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SDR Hardware &
Software

SDR is the technology of replacing radio hardware with software.

The SDR functionality is dependent on the software and hardware used.

By changing the software the SDR functionality changes.

SDR reduces the hardware and can result in low cost USB devices that are available for under $30.

There is a wide range of software that run of different operating systems and support different SDR hardware.

Below are David's, WA9ONY, project results, work in progress notes, learnings, references and resources used.

My primary projects are:



Index

  1. Installing GNU Radio
  2. Using GNU Radio Companion Software
  3. DSP: Digital Signal Processing
  4. SDR: Software Defined Radio
  5. Great Scott Gadgets HackRF One SDR
  6. RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles SDR
  7. NooElec NESDR SDR
  8. Airspy SDR
  9. SDRplay RSPduo & RSP1 SDRs
  10. Icom IC-7300 SDR
  11. RFSpace SDR-IQ
  12. NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T
  13. SWL
  14. SDRangle SDR software
  15. Myriad LimeSDR-USB & LimeSDR-Mini SDRs
  16. Pothos ware SDR software
  17. SDR# SDR software
  18. PLSDR SDR software
  19. Gqrx SDR software
  20. CubicSDR SDR software



1. Installing GNU Radio

In the summer of 2018 there are several ways to install GNU Radio.

Many years ago, I used GNU Radio live SDR environment ISO image to burn a DVD and it was used with a Windows 7 laptop to run GNU Radio Companion.


2. Using GNU Radio Companion Software

GNU Radio Companion is a graphical data flow programming environment used for SDR and DSP.


3. DSP: Digital Signal Processing

DSP is one of the foundation technologies used in SDRs.

Understand DSP is needed to fully understand how to use GNU Radio Companion for SDR and DSP.


4. SDR: Software Defined Radio

SDR Hardware I Have Used.

SDR Model

Manufacturer

Price July 10, 2018
#: Sale
NA: Not Available
*: With addition items

Frequency Range

A/D

I/Q Rate

Notes

NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T

NooElec

$19.95*

25 MHz to 1.75 GHz

8 bits

~2 MS/s

First low cost SDR RTL USB dongle used in ~2014

NESDR SMArt

NooElec

$23.95

25 MHz to 1.75 GHz

8 bits

~2 MS/s

Fits great in a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B USB port.

RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles V3

RTL-SDR.COM

$26.95*

500 kHz to 1.75 GHz

8 bits

~2 MS/s

Great low cost starter RTL dongle.

RSP1

SDRplay

NA replaced by RSP1A

1 kHz to 2 GHz

12 bits

8 MS/s

Replaced by RSP1A

Airspy

Airspy

NA replace by Airspy R2 at $169.00#

24 MHz - 1.7 GHz

12 bits

10 MS/s

My old time favorite with SDR#, used daily for satellite telemetry.

RSPduo

SDRplay

$279.95

1 kHz to 2 GHz

14 bits

10 MS/s

2 receives, only runs with SDRuno at this time, June 2018. Looking forward to using it.

HackRF One

Great Scott Gadgets

$299.95

1 MHz to 6 GHz

8 bits

~20 MS/s

Half duplex receive & transmit

SDR-IQ

RFSpace

NA replaced by Cloud-IQ at $629.95

100 Hz to 30 MHz

14 bits

196 kS/s

My first high end SDR back in ~2014.

IC-7300

Icom

$1,349.95#

30 kHz to 74 MHz

?

?

The transceiver I use for CW & phone on 160m to 6m.

SDR Software I Have Used (Work in Progress).

Name

O/S CPU

Price July 10, 2018

SDR HW Supported

Notes

SDR#

Windows 8.1, Intel i7 CPU

Free

Airspy

Best SW for Airspy
Used 24/7 for CubeSat telemetry.
Only works on Windows OS.

GNU Radio Companion

Ubuntu 14.04 Intel i7 CPU, USB boot
Ubuntu 18.04 Intel i7 CPU, VM on Window 8.1
Windows 8.1, Intel i7 CPU
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+

Free

HackRF One

SDR & DSP graphical programming

SDRuno V1.23

Windows 8.1, Intel i7 CPU

Free

RSPduo

As of June 2018 RSPduo only works with SDRduo


5. Great Scott Gadgets HackRF One SDR

HackRF One, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and GNU Radio Companion

SDR HackRF One operate half duplex in receiving and transmitting from 1 MHz to 6 GHz.

