SDR's are lower in cost ? I suppose that might be true if you could find a high end receiver new, but the prices I see for any of the newer generation SDR's are quite high. Well north of $1000 would be beyond what I'd want to spend for a hobby receiver whether SDR or traditional, and I'm certain a lot of other DX'ers would view it similarly.
As more and more manufacturers stop making standard receivers, perhaps the demand for SDR's will dictate some price moderation. Russ Edmunds 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia Grid FN20id <wb2...@yahoo.com> FM: Yamaha T-80 & Onkyo T-450RDS w/ APS9B @15'; Grundig G8 AM: Modified Sony ICF 2010's barefoot --- On Fri, 1/7/11, Mike Bates <mjba...@skypoint.com> wrote: > From: Mike Bates <mjba...@skypoint.com> > Subject: [IRCA] Testing New SDR software > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Date: Friday, January 7, 2011, 1:34 AM > I have been trying out some new > software on my QS1R SDR and have found the results to be > quite good. I currently am running the receiver using > several different software packages, including the SDRMAXII > that comes with the QS1R. This evening I was using Winrad > version 1.5 and had the occasion this evening to log on 1370 > WSPD in Toledo OH @ 9:55PM CST this evening, 1/6, > using a KIWA loop. Also heard CFRY on 920, on top in the > null of semi local KDHL. Good but not exceptional catches. > > I have not seen a lot here regarding SDR's, with the > possible exception of some using the Perseus. I think that > they are the future, as more and more companies are dropping > production of their higher end receivers. RL Drake, Japan > Radio Company, Yaesu, and Kenwood are prime examples. > SDR's are lower in cost and provide the equivalent, or > better performance of these older receivers. The added > benefit is spectrum analysis, which works better than the > scopes built into the stand alone ham rigs of recent years. > You can see a split frequency station before you can hear > it. Another benefit is spectrum recording and play back > using the receiver software. > > There is now a version of the Soft Rock series, which is a > kit that sells for around $60.00 and covers from 180KHz to > 3MHz. The down side is that you need a computer and a high > quality sound card to run this, but computers these days are > also lower in price than in days gone by. There is also a > pre built receiver the Lazy Dog LD-1B which sells for about > $275.00. Of course there are the direct sample SDR's that > are more expensive such as the SDR IQ, Perseus, > WinRadio Excalibur and the QS1R. These are still lower in > cost than the Drake R8B was when it went out of production, > and have top flight performance. > > I would be interested to know if there are others using > SDR's and what they think of them for MWDX, as well as tips > for use. > > Thanks and > 73, > > Mike Bates KA0KLQ > > Inver Grove Heights, MN > _______________________________________________ > IRCA mailing list > IRCA@hard-core-dx.com > 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: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com 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: irca@hard-core-dx.com
