We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Author Topic: Running a Persius on a MAC?  (Read 4415 times)

Offline clobdell

  • Global Moderator
  • DXing Phenomena
  • *****
  • Posts: 4229
  • Massachusetts
    • View Profile
    • Email
Running a Persius on a MAC?
« on: March 20, 2013, 2015 UTC »
Hi Gents

I was thinking of buying a Persius SDR this summer but am wondering if anyone runs it on a MAC. I have a MAC Pro [the big aluminum tower with the holes in it]. Can you run the Persius with paralells or bootcamp on OS X or ??? Just wondering. I really don't want to buy a PC laptop unless I have to.

- Chris Lobdell
Receiver: Eton E1, JRC NRD-525, 535 and 545, Icom IC-7300
Aerial: MFJ G5RV dipole
near Lowell Massachusetts - Gateway To The Merrimack Valley.
All loggings are from my QTH with my equipment unless stated otherwise.
QSL to: crlobdell1@gmail.com or
Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180
Amateur Radio Station: KC1IUK

Offline ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 31106
  • Westminster, MD USA
    • View Profile
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2013, 2038 UTC »
I imagine you could run it under vmware or parallels, I used to do that with the SpectraVue software for the RF Space SDRs.  If it's a relatively recent and fast Mac with lots of RAM, that should be fine.

Alternately, if you have not bought an SDR yet, consider one from RF Space (SDR-IQ or netSDR for example), or the Afedri, which I believe uses the same interface protocol. SdrDx supports these radios, and runs native on the Mac (it is based on CuteSDR, which also runs native on the Mac).
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Offline clobdell

  • Global Moderator
  • DXing Phenomena
  • *****
  • Posts: 4229
  • Massachusetts
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2013, 2133 UTC »
I have not bought anything yet, but I want to buy the "best radio" for listening, then the second consideration is running on my MAC. My pro is only a year old so has plenty of RAM. Does anyone know if the various SDR radios have been reviewed against each other for their pros and cons?
Thanks for your input!
Receiver: Eton E1, JRC NRD-525, 535 and 545, Icom IC-7300
Aerial: MFJ G5RV dipole
near Lowell Massachusetts - Gateway To The Merrimack Valley.
All loggings are from my QTH with my equipment unless stated otherwise.
QSL to: crlobdell1@gmail.com or
Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180
Amateur Radio Station: KC1IUK

Offline desmoface

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 477
  • NE Ohio
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2013, 2148 UTC »
Hi Chris,

I corresponded with the maker of the Afedri and here is what he said about using it with a Mac:

Steve,
I don't have right now MacOS computer, but this summer I tested ibook of my sister running CuteSDR + AFEDRI SDR-Net using network connection, thing was working well.
I did not have success to run SDR in USB mode due to my poor knowledge in MacOS.

So cannot promise or give you more information on this subject.
Best Regards!
Alex

I guess we can use SDR DX software, which I have working (I think) on my mac running 10.5.8.  It sounds like I will be limited to connecting the rcvr via my ethernet connection, unless I update my os to 10.6.  Just thought I'd throw that out as you are also using a mac.

The Afedri appears to be a pretty good value, as it is quite a lot cheaper than many of the other popular options - at the expense bit of performance.

I'm curious to see how it works out for you.

Steve

Kenwood TS-870SAT
Full Wave 80 Meter Horizontal Loop ~ 260 Ft Long
Pse qsl to Kb8viv @ yahoo . com
NE Ohio

Offline Token

  • Global Moderator
  • DX Legend
  • *****
  • Posts: 2118
    • View Profile
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2013, 0434 UTC »

The Afedri appears to be a pretty good value, as it is quite a lot cheaper than many of the other popular options - at the expense bit of performance.


Keep in mind the AFEDRI is one of the SDRs that I do NOT have hands on.  I have not compared it against the SDRs I have and use, or have had and used first hand, such as the WinRadio G31DDC, G33DDC, RFSpace NetSDR, SDR-IQ, and SDR-14, Microtelicom Perseus, SoftRocks of several flavors, Soft66LC, QS1R, etc.

