[amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice

[Mark L. Hammond]

I think the most significant difference between the FCD and the Softrocks is FREQUENCY, isn't it?  Are there Softrocks that will do 64-1700 MHz?  

I don't remember for sure, but I thought the Softrocks are good only up to 30 or 50 MHz.  The FCD is from 60-ish to 1.7GHz.   That makes them apples to oranges in comparison.   

So, if I have this right, I would need a Softrock and what---two or three downconverters?--to cover just 2M, 70cm, and 23 cm.  Oh, add a sound card.  That's more than the cost of a FCD shipped to the US...

If you're using an IF of a receiver, you need the receiver!! and the Softrock.  And a sound card.

I have three Softrock kits sitting on the bench right now, for those exact reasons above.  The FCD  is a one piece, plug and play solution for the bands I wanted to work (VHF, UHF).   There really isn't a better option, far as I can tell...

73,

Mark N8MH 





At 05:19 AM 1/4/2011 +0000, you wrote:
>He could go with a 10.7 MHz fixed IF Softrock for about $30 (with the special crystal) instead of $175 for the FCD and maybe have a chance at getting one sooner than later if he really wanted to use it with the ICOM.
>
>A soundcard is needed for a softrock, but I have used a $50 USB one in the past from China no problem if he can't use the built in one (like on a laptop).
>
>Fred 
>
>Jan 3, 2011 06:26:01 PM, amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org wrote:
>
>===========================================
>
>
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 14:26:55 -0700
>> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>> From: vlfiscus at mcn.net
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Need Advice for SDR choice
>> 
>> At 06:25 PM 1/2/2011 -0500, marklhammond at gmail.com wrote:
>> 
>> I'm going to look into SDR.  My Icom r-7100 has an IF out jack I could feed 
>> into a unit.
>> 
>
>That was my first thought too, but R-7000 receiver's IF is at 10.7 MHz and the FCD only goes down to 64 MHz.
>
>On the other hand, the R7000's tuning range isn't that different from the FCD, and I bet the FCD has better specs, so why bother with the receiver?
>
>Greg  KO6TH
>
>                                          
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb


Mark L. Hammond  [N8MH]