Chromebook for SDR

[Dovebar1]

Hi, I am shopping for a new laptop.
I have been considering various types.
I have been looking at linux but they are hard to locate except for very high priced ones.

One piece of advice I received was consider a Chromebook. So I have been looking at them They may be a good candidate for me.
Along this line I would like to know what anyone here may think about using for instance a HP Chromebook which I viewed online would be good as a SDR receiver for me.

The one I viewed has 256 GB HD, HD UFS, 14" Screen, core i3, 8 GB RAM, Anti glare screen, 360 degree hinge.

I highly appreciate any info on this.

Thank you, Jim.

 

[dave3825]

Hi, I am shopping for a new laptop.
I have been considering various types.
I have been looking at linux but they are hard to locate except for very high priced ones.

Linux is merely an operating system. A new Windows laptop can be formatted to run Linux, or set up as dual boot allowing one to run either OS. Linux runs better on lesser grade hardware as Windows can be a power/resource hog. My HP laptop is actually triple boot. Windows, Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Mainly use Linux side for OP25 and Trunk Recorder.

Are you a Linux guy or a Windows guy and what kind of sdr software are you looking to use? Conventional listening or trunked P25 systems?

 

[Dovebar1]

Linux is merely an operating system. A new Windows laptop can be formatted to run Linux, or set up as dual boot allowing one to run either OS. Linux runs better on lesser grade hardware as Windows can be a power/resource hog. My HP laptop is actually triple boot. Windows, Ubuntu and Linux Mint. Mainly use Linux side for OP25 and Trunk Recorder.

Are you a Linux guy or a Windows guy and what kind of sdr software are you looking to use? Conventional listening or trunked P25 systems?

Hi. I am neither but as I wrote, the few linux available laptops I have seen are highly expensive , in my opinion.
So someone gave me a tip and said maybe look at chromebooks. I have and they are very affordable to me.

That's where we are now so in my post I gave the specs to 1 of the chromebooks I viewed.
So if you know anything about this that would be great or anyone else that views this post.

Thank you, Jim.

 

[RichM]

That Chromebook will be fine for SDR. To be clear the SDR you choose is the receiver, the computer just runs the software end of things. I use an ancient Dell laptop with very modest hardware running Windows 7 and it handles everything I throw at it just fine. I use an Airspy Mini, RSP1 and an RTL-SDR V3 to do various things like satellite decoding (Satdump), digital signal decoding (DSD+), ADSB aircraft tracking (Virtual Radar), Military Air (SDR#) and HF/SWL (SDRuno). A lot of your success (or failure) will depend on your antenna set up, just like all radios. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[dave3825]

Some really great software out there. Unfortunately not all software runs on all operating systems.

what kind of sdr software are you looking to use? Conventional listening or trunked P25 systems?

You should make sure that whatever software your looking to run will work on a Chromebook.

 

[pb_lonny]

I have a Chromebook and find it great for what I use it for BUT, not all software works on them or you need to ensure it will run the software you want to use.

 

[cheap_ottawa_scanner]

If you need to go very budget and are willing to put in some work to get it working you can install popular linux distros on *SOME* chromebooks easy enough. MrChromebox.tech is a website you should look at + watch some youtube videos.

I personally just like reducing e-waste and have been using a $60 (CDN) used chromebook off ebay paired with a old 1st gen rtl-sdr from 2013 to do some mobile scanning with (put in back pack + bluetooth earbuds). I am using a debian install along with SDR++ and DSD-FME are my go to programs. At home I am generally just using "standard" x86 machines that orginally were designed for windows etc with either debian or ubuntu installed. I could have waited a bit and probably found a suitable windows laptop to use for this for near the same price. I just knew that I could easily find a cheap surplus chromebook quick.

As people have pointed out you can install linux on windows machines. To save money you should consider just looking at windows machines, typically you can get great deals used. I have no idea what the software space is like currently for ChromeOS as I do not simply use it outside turning on dev mode so I can remove it.

 

[RichM]

I should retract my earlier statement about the Chromebook, as others more knowledgeable have pointed out about software compatibility. Sorry for the misinformation.

In light of this, I would suggest just sticking with a used Windows laptop, they can be had very cheap as well. Try someplace like www.pcliquidations.com. Good luck.

 

[Dovebar1]

I should retract my earlier statement about the Chromebook, as others more knowledgeable have pointed out about software compatibility. Sorry for the misinformation.

In light of this, I would suggest just sticking with a used Windows laptop, they can be had very cheap as well. Try someplace like www.pcliquidations.com. Good luck.

I have a update for all. I originally posted that I have been looking for a linux based laptop
but a Chromebook was a possible alternative.

Well a HP laptop 15.6" with linux came up on Amazon. It was reasonably priced so I purchased it. Now just in the process of being shipped. In my opinion this was a great choice.

Thank you, everyone on this forum.
Jim.

 

[Dovebar1]

This is just what I wanted to add to my last post. This is likely my last post about this.
This is the specs of the laptop I just purchased.
Thank you, Jim.

 

[Wackyracer]

I would avoid a chromebook they end of ife to quick. get an old used windows laptop on craigslist or marketplace, the cheaper the better. Windows 7, 8,10, or 11..it does't matter as long as you only use it for SDR. My preferences are win 10 or 11, intel i5 2nd generation processor or newer. 8gb of ram and you will be all ready to go.