Im looking for a self contained SDR for portable use. Specifically to monitor P25p2 uplink frequencies and read the unencrypted data thats being transmitted. (some are encrypted voice some aren't, but all have unencrypted data).
I would prefer an all in one self contained SDR rather than having to build out a unit with separate SDR/computer/tablet, etc. I already have this capability on a desktop using air spy and DSD.
Budget is hopefully less than $1000.
Anyone know of anything like this thats available?
Malahit DSP-3 is pretty much the pattern for most of these (it's in its third generation,) but it comes out of Russia, it's handmade to order, and it can be difficult to purchase/ship (depending on your government's relationship with Russia. I did manage to get one right after the whole Ukraine thing kicked off directly from Georgiy, although it took us a week to figure out how to get me to pay him Exchange rates were great then, tho!)
There are Chinese copies out there of the DSP-2 - apparently, Georgiy has licensed the firmware. I don't know how rugged these are (the original ships in a metal case with a simple box shape - two halves, two end panels, accesses for ports and the power switch, and a bevelled opening for the front display.)
I tend to use mine in conjunction with a spectrum analyzer - in fact, the case for my DSP3 that I made has a spot for the 35-4400 MHz spectrum analyzer I used with it (my other only goes to 980MHz or so, and the DSP3 covers to 2 GHz, with a small 'hole' in coverage - 380-400MHz doesn't come in. It's also an all-mode receiver, it will decode CW and display it on the screen for you, if you have a speech impediment (or just illiteracy) in Morse.
I am unsure of the details on the Chinese units, but I am willing to bet rattling money that they're similar. I knew of the copies when I bought - I just prefer to buy the pattern, not the copy, and I'm willing to spend a little extra in pursuit of that.
The Mlite-880 looks to be a version of the Malahit (also licensed and largely designed by Georgiy) that is aimed at LW/MW/SW listeners, vice VHF/UHF/&c. There is no 'pattern' version of this to purchase - unless you count the heavy input and basic design by Georgiy as 'pattern work' - so I'll end up getting the Mlite version. Everything else I've seen about it sez it's Chinese, but the datasheet I've seen on it sez it's from Hongkers - and I trust Hong Kong a lot more than I trust China (I've personally had a lot of trouble with things like counterfeit Chinese fasteners. You should not be able to pull the threads off of an SAE Grade 5 screw, going into a cast iron block, applying a mere 15 pound-feet of torque! I've seen
6/6 Nylon screws take more torque than that! I now consider Chinese fasteners to be counterfeit whatever-I'm-looking-at
as a rule. Critical fasteners tend to be either -AN [aerospace] or SPS/Unbrako. I have catalogues for both on hand.)
The Chinese
can do good work,
if you constantly ride them to do so. I don't know how much Georgiy is riding on them to keep them in line, that's the missing link.
That is why I bought an original from Georgiy, and not a Chinese copy. (At the time, the exchange rate made the price difference nominal - but if the DSP3 had been $500 from Russia, I'd have paid it.)
An HF rig that runs in much the same way? Sold. It's on my list of 'Things to Acquire.'
