The RTL SDRs are even more susceptible to imaging and overload than the AFEDRI. Note that this is not a slam on either product, but the fact remains that there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. Lower cost always cost you something.
The RTL SDRs bring a tremendous value to the table, they are dirt cheap and when combined with an upconverter, such as the Ham-it-Up, they provide HF to near microwave tuning range for under $100. The cost is that they are not very stable in frequency and they have poor dynamic range and image rejection. They also are not really very sensitive. But hey, it is under $100 and you are not going to get that capability in anything else until you spend many times that cost.
The AFEDRI is fairly sensitive and is good on HF, but at the cost of dynamic range, image issues, and potential overloading. But again, for $250 you will not find anything else that can compete with it. And it really is not bad, just not very good when compared to higher cost options…not really a fair comparison anyway.
The SDR-IQ has fair sensitivity, decent image rejection (compared to the 2 above), and is not overly prone to overload. It has more dynamic range than the other 2 I have listed. But it also has only 190 kHz of recorded and displayed bandwidth, and is about $500. A few years ago it was the no kidding best entry SDR you could get, today the question is much harder to answer.
And then once you are at this price point, for only a little more you can start to talking about SDR with really excellent performance and capabilities. Between $500 and $1000 things get really very good, by almost any measure.
T!
Topic: SDR-IQ Alternative? (Read 9073 times)