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Author Topic: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?  (Read 1607 times)

Offline OgreVorbis

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Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« on: June 15, 2019, 1038 UTC »
So I spend most my time building and experimenting with shortwave transmitters, but so far my experience in the receiver department has been limited. I currently have two receivers. The Tecsun PL-360 and this Chinese SDR: https://www.ebay.com/itm/RTL2832U-R820T2-chip-Set-100KHz-1-7GHz-UpConverter-HF-UHF-VHF-RTL-SDR-Receiver/132465613216

I'm looking for something with very good receive sensitivity. I am not sure whether I want a traditional radio or a better SDR. It is nice to have that spectrum analyzer type view, but my main focus is on sensitivity. I am not looking to spend very much < $300.

The Airspy HF Discovery looks good. What would you recommend?
How does an SDR perform compared to a Double or Triple conversion superhet?

These traditional receivers look good, but they are a little above my price point: Alinco DX-R8T or ICOM IC-R75
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 1044 UTC by OgreVorbis »
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Offline Stretchyman

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Re: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« Reply #1 on: June 15, 2019, 1115 UTC »
 RSP2PRO, lots of useful features. Good price.

Str.
'It's better to give than receive' so why Rx when you can Tx!

                                              ;)

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« Reply #2 on: June 15, 2019, 1303 UTC »
AirspyHF+, SDRPlay are good value for the money, I have both. Also take a look at the AFEDRI SDRs, I have an AFE822x dual input SDR, and it is very sensitive. Their single input version should have the same sensitivity, for less money.

https://www.afedri-sdr.com/index.php/ordering-information

The KiwiSDR is also pretty nice, specially since all the processing is done in it, you don't need a super fast computer, just a web browser. And you can share it online. They are $299 but MassDrop often has them on sale for $100 off.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/seeed-kiwisdr-kit?utm_source=linkshare&referer=CABMYN
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 Rob.

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Re: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« Reply #3 on: June 15, 2019, 1404 UTC »
+1 on the Afedri, I like mine a lot. I tend to use the KiwiSDR more often simply because I am not always in the radio room/workshop and the web interface allows me to be mobile anywhere in the house including by the pool and in the hammock on the patio. I also access it from work if I am spending (too much) time at my desk. I end up listening more often this way.

If you plan on listening in one place you won't go wrong with the Afedri. I use the SDR Console software from sdr-radio.com which has become my favorite.
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Offline Josh

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Re: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« Reply #4 on: June 15, 2019, 2128 UTC »
I've seen Perseus sdrs going for only a few hundred more on the used market, they're about as sensitive as an sdr gets. Also some of the winrad sdrs are in the price range used, and they're NSA level gear, but so is the Perseus.
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Offline pinto vortando

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Re: Looking to upgrade - SDR or traditional?
« Reply #5 on: June 15, 2019, 2356 UTC »
If you want a "traditional" desktop communications RX, the Alinco DX-R8T is, AFAIK, the only one out there available new.  The Icom R-75 was discontinued a couple of years ago.
The Alinco offers a lot of value for the money.   Very sensitive and easy to use.
btw, it has an IQ output on the rear panel.
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