N0IU
Member
After reading "Virtual Radar From a Digital TV Dongle" in the January 2014 edition of QST, I have finally made the leap (well more like taking a tiny baby step) into SDR. I know this is old news to some of you, but it is amazing what you can do with a $10 dongle and free software.
The article also includes instructions on how to build a coaxial collinear antenna out of RG6 cable, but even with the antenna that came with the dongle, I am able to track aircraft from well over 150 miles away. I live in the area where the red arrow is pointing and the aircraft in the red circle is 200 miles away! I am wondering if I should even bother building the antenna?
(Yes, everything is to the north of me because the "shack" is on the north side of the house and the antenna is just sitting on the window sill.)
I have also been playing around with SDR# and am now itching to get a Hamitup upconverter.
I have been into amateur radio for over 21 years and this is the first thing to come a long in a very long time that has me excited about the hobby.
The article also includes instructions on how to build a coaxial collinear antenna out of RG6 cable, but even with the antenna that came with the dongle, I am able to track aircraft from well over 150 miles away. I live in the area where the red arrow is pointing and the aircraft in the red circle is 200 miles away! I am wondering if I should even bother building the antenna?
(Yes, everything is to the north of me because the "shack" is on the north side of the house and the antenna is just sitting on the window sill.)
I have also been playing around with SDR# and am now itching to get a Hamitup upconverter.
I have been into amateur radio for over 21 years and this is the first thing to come a long in a very long time that has me excited about the hobby.