5
    telecinesk
    Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭telecinesk


    ok, dongle is here on the desk. Its as I expected, front end easily overloaded but consider what it does and the size of the thing.
    Works well between 248-470mhz which is where im generally listening. Have yet to connect it to an Lband yagi with preamp, simply I dont have time but for what I paid its not bad. Managed to flash the firmware and so on to try the latest so the information supplied is out there.
    I still like the idea of the 2 grand SDR with tx boards and maby later, but the dongle "will do". L band reports later.. fingers crossed on that front.


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    #6
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users Posts: 21,064 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    There is a new version out now, the Pro+ which covers 136 kHz to 1.9 gHz with a gap between 240 and 420 mHz. All modes including wide FM. There is a Youtube demonstration here. The link on the first post has more details.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifIK31LfcA

    Price is £150 plus postage from Martin Lynch in the UK. There is a comprehensive review in Radcom Feb 2013.


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    #7
    Wotty
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭Wotty


    I find that with the SDR dongles that depending on the type of ariel connected that some additional filtering may be required. The dongle can be subject to overload and filtering is a good way to get the best performance.

    Also useful can be to mount the dongle in a screened enclosure. This has the added benefit of allowing an ariel socket to be added, sometimes it is possible to pull the ariel socked off the songle is using a heavy ariel cable.


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