Software Defined Radio (SDR)

[slinger]

Anyone played about with it? I'm tossing up whether to buy into it for a bit of fun.

[slinger]

I'm guessing that's probably a "no" then.

It's too late now anyway, as my wallet has just become £160.02 lighter, and I've got lots of bits arriving on Wednesday that all need stringing together in some sort of order. That gives me three days to sort out what (free) software is the easiest for a complete novice to comprehend.

[slinger]

[slinger]

Not quite.

[Fretless]

Haven't a clue what SDR is.

Time to investigate.

[Geoff.R.G]

From my, very abbreviated, research on the subject it would appear that you may already be using SDR as it has uses in 3G communications. As you will be aware, 3G is old hat these days.

[George Hincapie]

I have.

I am an amateur radio operator and hold an Intermediate UK licence.

I use an SDR Play to see candidate signals within the HF portion of the radio spectrum. I use SDR Uno to display, but there are alternatives.

[slinger]

I have.

I am an amateur radio operator and hold an Intermediate UK licence.

I use an SDR Play to see candidate signals within the HF portion of the radio spectrum. I use SDR Uno to display, but there are alternatives.

That's interesting. I've downloaded and set up HDSDR to try out, and I'll have a look at SDR Uno too.

I've gone for some NooElec kit; an NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR, a LaNA ultra-low noise Amp, and a Flamingo broadcast FM notch filter to dip my toes in the water, and a Skyscan V3 "Mobile Desktop All Round Radio Scanner Antenna".
Everything's arrived today, bar the antenna, so it's all hooked up and is making some quite satisfying crackles and whistles, etc.

It's just about having a bit of fun with something I know absolutely nothing about. Even we old buggers lie a bit of a challenge to keep the brain ticking over.

[George Hincapie]

I have.

I am an amateur radio operator and hold an Intermediate UK licence.

I use an SDR Play to see candidate signals within the HF portion of the radio spectrum. I use SDR Uno to display, but there are alternatives.

That's interesting. I've downloaded and set up HDSDR to try out, and I'll have a look at SDR Uno too.

I've gone for some NooElec kit; an NESDR SMArTee XTR SDR, a LaNA ultra-low noise Amp, and a Flamingo broadcast FM notch filter to dip my toes in the water, and a Skyscan V3 "Mobile Desktop All Round Radio Scanner Antenna".
Everything's arrived today, bar the antenna, so it's all hooked up and is making some quite satisfying crackles and whistles, etc.

It's just about having a bit of fun with something I know absolutely nothing about. Even we old buggers lie a bit of a challenge to keep the brain ticking over.

If you get into it seriously, buy a discone antenna and have it chimney mounted by a TV installer. For the coax, buy Messi & Paoloni UltraFlex 10 from Martin Lynch & Sons. It's ultra low loss.

Dependant upon propagation, you'll be able to receive signals from all over the world. It's fascinating.

[slinger]

If you get into it seriously, buy a discone antenna and have it chimney mounted by a TV installer. For the coax, buy Messi & Paoloni UltraFlex 10 from Martin Lynch & Sons. It's ultra low loss.

Dependant upon propagation, you'll be able to receive signals from all over the world. It's fascinating.

I think my upstairs neighbours might have something to say about that.

Unfortunately, I live in a small block of maisonettes. I've got the two ground floors on my side and the people above me also have two floors.