I was going to suggest a similar solution.

I think the article suffers from what NASA calls an "imagination
failure:. One does not need to count anything. Using a micro processor
(uP) and a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS)  and a mixer it is very
easy to create SDR type radio's these days. Perhaps the Arduino is not
the most powerful uP available but it is simple to program and has
plenty of IO pins to drive displays, DDS chips etc. It cannot do DSP
however.

Perhaps the STM32F104 series of uP's would work better. Running at
120MHz or better they have DSP abilities as well as better facilities
than offered by an Arduino such as ethernet, I2C, SDI, analog sensors
etc. They are the same price too. They are also able to do DDS
generation up to a few MHz which would further cut down on the parts
count.

However, "computers" used in the AM bands have an inherent problem
with self generated noise. They clock speeds of these uP chips is so
low that they put birdies and worse into the very bands they want to
receive. We see this with the current crop of AM IBOC receivers.
Forget what "they" tell you about digital being able to overcome
interference issues; RF is RF. If you block it you will not be able to
hear it. A S9+40db birdie or computer hash will not allow any desired
signal to enter the circuit.

Mark

On Thu, Jan 22, 2015 at 8:55 AM, Greg Majewsk
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Funny, you mention this topic.  If all does well, I will be bringing a small
> single chip fm radio with Aduino board  that can be controlled via a web
> browser.  I am looking at a radio design for ETOW.   Several years ago, I
> wrote up a specification for a ETOW radio for Tom.  At this time, there were
> no responses from ETON on it.   I have started the process to come up with a
> prototype that he could use to get some manufacturer's interest.  I found a
> good chip that has medium wave, shortwave and fm bands. Please do not tell
> him, this is a surprise for him.  I was going to show it at the fest.
>
> We can talk about this at the fest.
>
> I have some original Commodore 64 documentation.  Do you know if there is
> any interest in this stuff?  If there is, I will bring with me.
>
> -- Enjoy life, Greg
> Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!
>
> On 01/21/2015 09:10 PM, Ed Cummings wrote:
>>
>> Today I received this interesting applications note from Mouser
>> Electronics which specifically mentions some technical challenges that
>> designers of AM and shortwave radios face using DSP technologies.  This
>> paper might interest some SWLfest list subscribers.
>>
>>
>> http://www.mouser.com/applications/next-gen-radio-ics-audio/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=january2015&utm_campaign=cm-audio-en&utm_content=article2rm
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Ed Cummings
>>
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>>
>> http://www.swlfest.com
>> http://swlfest.blogspot.com
>>
>
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