New SDR for HF

Status
Not open for further replies.

k9rzz

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2005
Messages
3,162
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Why the #^!! did they put an "F" connector on the Excalibur ? An "F" connector? I just shake my head at that one.
 
D

DaveNF2G

Guest
I hate F connectors.

It hasn't been released yet, so maybe some feedback from their potential customer base would influence the design.
 

prcguy

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
15,224
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
I don't think an F connector is appropriate for this product either but the performance of compression type F connectors is fine past 2GHz. There is not much difference between a BNC and F at these frequencies and a top quality T&B Snap-N-Seal F connector is about 38c each and stripping/compression tools are fairly inexpensive too.
prcguy



I hate F connectors.

It hasn't been released yet, so maybe some feedback from their potential customer base would influence the design.
 
D

DaveNF2G

Guest
I like SMA connectors only slightly more than F connectors. They are simply difficult to use and don't offer sufficient performance advantages over other types to justify the aggravation.
 

brusso99

Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2009
Messages
119
Location
Parkland, Florida
i use to use pl259 but now i use f-connectors and bnc for most everything. i make cables with f Antenna side and BNC Scanner Side.. Its all works great.. RG-6Q sweep tested to 3GHZ 65 dollars for 500 feet
 
Last edited:

prcguy

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
15,224
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
SMA offers performance way beyond BNC and all but specialty N types. The standard SMA is rated to 18GHz and K types to 40GHz. Yea there a little small but no big deal to work with.
prcguy


I like SMA connectors only slightly more than F connectors. They are simply difficult to use and don't offer sufficient performance advantages over other types to justify the aggravation.
 
D

DaveNF2G

Guest
So what? Scanners only go to 2 GHz at most. Practically all monitorable traffic is below 1 GHz.

Note that this thread is about a radio for HF. Microwave performance is utterly irrelevant.
 

E-Man

Completely Banned for the Greater Good
Banned
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
841
Location
Global
Looks like a interesting receiver, too bad there will not be a Passport to World Bands 2010.
 

kc2rgw

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
287
There are a bunch of SDR receivers out there now. Just varying levels of polish on the projects.

SDR Software Defined Radio - KINGSQUEAK.ORG & KC2RGW.COM

HPSDR
Hermes
Softrock
Flex Radio 1500 is now out
Microtelecom Perseus
RF Space SDR-IQ and SDR-14 with a new SDR-IP coming soon
QS1R, which is the one I own
LP-PAN I/Q down converter for IF outputs, used with PowerSDR..owned one of those for a while
GNU Radio Ettus USRP

Many other projects as well, the list grows almost quarterly...and those are only the ones I notice.

The next few years is going to be an explosion in SDR. Should be fun.
 

k2rgf

Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
2
Location
NY
Very cool website you have there kc2rgw!! I am also running the QS1R. I have a buddy in Brooklyn,NY running the Perseus. Alot of info out on the web to build your very own SDR for very cheap!!! Open source software, some wire and your on your way.
 

kc2rgw

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
287
Thanks. Yeah I had run the LP-PAN and PowerSDR with a soundcard first and got hooked so I wanted a 'quick fix' that would run on linux and blew the cash on the QS1R.

Now that I'm settling in a bit, I think I may dabble with some of the kit options out there.

The software nuts and bolts is too far over my head still. I've done layout and button function changes to the SDRMAX 3.0 and earlier prototype releases but no major feature changes underneath yet. I'm learning it bit by bit as time goes on though.
 

SCPD

QRT
Joined
Feb 24, 2001
Messages
0
Location
Virginia
Very cool. I really expected it to be above the $1000 mark. That's very smart if they decide to sell it at that price or perhaps $799. If it performs well, then it should be a hot seller.

Since the new Icom 9100 is out of my price range, I'm definitely looking at a SDR for my next SWL purchase.

I'm thinking about waiting for the next generation of Perseus receivers or perhaps this new WinRadio model.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top