[amsat-bb] SDR's for satellite work, was: ===> Re: Yaesu FT-857D

[Graham]

Thank you Stefan (and all),

I think I will put the FCDP+ at the top of my list for now.

Regards software. This has been a bit hit and miss with me for SDR's.

I like SDR# but it is Windoze only. I prefer Linux but use Windows when 
have to. On Linux I have been using GQRX. They all have their pluses and 
minuses but the challenge becomes getting everything to place nice 
together, for example which OS? I like GPREDICT and there are Windows 
and Linux flavours but the FCDP+ software is Windows only (or is it? I 
will have a go look see).

I guess it is time to do some more reading and research.

Glad I didn't get a HackRF.

cheers, Graham ve3gtc




On 2016-01-22 22:59, Stefan Wagener wrote:
> Hi Graham.
>
> If you check online, the HackRF has been a huge disappointment as a 
> receiver for a number of reasons. The airspy is better but at the end 
> it is the FCD Pro+ that will outperform all of them especially with 
> the narrow SAW filters on 2m and 70cm. I had all three and tested them 
> extensively for satellite work. At the end I only kept the FCDplus+.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Stefan, VE4NSA
>
> On Fri, Jan 22, 2016 at 4:33 PM, Graham <planophore at aei.ca 
> <mailto:planophore at aei.ca>> wrote:
>
>
>     very interesting discussion.
>
>     Does anyone have any first hand experience using the Airspy SDR
>     http://airspy.com/
>
>     It is in the same price range as FCDP+ and a bit more than the
>     SDRPlay.
>
>     There are so many to choose from with prices all the over the
>     place. I realize that you get what you pay for but sometimes that
>     is not always obvious, for example the HackRF devices are
>     considerably more the SDRPlay/FCDP+/Airspy but as someone
>     commented, lacks front end filtering making them a poorer choice.
>
>     So far I have been only dabbling with receiving the many
>     satellites now flying about. It has been a long time since I have
>     made any contacts through any of them, that was back in the OSCAR
>     7/8, RS10/11 era.
>
>     cheers, Graham ve3gtc
>
>
>
>
>
>     On 2016-01-22 20:45, Clayton W5PFG wrote:
>
>         Like others have mentioned here, the $20-25 RTL Dongles have
>         not worked very well for me when combined with a transmitter. 
>         The FT-857D/FUNcube DonglePro+ combo worked well for me. Not
>         one of the two RTL dongles was suitable for regular use.  I
>         rank the RTL's as a failure for both mode B or J birds without
>         significant additional filters.  For simple receive use,
>         they're okay.
>
>         If compactness was a desire, the FCDP+ would be my choice.
>         However, the SDRPlay mentioned has a lot more bandwidth
>         capability and is reasonably priced from HRO in the states.
>
>         73
>         Clayton
>         W5PFG
>
>
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