Need SDR Recommendations

[JerryX]

I'm just now getting back into SWL (HF and BCB) after an absence of almost twenty years. I sold all of my receivers years ago and am now looking for something to get back into it with.

I'd like to try an SDR rather than a traditional receiver, but there are so many choices I don't know which to start with. I want something that's at the high end of the non-professional SDR market. Some of the previous "traditional" receivers I've owned have been the JRC NRD-545 and WJ 8711, so I'd like to stay with something in this performance range. I live on ten acres in an area with very low RF noise, and can put up just about anything I want for an antenna.

Some of the SDRs I've seen on various Internet sites: G31DDC, G33DDC, Perseus, NetSDR+, and ColibriDDC.

How does one go about evaluating these SDRs sight unseen? Since software plays such a big part, how can I evaluate the various packages without the hardware? I've read some reviews, but many of these are years old and things change quickly in this field.

If anyone has any specific recommendations, I'd love to hear them!

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Buying a $25 RTL-SDR Blog dongle receiver is a great place to start. The V3 model shown below covers from 500 kHz to 1.8 GHz. If you have your own antenna (the "starter" antenna is pretty sad) you can order the dongle alone for $20.

Where to buy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011HVUEM...0f-20&linkId=983e9b382e58ce311dbc03b00457d4c1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0129EBDS...0f-20&linkId=9806dfa291f74f7cdb49e2cfbe3d34eb

More information on how to get started:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-quick-start-guide/

A great resource for these radios:
https://www.rtl-sdr.com/

 

[Airspy-US]

If you want high end performance without the high end price, look at some reviews of the Airspy HF+

Although we must admit we are biased, but you should check out the reviews and the few units online until they come out when there will be many more online.

 

[AI4LL]

Try the SDR Play sold by Ham Radio Outlet. I have two of them and they are great.

Sent from my SM-S920L using Tapatalk

 

[spongella]

You might want to look at the RTL-SDR.com website which is devoted to SDR and has reviews of different products. Yes there's lots to choose from and you can suffer from option paralysis with all that is out there hi hi. Note that with most of these products you'll need a computer to hook it up to that has a sound card and software which is for the most part free and downloadable. There is a learning curve to using some of these SDRs so it's not simply plug and play. If you know someone with experience it'll help get you going.

In the shack I use a RTL-SDR.com dongle with a Nooelec UpConverter and a laptop. Definitely not plug and play but after several years using this not a problem. Having a spectral display and waterfall is definitely a plus.

Don't discount going back to a regular desktop receiver though as an option. I still use a Yaesu FRG-100; there's nothing like spinning a VFO dial and watching the S meter swing while tuning around.

Another good source of information is Thomas Witherspoon's The SWL Post which covers all types of receivers both conventional and SDR.

Hope you find the receiver you are looking for.

 

[Airspy-US]

Try the SDR Play sold by Ham Radio Outlet. I have two of them and they are great.

If you think those are great you should try some of ours. They consistently win in head to head comparisons.

 

[k3fs]

I recently added an RSP 1 to the shack, and it works very well. SDRUno software works very well as well. I had used SDR# almost exclusively, but am finding myself using SDRUno only now. There is a bit of a learning curve and it's not as pretty, but I have found I can tweak more settings, and have been able decode some VHF/UHF frequencies I was unable to decode using SDR#. Pirate radio reception on HF has been comparable to my Yaesu FT 857D on HF. I have better decode of SSTV on HF using the RSP. I am also getting very good decode of Wefax on HF, on multiple bands.

It's less than half the cost of the new Air Spy HF+ and has over double the frequency coverage.

There are a lot of options out there.

 

[ka3jjz]

We have numerous links to SDR manufacturers, distributors and most importantly, reviews in our SDR wiki

Software Defined Radios - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

 

[majoco]

Get a look at Tokens Sticky at the top of this section - the G33 may be an expensive outlay but its a wonderful bit of kit with many bells and whistles when you dig down into all the menus - although it's easily driven without going into the depths. Many complain that you can't use third-party software but you don't need to - it's all in there. There are some quirks, though - an upward flowing waterfall for instance! How do I know - I have a G33ddc too!

 

[JerryX]

Some of the SDRs mentioned, like the G33DDC, only have the manufacturer's software available for them. Other have other choices.

How important is having third party software available when choosing an SDR?

 

[majoco]

How important is having third party software available when choosing an SDR?

What is better - software written for no particular radio so that it may be missing a feature on your radio, or one that is specifically written for your particular radio that enables you to use every item and have updates available from the manufacturer. If you have a problem, then you can email the manufacturer direct rather than throw your query out into the wide blue yonder and hope that someone has exactly the same setup as you and has experienced your problem.

To me, it's a no-brainer.

 

[spongella]

Majoco you have a valid point there.