HackRF One is supposed by libhackrf library and hackrf-tools command line interface.


6. RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles SDR

RTL-SDR.COM

RTL-SDR.COM RTLSDR RTL2832U DVB-T Tuner Dongles V3 is a good entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 500 kHz to 1.75 GHz.

RTL-SDR.COM is a great website to learn about SDRs.


7. NooElec NESDR SDR

Image credit: NooElec

NooElec NESDR SMArt fits great in the USB ports of a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B computer and that is way I got one.

The NESDR is a good entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 25 MHz to 1.75. GHz.


8. Airspy SDR

Image credit: Airspy.us

My Airspy SDR has been discontinue and has been replaced by the Airspy R2.

The Airspy R2 is a high end 12-bit 10 MS/s I/Q data rate SDR USB device that receives from 24 MHz to 1.7. GHz.

Airspy works great with SDR# and for years it has been my favorite SDR setup for its frequency range.


9. SDRplay RSPduo & RSP1 SDRs


RSPduo

RSP1

Image credit: SDRplay

SDRplay makes a family of SDRs that are sold by HRO.

The SDRplay RSPduo launch in spring of 2018 is a high performance 14-bit 10 MS/s I/Q data rate USB SDR with two receivers.
One of the receivers cover from 1KHz to 2 GHz.

RSP1 is not available and it has be replaced by the RSP1A.


10. Icom IC-7300 SDR

Image credit: HRO

The Icom IC-7300 is a closed SDR transceiver that you cannot change its internal software.

You can use different software to control it using the CAT interface.

The IC-7300 is my favorite transceiver for 160m to 6m CW and voice modes.


11. RFSpace SDR-IQ

Image credit: RFSpace

In 2014 I used the SDR-IQ for radio astronomy to record radio emissions from the Sun.

The SDR-IQ has been discontinue.


12. NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T

Image credit: NooElec

The NooElec NESDR Mini R820T SDR & DVB-T was one of the first SDR RTL dongle that I acquired back in 2014.

In 2014 I used it for radio astronomy to record radio emissions from the Sun as shown in the below video.

The NESDR is a low cost entry level 8-bit SDR USB dongle that receives from 25 MHz to 1.750. GHz.


13. SWL

United States Frequency Allocation Chart (Click on map to download PDF)

SWL using SDRs to listen to the world.

  • 13.10.2: 23-cm amateur radio band 1240 MHz to 1300 MHz.
  • 13.11: SHF 3 GHz - 30 GHz
  • 13.12: EHF 30 GHz - 300 GHz
  • 13.13: THF 300 GHz - 3 THz


    14. SDRangle SDR software

    SDRangle Main Window interface
    Downloads


    15. Myriad LimeSDR-USB & LimeSDR-Mini SDRs

    LimeSDR-USB was 12-bits I/Q data and support frequencies from 100 kHz to 3.8 GHz. LimeSDR-USB has two receivers and two transmitters. LimeSDR-USB supports USB 3.0 and runs up to 61.44 Ms/s. LimeSDR-Mini is a lower cost version of LimeSDR-USB with one receiver and one transmitter. LimeSDR-Mini is $149 and starts shipping in July 2018 LimeSDR-Mini comparison table at RTL-SDR.COM LimeSDR-USB is supported by the Pothos ware.


    16. Pothos ware SDR software

    Pothos looks like a spin off of GNU Radio Companion with some interesting enhancements.
    Pothos runs on Windows and Linux. Soapy SDR


    17. SDR# SDR software

    SDR# only runs on Window (it is developed with Windows C#35; software). SDR# with Airspy SDR is a favorite SDR of mine and I use it 24/7 for CubeSat telemetry data collecting.


    18. PLSDR SDR software

    PLSDR: Python-based software-defined radio by P. Lutus. PLSDR runs on Linus and Windows.

    The PLSDR web page contains information on single-sideband design, I/Q visualizer, etc.


    19. Gqrx SDR software

    Gqrx runs on Linus and Windows.


    20. CubicSDR SDR software

    CubicSDR runs on Linus and Windows.



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    © July 10, 2018
    David Haworth, WA9ONY
    www.stargazing.net/david