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

[Clayton W5PFG]

Graham,

I know you specifically said you prefer Linux, but the solution which 
brought me the most success was HDSDR+SatPC32.  The two applications 
talk together well via CAT and a pair of virtual serial ports.  This 
gives you full Doppler shift adjustment by computer control.

My FT-857D was configured as a radio in SatPC32.  The FCDP+ was 
configured as the other radio in SatPC32.

If you moved the dial on the radio, there was full, tracking feedback to 
SatPC32 and HDSDR.  If you tuned on the HDSDR, it adjusted the radio as 
well.

I made several hundred contacts on all the available satellites during 
the time I was playing with this in the shack.

The only drawback to the solution was having to swap coax lines between 
2m and 70cm.

73
Clayton
W5PFG



On 1/22/2016 18:01, Graham wrote:
> 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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>>
>
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