SDR# Buy once cry once?

[PNW-BC]

I’ve played with a cheap RTL-SDR dongle and sdr sharp but it seems the dongle died as it no longer receives signals.

Can anyone suggest a “turn key” setup for the following…

1. windows 10 OS
2. VHF / UHF (HF a plus)
3. Ability to scan preset freqs
4. Ability to record signals
5. Ability to decode DMR, P25/C4FM
6. Detrunking not a requirement

seems there are only plugins and patches for certain software, nothing out there I have seen does it all out of box?

 

[RaleighGuy]

I strongly recommend you try this free course

The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios

Free Software Defined Radio Course

scannerschool.teachable.com

@w2lie does a great job explaining it and getting you up and running, plus it is FREE!

 

[PNW-BC]

Will do, thank you!

 

[PNW-BC]

Follow up: is there a hardware answer that will do my laundry list out of the box?

 

[sonm10]

Follow up: is there a hardware answer that will do my laundry list out of the box?

A scanner would do all of that. However, SDRs are different. No SDR is plug a play, per the concept. Also for consideration, there is not a single software package that does it all. I would start with SDR#. It does a lot of what you're asking. Just keep in mind there are some plugins to install for certain features.

 

[Forts]

3, 4 & 5 are functions of the software you choose to use, it's not so much anything to do with the hardware. Not sure what #6 is... Detrunking? If you mean trunk tracking/following... then again, that's a software thing.

Hardware wise the RTL-SDR, Nooelec and Airspy receivers are all very solid products.

 

[BTJustice]

If you are happy with SDR#, get an Airspy. They are presently on sale until the end of this month. Either the R2 if you have a fast computer or the Mini if speed is an issue. I really like my Airspy Minis. I use 1' USB extension cables on my Minis to avoid stressing USB ports with weight and to not block other USB ports. For HF, get the Airspy HF+ Discovery. SDR# can do most of the things you listed.

 

[Forts]

Damn this forum! I got looking around after being in this thread and just bought an Airspy Mini (on sale for $84). I have an original Airspy and a few other dongles, but I've been eyeballing the mini for a while now.

 

[BTJustice]

I like both the Mini and the R2. I actually think the Mini is the better unit. Other than the obvious physical differences between them, the Mini gives you 6 MHz (4.8 MHz usable) bandwidth while R2 gives you 10 MHz (8 Mhz viewable) on a fast modern computer along with the external clock input which I have never used. Otherwise, they are the same. I got a few spare Minis during last year's Black Friday sale. 1' USB 3.0 extension cables are cheap on Amazon.

The best thing about the Mini is that it has a full-size USB connector that sticks out instead of the micro USB plug-in the R2 uses which can be broken off. This was a big problem on the R0 which I have sitting here with a broken off micro USB connector.