Well, the SDR-IQ doesn't have a traditional hardware AGC so it is more susceptible to overload. However its easy to simply turn down the gain a notch in the setup menu. As the software improves, hopefully this won't be a long term issue.
Rob -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 9:17 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America; Patrick Martin; [email protected] Subject: Re: [IRCA] Housing the RF-Space SDR-IQ > Hi Patrick, > > I have an R8B but haven't made any detailed comprisons of sensitivity or > selectivity between the SDR's and the R8B. The SDR's all have the > advantage of a visual view of the spectrum which allows you to see > various station peaks, spurs, interference etc, and that is why I like > them. I will say that I have no complaints whatsoever with the > sensitivity of any of them. >From my 2 or 3 days worth of observations I feel that the Drake R8 series of receivers is the clear winner. In the numbers I think the Drakes have the typical 1.2 microvolt sensitivity for a certain level of signal -- and the SDR-IQ is more like 3 to 4 microvolts. I plugged both "receivers" into the same antennas and noted: -The SDR-IQ is easily overloaded. The Drake R8 is most certainly NOT easily overloaded. -The Drake R8 consistently out-performed the SDR-IQ with my peculiar set-up. I think if you were in the country and had a long-wire antenna and were far enough away from any MW transmitters - and could feed lots of signal to the SDR-IQ, it would be a mighty impressive tool. In the urban environment, there are some compromises with the unit (SDR-IQ) and quick relief is achieved with a traditional radio like the R8 series. Even in the few days I had the SDR-IQ, the Eton E1 coped and performed better in my listening environment. -- Colin Newell - Editor/Creator coffeecrew.com | dxer.ca Web-Design / E-Commerce / Writing Victoria, British Columbia, Canada _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
