SDR In Action

Making the most of your SDR receiverBy Simon Brown, HB9DRV

RSGB Convention, October 8th, 2011

SDR In Action

What is SDR?

SDR = Software Defined Radio No knobs needed just a mouse,

keyboard, computer, monitor, … All demodulation performed by

software, including mixing, filters, NB, NR, ANF etc.

Software can run inside the hardware (example ADAT 200) but today we’re concentrating on SDR with software running on Windows systems

Examples

RF space: SDR-IQ, NetSDR, SDR-IP, SDR-ONE

$499 to $3,000 Kits:

SoftRocks$15 to $60

AMSAT UK FUNcube Dongle

£99

Usage

Panoramic display General receiver Radio astronomy Broadcast monitoring Intrusion monitoring Homeland security Remote via internet

Computer Requirement

Any i3 / i5 / i7 is suitable Floating point support very

important Works with the Intel ATOM but

bandwidth is restricted due to the poorer floating point performance

Onboard graphics OK, dedicated graphics card can help

The more monitors the merrier!

RFspace

SDR Receiver

FUNcube Dongle

Full support Doppler Tracking Radar plot

Rotator control DDE formats Nova Orbitron

Discone Antenna

IQ AnalysisThe Need for Doppler Correction

IQ AnalysisPerseid Shower

IQ AnalysisMW DXing

882kHz, medium wave, October 4th / 5th 2011

Here we have a displayed bandwidth of 30Hz over 18 hours starting in the afternoon and ending in the morning of the next day, so we see signals as they fade in and then fade out in the morning.

The carrier serves as a signature: those who really know what they are doing can identify the type of transmitter and by applying logic which station is which!

PDF Explanation here

Record / Playback IQ Data

Recording data direct from SDR radio Playback all formats:

Perseus SDR-RADIO SpectraVue Winrad WinRadio G31DDC 'EXCALIBUR'

Remote Station

Locate SDR anywhere there’s internet

All features available!

SDRSpace.com

Wellbrook Active Loop ALA1530S+

Remote Station USA

Remote Station UK

2012 – SDR-ONE

SDR transceiver Low cost High

performance Full duplex http://sdr-one.co

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Listen

Note to presenter Switch on the radio Connect antenna Listen!