Sdr Sharp

[moonbounce]

Using my RTL 2832u R820T dongle with SDR Sharp versions 1165 and 1114 I did some comparisons. I started with version 1114 first locked it on a station 30 km away on frequency 142.125 mhz using the antenna that the dongle came with. I was able to pick up the radio transmissions no problem. I set at squelch 50 and AGC at 100 %. I thought that receiving that frequency at 30 km was pretty good for a four and a half inch antenna.

Next I used version 1165 of SDR with the same settings. First thing I noticed is a delay when I move the computer mouse, it lags. Then I tried to pickup the same frequency as above and got nothing? I tried all of the RTL SDR Controller setting with the RF gain set to 49.6, didn't hear a thing.

I also had a scanner locked on to the same frequency so I would know when the channel was active.

So my question would be, is version 1114 of SDR Sharp better than version 1165, I guess the answer for me is yes. Anyone else find that 1114 is better than 1165?

Also I find that 1165 must be more CPU taxing than 1114.

Moonbounce

 

[rbm]

I have both versions installed and they both use almost exactly the same CPU %.
If the two are running at the same time and on my computer the CPU usage on each is 7%.

But .......................
Only if the settings are the same on both of them.

FFT display resolution is a BIG hitter. So is the 'Speed' setting.

I usually only run 1114 because after that, they did something to mess up the way it reacts when you click on another frequency in the frequency manager.

Unless you zoom in, as you click on frequencies, the red line marker moves to the right.
And stays there!
THAT'S annoying. So I still run 1144

With 1114, the red line marked stays fixed and the frequencies are brought to where it is.

Rich

Edit: I should have mentioned that when you install the latest build, it brings down a default configuration file and you'll lose all of your settings.
If you care about that, back up your config file so you can restore it if you accidentally overlay it.
I just copy it with the date appended as below.
09/16/2013 10:57 PM 5,020 SDRSharp.exe.Config
03/06/2013 10:34 PM 5,015 SDRSharp.exe.Config-03242013
06/23/2013 10:30 AM 5,014 SDRSharp.exe.Config-06232013
06/27/2013 01:41 PM 5,018 SDRSharp.exe.Config-06272013
09/03/2013 12:09 AM 5,020 SDRSharp.exe.Config-09032013

 

[moonbounce]

Hey Rich

Last night when I did my comparison test, one of the things I check for was the screen resolution and both were set to 16384. This morning after reading your reply I ran the task manager and found that 1165 uses 77 to 88 % cpu while 1114 uses 25 to 35% cpu, so I thought I'd better double check the screen resolution. You were right, the screen resolution using 1165 somehow got up into 2097152? Now after changing it to 16384 the cpu usage is back down to a more normal 30 % range however I still find the mouse pointer lags behind the red indicator line but only in 1165.

If I remember correctly I think I read that you have both an e4000 and an r820t have you done any comparisons as to the sensitivity of the two. I was quite suprised to find that my r820t could pick up a signal 30km away with the stock 4 to 5 inch antenna. I have an old Realistic Pro 2020 sitting right beside the computer and it can't receive the same signal with a 19 inch antenna.

Moonbounce

 

[rbm]

Moonbounce, I have three with the E4000 tuner and six with the R820T.

I find that I prefer the R820T for a number of reasons.
They seem to be more sensitive and there's no 'false peak' in the center of the display.

There are some frequencies each version will cover that the other doesn't.

I always have two of the R820T's connected and ready to go.
When I hear something that I want to check out more thoroughly, I fire up SDR to get a visual image of that part of the spectrum.

With the stock antennas here, they all seemed rather dead.
(Initially, the config file used to set RF the gain to zero. That may have since changed.)
With a good antenna, they are impressive. It's amazing what $12 will do.

Rich