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

[Graham]

Clayton,

Thank you for posting your comments. These are the sorts of specifics I 
have been looking for.

cheers, Graham ve3gtc


On 2016-01-23 02:37, Clayton W5PFG wrote:
> 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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