Over the last few years I have seriously been bitten by the SDR bug. I currently use numerous RTL2832 dongles for VHF and above searching, as UniTrunker receivers, etc. I also use an RF-Space SDR-IQ for shortwave listening. The more I use them the more I wonder if I ever want to return to a conventional type scanner or receiver.
With that in mind, I am looking at the Ettus Research USRP Instant SDR Kit:
https://www.ettus.com/product/details/UB100D-BDL
Does anyone here have experience with this or any USRP devices that can comment on performance. The above kit is priced at $675.00. Obviously the price goes up from there. While I expect more robust performance out of this as compared to that of an RTL dongle, my main question is just how much more performance will there be given the wide front end of these devices?
Also, I am at best a fledgling Linux user. To be honest I look at GNU Radio and it makes my head spin. Not being a programmer it makes me wonder if having this device and not having the software knowledge is going to make this come up short for me. I know I can get it working with SDR#.
There are other alternatives that exist or will soon exist. BladeRF is one but coverage starts at 300 MHz which is not acceptable to me. HackRF is coming as well but I'm thinking its specs don't live up to those of the USRP's. Airspy looks interesting but may just be a super-souped-up RTL dongle.
Any input on anyone's experience with using USRP devices, especially the above referenced one, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and Happy New Year!
With that in mind, I am looking at the Ettus Research USRP Instant SDR Kit:
https://www.ettus.com/product/details/UB100D-BDL
Does anyone here have experience with this or any USRP devices that can comment on performance. The above kit is priced at $675.00. Obviously the price goes up from there. While I expect more robust performance out of this as compared to that of an RTL dongle, my main question is just how much more performance will there be given the wide front end of these devices?
Also, I am at best a fledgling Linux user. To be honest I look at GNU Radio and it makes my head spin. Not being a programmer it makes me wonder if having this device and not having the software knowledge is going to make this come up short for me. I know I can get it working with SDR#.
There are other alternatives that exist or will soon exist. BladeRF is one but coverage starts at 300 MHz which is not acceptable to me. HackRF is coming as well but I'm thinking its specs don't live up to those of the USRP's. Airspy looks interesting but may just be a super-souped-up RTL dongle.
Any input on anyone's experience with using USRP devices, especially the above referenced one, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and Happy New Year!