But, looking at the specs and talking with people who have or have used the AFEDRI I think the performance shortcomings come down to 3 issues that many people will be interested in.  Raw sensitivity, dynamic range, and imaging.  And as far as I know those shortcomings have not been quantified, only identified as issues.

Raw sensitivity is the one that gets most peoples attention, but to tell the truth it is not all that important.  The sensitivity looks to be slightly better than the SDR-IQs is, and slightly worse than the Perseus.  If this is the case it is significantly worse than the G31DDC or the G33DDC.  If you have the advantage of living in a quiet location (form an RFI / noise standpoint) this might be noticeable.  The average city dwelling listener will probably never tell the difference.

Dynamic range and imaging are going to show up in dense and crowded RF locations.  If you have BCB transmitters near or other strong sources of RF this might be a real image.  A suburbs or country dweller might not have a problem but I bet it would show up for a city dweller.

However, I have to say, if I was looking to get into an SDR to see if I liked the technology or as a first SW radio I would have to put the AFEDRI very high on the list, if not at the top.  If I was a long time SWL, used to good equipment and looking to get into the SDR arena I would have to look at one of the better, but more expensive, offerings on the market.

And to the original question, I have no input on MAC stuff, have not used one in years.

T!
T!
Mojave Desert, California USA

Offline skeezix

  • Global Moderator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 5544
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • What does 'RNO stand for?
    • View Profile
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2013, 1401 UTC »
I imagine you could run it under vmware or parallels, I used to do that with the SpectraVue software for the RF Space SDRs.

I have Perseus in Parallels and it has problems.

- Playing back a pre-recorded wave file is fine.
- It doesn't work with the radio. Just does nothing.
- When tying to connect over the network, it seems to connect in the server messages box, but never does anything more than that. 

Have heard from others of similar results. Haven't had a chance to dig into it much yet.


Minneapolis, MN

Offline clobdell

  • Global Moderator
  • DXing Phenomena
  • *****
  • Posts: 4229
  • Massachusetts
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #6 on: March 24, 2013, 1709 UTC »
Thanks everyone. It sounds like to use the best SDRs such as a Persius I might have to bite the bullet and buy a PC laptop to go with it, at least for now. Of course take I could take it with me when I DX at the cottage as well. Lots of info to digest and appreciated!
Receiver: Eton E1, JRC NRD-525, 535 and 545, Icom IC-7300
Aerial: MFJ G5RV dipole
near Lowell Massachusetts - Gateway To The Merrimack Valley.
All loggings are from my QTH with my equipment unless stated otherwise.
QSL to: crlobdell1@gmail.com or
Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180
Amateur Radio Station: KC1IUK

Offline desmoface

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 477
  • NE Ohio
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2013, 1925 UTC »
Chris, once I update to 10.6 on my mac, I may try the Afedri as it can be connected via ethernet cable.  It sounds like it should work with SDR DX.  If I do, and it works, I'll post it up here.  Let us know what you decide to go with.

Steve
Kenwood TS-870SAT
Full Wave 80 Meter Horizontal Loop ~ 260 Ft Long
Pse qsl to Kb8viv @ yahoo . com
NE Ohio

Offline clobdell

  • Global Moderator
  • DXing Phenomena
  • *****
  • Posts: 4229
  • Massachusetts
    • View Profile
    • Email
Re: Running a Persius on a MAC?
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2013, 1940 UTC »
Desmoface... great, let me know. I'm not buying anything till summer. Thanks. :)
Receiver: Eton E1, JRC NRD-525, 535 and 545, Icom IC-7300
Aerial: MFJ G5RV dipole
near Lowell Massachusetts - Gateway To The Merrimack Valley.
All loggings are from my QTH with my equipment unless stated otherwise.
QSL to: crlobdell1@gmail.com or
Box 80146, Stoneham, MA 02180
Amateur Radio Station: KC1IUK